poison frog poison frog known poison frog poison frog known poison arrow frog common group frogs family native tropical species brightly colored bodies bright coloration brightly colored species making species species family exhibit extremely bright coloration high cryptic coloration minimal observed species great derive diet ants species exhibit cryptic coloration low amounts eat larger variety prey species family threatened human infrastructure places inhabit amphibians called frogs indigenous use toxic poison tips species documented purpose plants commonly come genus characterized relatively large size high levels members characteristics species poison frogs small adult length grow length weigh average poison frogs brightly colored displaying patterns warn potential predators bright coloration associated levels example frogs genus high levels species colored toxic poison frogs example organism bright coloration potential predators currently thought originated times poison family according phylogenetic trees frogs undergone dramatic coloration surprising given frequency dependent nature type defense mechanism adult frogs lay eggs moist places including leaves plants exposed roots eggs hatch adult time suitable water pool water gathered throat plants remain fed eggs laid regular intervals mother habitat poison frogs endemic humid tropical environments frogs generally found tropical including costa_rica brazil colombia ecuador venezuela french peru panama nicaragua hawaii introduced natural habitats include subtropical tropical moist lowland forests subtropical tropical high altitude subtropical tropical moist rivers freshwater marshes intermittent freshwater marshes lakes swamps species found wet flooded lowland grassland land rural gardens plantations moist heavily degraded forest forests rocky areas known hold frogs tend live close ground trees ground reproduction species poison frogs dedicated parents poison frogs genera carry newly hatched canopy stick backs parents upper reaches trees parents deposit young pools water accumulate plants feed invertebrates nursery mother supplement diet eggs water poison frogs lay eggs forest floor hidden beneath leaf litter poison frogs eggs externally female lays cluster eggs male afterward manner fish poison frogs observed similar manner frogs demonstrations actually territorial wrestling matches males females frequently engage disputes territory male fight prominent broadcast mating females fight desirable nests invade nests females competitor eggs operational sex ratio poison frog family female biased leads characteristic behaviors traits found organisms uneven sex ratio general females choice mate turn males brighter coloration territorial aggressive males females select mates based coloration mainly dorsal calling perch location territory taxonomy frogs focus major phylogenetic studies undergo taxonomic changes frequently family revised contains genera species color poison frogs species include number color emerged recently years ago species include color pattern colors control actual patterns probably controlled single differing coloration historically single species separate controversy classification variation predation influenced evolution sexual selection appears contributed del populations medicine poison frogs skin skin poison frogs serve chemical defense predation able active alongside potential predators day structural classes known poison frogs toxic poison frog species argued frogs chemicals prey items ants diet hypothesis captive bred animals possess significant levels contain wild populations fact new studies suggest maternal frogs species lay eggs laced trace amounts feed behavior shows introduced young age nonetheless captive bred frogs retain ability accumulate provided containing diet despite poison frogs predators developed ability withstand snake developed immunity poison chemicals extracted skin shown medicinal value scientists use poison chemical times potent called dose close fatal dose derivative developed called got far trials humans dropped development unacceptable effects showing promise muscle heart appetite poisonous frogs golden poison frog average kill men thousand mice colorful toxic discourage predation pose far risk humans large animals evolution skin coloration early study summers evolution skin coloration family indicated evolution skin significantly evolution bright coloration adding research study went explain conspicuous coloration diet body mass capacity chemical defense poison frogs offer evolutionary scenarios explain possibility capacity preceded greater resource gathering making easier frogs gather ants required diet counter classical theory assumes diet arises signaling second hypothesis suggests diet preceded higher capacity evolved order allow gather resources predation evidence suggests related recently published study supports idea study found poison frogs conspicuous toxic comparison conspicuous species energetic costs producing bright color lead potential trade offs bright coloration prey strong secondary defenses like toxic frogs study gain costly signaling prey populations toxic predicted manifest bright signals theory challenges increased increased prey mobility explain initial development signaling prey characteristics exposed predators size habitat ample reason develop example shift nocturnal behavior behavior switch behavior frogs greater ecological opportunities result arose merely signaling system way organisms gain greater access resources increase reproductive success showed long term predators facilitate evolution warning coloration predators avoid novel long period time rarely acknowledged avenue evolution gradual change hypothesis found gradual change hypothesis provide easy solution beginnings cost free range weak signals accumulate neutral selection produce effective strong signals studies suggested sexual selection plays role skin color pattern poison frogs female preferences play coloration males change rapidly sexual selection influenced things parental investment shed light evolution coloration relation female choice species parental investment equal female makes eggs provides care offspring weeks males makes sperm energy provides care days differential parental investment indicates strong female preference sexual selection makes variation species increase drastically found populations participated sexual selection populations populations use sexual selection evident lack sexual populations suggests sexual selection valid hypothesis changing coloration main protective measure frog populations ability warn predators predicted female preference brighter males increase coloration sexes increase fitness sexes sexual males females population difference predation males females cause number males females affect mating strategies ultimately change mating behavior species captive care species poison frogs origin wild caught specimens maintain time obtained form accumulation appropriate care taken handling animals scientific study lifespan poison frogs frequencies indicate range years wild frogs typically live longer captivity having reported live long years claims questionable larger species year mature species years captivity species thrive humidity kept constant temperature day lower night species tolerate lower temperatures better conservation status species poison frogs recently experienced habitat loss diseases collection pet trade listed threatened endangered result tried counteract disease treating captive frogs agent cure athlete foot humans media
Poison dart frog