Zoo Animals
Mimic poison dart frog
Ranitomeya imitator
At the Detroit Zoo
The mimic poison dart frog can be seen at the award-winning National Amphibian Conservation Center in a habitat with other species of poison dart frogs. Native to the rainforests of northern and northeastern Peru, this frog is a skilled climber and very active. It is also diurnal, therefore it can be viewed best during the day. It can often be heard making calls in the form of a high-pitched trill. The National Amphibian Conservation Center is a leader in amphibian conservation and research and houses a spectacular diversity of frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians.
Description
Mimic poison dart frogs have vivid colorations and generally bold personalities. These frogs are very mild in toxicity compared to other dart frogs, and gets their name from the fact that their coloration mimics more toxic species. These tiny amphibians grow to be about the size of a thumbnail.
Fun Facts
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Male mimic poison dart frogs take care of the tadpoles; females will leave unfertilized eggs for the tadpoles to eat.