Blue poison dart frog

A blue and poisonous jewel

The blue poison dart frog (Dendrobates azureus) is a small amphibian of the family Dendrobatidae, famous for its intense electric-blue colouring, dotted with black spots. Its legs and belly tend toward a darker blue. It is only a few centimetres long, but its vivid colours carry a clear message: they are a warning (aposematism) signalling its extreme toxicity to predators. It is considered one of the most poisonous frogs on the planet. Today many authorities treat it as a colour form of Dendrobates tinctorius.

Habitat and range

It lives in the "forest islands" surrounded by the Sipaliwini Savanna in southern Suriname, near the border with Brazil, at around 300–400 metres. It favours humid, shady habitats near streams and pools, where moisture is constant.

Behaviour and diet

It is diurnal and active, moving over the forest floor hunting small invertebrates — ants, mites, termites and other arthropods. In the wild this very diet supplies the alkaloids it makes toxic through its skin: captive-bred individuals, fed differently, are effectively non-toxic. Males defend small territories and carry the tadpoles on their backs to water.

Did you know?

The name "dart frog" comes from the use, by some Amazonian peoples, of the poison of related frogs to tip their hunting darts. The species is also a model organism in the study of chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease threatening amphibians worldwide.

Conservation

It has a very restricted, fragmented range, which makes it vulnerable to habitat loss and collection for the exotic pet trade. Captive-bred animals are the better choice.