Behaviour of the poison dart frog

31december2008
Source: De Pijlgifkikker, een temperamentvolle Zuid-Amerikaan, Stichting Sauria, 2005
Poison dart frogs are active during the day. This is one of the reasons they have such bright colours. The colours are a warning for predators.
The reproduction behaviour of the poison dart frog differs from that of most other kinds of frogs.
Eggs are laid on the land and not in the water. The eggs are laid in the armpit of leaves. After this, they are fertilised by the male. The male also moistens the eggs. After hatching, he transports the larvae on his back to the water. Sometimes, the female assists.
The behaviour of the poison dart frog differs per kind. Some are social frogs that live in small groups (Phyllobates and Epipedobates). Of the two, the Phyllobates are real jumpers.
Dendrobates prefer to live as a couple. They prefer walking over jumping.
Some types are aggressive. In general, the males are less aggressive than the females. Poison dart frogs have a clear preference for other poison dart frogs. When means that they might not even reproduce when they are put together with animals they don’t like.

Poison dart frogs make sound. In most types, only the males whistle. Only in P. terribilis, the females also whistle. Besides whistling, the frogs buzz, peep, grate and chirp. The sounds are used to attract females and to set off the territory.