CENTRAL / SOUTH AMERICAN POISONOUS FROGS

Dendrobates tinctorius

Family: Dendrobatidae Genus: Dendrobates Species: tinctorius Common Names Dyeing Poison-Arrow Frog , Dyeing Poison Frog Countries Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana
	Species Distribution Map	Photo copyright Shin Sugiyama

Taxonomy and Biology

Adult length: 34mm

Description

Highly variable in both colour and pattern depending on location. Most specimens are blue and black frogs with strong white, yellow or pale blue dorsal surface patterns. However, in some specimens the white, yellow or pale blue patterning may be dominant on all surfaces or the black and / or blue ground colour may be dominant on all surfaces.
The typical form has a head and body dorsal surface bright yellow with a broad, wavy, black vertebral band ( may or may not extend onto the head ) and a broad wavy, black dorsolateral or flank band either side of the body which may be broken into large spots. Lower flanks are typically yellow with black spots. White or pale blue may replace yellow in some localities. Legs and arms are typically blue ( pale or dark ) usually with or occasionally without black flecking, mottling, reticulation or spotting. Bright purple replaces blue in some specimens. Head venter and ventral body surface is typically yellow with black flecking, mottling, reticulation or spotting or black. Some specimens are mainly yellow with black spotting and little or no blue pigment ( extension of dorsum pattern over the whole body ) while others may be mainly black with traces of white, yellow or blue spotting. Some specimens have a ventral surface, arms and legs entirely white or pale blue with round black spots ( extension of arm and leg colour onto the ventral and / or lateral surface ) and a white head and body dorsum with some black spotting and an absence of yellow pigment.

Habitat

Lowland humid forest pockets up to about 400 metres, often isolated by surrounding dry savanna terrain or mountain plateaus.

Habits

Terrestrial and diurnal frog that inhabits leaf litter on the forest floor but is a strong climber which is often found in trees and vines a few metres above the ground.

Prey

Feeds mainly on ants.

Poison Activity

Poison Type: Histrionicotoxins, Pumiliotoxins, Decahydroquinolines, Quinolizidines