Lovely poison frog facts for kids
The lovely poison frog or lovely poison-arrow frog (Phyllobates lugubris) is a small, colorful frog that belongs to the Dendrobatidae family, also known as poison dart frogs. You can find this amazing frog in the warm, wet forests of Central America. It lives in countries like southeastern Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and northwestern Panama. Some frogs that used to be called lovely poison frogs, but lived on the Pacific side of Central America, are now known as a different species called Phyllobates vittatus.
Quick facts for kids Lovely poison frog |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Dendrobates lugubris Schmidt, 1857 |
Contents
What Does the Lovely Poison Frog Look Like?
Adult male lovely poison frogs are about 18.5–21 mm (0.73–0.83 in) long. Females are a bit bigger, measuring around 21–24 mm (0.83–0.94 in) from snout to vent. They have small teeth in their upper jaw.
The back of the frog is usually black. It has two bright stripes, often pale yellow, gold, or orange. These stripes run along its sides from its back legs all the way to its nose. The frog's legs often have yellow-greenish yellow spots. Its belly is mostly black with some mottling.
While many poison frogs are known for their strong toxins, some groups of lovely poison frogs in Central America are not known to be poisonous.
Where Do They Live and How Are They Protected?
The lovely poison frog lives in warm, wet lowland forests. Sometimes, they can also be found in slightly higher forests. They live at elevations from about 10–601 m (33–1,972 ft) above sea level. You might also see them in areas where forests are regrowing or in plant farms.
These frogs are active during the day. They live on the ground. Adult frogs are often found near rocky parts of forest streams.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Female frogs lay their eggs in dry leaf litter on the forest floor. Once the eggs hatch, the tiny tadpoles are carried by the male frogs. He takes them to forest streams. There, the tadpoles finish growing into young frogs.
Conservation Efforts
The lovely poison frog faces some threats. Losing their homes (forests) is a big problem. Pollution can also harm them. A type of Chytrid fungus called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has been found in some museum samples of these frogs. Scientists are still studying how much this fungus affects wild frog populations.
Sometimes, these frogs are collected illegally for the pet trade. To help protect them, the lovely poison frog is listed in CITES Appendix II. This means that trading them across borders is controlled to prevent them from becoming endangered. The good news is that these frogs live in several protected areas, which helps keep them safe.
