Dart frogs (also known as poison dart frogs and poison arrow frogs) are among the most colourful of all amphibians.  The 170 species are currently known from the tropical forests of Central and South America, and many sport such vivid  and striking colouration that they almost do not seem real. 

The dramatic colouration of dart frogs is a warning to enemies that their skin contains powerful toxins that are derived from ants, mites and termite that the frogs eat.  Many tribes of native Amerindians use of their toxic secretions to poison the tips of blowdarts, hence the frogs’ common names. 

The toxins of many species of dart frogs can be deadly. A single adult of the most poisonous of all, the golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis) can kill 20 humans! Captive-bred dart frogs do not feed on the ants, mites and termites from which the toxins are sequestered, and so lack the toxins that make wild dart frogs so poisonous. 

Tree frogs occur in tropical, sub-tropical and warm temperate regions around the world and are so called because they spend much of their lives in trees. Many species of tree frogs have dramatic colouration to startle enemies, and some can change their colour to camouflage themselves.

Dart frogs and tree frogs make fascinating pets. Watch the video below and take a look at the downloadable caresheet for further details!

 

Download the Caresheet

The following are strongly recommended as ethical suppliers of livestock based in the UK with fantastic ranges of weird and wonderful pets:

 

Reptiles Plus

www.reptilesplus.co.uk

 

Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm

www.butterflyfarm.co.uk

 

ALSO CONSIDER JOINING THE FOLLOWING SOCIETIES:

 

The British Herpetological Society

www.thebhs.org

 

Know any other suppliers or societies that we should include here? Please contact the Weird and Wonderful Pets team by emailing sales@redfernnaturalhistory.com 

 

Download the Caresheet