DYEING POISON ARROW FROG
Dendrobates tinctorius
Amphibian
Order Anura
Description
Largest of the Dendrobates species, measuring up to two inches
from snout to vent. Color: black with wide yellow stripes; legs blue with
black spots. Stripes are often broken up, but may be fused.
Range
French Guiana and northern Brazil
Status
Continuous imports and loss of habitat will inevitably lead
to serious depletion in the wild.

Photo by Greg Neise |
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Ecology
- Habitat
- Tropical rain forests
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- Niche
- Diurnal and mainly terrestrial, living on or close to the ground. The
diet consists mainly of ants, termites, and other small insects and small
spiders.
Life History
Courtship is frequently initiated with vocalizations and stimulation
of the partner by touching, shoving, tapping, and attempts to mount, the
female being the active partner. The pair then searches for a suitable spawning
site. A few large eggs are deposited on leaves or the ground near water.
The eggs are guarded and kept wet by the male. After a 14 to18 day incubation,
the eggs hatch and the male carries the tadpoles to the water on his back.
Longevity in the wild is not known, but in captivity may live up to 10 years.
Special Adaptations
- Brightly colored to warn enemies of lethal nerve toxins
- The finger and toe tips have glandular adhesive pads that enable the
animal to climb
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