Poison Dart Frog Vivarium
Part of the Frogs: A Chorus of Colors exhibition.
Dazzling and Dangerous
The brightly colored poison dart frogs of Central and South America broadcast a visual warning to predators: Do Not Eat! Many species in the frog family Dendrobatidae ooze poison through that spectacular skin as a defense against predators. Scientists are only now unraveling the mystery of how this mechanism evolved and how frogs maintain it.
© Taran Grant/AMNHBumblebee Poison Frog, Dendrobates leucomelas
Poison Dart Frogs
Class: Amphibia
Family: Dendrobatidae
Size: ¾ to 2 ¾ inches
Food: Ants, termites, and other insects
Range: Central and South America
Habitat: Variable, mostly moist tropical areas
Life Cycle: Most lay small numbers of eggs and provide some parental care.