Birds And Frogs: An Alkaloid Connection

Abstract

Unusual toxic alkaloids belonging to the family of batrachotoxins—previously known only in poison-dart frogs and birds of the genus Pitohui —have been found in a second bird species of a different genus. The finding suggests that chemical defenses among birds might be more widespread than previously thought and raises questions about the origin and ecological roles of the batrachotoxins. The discovery of the alkaloids in Ifrita kowaldi birds was reported by John P. Dumbacher, a researcher at the National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C., and chemists John W. Daly and Thomas F. Spande of the National Institutes of Health ( Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. , Early Edition, Oct. 17). Dumbacher's involvement in the research dates back to 1989, when he was a graduate student studying the courtship and mating behavior of a species of birds in New Guinea. He sometimes found other kinds of birds trapped in his nets. Those of the genus Pitohui were nasty. The first time ...