Dendrobatidae

The family includes 177 species in three subfamilies: Colostethinae (62 sp.); Dendrobatinae (54 sp.); Hyloxalinae (59 sp.). Distribution range: representatives inhabit rainforests of Central and South America. [IMG_1] Most poison dart frogs are small, sometimes less than 1.5 cm, although some species reach 6 cm in length. All representatives can be divided into two groups: nocturnal forms with dark protective coloration, and diurnal forms with toxic skin secretions and bright warning coloration. Bright coloration correlates with alkaloid toxicity. Frogs of the genus Dendrobates have high alkaloid levels, whereas species of Colostethus have cryptic coloration and are non-toxic. Poison dart frogs have short but powerful hind limbs, making them agile jumpers and climbers. Poison dart frogs are characterized by exceptional parental care: one or both parents constantly guard and moisten the eggs, and later even feed tadpoles, carrying them on their backs from one “pool” in bromeliad, fern, or other tropical plant rosettes to another, more suitable one. They maintain strictly defended territories marked by calls and are fiercely defensive against intruders. [IMG_2] Dendrobates tinctorius [IMG_3] Ameerega parvula [IMG_4] Oophaga lehmanni [IMG_5] Ranitomeya reticulata [IMG_6] Epipedobates anthonyi [IMG_7] Hyloxalus sauli The golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis) is one of the most poisonous animals on Earth and the most poisonous frog known to science. Its skin contains the extremely potent toxin batrachotoxin. A single individual contains enough toxin to lethally poison 10 adult men. There is no antidote to poison dart frog toxin. The toxin has neuroparalytic and strong cardiotonic effects; poisoning causes cardiac rhythm disturbances, extrasystoles, ventricular fibrillation, cardiac paralysis, and death. The Indigenous Embera people of Colombia have for centuries used the powerful toxin of these frogs to coat arrow tips. [IMG_8] Phyllobates terribilis 1. Golden poison frog 2. Amphibian Species Lists 3. Laurie J. Vitt, Janalee P. Caldwell. Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles.