Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frog

During our Costa Rica, 3 July, trek through the Carara National Park jungle, we kicked up a Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates auratus). The frog’s (as is the case with many in the genus) bright coloration serves to warn predators to stay away. Indeed, unlike many other frogs, Poison Dart Frogs are diurnal and, lacking predators, tend to be conspicuous. The frog absorbs toxins from its prey—perhaps ants. Some Native Peoples use frog skin secretions on their arrows. Monkeys that survive being hit by arrows can thus be brought down. Handling the frogs is not dangerous per se, unless you have cuts on your hands or you rub your eyes after touching the amphibians. The frog in the second photo, taken two days later, hopped about our front porch at the Villa Lapas eco-lodge.