The Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis) is a small South American frog featured in the Standard Edition of Planet Zoo.
Zoopedia Informaton[]
General[]
Population in the Wild: Unknown
The golden poison frog (or Phyllobates terribilis) is a species of poison dart frog endemic to the rainforests of the Pacific Coast of Colombia. Although being called 'golden' frogs, they are actually found in mint green, yellow and orange color morphs. All variants measure an average of 2in to 2.2in and have extremely poisonous skin that's used as a defense mechanism against predators, while their bright coloration acts as a warning signal to potentional threats. They live on the forest floor and, unlike other frog species, do not require to live in or near water, though they do need water source in which to deposit their eggs.
Social[]
Golden poison frogs are social animals, living in unrelated groups of between 4 and 7 individuals in the wild.
Reproduction[]
When females are ready to lay their eggs, males will attempt to attract them with a series of high pitched squeaks. They will mate in large groups; males moving from female to female to fertilize her eggs as she lays them, then taking the clutch of eggs and carrying them on his back to a suitable water source do deposit them. Eggs hatch 11 to 12 days after laying, but the tadpoles remain in the water until they become froglets between 55 and 60 days later. The young frogs will reach sexual maturity after 12 to 18 months.
Animal Care[]
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Trivia[]
Zoopedia Fun Facts[]
- The golden poison frog is the largest species of poison dart frog.
- A single golden poison frog has enough poison on its skin to kill between 10 and 20 people.
- Captive frogs do not produce toxins because they cannot eat the same invertebrates as they do in the wild, which are the source of the poison.
- Indigenous tribes that live in the rainforest use the frog's poison on poison darts for hunting, hence their name.
- Most species of tree frog are extremely secretive and will hide often, but this species is quite fearless, likely due to its toxicity making it invulnerable to attack.
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