Blue Poison Dart Frog

These little frogs are easily recognized by their blue color, which is generally darker on the limbs and belly and overlaid with black spots or patches,

especially on the head and back. As their name implies, poison dart frogs can release toxins from the skin that are distasteful and potentially lethal to would-be predators. Blue poison dart frogs are active during the day and can be found hiding among boulders and debris near streams and among leaf litter on the forest floor; however, they lack toe webbing and are poor swimmers, so they are not found in the water. The blue poison dart frog lays small clutches of five to six eggs. After hatching, the parents transfer tadpoles to individual pools of water, where they finish development. At the Aquarium we replicate this by raising tadpoles in small individual containers of water.

Did You Know? 

This colorful frog was not discovered by scientists until 1968.

Size 

A Blue Poison Dart Frog measures 1-1.5 inches (2.5-3.8 centimeters) long and weighs about three tenths of an ounce (8.5 grams).

Adaptations 

• Poison Dart Frogs have toxins in their skin that can paralyze or kill potential predators. 
• The bright blue color of this frog’s skin warns predators not to eat it. 
• Blue Poison Dart Frogs are covered with a sticky skin that helps to hold in moisture and allows the tadpoles to cling to the adults while being moved between locations.

Distribution 

It is found only in the southernmost part of the South American Republic of Suriname in a region known as the Sipaliwini Savannah.

 
Habitat 

It inhabits small isolated forest areas surrounded by the dry, prairie-like savannah at elevations from 315 to 430 m. However, the forest habitat of D. azureus is rather humid and warm with temperatures ranging from 22 to 27 º C during the day to 20 º C night. It prefers a dark, moist environment, living only near small streams among moss-covered rocks. It typically remains on the ground, but has been found in trees at heights of up to five metres.

Food 

D. azureus is an insectivore, but also eats non-insect arthropods. Diet consists of ants, beetles, flies, mites, spiders, termites, maggots, and caterpillars. In captivity, its diet consists primarily of crickets and fruit flies. Interestingly, the toxic compounds (poisons) in the skin of D. azureus, known as lipophilic alkaloids, are found in high percentages within its prey, especially in ants. Thus, upon eating prey, the alkaloids provide the precursors to skin toxin which makes the frogs unpalatable to predators. In captivity, this species loses its poisonous properties due to the lack of toxic compounds within the food it is fed. Tadpoles feed on unfertilized eggs provided by their mother.

Behaviors 

• Blue poison dart frogs are active during the day and can be found hiding among boulders and debris near streams; however, they lack toe webbing and are poor swimmers, so they are never found in the water. 
• They have a humpback posture because of a small difference in the backbone and pelvis and have a small tympanum (eardrum) that is often hard to tell from the surrounding skin. 
• Blue poison dart frogs can release toxins from the skin that are distasteful and potentially lethal to wouldbe predators.

Diet 

In the wild, Blue Poison Dart Frogs eat primarily insects, including caterpillars, ants, beetles, flies and mites. They will also consume spiders and other arthropods. At Cosley Zoo, these frogs are fed fruit flies and crickets.

Did You Know?/Fun Facts 

• The blue poison dart frog was first discovered in 1968. 
• It is a relic species living in a few isolated patches of relic rainforest habitat. This habitat is remote and difficult to reach, so accurate population monitoring is a challenge. 
• Several years ago, National Aquarium in Baltimore Curator Jack Cover and an Aquarium team traveled to South America to research this frog and were permitted to bring back a few specimens. These became the foundation for a nationally renowned breeding program. The program’s goal is to maintain a healthy, self-sustaining captive population and eliminate the need to collect frogs from the wild. As a result, The National Aquarium in Baltimore supplies blue poison dart frogs to zoos and aquariums across the country. Ultimately, this program could provide frogs for reintroduction should the wild population ever become extinct. 
• Poison dart frogs are also known as poison arrow frogs. They get this name because of the hunters living in the rainforest using the skin toxins on their darts and arrows. Some frogs are more poisonous than others. The toxins come from the ants or other insects they eat in the wild. Captive-bred poison dart frogs are not toxic due to their different diet.

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