Giant leaf frog

Giant leaf frog
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Hylidae
Subfamily:	Phyllomedusinae
Genus:	Phyllomedusa
Species:	P. bicolor
Binomial name
Phyllomedusa bicolor

The Giant leaf frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) is a hylid frog found throughout the Amazon Rainforest of northern Bolivia, western and northern Brazil, south-eastern Colombia, eastern Peru, southern and eastern Venezuela, and the Guianas. Locally, it also occurs in riverine forest in the Cerrado. This species is now jeopardized by biopiracy because it produces a waxy secretion that may have medicinal uses against AIDS, cancer and other diseases. The Matses and Mayoruna people apply the poison of the frog to self-inflicted burns in order to enter an altered state of consciousness[1]. The poison has been reported to produce a variety of effects ranging from stimulation, to sedation, anorexia, and hallucinations. The poison contains dermorphin and deltorphin which act on opioid receptors.

Some of the components isolated from the waxy secretion have been patented in the past, but none of those patents have led to successful products yet.

The Giant Leaf Frog is nocturnal. As in several other species of frogs, the eggs are laid in a leaf-nest above a forest pool. When they hatch, the tadpoles fall into the water where they continue the development into adult frogs.

References

• Azevedo-Ramos, C. & La Marca, E. (2004). Phyllomedusa bicolor. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on February 11, 2007. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is least concern and the criteria used

External links

• Vice Magazine - The Sapo Diaries
• Mariri Magazine - Kampú - Taking the Frog Vaccine
• Mariri Magazine - Frog Sweat ~ Matses Rainforest Medicine
• Erowid -> Phyllomedusa bicolor vault
• Frog secretions and hunting magic in the upper Amazon