#Poison dart frogs skin#
#Poison dart frogs series#

This then develops into a tadpole which is carried by either the mother or father to a body of water within which it can develop. Like most other amphibians, the blue dart frog starts life as an egg. Indigenous cultures, such as the Chocó people of Colombia, have used these frogs’ poison for centuries to coat the tip of their blow darts before hunting - a tradition that inspired the frogs’ common name. The bright colouration of these frogs serves as warning to potential predators. These poisons are not created by the frog itself but are due to their diet of highly poisonous ants in the wild.

#Poison dart frogs skin#

Poison dart frogs store a natural poison in their skin that can paralyse or even kill predators. They live under rocks and moss near streams, but can sometimes be seen high up in the surrounding trees. They are diurnal, which means they are active during the day.

Status: IUCN – Least Concern CITES Appendix II.Dendrobates tinctorius azureus A late discoveryīlue poison dart frogs are found in only a few isolated areas of rainforest in Suriname and northern Brazil, so were only discovered in 1969. Habitat/range: They are found on the” forest-islands”, arising out of the Sipaliwini savannah of Suriname and Brazil where there is high humidity and moderate to cooler temperatures. They mature into adults in about 10 to 12 weeks. The small tadpoles are carried to a small water pool such as in bromeliads to develop. The eggs are kept moist until they hatch, 14-18 days later. The female lays a clutch size of two to six eggs. The two will then go to a secluded spot near a water source to mate. The victorious female begins the courtship ritual by nudging the male and stroking his snout and back with her front legs. Several females usually respond to a male’s call and will fight aggressively until there is one winner. Males establish a territory and emit quiet calls to attract a female.

Reproduction: Breeding usually takes place during the rainy season (February-March). During mating season, males use soft calls to attract females.

#Poison dart frogs series#

Senses: Blue poison dart frogs have excellent senses of sight and smell.Ĭommunication: To deter intruders, these frogs use a series of calls. They lose their toxic qualities in captivity because they are raised on fruit flies and crickets. In the wild, their diet consists of ants, beetles, caterpillars, flies, maggots, mites, spiders and termites. Both sexes will defend their territory from their own kind and others and females will ‘fight’ off other females during mating season.ĭiet: It is the combination of what they eat that makes them poisonous. This species is aggressive and very territorial. The females are larger than the males.īehavior: These frogs are active during the day (diurnal) and remain close to water sources. Size: They are 1.2 to 1.8 inches (3-4.5 cm) in length and weigh about one ounce (3 gr). Each foot has four toes equipped with a suction cup pad used for gripping females flattened toe tips are round and males are heart-shaped. These toxic poisons are used for defense and are capable of paralyzing or killing predators. Within the skin there are poisonous glands that secrete alkaloid poisons. The pattern of these spots is unique to each individual frog and can be used for identification, just like human fingerprints. There is an irregular pattern of small and large dark spots covering the head and back. Description: Blue poison dart frogs are bright blue, the limbs are royal blue and the belly is dark blue.