SUMMARY | PHOTO GALLERY | NEXT | PREVIOUS | | LEXICON

NATURE & GASTRONOMY

 

 

 

  kaangkok ban

 

Skin secretes batrachotoxin, an extremely potent cardio- and neurotoxic steroidal alkaloid, very poisonous and deadly if ingested or enters bloodstream! No known antidote!

  Thailand

A Common Asian Toad, spotted in Phuket. It is generally buff in colour and its skin is rough, with warts that form small black, bumpy dots, that are scattered along the sides and the lower back.

 

It also has poison glands in the form of a raised ridge behind each eye. In Thai, it is known as kaangkok ban.

LIST OF THAI ANIMAL NAMES WILDLIFE PICTURE

 

VENOMOUS! This amphibian's skin secretes batrachotoxin, an extremely potent cardio- and neurotoxic steroidal alkaloid. It is very poisonous and deadly if ingested or enters the bloodstream! Ingestion may cause repeated vomiting, abdominal pain, and sometimes diarrhoea and/or collapse. There is potentially significant fluid loss from the gut. In about an hour, the cardiotoxic effects of the bufotoxins will become apparent, with fast or slow pulse, low blood pressure, then heart arrhythmias, which can be associated with high circulating potassium levels. Death may rapidly ensue. All cases should be treated as urgent and potentially lethal. There is no known antidote!