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Yellow-banded poison dart frog

Dendrobates leucomelas

Yellow-banded poison dart frog at Paignton Zoo
IUCN Conservation Status –
Least Concern
Extinct In The Wild
Class: Amphibians
Order: Anura
Family: Dendrobatidae

This particular poison dart frog likes to inhabit humid, tropical rainforests, in the northern part of South America, most notably in Venezuela.

They are carnivores, enjoying a diet of spiders, ants and other small insects.

Interesting facts!

  • This species lives in small groups called an ‘army’, and will attack neighbouring groups with surprising ferocity for creatures of their size.
  • Like other dart frogs, this amphibian secretes potent toxins from their skin, which they gain from eating certain prey. They bright colouring acts as a warning to predators that they are highly poisonous!
  • It is known to have one of the loudest calls among poison dart frogs. It can be heard from some distance and is described as a bird-like trill.

Conservation

This frog’s high numbers in the wild and widespread natural distribution has helped maintain this its status of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Capture for the exotic pet trade and loss of habitat are the main issues faced by this species.