Poison Dart Frogs

Poison dart frogs, formerly known as poison arrow frogs, are amphibians, that unlike other frogs are equally active during the day, as they are during the night. They belong to the 'dendrobatidae' family and are natives of the tropical rainforests in Central and Southern America. The poison dart frogs were named so because their toxic secretions were used to poison the tips of blow darts, by the aboriginal tribes of America. Let us have a look at some poison dart frog facts.

Poison Dart Frogs: Physical Appearance
The poison dart frogs come with bodies that have intricate patterns, colored with bright colors. They come in only two sizes – small and tiny! Some poison dart frogs weigh as less as 2 gms and are about the size of a paper clip. Don't be fooled into a lull, they are still equally dangerous. They use the aposematic coloration strategy to advertise their toxicity to their predators. They do not camouflage or 'hide in plain sight', by blending into the background like other frogs. Backed with their weapons, their venom, the poison dart frogs are deliberately ostentatious and 'in-the-face'. The good thing however, is that the poison dart frog toxins level varies according to their species and not all are so dangerous.

The poison dart frogs have a wide range of colors. Their coloring can be bright yellow, flashy gold, rich copper, blood red, brilliant green, azure blue or jet black. Some poison dart frogs are fatally dangerous. For example, the golden poison dart frog has enough venom to kill 10 adult humans. In fact, only two micrograms of this venom is enough to kill a large mammal. The most interesting fact about poison dart frogs is that they keep their poison in their skin and this can kill anyone that touches them. Only some predators, like certain spiders and the Amazon ground snake, seem immune to the poison dart frog toxins.

Poison Dart Frogs: Venom Facts
Be careful of the poison dart frogs, for some species are absolutely lethal. Yet, there are some ironic facts about the poison tree frog venom. Many poison tree frogs secrete 'lipophilic alkaloid toxins' (one of the 300 new alkaloids found on their skin). But the poison dart frogs do not synthesize their own poisonous toxins. It has been found that they acquire the toxic chemical from their arthropod prey, like ants, centipedes and spiders. These chemicals are basically just assimilated plant poisons.

The venom extracted from poison dart frogs shows some medicinal promise. The 'epibatidine' secreted by the phantasmal poison frog, is a pain killer, considered even far more effective than morphine. However, it shows some severe gastrointestinal side effects in humans. Still, work is in progress on their effectiveness as muscle relaxants, heart stimulants and appetite depressants. Since these chemical toxins come from the poison dart frog's food, those raised in captivity or kept away from their natural food, never develop their venoms.

Poison Dart Frogs: General Habitats
The poison dart frogs inhabit the tropical and humid climates of Central and Southern America (Latin America). They require about 80-100 percent humidity and a day time temperature between 72°-80°F, while the night time temperature should not fall below 60°F. They usually live on the ground, though they are also known to live high in the trees, sometimes even as high as 33ft off the ground.

They have excellent vision and capture their prey with their long sticky tongues. These carnivorous amphibians mainly eat ants, termites, tiny beetles, spiders and other small insects. The poison dart frogs also show some unusual and dedicated parenting skills. They are often seen carrying their eggs and tadpoles piggyback. In fact, the male poison dart frogs are exceptionally responsible and caring toward their offspring. They protect their young ones from falling prey to snakes and dragonflies when they are young and not fully protected with their poison.

Poison Dart Frogs: Conservation Status
The poison dart frogs are a critically endangered species. As it is, the poison dart frogs have a small lifespan in the wild, ranging between 1 to 3 years. To top it, loss of habitat due to logging, deforestation and farming has severely eroded their population numbers. Predation by other species is also a highly ranked threat for their survival. But the worst killer of the poison dart frogs is a fungal disease known as 'cutaneous chytridiomycosis'. This infectious skin disease is fatal for all amphibians and by that count, even the poison dart frogs.

As much as we all would love to see these beautiful and interesting creatures, the poison dart frogs are amazingly elusive. Though it may be due to their small numbers, I believe it is more because their natural habitats are remote and difficult to access areas. It is very important the we take immediate and drastic measure to save this 'bold and beautiful' specie of frogs from an imminent danger of extinction. Let us make a concerted, united effort to hear the plight of the poison tree frogs, since the concerned authorities are deaf to their cries for help.