There is one green and black poison dart frog (Dendrobates auratus); three yellow and blue poison dart frogs (Dendrobates tinctorius); and six yellow-banded poison dart frogs (Dendrobates leucomelas) at the Zoo.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status: Least Concern. The wild population of these species is not known. However, the destruction of rainforest habitat by fires and by humans for farmland has contributed to the decreasing numbers. The illegal pet trade has also negatively impacted their existence.
These species are found only in South America. They are poor swimmers and are never found in the water.
The poison dart frog is an insectivore though it eats non-insect arthropods as well. Its diet consists of ants, millipedes, beetles, flies, mites, spiders, maggots and caterpillars.
Natives living in the habitat of the poison dart frog have been known to use the frog for poison-tipped arrows, where they get their name.
The bright coloring acts as a warning to predators of the poison.
They are diurnal, meaning they are awake during the day.