The dyeing poison frog (Dendrobates tinctorius) was the first scientifically described poison
frog species in 1797. Since then, poison frogs have become some of the most well-researched
frogs alive today. Oh and the frog’s name has nothing to do with fatality. Supposedly,
the frog’s poison was used to produce different
colored parrot feathers if an uncited wikipedia sentence is to be believed.
Green and black poison frogs (Dendrobates auratus) were
purposely introduced to Hawaii in the 1930s for insect control.
They still live there as of this recording, and it's unknown how they impact the local fauna.
Most poison frogs are relatively harmless to humans unless they're eaten; this is because
they're poisonous and not venomous. Venomous organisms inject their toxins, while poisonous
organisms must be consumed (or inhaled or absorbed through the skin) for their toxins to take effect.
Brighter poison frog species are more toxic than the cryptic species (primarily genus Colostethus)
who are mildly toxic if at all. Yes, some poison frogs are not actually poisonous.
Poison frog parents guard their eggs and may protect more than one clutch
at a time - as if a single clutch of eggs isn’t enough.
I guess this is the poison frog version of having twins. The eggs are laid in leaf litter,
and clutches contain about a dozen offspring. Did I say twins? I meant dodecatuplets.
Poison frog parents give their babies piggyback rides either individually or
in groups to standing water on the ground or in plants.
These trips last from just a few hours to over a week before they’re deposited. It's been observed
that different parents will bring their tadpoles to the same pools. Humans call it socializing,
for poison frogs it’s probably weeding out the weak - so basically the same thing.
Poison frogs call to attract a mate and defend a territory. They’re sometimes described as
sounding similar to a buzzing bee, but they produce a wide variety of different sounds
including chirps and clicks. To me this one sounds like a sprinkler: (audio). Here are
some other examples: (audio)
Some poison frogs mimic the colors of other poison frog species. They're commonly known as
mimic poison frogs (Ranitomeya imitator). Yes, it’s a very original common name.
Like mimic poison frogs, painted ant-nest frogs (Lithodytes lineatus) mimic poison frogs,
like the brilliant-thighed poison frog (Allobates femoralis), to avoid
predators even though the ant-nest frogs themselves have no toxins. Also can we just
appreciate that a poison frog species has the common name brilliant thighs?
The skunk frog (Aromobates nocturnus), which gets its name from its smell,
was once considered a nocturnal poison frog but has since been reclassified. It may be extinct.
You’ve also probably heard that poison frogs purposely poison their children,
have a serpentine predator immune to their poison, and can live to be 15 or older, but if you weren’t
aware of these facts, you can learn all about them and more in our full poison frog episode.
There’s a card on screen you can click right now. Go ahead. Click it! There’s lots to learn!
And thanks for watching Animal Fact Files!