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10 Amazing Facts about Poison Dart Frogs

Nature has a way of giving fascinating things and the poisonous dart frogs are one of these amazing creatures you will find in the woods. However, despite their small size, they cannot be underestimated or played around with because they can kill. The poison dart frogs come in different sizes, from as tiny as a human nail to bigger frogs. These amphibians have poisonous toxins that they secret from their skins. Belonging to the family of the Dendrobatidae, these small creatures live in watery regions and forests such as the central and South American jungles. However, their small sizes cannot be compared to the impact that they have on the planet. Poison dart frogs represent the good and evil in the jungle. Their stunning colors are a beautiful scene to the human eye but their poisonous toxins are deadly to human life. However, these toxic small creatures have some unique features that make them stand out in the woods including their exceptional modes of mating, to their defensive skills that keep them alive among dangerous predators. Delving into the fascinating facts about poison dart frogs reveals some of the mysterious things that we can learn about these unique amphibians. There are several amazing mysteries about the poison dart frogs that you must know, ranging from their deadly toxins and distinctive reproductive techniques that make them surprising creatures.

These are some of the ten amazing facts about poison dart frogs:

1. The Poison Dart frogs are Picky Eaters

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According to research, the type of food that poison dart frogs consume determines the amount of poison they store under their skins. The source of food also determines the strength of the poison stored. The question would be, what do poison dart frogs eat? These special creatures feed on insects such as termites, and ants that are easily found on the floors of the forests. The frogs also feed on fruit flies and crickets which are non-toxic insects. Overall, poison dart frogs feed on insects to produce poison.

Check out: 10 Interesting Facts About Frogs

2. There are more than a Hundred and Seventy Species of Poison Dart Frogs

The poison dart frogs generally belong to the family of Dentobatidae. However, there are over a hundred and seventy different species of poison dart frogs that have different colors and possess unique features. For example, there is the golden poison frog which is considered the most deadly poison frog in the world and it belongs to the family of Phyllobates Terribilis. There is also the blue poison dart frog and many more based on their different colors. There are also other poison dart frogs whose poison is not deadly and others are nonpoisonous.

3. A Lot of Poison Dart Frogs Hide Their Poison inside their Bodies

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A fact that most people do not know is that most poison dart frogs do not release their poison in the event of being attacked by predators. However, they have the poison inside their bodies and any animal that eats the frog would eventually die. These frogs have deadly and concentrated poison that is capable of killing any animal regardless of size. However, poison dart frogs that are kept in zoos do not have poisonous toxins because of their diet.

4. Golden Dart Frogs Are the Most Dangerous Among All Species

The golden dart frogs are considered the most deadly species because they store and release huge amounts of poison. The golden dart frog stores the excess poison called batrachotoxin in the glands and releases it when provoked. The poison causes various side effects in the animals that consume it including convulsion, salivation, and eventually death. The poison from the frog attacks the animal’s nervous system and paralyzes the animal. The one-milligram poison in the frog is huge enough to kill more than twenty adult humans instantly.

5. Their colors coincide with their level of Toxicity

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Since the poison dart frogs obtain their poison from their food, they also have their colors coinciding with their level of toxicity. The more colored the frog is the more poisonous it is. The dull-colored poison dart frogs are less poisonous and some of them are nontoxic. This ability explains why the golden dart frogs are the most poisonous because they have the brightest color.

6. Poison Dart Frogs Lay and Hatch Eggs between ten to Eighteen Days

The poison dart frogs are a special specie of frogs as they lay and care for their eggs for almost three weeks. The eggs are cared for by both female and male poison dart frogs until they hatch. The eggs take different days to hatch depending on the temperature of the surrounding. The newly hatched tadpoles float in water and others are carried on the backs of their mothers before they are freed to swim in water.

Also see: 25 Fascinating Things To Know About Reptiles

7. The Poison Dart Frogs are Immune to their Poison

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One would wonder whether or not the toxins can affect the poison dart frogs. The frogs are immune to their poison. The poison affects the predators by attacking the sodium channels of cells in the nervous system. However, the poison dart frogs have unique sodium channel cells that cannot be affected by the toxins.

8. Poison Dart Frogs store poison in their Skins 

The poison darts frogs can store the poison in their skins for years because the substance does not deteriorate. Indigenous people used the toxins from the frogs by putting the tip of the arrow in the poison. The tip of the arrow can carry the poison for a long period and still be deadly when it comes in contact with human or animal skin.

9. The Poison Dart Frogs do not use their Poison for Hunting

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Poison dart frogs do not use poison to kill their prey and eat. However, they have developed the toxins and use them as a defensive mechanism against predators and big animals. The toxins make the frogs taste bitter and also kill the animal that eats them.

10. Poison Dart Frogs are Known to Engage in Several Hours of Courtship 

The male poison dart frogs make noise to attract the female. Once they identify each other, the couples begin hopping from one tree to another chasing each other. Eventually, the male frog catches the female and they engage in lengthy mating while the female poison dart frog lays eggs. The eggs are fragile and more than thirty in number. The female finds still waters to allow the eggs to stay still as they await hatching.

To sum up, poison dart frogs are a kind of paradox in the woods as they have the beauty of an angel and the poison of the devil. These fascinating small creatures have become attractive over the years catching the attention of scientists across the world. While there are extremely toxic poison dart frogs, there are also those that are harmless such as those that are domesticated. They have less poison because of the food that they consume. However, these amazing creatures have unique features ranging from different colors to their levels of toxicity. We ought to know about these unique amphibians to protect them and ensure they are in the ecosystem. Understanding the astounding facts about poison dart frogs helps us to better appreciate their exceptional nature and the pressing need to preserve these rainforest treasures for future generations.