Dendrobates leucomelas is known as the Yellow Banded Poison Dart frog, or commonly known as the Bumblebee poison dart frog. In captivity, these frogs can live as long as 15 years. This frog is poisonous and is the largest of its genus. They're recognized by their bright colors on their tiny bodies. A related species, the Green and Black Dart Frog, has been introduced in Hawaii. The colors on this particular frog are black with yellow stripes on their head, and the back legs. They are approximately 1 to 5 centimeters long, and rarely ever touched. Females are often bigger and thicker than the males. Also, they have unique glandular adhesive pads on their toes, which help them to climb and stay in position. They produce a special skin that has a highly potent nerve toxin, which makes people aware of their distinguished colored bodies that serve as warning signs for predators.

 

The Yellow Banded Poison Dart frog was founded in tropical regions, in northern South America. It ranges from Venezuela, Northern Brazil, Guyana, and Southeastern Columbia. The Yellow Banded Poison Dart Frog prefers humid or wet habitats. It can be found in 30 degrees Celsius or warmer and about 50-800 meters above sea level. Also, found in forest floors in leaf litter, and on fallen trees and stone, some even in tropical trees. The Yellow-banded Poisons Dart Frog secretes a variety of toxic skin chemicals, called alkaloids, for protection against predation. These "poison frogs" do not produce the alkaloids, however, but instead they get them from their insect diets. Like most frogs, Yellow-banded Dart Frogs are diurnal (means Active during the day) and they are very aggressive when it comes to their territory. Different species rarely overlap territories. Though this species is patchily distributed, the range is quite large. Most habitats are near Savannah and not at a high deforestation risk. Also, extensive captive breeding has all but eliminated the demand for smuggled individuals.

 

This species is not an endangered species and its growing into other types of its own genus like the Poison Dart frog which is in the Dendrobatidae order, however many South American tribes use the Yellow Banded Poison Dart Frog's poison on their arrow tips. When it comes to breeding humming, buzzing, and chirping are the sounds you will come to find when they have breeding season. The eggs hatch in each clutch which is about 2-12 eggs and hatches in 10-14 days. They kill the frogs and put them over a fire catching the poison as it dripped off the skin. The poison was kept until it fermented, then arrow tips were dipped in it and allowed to dry. They are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. It exist many species in many variations and many colors.

 

The Yellow Banded Poison Dart Frog eats mostly insects: ants, termites, crickets, spiders, and even some small beetles. Because of their poisonous skin, these frogs do not appear to be consumed by other animals, with the exception of one species of snakes. The main predators of these frogs are now human beings, which want to use their poison, either to catch food or to do research in toxicology.  Like I had stated before South American Tribes use their poison on Arrow tips.

 

D. Leucomelas is amazing frog. There is a lot to learn about this frog particularly a wide variety of information. What stood out the most when I had read about my animal was  how dangerous these frogs were. Also, how they were being killed for their poison used on arrows to kill animals by tribes. I learned that not all frogs sleep during the day instead of the night and also how humid it had to be for where D. Leucomelas had to live in those conditions. To conclusion, this frog is amazing and I am glad I was able to have this experience of learning so much about it.

 

Author: Hailey E

Date:10/10

 

Sources:

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dendrobates_leucomelas.html  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendrobates_leucomela

 

Photo Credit:

Adrian Pingstone, 2005