Poison dart frog

  Poison dart frog (also poison arrow frog, dart frog or poison frog) is the common name of the Dendrobatidae family of small, diurnal frogs. Poison dart frogs are native to Central and South America. The frogs are widely called poison arrow frogs or poison dart frogs, a generalization reflecting the widespread notion that all poison frogs are used by South American tribes in the manufacture of poison that is spread on arrows or blow-gun darts. In actuality, of over 175 species of poison frog, only three are toxic enough to use for this purpose, and none come from the Dendrobates genus, which is most characterized by the brilliant color and complex patterns of its member species. The most poisonous of these frogs is the two-inch-long Golden Poison Frog from the genus phyllobates.

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Background

  Most poison dart frogs have brightly colored skin which is used as a warning sign to predators. These frogs can be very small, ranging in size from one to six centimeters in length, depending on the age, sex, and the species of the frog.

Poison frogs in captivity

Main article: History of dendrobatid frogkeeping

  While there is little scientific study on the lifespan of poison dart frogs, estimates range from 3 to 15 years in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity. Poison dart frogs are commonly bred in captivity to be non-toxic. Most species reach maturity around 1.5 to 2.5 years of age. The easiest way to determine the sex of a particular species of poison dart frog is by observation of behavior. Mature male frogs will usually make a mating call after eating or after a heavy misting of water. The sound is similar to that of a series of high-pitched "clicks". In juvenile frogs, the sex can sometimes be determined by the profile of the amphibian. The backs of males usually slope down with less of a break than females. Females are usually rounder and show a bigger break. Another way to sex some species of these frogs is by their toes. Females of some Dendrobates species have narrow toes all the way down, while the male's toes are wide at the ends. Mature males of some species also show a small section of grey skin on their neck. This is where the mating call is produced. All species of poison dart frogs are tropical in origin. In captivity, most species thrive where the humidity is kept constant at 80-100% and where the temperature is around 72-80°F (22-27°C) during the day and no lower than 60-65°F (16-18°C) at night. Some species tolerate lower temperatures better than others.

Color morphs

  Some species include a number of sub-species morphs. Different morphs represent geographically separated populations of the same species in the wild, showing different coloration. For example, the species Dendrobates tinctorius includes at least a dozen morphs. Morphs of very different coloration have historically been misidentified as separate species, and there is still some controversy among taxonomists over the classification of various frogs. For example, the species Dendrobates azureus may simply be a morph of Dendrobates tinctorius, and not a separate species.

References

• [1]
• Amphibian Species of the World - Dendrobates, Cope, 1865. Retrieved on 2006-11-09.
• Grant, Taran; Frost, Darrel R.; Caldwell, Janalee P.; Gagliardo, Ron; Haddad, Celio F.B.; Kok, Philippe J.R.; Means, D. Bruce; Noonan, Brice P.; Schargel, Walter E. & Wheeler, Ward (2006): "Phylogenetic systematics of dart-poison frogs and their relatives (Amphibia, Athesphatanura, Dendrobatidae)". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 299: 1-262. PDF fulltext