| Phyllobates | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Physical description | |
| Lifespan | Up to 17 years |
| Average Size | 25-63 mm |
| Average weight | 9-25 grams |
| Diet | Insectivorous |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Amphibia |
| Order | Anura |
| Family | Dendrobatidae |
| Genus | Phyllobates |
| Species | *Six: |
Phyllobates is a genus of poison dart frogs native to South America, from Nicaragua to Colombia. Phyllobates contains the most poisonous species of frog, the Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis). They are typical of the poison dart frogs, in that all species are colourful, and have varying degrees of toxicity. Only species of Phyllobates are used by natives of South American tribes as sources of poison for their hunting darts. The most toxic of the many poisonous alkaloids these frogs emit from their skins is batrachotoxin, but there are a wide number of other toxic compounds which are secreted by these frogs. Recently there has been debate as to whether the species of the Ranitomeya genus belong in the genus Phyllobates.
Species[edit | edit source]
Phyllobates contains six species in two subgenera:
Subgenus Bicolor[edit | edit source]
This subgenus consists of those species more closely related to P. bicolor than to P. lugubris. The species are characterized by their very large size (for poison dart frogs) and dual parental care.
Subgenus Lugubris[edit | edit source]
This subgenus is those species more closely related to P. lugubris than to P. bicolor. It is characterized by the smaller size of its members and male parental care.
