The Natural History Of Dart Frogs

 

Classification
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Lissamphibia
Order - Anura
Family - Dendrobatidae

Introduction

Well over 100 species of poison dart frogs are known to exist, recent discoveries also point to the potential medical importance of certain compounds found in specific species of dart frogs skin.

Range
Tropical Americas- The dart frog family is found primarily in the rainforests of central and northern South America.  Relatives known as the mantellas exist on Madagascar

Habitat
All species of dart frogs live in a very damp, dark environment. Light rarely passes through the canopy of the rainforest to the floor where the majority of poison dart frogs reside. 

Diet
Like many other frogs the dart frog eats small insects, termites, crickets, ants and fruit flies. Certain species of insects that are consumed by the frogs assist the dart frogs in producing a chemical called a cutaneous poison. Frogs that are reproduced in captivity do not have access to this food source and have greatly diminished toxins found in their skin.

Population Status

In many cases the habitat of the dart frog is being lost to development.  Amphibians in general are having a very difficult time world-wide. 

Predators

Given the toxic nature of the animals skin this little frog has very few natural predators.  The tadpoles of the dart frogs have not yet developed the toxic cutaneous poison that the adult dart frogs possess, as a result of this lack of protection the tadpoles of all species of dart frogs are at the greatest risk of predation.  Many species of snakes as well as other carnivores consume a high percentage of the eggs and tadpoles of the dart frog.   The dragonfly larvae is a serious threat to tadpoles as these voracious little predators inhabit the same bromeliad vases etc.

RainForest Facts

Like many other brightly colored animals, the amazing color palette found on many of the dart frog species is a warning signal to potential predators that the animal is dangerous. Ounce for ounce the toxins found in the skin of dart frogs is some of the most dangerous on earth. 

The native peoples (Chocó Indians) of South America utilize the secretion from the dart frogs skin to tip their blowgun darts for hunting game.  This powerful weapon even allows the Indians animals as large, and inaccessible as arboreal monkeys.