Dyeing dart frog

Dyeing Dart Frog is a species of poison dart frogs known by the scientific name (Dendrobates tinctorius). Another name that it is referred to as is the Dyeing Poison Arrow Frog. The frog, although not born with it, has a toxic poison that it can secrete. The frog gains the poison from what it eats. Certain insects that are in their diet have the poisons and the frog obtains the poison from them once it eats that insect. The Dyeing Dart Frog has a very unique color which shows predators that it is poisonous. The colors and patterns on each frog are different. For example some frogs might be black and yellow while others are black and green. The colors and patterns that they display are very unique and are not seen among other frogs.

Anatomy
The Dyeing Dart Frog has smooth skin. Its toes and fingers are not webbed and there are small discs on their toes and fingers that help them climb up vines and trees. They live for about ten years. They come in many different colors. Some are black with golden stripes. They can also be white and black, white and blue, or blue and black. [] The frog’s bright color helps display its venomous nature. Predators see this and know to stay away and that is why they have very few enemies. Female Dyeing Dart Frogs are bigger than the males, but males have bigger discs on their toes and fingers []

Reproduction
Female Dyeing Dart Frogs are attracted to a male by its call. After hearing the males call, the female follows him to the forest floor. The female lays 2-12 eggs. [] The eggs are usually laid on leaves. A female can lay a couple nests of eggs during the year.[]After the eggs are laid the male fertilize them. After fertilization occurs, the male takes care of the eggs by protecting them from predators. He watches them for 14-18 days until they hatch. Once the tadpoles hatch they climb onto the male’s back where they are attached by a sticky mucus. Then they are taken to a body of water. This body of water is where they will live for over two months. [] The metamorphosis take around 8 to 12 weeks to develop. During this time they will eat almost anything which helps them grow. A female can lay a couple nests of eggs during the year.[]

Ecology


Dyeing Dart Frogs are insectivores. They eat ants, spiders, termites and other insects. They are prey to snakes. The main predator of tadpoles are fish.[]

Dyeing Dart Frogs are native to South America's tropical rainforests. This type of frog likes the ground and tends to stay there, but can be found on vines that hang close to the ground. Dyeing Dart Frogs are shy so they can usually be found under a log or around dead leaves.[] They are also found near water. Dyeing Dart Frogs like humid habitats.[]

Dyeing Dart Frogs have a toxic substance that their skin is able to secrete. Although they secrete it they don't actually make the toxin. The insects that they eat have the toxins in them so they gain the poison through what they eat. They are not born with the toxins. Instead, they gain them as they grow older. They usually use this substance when predators threaten them. []

Origin of the Name
The Dyeing Dart Frog was the first poisonous frog known to the Europeans. The name comes from an old story that started in Europe. There were legends that members of different tribes in the Amazon used various mixtures to change the green feathers of a parrot into red feathers. According to the legends frog skin and blood were mixed together and rubbed on an area of the parrot where they wanted to be changed. The parrot had to be young and its original green feathers had to be plucked. When the new feathers grew in, they would be red and sometimes yellow. Because it looked like they had been dyed, they called the frog that they got the skin from the Dyeing Dart Frog.[] Dyeing Poison Dart Frogs are also known as Dyeing Poison Arrow Frogs. They got another part of the name from the natives. The native hunters would use the poison from the backs of the frogs on the tips of their arrows or darts. That is why they were referred to as Poison Dart Frogs and Poison Arrow Frogs. []