Strawberry poison frog

Physical features

• Adults of both sexes are typically less than 1 inch long. Females are slightly larger than males and appear a little more robust.

• This is perhaps the most variable species of frog when it comes to color and pattern. The base color can range anywhere from white, yellow, orange, red, green, or bule combined with black spots, lines, or reticulations on the back and/or limbs. They may also have a mix of colors, with one of the more famous being the so-called “blue jeans” morph from Costa Rica that is bright red with dark blue legs.

Diet: Insectivore

• Wild – a variety of tiny insects (particularly ants) and other invertebrates

• Zoo - small crickets, fruit flies, bean beetles, springtails

Reproduction

• Males call from the forest floor with a harsh buzzing call to attract females into their territories, which may only be 5 sq. meters (about 16 sq. feet).

• Females deposit eggs in moist leaf litter on the forest floor which are fertilized immediately by the male.

• The female cares for the eggs and tadpoles.

• Once the eggs hatch, the female carries tadpoles one by one to their own water-filled plant or tree hole high up in the forest. The female will then return to each tadpole at regular intervals to lay infertile eggs for them to feed on until they metamorphose into tiny froglets. The genus name “Oophaga” means egg eating and refers to this behavior.

Interpretive Information

• Poison frogs get their famous toxins through their diet in the wild. In human care, they receive a different diet that does not include the toxic compounds and frogs born in human care are not toxic.

• Poison frogs are diurnal and will often tap their toes when excited or agitated.

• Strawberry poison frogs are an example of aposematic coloration. Their bright colors warn predators of the toxins secreted through their skin, providing protection.

• Strawberry poison frog tadpoles are aggressive towards one another, hence why females place each tadpole into its own water-filled plant or tree hole.

Updated September 2024