The blue poison arrow frog, or Dendrobates azureus originates from Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Guyana,Colombia, Brazil and Surinam - North America and South America.
It is true to say that only a few species are used in this way, but the name seems to have stuck for all the family!
There are a number of poison arrow frogs such as the blue, the Dendrobates pumilio which is the strawberry poison arrow frog, and the Dendrobates leucomelas, the orange-banded poison arrow frog. However, the most toxic and poisonous of the poison arrow (or dart) frogs is the Phyllobates terribilis (the Golden Poison Frog).
It is assumed that dart frogs do not synthesize (make chemically) their poisons, but confiscate the chemicals from their prey such as ants, centipedes and mites.
It is known as dietary hypothesis. Because of this, captive-bred animals do not contain such high levels of toxins. However, despite the toxins used by some poison dart frogs, there are some predators that have developed the ability to withstand them, such as the Amazon ground snake (Liophis epinephelus).
Strawberry poison arrow frogs operate slightly differently. In her case she will lay eggs that are unfertilised for the tadpoles to eat in the pools.
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