Scientific name: Dendrobates azureus
Physical description: The Blue poison frog is one of the most striking of the poison arrow frogs. It is a mid-sized frog in the Dendrobates family with its length ranging from 3.0 - 4.5 cm. They usually weigh approximately 3 grams. Poison arrow frogs vary in length from 1.5 cm - 7 cm. Males can be distinguished from females by their larger front toe pads.
This beautiful, yet deadly, frog comes in a variety of blue colors which can range from a powder blue to a cobalt or sapphire blue. This frog also has black spots on its head.
Behavior: Blue poison dart frogs are active during the day and can be found hiding among boulders and debris near streams; however, they lack toe webbing and are poor swimmers, so they are never found in the water.
Distribution: Neotropical: These Blue poison frogs are only found in the southern part of Suriname (or Surinam), South America.
Habitat: This frog lives in the tropical rainforest. It is considered terrestrial but it usually stays near a water source such as a pond or stream. These frogs are used to a dark, moist environment.
Food: This Blue poison frog, like most other frogs, enjoys a meal of termites, crickets, ants and fruit flies. Chemicals are derived from their food and synthesized into cutaneous poisons. When captive bred, these same chemicals are not found in the food sources.
Predators: Other than certain snakes and large spiders, there are few predators that can cope with the noxious poisons of adult frogs.
The tadpoles, which are not protected by any poison, often fall prey to snakes and dragonfly larvae.
Interesting facts:
-It takes about 12 weeks for a Blue poison tadpole to metamorphose into a frog.
-The skin of a poison arrow frog stays sticky from mucus. This feature helps to hold in moisture and it helps tadpoles hold on tight when they are being carried from hatching site to nursery site. The toes are also important. The suction cup pads are very helpful in climbling and clinging to leaves and branches.
-These frogs secrete toxins from pores in their skins.
-The Blue poison dart frog has a slight hunchback.
-The pattern of spots on each frog is unique and a "fingerprint" of sorts.
-The toe-tips are heart-shaped in males and round in females.
-The particular mating system of D. azureus is unknown, but many close relatives are polygynous (one male mates with several females). For instance, the green poison dart frog, Dendrobates auratus, is polygynous.
-Dendrobates azureus is poisonous, and its toxins could cause harm, and possibly prove fatal to a human. In fact, this frog contains on average about 200 micrograms of poison and only 2 of which is necessary to prove fatal to a human.
-They have skin that remains sticky from mucus secretions which helps to hold moisture in.
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