DYEING POISON FROG - Dendrobates tinctorius

Dyeing poison frog - Dendrobates tinctorius

The dyeing poison frog - Dendrobates tinctorius, is among the largest species of poison dart frog native to Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, and Brazil.  Described in 1799 by German naturalist Johann Gottlob Schneider (1750 – 1822), it is highly toxic if consumed, and subject to both different color morphs and varying degrees of toxicity. Than being said there is some argument that the more distinct colour morphs are actually different species.

Although not as strong as some of the toxins produced by other genera of poison dart frogs, the pumilio-toxins that the dyeing poison frog uses for self-defense is sufficient to discourage most animals from feeding on them.

Dyeing poison frog - Dendrobates tinctorius

Mature specimens are around 5 cm in length and 3 grams in weight, although larger examples may exceed 7 cm. Males are typically smaller than the females, although they have larger, heart-shaped toe discs. They are most commonly found with a royal blue body adorned with variable black spots across the back. This colouration can also vary with blue, black and even yellow stripes.

It is an active species with a strong territorial instinct. They come into breeding condition between February and March, which is announced by the males calling loudly to attract females. Between two and six eggs are laid, which hatch after 14 to 18 days. In their native habitat the tadpoles are carried on the backs of both the male and the female to small, protected water pools found within rosette-leaved plants such as bromeliads. There is little to no available food in the pools, so over a period of two to three months, the female will return repeatedly to each tadpoles pool to lay an unfertilised egg for them to feed off. Over time the tadpoles develop into the adult and are sexually mature at around two years old.

In text image - Pogrebnoj-Alexandroff - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22487699

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