The golden dart frog (Phyllobates terribilis), also known as the golden arrowhead frog, occupies the fearsome first position among the most poisonous animals in the world. Despite measuring just a few centimeters, these amphibians produce such a powerful toxin that they are capable of scaring away and causing the death of their biggest predators, such as snakes and birds. In fact, it is estimated that the poison of a single frog could kill more than 10 people. Impressive, right? If you want to know more details and curiosities about these peculiar amphibians, keep reading this file on our site to discover everything about the origin, appearance, behavior and reproduction of the golden dart frog.
Origin of the Golden Dart Frog
The golden dart frog is an anuran amphibian belonging to the Dendrobatidae family, in which several species of endemic poison dart frogs are found. Central and South America, which are popularly known as arrowhead frogs. This popular name is due to the fact that many native tribes dipped the tips of their arrows in the poison of these animals, gaining greater effectiveness in hunting and in defending their territory.
In turn, golden dart frogs are considered endemic to Colombia, although there are also small populations living in Panama. In Colombian territory, these amphibians inhabit almost exclusively the Pacific coast of the departments of Cauca, Chocó and Valle del CaucaWhile in Panama, they have been recorded mostly in the jungles of the Darién province.
These amphibians are typically tropical animals that find their ideal habitat in the warm and humid areas of the American continent, with abundant vegetation and average temperatures of 24ºC to 27ºCthroughout the year. Specifically, the golden arrowhead frog is optimally adapted to jungle forests that are found at altitudes of up to 200 meters above sea level and register a high rate of rainfall with a minimum relative humidity of 80%
Appearance and Physical Characteristics of the Golden Dart Frog
Within the large family of dendrobatidae, the golden dart frog is a relatively large species, as adults typically reach 5 to 5.5 cm All arrowhead frogs are notable for different patterns of aposematic coloration on their skin, a type of pigmentation often associated with the toxicity of the animal and acts as a warning signal for its predators.
In golden dart frogs, the typical shiny skinis seen in adult individuals, but the coloration is uniform and does not show the dark spots that we can observe in other dendrobatids. You can also see the presence of tiny sticky discs on the toes of these frogs, which allow them to easily climb trees to escape, search for food and rest peacefully. Another distinguishing feature of the golden arrowhead frog is the bone plate on their lower jaw, which gives them the appearance of having small teeth.
Despite their name, not all golden dart frogs are actually golden, but there are three colorations in this species:
- Yellow: We could say that this is the 'real' golden arrow frog, as it exhibits the bright yellow coloration that has inspired its popular name. The largest population of this variety lives in the Guangüí ravine, in Colombia.
- Mint Green: stands out for being the most common variety in captivity and its natural habitat is concentrated mainly in the La Brea region in Colombia. Despite the name, frogs of this variety can exhibit different shades of bright or pale green, and there are even white individuals.
- Orange: Although not as common as the other varieties, orange frogs are the most attractive for their orange or orange yellows with a metallic sheen.
Golden Dart Frog Behavior
There are those who can even imagine that an animal as poisonous as the golden dart frog tends to maintain a more aggressive behavior in relation to its predators. But in most cases, this thought is completely false, since generally these species tend to be reserved and elusive, avoiding getting involved in situations that could put them at risk its integrity.
In their natural habitat, these frogs maintain diurnal habits, tending to forage mainly during the morning and early afternoon. It is a carnivorous animal whose diet is mainly based on the consumption of insects, mainly ants of the Brachymyrmex and Paratrechina ant families, although they also catch termites, caterpillars, flies, crickets, cockroaches, beetles, etc.
Interestingly, their insectivorous feeding is the reason that arrowhead frogs, such as the golden dart frog and theblue arrow frog , they become poisonous animals. This happens because it is the insects that produce the formic acid that is essential for these amphibians to synthesize batrachotoxin (the powerful toxin that makes up their venom).
Currently, many experts assume that the extremely high toxicity of the golden dart frog is due to the high consumption of a small species of beetle belonging to the Melyridae family, which in addition to producing formic acid would also be capable of synthesize batrachotoxin, so its presence in the frogs' diet allows to enhance its toxicityHowever, this hypothesis has not yet been proven.
Playing the Golden Dart Frog
The reproduction of frogs always occurs in the warmer times of the year, when weather conditions and food availability favor the tadpole development. Like all species of frogs that live in tropical climates, the golden dart frog can reproduce at any time, thanks to the fact that they enjoy high and balanced temperatures throughout the year. Likewise, they tend to prefer the seasons with the greatest amount of rain.
While little is known about the specific breeding 'ritual' of the golden dart frog, it is believed that it begins with males vocalizing their sexual calls to attract females, who will respond to their request by displaying receptive. Arrowhead frogs are oviparous animals with external fertilization, meaning that the eggs will be fertilized by the male outside the female's body.
In the absence of external reproductive organs (penis and vagina), male and female frogs release their sexual gametes through the cloacas Female golden dart frogs typically lay their eggs under leaves or rocks during periods of heavy rain. Then, the male will be responsible for fertilizing them and the couple usually alternate in guarding the eggs to ensure that they are always kept very moist.
About 15 days after fertilization, the eggs hatch and the male will carry the larvae on his back until the tadpoles are well developed and can survive in the water. Finding a safe place in the water, the male will "release" those tadpoles that are ready to feed on their own and continue undergoing their metamorphosis process until become adult frogs.
State of conservation
Currently, the golden dart frog is considered an endangered species, according to the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN. Despite having a powerful defense system against their predators, the survival of these amphibians is threatened mainly by human interference in their habitat, due to hunting, trapping and deforestationof the rainforests.
Can you have a pet golden dart frog?
Theoretically, the golden dart frog would be one of the species of frogs that can be kept as a pet, since it is harmless when it does not consume insects that synthesize formic acid, such as some species of ants, caterpillars and beetles. That is, with a controlled feeding, arrow frogs cannot synthesize batrachotoxin, so they are no longer poisonous. However, before keeping an arrowhead frog as a pet, it is important to consider several critical aspects. The first is that it is an endangered species, which, as we saw, has been hunted and trapped for several years, partly to "serve" as an exotic pet for humans. One of the basic premises would be to guarantee that it does not come from the illegal trafficking of species and that, therefore, its adoption is 100% responsible, legal and considered.
It is also essential to consider that, for these frogs to stop being poisonous, it is necessary to alter their sources of nutrition and subject them to a diet significantly different from what they would maintain in their natural habitat. In addition, providing them with this type of fresh and nutritious diet implies having a economic solvency, as well as providing preventive medicine from a veterinarian who is an expert in exotic animals to prevent common diseases in frogs. Last but not least, you should keep in mind that you will need to set up the environment to provide optimal developmental conditions for a golden dart frog. This also means an investment of money, time and effort, since it is an animal adapted to very specific conditions in tropical forests.
So, if you are evaluating the possibility of having a frog as a pet, we advise you to opt for species that are simpler to maintain, that are not poisonous and that are not in danger of extinction, such as the frog green tree frog or bullfrog. But remember to check if you can keep a bullfrog as a pet, as it is considered an invasive species in several countries
