Poison Dart Frogs at Biodiversity Lab

Poison Dart Frogs at St. Joseph's University

Scott McRobert, professor of biology at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, collects, studies and breeds dozens of threatened and endangered species from around the world-- including the much-celebrated Epibpedobates tricolor or "poison dart" frog from South America. Venom taken from the amphibian's back has recently been shown to produce a chemical that is significantly more powerful than morphine without the addictive properties of the drug. The new painkiller (ABT-594) is now being used in clinical tests.

The university's biodiversity lab has housed a collection of the rare frogs for the past six years, according to McRobert. "We are one of few places in the world that can breed them," he says. The purpose of the biodiversity lab is to preserve and breed animals whose habitat has been destroyed so that they can eventually be released into the wild.

McRobert says the first poison dart frogs were brought to his lab after their habitat in the rainforests of eastern Ecuador was destroyed. The frogs have been used for research and for educational purposes. "Right now, we have a thriving colony of more than 20 of these frogs," he notes. "We have had a lot of eggs hatch over past few months and have a number of small hatchlings tearing around" [in the incubation aquarium].

"This medical development is a classic example of we need to save the rainforests," notes McRobert. "There's no telling what other promises are awaiting discovery in the rainforests of South America and in other parts of the world," he adds, "and these are places that are being devastated every day."

McRobert says he would be happy to grant journalists access to the biodiversity lab and welcomes calls from those who would like to photograph or videotape the frogs in his lab.

Scott McRobert can be reached at his St. Joseph's University lab, 610-660-1833, or by e-mail at [email protected]. He can also be contacted through Bill Avington in the university's department of external relations, 610-660-1532.