| Bumblebee poison dart frog | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Physical description | |
| Binomial name | Dendrobates leucomelas |
| Habitat | Tropical rainforest |
| Lifespan | 18-24 years |
| Average Size | Up to 4.5 cm (1.8 in) |
| Average weight | 8 grams |
| Diet | Insectivorous |
| Conservational Status | |
| Status | Near threatened |
| IUCN status | 3.1 |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Amphibia |
| Order | Anura |
| Family | Dendrobatidae |
| Genus | Dendrobates |
| Species | D. leucomelas |
| Distribution | |
| Distribution of species | Venezuela |
The bumblebee poison dart frog (Dendrobates leucomelas) is a species of poison dart frog. It is endemic to Venezuela. Formerly common, its habitat is now in decline and the species is diminishing. D. leucomelas is the most toxic of its genus, the second-most toxic being D. azureus.
Description
The bumblebee poison dart frog can reach 4.5 centimeters (1.8 inches) long from snout to vent, with females being slightly larger and more robust than males. Occasionally, some individuals may grow to 5 cm, but this is fairly rare.
The bumblebee poison dart frog has an irregular pattern of bands, ranging from yellow, through golden, to orange; and black or dark brown. Some degree of variation is possible; a few have a thick, "netted" mesh of yellow or orange with only a few small spots of black on their bodies. Others have thinner bands of yellow on a mainly black body. A few have the black and yellow pattern inverted, particularly the "Guyana banded" morph.
They have glandular adhesive pads on their toes (which aid in climbing and positioning) and, in common with other species in their order, they have a short, protrudable, unnotched, sticky tongue, which extends to catch prey.