Animal of the Day #3

Today’s animal is... the Blue Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates Tinctorius Azureus)!!

The blue poison dart frog is found in humid, wet rainforests in southern Suriname. They are commonly seen among moss-covered rocks around streams.

                    Distribution map of various poison dart frogs

Blue poison dart frogs are 1.2–1.8 inches long and weigh about 0.28oz. They have bright blue skin with black spots on their head and back. Blue poison dart frogs have four toes on each foot, and interestingly, the shape and size of these toes differ between males and females. Males typically have larger, heart-shaped toes, while females have smaller, round toes.

A blue poison dart frog's diet includes insects with formic acid and other alkaloids, like fire ants. This is where the frog gets its distinct poison skin; it can metabolize and store these chemicals as a defense mechanism. They also feed on other small insects, like beetles, flies, and spiders.

Some facts about the blue poison dart frog:

• The blue poison dart frog is listed as of least concern and stable on the IUCN red list.

• Blue poison dart frogs are commonly kept as pets.

• Despite their name, most poison dart frogs aren't used for poison darts.

• Captive specimens of poison dart frogs will lose their toxicity over time due to a lack of toxic substances in their diet.

• There is debate on whether or not D. Tinctorius Azureus is a morph of D. Tinctorius or its own subspecies.

           Two blue poison dart                       A blue poison dart frog

             frogs on a rock                              in a terrarium

comment below if you have any animals you'd like to see in the future! :]