The Blue Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius azureus) is a medium-sized poisonous amphibian.

The Blue Poison Dart Frog has bright blue skin, with a darker blue belly and darker blue limbs. It has black spots. It has a hunched back. Each foot has four toes, with suction cups to grip surfaces. Males have heart-shaped tips on each toe, whereas females have rounded tips.

It measures 3-4.5 centimetres (1-2 inches) tall. Males have larger toes than females.

The Blue Poison Dart Frog is found in Brazil and Suriname in South America. It prefers tropical forests near water.

It has poisonous glands and a bright colour to deter predators. Predators are paralyzed or die from the poison.

The Blue Poison Dart Frog is diurnal, active during the day. Adult frogs eat ants, beetles, flies, mites, spiders, termites, maggots, and caterpillars.

It is territorial, and will protect its territory by chasing away other frogs.

Females fight over males during the breeding season. Female adult frogs lay eggs, which the male fertilizes externally. Males look after the eggs, which hatch after 14-18 days. Females have 5-10 young.

The eggs become tadpoles. Tadpoles breathe with gills like a fish, so that they can breathe under water. As the tadpoles become frogs (which takes 10-12 weeks), their gills become lungs, which means that they must come to the surface to breathe air (like humans).

The Blue Poison Dart Frog has a lifespan of 5-7 years.

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM