Homobatrachotoxin in the Genus Pitohui: Chemical Defense in Birds?
Abstract
Three passerine species in the genus Pitohui, endemic to the New Guinea subregion, contain the steroidal alkaloid homobatrachotoxin, apparently as a chemical defense. Toxin concentrations varied among species but were always highest in the skin and feathers. Homobatrachotoxin is a member of a class of compounds collectively called batrachotoxins that were previously considered to be restricted to neotropical poison-dart frogs of the genus Phyllobates. The occurrence of homobatrachotoxin in pitohuis suggests that birds and frogs independently evolved this class of alkaloids.
- Publication:
-
Science
- Pub Date:
- October 1992
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.1439786
- Bibcode:
- 1992Sci...258..799D