Dendrobates auratus
green and black poison dart frog

Dendrobates auratus can be found in Central and South America, from Nicaragua and Costa Rica to southeastern Brazil and Bolivia. They were also introduced in Hawaii by humans, and have flourished there. (http://ecology.miningco.com/library/weekly/aa012598.htm)

Dendrobates auratus adults are found on the floor of rain forests. They prefer locations near small streams or pools. The tadpoles live in these small pools or streams. Where the frogs live in the heavily populated areas of Hawaii, the eggs are often deposited in broken beer bottles or old cans instead of the usual puddle. (Whitfield 1984)

Dendrobates auratus has many color variants. Most of them are black and either green or light blue, with the black in bands or spots. The Hawaiian frogs are metallic green or brownish-black. The adults are approximately 4 cm long. As is true of most frogs, adults have a fused head and trunk with no tail. Tadpoles use gills to breathe, unlike the adults, which breathe through lungs. Tadpoles also lack legs and have tails, which is appropriate for their watery habitat. Another important physical characteristic of D. auratus is the poison glands located throughout the surface of their body. Their bright colors are believed to encourage predators with color vision to avoid the frogs. The boldly contrasting patterns may be aposematic to predators that lack color vision, although this has not been proven. Approximately 90 alkaloids have been identified from all species of dendrobatids <<Dendrobatidae>.. (Myers & Daly, 1976)

Longevity is not well-known.

Dendrobates auratus are diurnal, and are seldom still during the day, constantly searching for food and taking care of young with distinctive hopping motions. Although the color pattern of these frogs is used to warn predators of their poison and not to attract mates, the mating ritual is quite elaborate. The male frogs with fight each other, and when the females have chosen their mate, the males stay in their own territories. (Mattison 1987)

Little is known of communication in this species. Males use vocalizations to attract females for mating and advertise territories. It is also possible that visual displays, tactile stimuli, and chemical cues are involved. They use their excellent vision to capture prey.

Dendrobates auratus individuals prey on small invertebrates. Most notably, these frogs eat ants that have high quantities of alkaloids in their tissues. The frogs can sequester those alkaloids in their skin, which is what makes them poisonous. Dendrobates auratus individuals kept in captivity and fed a diet of insects without alkaloids will lose their toxicity. These frogs capture their prey by using their sticky, retractible tongues as well as their excellent eyesight. (Obst 1988)

Dendrobates auratus avoids predation through their aposematic coloration and extremely toxic skin secretions.

Poison dart frogs are important predators of small invertebrates.

There are no negative impacts of these frogs on humans, although the skin of these frogs is highly toxic and unprotected contact can be dangerous.

Dendrobates auratus have long been used by local peoples to provide poison for their weapons. Currently the possibility of various medicines being derived from the frogs is being explored. Pharmaceutical companies are investigating the possibilities of a painkiller, ABT-594, being developd from a compound called epibatidine, which is found in D. auratus. The drug has the potential to be approximately 200 times more potent than morphine in blocking pain in animals, yet shows no sign of side effects of addiction. Since there have been over 80 alkaloids discovered from the 20 species of dendrobatids, there is much more research being conducted, especially on the effects of the alkaloids on neurological and muscular disorders. These frogs are also bred in captivity and sold extensively in the exotic pet trade. People enjoy them as pets because they are so colorful, and although they provide a challenge to owners, they do fairly well in captivity. (Merickel 1998)

Dendrobates auratus are not currently listed as in danger. However, with the destruction of their habitat, tropical rain forests, it is now likely that in a short time they will be in trouble. In fact, it is speculated that members of the genus Dendrobates will be the first poison dart frogs to be put on the endanged list of a major conservation organization such as CITES or ESA.

(http://ecology.miningco.com/library/weekly/aa012598.htm)

Poison dart frogs appear to be highly adaptabe, since they do well in aquariums, and they were successfully introduced in Hawaii. They make excellent pets for decoration, although they can't be touched because of their toxicity. They are colorful and lively, as well as being relatively easy to maintain. They do, however, tend to lose their toxicity when kept in captivity, possibly because of the loss of wild food sources. With the rain forests disappearing every day, the danger to the frogs is evident. Although scientists are studying their toxins and the possibility of obtaining medicines from D. auratus, the time is fast approaching when it may not be possible to take advantage of all the frogs have to offer us. (Hundt 1997)