Did not know our woods was their home!

I was raised in this very little town where I spent 85% of my time playing outside with my friends and exploring the woods by myself. I remember coming across lots of wildlife (snakes, insects, birds, frogs, and more!), but I was unable to name most of them. I can't remember seeing a Green and Black Poison Dart at all back then. Later, after living outside of the town for around 20 years, I came back to find this beautiful frog species occupying almost 25% of our property.

(Dendrobates auratus)

These small-medium size frogs are common in the Caribbean slopes and the south pacific of Costa Rica. They are native to south Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and North Colombia. It was also introduced to Hawaii. Even though they are known to be very common in all those countries, their habitat is limited to lowland forest and dense wet forest where they can find shelter under leaves and shaded, dense plantations.

The Dendrobates auratus uses wet or moist leaves litter to deposit their eggs which helps them to keep the eggs protected from predators and to stay damp. The fact that green and black frog’s eggs are not protected by a shell or an extraembryonic membrane makes them vulnerable to dry or extreme climates.

Unlike a lot of the amphibians, in the Green and Black Poison Dart frog species, the male takes care of the eggs till they hatch, later carrying the larva on its back to higher places with water-filled surfaces like tree holes or air plants. Once in the right habitat, the tadpoles will feed on algae and detritus, decomposing organic matter.

We are lucky to have these beautiful creatures calling our host community home! We have learned of the habitat that they need to survive, and our family looks for ways to reduce the negative impact on their habitat and inform visitors about their presence in the property. Come and see for yourself what these incredible species are like, up close and personal, during your visit to Costa Rica with Go Tico!