| BLUE POISON DART FROG |
| Dendrobates azureus |
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Range:
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Found only in the Sipaliwini savannah in the South American country of Suriname. |
 This poison dart frog’s bright blue skin serves as a warning to predators. Its color is also usually darker around its limbs and stomach. The glands of poisonous alkaloids located in the skin serve as a defense mechanism to potential predators. These poisons paralyze and sometimes kill the predator. The black spots are unique to each frog, serving as an identification tool. Each foot contains four toes which each have a flattened tip with a suction cup pad used for gripping. This species of frog is also identifiable by a hunch-backed posture. |
| Habitat: |
Warm humid rainforest areas surrounded by dry savannah and near small streams among moss covered rocks. |
| Diet: |
Ants, beetles, flies, mites, spiders, termites, maggots, caterpillars. |
| Status: |
Not currently endangered, although habitat loss and the illegal pet trade are issues affecting their survival. |
| Approximate Dimensions of Adult: |
Weight: Less than an ounce (about 3 grams).
Length: 1.2 - 1.8 inches. |
| Lifespan: |
Around 5 years. |
| Reproduction & Offspring: |
Males call quietly from a position in the leaves or on a rock. Females are attracted to the call and draw the male’s attention by stroking his snout and back in a typical poison frog courtship sequence. The female follows the male back to a hidden spot to lay a clutch of 2-6 eggs that are tended mainly by the male. Hatching takes place in about 14-18 days. Both parents have been found carrying tadpoles to a rocky stream for their further development. |
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