Blue Poison Dart Frog
Dendrobates tinctorius
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Quick Facts
- Type
- Amphibian
- Size
- 3–4.5 cm long
- Weight
- About 3–8 g
- Habitat
- Tropical forests of southern Suriname and Brazil
- Diet
- Ants, termites, and other small insects
- Active Time
- Active by day (diurnal)
- Lifespan
- 4–6 years, longer in captivity
Field Notes
- Its bright blue color is a warning to predators that it is toxic.
- It gets its poison from the wild insects it eats, so captive frogs are far safer.
- Each frog's pattern of black spots is unique, like a fingerprint.
About the Blue Poison Dart Frog
The blue poison dart frog is a small, brilliantly blue amphibian native to forest patches in southern Suriname and nearby Brazil. Its electric-blue skin, marked with black spots unique to each frog, is a warning: it carries toxins that make it dangerous to eat. The poison is thought to come from its diet of certain ants and other insects in the wild, so captive-bred frogs are far less toxic. Active by day, it lives near streams and forest pools, where males guard the eggs and carry tadpoles to water.
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