Phyllobates bicolor, also known as the black-legged dart frog or bicolored dart frog, is the second most toxic of the wild poison dart frogs. This species obtained its name due to its normally yellow or orange body with black or dark blue hindlegs and forelimbs below the elbow. It lives in the lowland forests in the Chocó area in western Colombia, along the San Juan river, althought some populations lives southern. This frog is sometimes confused with the yellow or orange form of Phyllobates terribilis.

Toxicity

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While it is weaker than P. terribilis, Phyllobates bicolor is still a highly toxic animal. Just .0000004 ounces of its poison is enough to kill one adult human. This frog is often heated over a flame to make it "sweat" the liquid poison for hunting darts. Death is caused by respiratory and muscular paralyisis. Research is being conducted to determine medicinal uses for this batrachotoxin. As with all dart frogs, captive-raised individuals are harmless.

Captive Care

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Care for P. Bicolor is strikingly similar to Phyllobates terribilis except bicolor can be kept in a slightly smaller enclosure. Males and females of this species can be vocal.

References

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• Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is near threatened
• Olson, E. 2001. "Phyllobates bicolor" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed June 09, 2006 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Phyllobates_bicolor.html

Poison dart frogs