Homobatrachotoxin in the genus Pitohui: chemical defense in birds?
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.
Dumbacher
J P
JP
Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, IL 60637.
Beehler
B M
BM
Spande
T F
TF
Garraffo
H M
HM
Daly
J W
JW
D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D001496:Batrachotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D001681:Biological Assay; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001717:Birds; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D051379:Mice; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*
D001496:Batrachotoxins; C077756:homobatrachotoxin