Scientific Name
Dendrobatidae spp.
Other Common Name(s)
Poison Arrow Frogs, Poison Frogs
Body Weight
0.5-4.0 g
Body Length
Around 2.5-5 cm
Habitat
Diet
Fun Facts
Poison dart frogs secrete a poison through their skin as defence. By showing bright colours and being active during the day, they advertise their toxicity and warn potential predators. The golden poison dart frog (Phyllobates terribilis) is one of the most deadly and their poison can kill 10 human adults.
Depending on the species, the father or mother carries the hatched tadpoles on their back and deposit them into small pools of water. In some species, the mother feeds them with unfertilised eggs.
Distribution
Threats & Conservation
Threats & Conservation
Urbanisation & Infrastructure
Overexploitation of Biological Resources
Human Disturbance & Ecosystem Disruption
Invasive Species & Diseases
Pollution
Climate Change
Poison dart frogs are threatened by habitat loss or degradation resulting from agricultural development, cattle ranching, logging, pollution and human settlement. Climate change and pet trade pose even more danger to them. Some species have declined dramatically by 80% in 10 years.
IUCN Red List
28 species are Critically Endangered, 39 are Endangered, 29 are Vulnerable, 7 are Near Threatened, 59 are Least Concern and 36 are Data Deficient
CITES
102 species are listed in Appendix II
Conservation
Protected under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong.
