| Inhabiting countries of South and Central America like | | | | unlikely that they will contain any poison. The poison |
| Costa Rica, Columbia, Bolivia and Peru, the poison | | | | that is developed in the frog while out in the wild is |
| dart frog is a stunning, bright colored frog that | | | | because of it's diet of ants, termites, beetles and |
| secretes a poisonous toxin. The science community | | | | other insects. When they no longer eat the |
| only discovered this unique frog in the 1960's, but it | | | | poisonous beetles of Central America, the toxins in |
| has been known by tribes for many years. By the | | | | their body are no longer produced, making them |
| name of the frog, one might think that it is somehow | | | | harmless. |
| able to shoot poisonous darts, but this is simply not | | | | Most of us are accustomed to seeing frogs at the |
| the case. The poison dart naming comes from the | | | | edge of a pond, marsh or stream, but the dart frog |
| fact that tribes in the rain forest used the poison on | | | | is different. It does not have webbed feet and is |
| the tips of darts that they would use to subdue a | | | | therefore not a good swimmer, so you won't find |
| threat. | | | | one of these frogs living in ponds. |
| The poison dart frog is not just one frog, but an | | | | Unfortunately, the Poison Dart frog is experiencing a |
| entire species of frogs that contains well over 100 | | | | population crisis and is on the endangered species list. |
| individual types of poison dart frogs. Usually, these | | | | Over the years, destruction of rain forest land as |
| frogs are quite small and measure less than 1 inch | | | | well as droughts in their regions, these frogs have |
| long, but some species can grow up to about 2.5 | | | | decreased in numbers. Fortunately, pet Poison Dart |
| inches. | | | | Frogs are bred only in captivity and are not collected |
| While the poison in many species of poison dart | | | | from the wild. |
| frogs may not be enough to kill a healthy human, | | | | The bright colors of these frogs are just incredible |
| their have been instances where the poison entered | | | | and it's no wonder why people want to keep them |
| a cut or scratch which resulted in death. Their poison | | | | as pets. With proper care, the Poison Dart Frog can |
| is quite effective in subduing their predators, | | | | live for many years in captivity. |
| however if a poison dart frog is born in captivity, it's | | | | |