Biology
The Evolution of Aposematic Coloration in Poison Dart Frogs
Quick fact
Some poison dart frogs are toxic enough to kill a human, and their bright colors act as a warning. But in a twist, these frogs raised in captivity lose their toxicity—their vivid colors alone aren't enough to deter predators unless they've actually eaten toxic insects in the wild.
Why this is interesting
You've seen poison dart frogs in nature documentaries—brilliant blue, yellow, or red. But why would a tiny frog, easy prey, advertise its presence so loudly?