Poison Dart Frogs
Least Concerned
Rainforests
South America
Diurnal
Insectivorous
Children’s Zoo
Characteristics
There are over 170 species of frogs that are considered poison dart frogs, all with their own unique color variations. Their bright colors are what warn predators that they are poisonous, even though not every species of poison dart frogs is actually poisonous. Poison dart frogs are generally small species, never getting larger than 1.5 inches (40 mm) in length. The different poison dart frogs can range from green, blue, black, tan, red, and orange. They can have solid stripes, spots, or light dapples of color.
Habitat & Ecology
Poison dart frogs are found in tropical and humid environments in the Northern parts of South America, reaching up into parts of Central America. Since they are amphibians, they need a large amount of moisture in their habitats to keep their skin wet, so they primarily live in rainforests. Poison darts frogs are generally terrestrial (living on the ground), hiding and hunting in the leaf litter on the forest floor.
Diet
Poison dart frogs are insectivores. They feed on a variety of small insects, most commonly ants, termites, small beetles, and centipedes. They use their sticky and retractable tongues to catch prey. Some tadpoles of poison dart frog species will also consume algae, along with other insect larvae.
Behavior & Reproduction
Poison dart frogs are diurnal, coming out during the day to feed. Courtship for poison dart frogs involves a display followed by leading the female to a chosen spot to lay eggs. Eggs are generally laid inside leaf-litter, or somewhere where it is dark and moist like a bromeliad leaf. The pair will usually guard the eggs making sure that they do not dry out. Males will become territorial of these areas. Between 10-18 days the eggs will hatch into tadpoles, and the male and female pair remain visiting the clutch. All species of poison dart frog will carry their tadpoles on their back to transfer them from one body of water to another.
4-7 in the wild, 10-20 years in protected care
Year-Round
1-40
Year-Round
Conservation
There are over 150 different species of poison dart frog. Not all of these species have been evaluated, but most are between Least Concerned and Vulnerable, with populations declining by the IUCN.
Fascinating Facts
- Poison dart frogs are not naturally poisonous. They get their toxicity from the food they eat! This means that not every species will be poisonous, nor have the same amount of toxicity. Dart frogs in human care are not poisonous.
- Each frog's coloration and pattern is unique to each individual, just like a human’s fingerprint.
