Poison dart frog Dendrobates tinctorius
Colourful frogs in the tropics.
You can find out all about poison dart frogs here, including their colours and unique behaviour.
The poison dart frog in a nutshell
- eats
- ants and other insects
- inhabits
- Central and South America
- excels at
- tap dancing
Poison dart frogs live in the tropical rainforest. Because their skin must be kept moist, they are always found close to rainwater and other water sources. They come in all kinds of colours, with as many as thirty recognised colour variations.
A toxic diet
The poison dart frog mainly eats ants and termites that contain toxic substances called alkaloids. These alkaloids collect in the frog’s skin, making it toxic to predators. The frog's bright colours serve as a clear warning to predators.Poison dart frogs living in captivity often lose their toxicity because the alkaloids necessary for their toxicity no longer occur in their diet.
Tap dancing
Poison dart frogs often tap the ground very rapidly with the toes of their hind feet. Researchers have discovered that they do this to find their prey. The tapping causes vibrations that drive insects to flee their hiding places, making it easier for the frog to find them.
Poison dart frog at ARTIS
ARTIS has two colour variants (or ‘morphs’) of the poison dart frog in its collection: the blue poison dart frog and Regina’s poison dart frog. The former is azure-blue in colour and the latter is mottled yellow and black, with a blue throat and blue hindquarters.
