In other species: poison dart frogs , regent whistler , hooded pitohui , rufous-naped whistler , black pitohui , blue-capped ifrita

Categories: Nervous system phene , Muscle phene

Mendelian trait/disorder: unknown

Disease-related: no

Cross-species summary: Batrachotoxin (BTX) is a cardio- and neurotoxic steroidal alkaloid found in beetles, birds and frogs. BTX binds to voltage-gated sodium ion channels (coded for by SCN genes), leading to muscle paralysis and death. Several species of animals with a tolerance or auto-resistance to BTX, acquire BTX in their diet and transport BTX to their skin and/or feathers as a defence mechanism or possible parasite deterrence.