Blue Poison Dart Frog

Poison Dart Frogs are some of the world’s most beautiful and poisonous creatures.  Their incredible poisonous ability comes from the food they eat.  They hunt, or prey on, certain types of ants and beetles which eat poisonous plants.  The poison from the plants is passed on to the insects and then on to the frogs, making them a dangerous food choice for rainforest predators.  These small amphibians are diurnal which means they are active during the day.  In this way, they can catch many small creatures which only come out in the daytime.

Physical Description

Blue Poison Dart Frogs are small frogs, less than 2 inches long.  Compared to other frogs, they have thin bodies and long skinny legs.  Like their brightly colored cousins, Blue Poison Dart Frogs catch your attention.  They have bright blue legs, with a sky blue back and black spots.  Every Blue Poison Dart Frog has its own special spot pattern.

Family Life

Blue Poison Dart Frogs don’t lay their eggs in water like most other frogs, they lay them in wet mossy areas under rocks and logs.  Both mother and father frogs clean the area where the eggs will be laid.  Blue Poison Dart Frog moms lay up to 10 eggs in a group called a clutch.  The father frog protects the eggs from small predators.  The eggs hatch in about 2 weeks.  After the eggs hatch, the father frog carries the baby tadpoles on his back to small pools of water in plants and trees.  The mother will visit each baby tadpole and feed them until they sprout legs and hop out onto the rainforest floor.  Like many frogs, Blue Poison Dart Frogs live alone.

Diet

Ants, beetles, flies, spiders, caterpillars and termites