Blue Poison Dart Frog

Dendrobates azureus

Animal Class: Amphibians

Length: 1-2 Inches

Weight: 1/10 of an ounce

Life Span: 4-10 years

Diet: Wild: Insects, including termites, crickets, beetles, ants, and fruit flies

Habitat: Blue poison dart frogs live in the tropical rainforests of southern Suriname, South America. They are terrestrial but stay near water. Because they do not have webbed feet, these frogs are not good swimmers and do not spend time in the water.

Description: The blue poison dart frog can vary in shade from powder blue to cobalt or sapphire blue. They also have black spots on their heads. Males have larger front toe pads than the females. These frogs have a humped back that bends at almost 90 degrees when they are sitting. The frog’s toe pads aid in climbing. Their bright colors warn other animals that they are poisonous or toxic. And in fact, fewer poison arrow frogs are eaten during the day when predators can see them easier. Not many predators can withstand the poison of a poison arrow frog. The frog’s poison is secreted through the skin and even a lick can sometimes prove fatal. Poison arrow frogs have about 200 micrograms of poison in their systems. It would take only 2 micrograms to kill a human. The skin toxins are derived from the frog’s diet.

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Our Animals: The Zoo has a group of blue poison dart frogs in the Learning Center.