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In most frogs, parental care ends with the laying of eggs, but not so for poison dart frogs. Once a female lays eggs, often on the underside of a leaf, the male guards them until they hatch into tadpoles. Then he transports each tadpole to its own tiny pool of water held within the cup-like leaves of a bromeliad plant.

yellow banded poison dart frog

Did You Know?

Researchers are studying poison dart frog toxins as a possible source of human medicine.

Quick Facts

Latin Name:
Dendrobatus leucomelas

Range:
South America

Habitat:
Tropical rainforest

Length:
Up to 2 in

Zoo Location:
Manatee Springs

Diet:
insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates