Image: Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates azureus) 2

Description: Dendrobates azureus is a mainland animal, but stays close to water sources. These frogs spend most of their awake time during the day, hopping around in short leaps. They are very territorial and aggressive both towards their own species and others. In order to ward off intruders, they use a series of calls, chases, and wrestling, which usually occurs within the same sex.

Although poison dart frogs are known for their skin toxin, used on the tips of arrows or darts of natives, in reality only the species of the Phyllobates genus are used in this manner, although all poison dart frogs have some level of toxicity.

The Blue Poison Dart Frog breeds seasonally, usually during the months of February or March when it is rainy. In order to find a mate, the males sit on a rock and produce quiet calls, which the female follows and tracks down the male. The females then physically fight over the male. The male takes the female to a quiet place by water to mate, which becomes the site of the egg-laying.

Between five to ten offspring are produced, and eggs are laid in the male’s territory, which he defends. The male takes care of the eggs most of the time, but sometimes the female does as well. The eggs hatch between fourteen and eighteen days, and after anywhere from ten to twelve weeks, the tadpoles are fully mature. Both sexes reach sexual maturity at two years of age. The expected lifespan of an average D. azureus is between four and six years in the wild, and about ten years in captivity.

Dendrobates azureus
Author: Cliff
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