Yellow Banded Poison Dart Frog
scientific
name
Dendrobates
leucomelus
size
Length:
1 1/2-2 in • females larger and thicker
characteristics
Color:
aposematic or warning coloration – juvenile black with yellow band
around middle, adults develop black spots in the yellow band and marking
become more intricate
Body: skin glands excrete alkaloid poisons
Toes: glandular adhesive pads on toes
Behavior:
diurnal • live colonially on forest floor in leaf litter, on fallen
trees, stones • forage amongst leaf litter • make short hops
• rarely still for more than seconds • territorial among species
reproduction/life
span
Mate.
male buzzes, hums, chirps and trills to attract female • 2-12
eggs laid
• female leaves and male carries eggs in mouth to small water
reservoirs
• male guards and keeps moist
Incubation: 12-14 days
Offspring: juvenile sexually mature in 2-3 mo.
diet
Wild: ants,
termites, tiny beetles, crickets, other small insects, spiders
habitat/range
Habitat:
humid rain forests, 163-2600 ft above sea level
Range: Venezuela and Central America
other
largest
of this genus • also called Bumblebee Poison Dart Frog
note
poisons
produced from diet, not present in animals in captivity
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