![]() This can lead to fibrillation and heart failure.ħ. Their toxins can prevent an animal’s nerves from transmitting impulses, leaving their muscles in an inactive state of contraction. ![]() The chemical make-up of toxins in frogs can vary from irritants to hallucinogens, convulsants, nerve poisons, and vasoconstrictors. That’s why the tips of arrows and darts soaked in these toxins can keep their deadly effect for over two years.Ħ. This is because such toxins do not readily deteriorate. The poison is stored in its skin glands and can be stored for years. Batrachotoxin attacks the sodium channels of cells, but these frogs have special sodium channels the poison cannot harm.ĥ. The frogs are immune to their own poison. There is one snake species (Liophis epinephelus) that is resistant, but not completely immune to dart frogs’ poison.Ĥ. The toxic chemicals generated from eating this microfauna are secreted by the frogs through their skin.ģ. Scientists think a small beetle from the Melyridae family that produces the same toxin may be the crucial diet ingredient. The poison is an alkaloid toxin called batrachotoxin that the frogs accumulate based on their diet of termites, ants, and other invertebrates. The frogs not only taste vile but will also kill predators that eat them.Ģ. The frogs don’t use this poison to hunt at all, but have developed it as a self-defense mechanism to ward off predators. In addition, these toe-tips are heart-shaped in males and round in females.Ranitomeya Fantastica, small and poisonous frog from the Peruvian Rainforest Interesting facts about poison dart frogsġ. Males have larger toe-tips, specifically those on the second, third, and fourth digits.Their skin remains sticky from mucus secretions which helps to hold moisture in and enables tadpoles to take hold when they are carried from the egg-site to their new aquatic home.The toxins in their skin are capable of paralyzing or even killing potential predators. The spot pattern on each frog is different, like your fingerprints! Their coloration serves as a warning to predators not to eat them.Life Span: 4 – 6 years years (wild) / 10 – 12 years (zoo).Species: Dendrobates tinctorius (yellow and blue poison dart frog).Family: Dendrobatidae (poison-dart frogs, dart-poison frogs, dendrobatid frogs, dendrobatids, poison frogs).Class: Amphibia (frogs, salamanders, and carcilians).They lay eggs out of the water and then the tadpoles are carried by the males to puddles where they develop further.įacts about Yellow and Blue Poison Dart Frog Females usually produce between five to ten offspring per clutch. They are solitary animals, interacting with each other only during territorial fighting and breeding. Yellow and blue poison dart frogs’ diet consists of ants, beetles, flies, mites, spiders, termites, maggots, and caterpillars. Though they typically stay on the ground, they have been found in trees as high as 16 feet! Diet They live in humid and warm climates and prefer dark, moist environments, living on the rainforest floor and tree roots near water sources. These frogs are found in the southern part of South America. Wrestling usually occurs between those of the same sex but can also occur between males and females. ![]() The aggressive behavior usually consists of calling, chases, and wrestling. However, both sexes are known to defend their territories from frogs of the same species as well as those of other species. This species is bold, aggressive, and very territorial, especially males who are known to fight over territories. The yellow and blue poison dart frog is very active during the daytime and moves with short leaps.
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