Poison Dart Frog
These frogs are considered one of Earth's most toxic, or poisonous, species.
- Common Name:
- Poison Dart Frogs
- Scientific Name:
- Dendrobatidae
- Type:
- Amphibians
- Diet:
- Carnivore
- Group Name:
- Army
- Average Life Span In The Wild:
- 3 to 15 years
- Size:
- 1 inch
With a range of bright colors—yellows, oranges, reds, greens, blues—poison dart frogs aren't just big show-offs either. Those colorful designs tell potential predators, "I'm toxic. Don't eat me." For example, the golden poison dart frog has enough poison to kill 20,000 mice. Scientists think that poison dart frogs get their toxicity from some of the insects they eat.
How do poison dart frogs capture their prey? Slurp! With a long, sticky tongue that darts out and zaps the unsuspecting bug! The frogs eat many kinds of small insects, including fruit flies, ants, termites, young crickets, and tiny beetles, which are the ones scientists think may be responsible for the frogs' toxicity.
Poison dart frogs live in the rain forests of Central and South America.