Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
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Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobate and Phyllobates)

Description:
Poison dart frogs (also known as poison frogs and poison arrow frogs) are nearly all brightly colored. Their size varies from ½ to 2 inches long. Males are frequently smaller than the females. Male blue poison dart frogs have widened finger disc pads.

Habitat:
These frogs are both terrestrial and partly arboreal, so they are found in leaf litter, trees and under logs and stones.

Range:
Central and South America from Costa Rica to Brazil.

Diet:
Small insects and invertebrates, especially ants.

Life Span:
Three to five years in the wild: up to ten years in captivity.

Family Life:
Females lay eggs in moist plant material or in the water collected in a bromeliad. The male then fertilizes the eggs, which vary from 1 to 20, depending upon the species. A parent (usually the male) guards the eggs, which hatch in 8 to 14 days. The young tadpoles are then carried to a larger water hole where metamorphosis takes place in 5 to 15 weeks, depending upon the species.

Status:
Due to their rainforest specialization, all of the more than 120 known species of poison dart frogs are threatened by habitat loss and environmental change. Blue poison dart frogs are specifically endangered due to overcollecting for the pet trade.
Picture
Unlike most of the world’s roughly 4,500 species of frogs, poison dart frogs are diurnal or daytime-active amphibians. They inhabit rainforest habitats in Central and South America, where they prey on invertebrates, especially certain ant species, which enable the frogs to build up potent alkaloid poisons for defense. Poison frogs advertise their toxicity to potential predators with brilliant warning colors and patterns. This is known as aposematic or warning coloration and is also found among certain highly-toxic butterfly and snake species.

In its Tropical Rainforest building, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo exhibits five poison dart frog species, including:
  • Green and black poison dart frog (Dendrobates auratus)
  • Yellow-banded poison dart frog (Dendrobates leucomelas)
  • Blue poison dart frog (Dendrobates azureus)
  • Golfoducean poison dart frog (Phyllobates vittatus)
  • Yellow and blue poison dart frog (also known as the dying poison dart frog) (Dendrobates tinctorius).
Rainforest Building open daily from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm
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​203-394-6565
​info@beardsleyzoo.org 
1875 Noble Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610
Open 9am-4pm daily
​Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is dedicated to acquainting a diverse public to the delicate balance that exists between living things and their environment.

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is a 501(c)(3) not for profit owned and operated by the Connecticut Zoological Society.

2019 Kids Out and About #1
Association of Zoos & Aquariums
Connecticut - Still Revolutionary
Weekly Best of Fairfield County Readers' Poll 2014
FC Buzz Events - Arts & Culture of Fairfield County
© 2022 Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
  • Home
  • About
    • Blog
    • Contact Us
    • Jobs
    • Press
  • Guest Info
    • Accessibility
    • Calendar
    • For Kids >
      • Coloring Pages
      • Zoo Patrol
      • Zoo Tots
    • Our Animals >
      • Eastern Rat Snake
    • Our Plants
    • Parents
    • Zoo Cams >
      • Outdoor Red Panda Cam
      • Indoor Red Panda Cam
      • Outdoor Spider Monkey Cam
      • Indoor Spider Monkey Cam
      • Otter Cam
    • Zoo Etiquette
    • Zoo Map
  • Membership
  • Education
    • Zoo to You!
    • Digital Programs
    • Kids & Teens
    • Field Trips
    • Cool Blue Bridgeport
    • Educational Resources
  • Support
    • Animal Sponsorship
    • Appeal
    • Corporate Support
    • Donate
    • Events
    • Gift Guide
    • Honor & Remember
    • Monthly Giving
    • Naming Opportunities
    • Wish List
  • Birthdays, Private Events & Weddings
    • Birthdays
    • Private Events
    • Weddings
    • Rates and Details
  • Volunteer
    • Interns
  • Buy Tickets