Blue Poison Dart Frog:

Location at the Zoo: Americas

Region: Central and South America

Class: Amphibia

Order: Anura

Family: Dendrobatidae

Genus: Dendrobates

Scientific Name: Dendrobates azureus

Description

: This beautiful frog has an azure-blue hue on the limbs, a sky-blue on its dorsal surface, and a darker blue on its ventral surface. An irregular pattern of dark blue and black spots of various sizes cover this background coloration with the majority of the spotting located on its back as well as head. The pattern of spots is unique to each frog and thus serves as a "fingerprint" to differentiate between individuals. Sometimes, the ventral surface of the body has a dark blue or black mid-belly stripe. Its skin is generally smooth, but often portions of the posterior ventral surface and thighs have a granular texture. It is a mid-sized dendrobatid frog weighing about three grams. Males and females are quite similar in appearance. However, the female is slightly larger and is plumper than the male, with her average body length about 4.5 cm and his only 4 cm. This species is characterized by its hunch-backed posture. Each toe has a wide, flattened tip and a suction cup pad used to help it grip in the slippery environment it inhabits. Males have larger toe-tips, specifically those on the second, third, and fourth digits. In addition, these toe-tips are heart-shaped in males and round in females.

Habitat

: It inhabits small isolated forest areas surrounded by the dry, prairie-like savannah at elevations from 315 to 430 m. However, the forest habitat of D. azureus is rather humid and warm with temperatures ranging from 22 to 27 º C during the day to 20 º C night. It prefers a dark, moist environment, living only near small streams among moss-covered rocks. It typically remains on the ground, but has been found in trees at heights of up to five metres.

Credits to Torontozoo.com

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