Blue poison frog  (Dendrobates azureus)

Often said to be the most alluring of all frog species, the blue poison frog's colouration is actually thought to function as a warning to predators that it is poisonous. Its limbs are royal blue, fading into an attractive sky blue background, peppered with both large and small black spots. The underside is similarly patterned, and may also sport a darker stripe down the centre (4). This species has a hunched body posture and large, black eyes. Females are plumper than males but may be more accurately distinguished by their toes. The blue poison frog has four toes on each foot, with enlarged suction cup tips to each toe. In the female these tips are round whereas in males they are heart-shaped (2).

This species is found only on the western slope of Vier Gebroeders Mountain in the Sipaliwini Savannah of Surinam in South America, at 300 – 400 metres above sea level (1).

Found in primary forest (1), the blue poison frog prefers to stay under the cover of rocks and moss around streams, but is sometimes seen up to five metres high in trees (4).

Famed for the alkaloid-based poison excreted from its skin, which can paralyse or kill potential predators, such as snakes and large spiders, the blue colouration of this frog actually serves as a warning that it is toxic. Its toxicity is obtained from its diet, which consists mainly of ants, although it will also consume many other arthropod species (2). Sometimes known as the blue poison arrow frog due to the tribal practice of dipping a dart tip in the poison before hunting.

Moving amongst its habitat during the day with small leaps, the blue poison frog is an active species, as well as being bold, aggressive, and territorial. Males initiate breeding between February and March, calling loudly to attract females. If one or more females move towards a male, fights may ensue, with the victorious female earning the right to stroke the male's snout and back with her forelegs in courtship. The male then leads the female to an area that is moistened in preparation for egg-laying. The female continues to stroke the male, signalling that she is ready to deposit her eggs, and stimulating the male to release his sperm. Between two and six eggs are laid and are kept moist by the male. They hatch after 14 – 18 days and the tadpoles are carried to water pools within plants such as bromeliads on the backs of both the male and the female. For a further two to three months, the female repeatedly returns to each tadpole and lays an unfertilised egg for the tadpole to eat. At this time, the tadpoles are at risk of predation by snakes and mosquito larvae. Over time the tadpoles undergo metamorphosis, to form an adult blue poison frog. They are sexually mature at around two years old, and can live for up to five years (2) (4).

Population numbers of the blue poison frog are now relatively stable, but due to the tiny range of this species, its existence is precarious. It previously suffered due to over-collection for the pet trade, but since it breeds easily in captivity, removal from the wild is now rare (1).

The range of the blue poison frog is entirely contained within the boundaries of the Sipaliwini Protected Area (1). Local people are educated to avoid collecting this species, although it is less valuable now as it can be bred so prolifically in captivity (2).

For further information on this species see AmphibiaWeb:
http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/amphib_query?query_src=aw_search_index&table=amphib&special=one_record&where-genus=Dendrobates&where-species=azureus

For information on amphibians and their conservation see the Global Amphibian Assessment:
http://www.globalamphibians.org/

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk