The batrachotoxins with a protective function in birds

• Published in: Ethology, ecology & evolution Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 79 - 82
• Main Author: Rajchard, Josef
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2009
• Subjects: Anura; Aves; Dendrobates; Passeriformes; Phyllobates; Pitohui; Pitohui dichrous
• ISSN: 0394-9370; 1828-7131
• DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2009.9522512

Toxicity in vertebrates has usually been associated with venomous snakes, some fish species and also the so-called arrowy frogs. Arrowy frogs are Central- and South American frog species, belonging mainly to the genera Dendrobates and Phyllobates. The Indians extracted from their skins poisons for use on arrow points or blowgun darts. It is, however, relatively little known that these arrow poisons from the batrachotoxin group are also present in the skin and feathers of some bird species from the genus Pitohui and Ifrita, living in the New Guinean primavean forest. Pitohui belong to the order Passerines (Passeriformes), family Pachycephalidae, which include five genera: Colluricincla, Falcunculus, Oreoica, Pachycephala and Pitohui. The genus Pitohui has seven species (P. cristalus, P. dichrous, P. ferrugineus, P. incertus, P. kirhocephalus, P. nigrescens, P. tenebrosus), from which primarily P. dichrous, P. kirhocephalus and P. ferrugineus are known as poisonous. Another known poisonous bird, Ifrita kowaldi, also belongs to the order Passerines, family Timaliidae. The family Timaliidae is a very numerous family, including 50 genera of mostly tropical birds. This family includes the genus Melampitta with two species: M. gigantea and M. lugubris. The species Melampitta gigantea is further mentioned below in the context of its imitation of Pitohui dichrous colouration.