The Dendrobates leucomelas snout-to-vent length ranges from 31 to 38 mm (Walls 1994). D. leucomelas is the largest species of its genus and females are usually bigger and thicker than males (Honolulu Zoo 2002). Adult frogs are black dorsally with three broad crossbands colored bright yellow, yellow-orange, or orange; black spots or blotches are often present in the crossbands as well as on the yellow or orange limbs. The belly is black and usually lacks color. All markings are variable, making each frog unique. Color pattern does not seem to be correlated with geography. D. leucomelas lacks an omosternum and the tarsal tubercle is absent or barely present (Walls 1994). Unique glandular adhesive pads are present on the toes and fingertips, helping D. leucomelas to climb and stay in stationary positions. D. leucomelas also lacks webbing on its feet. Although adult D. leucomelas have been illustrated extensively, no illustrations of this species' tadpoles exist (USGS 2002).
 
Similar Species:
Dendrobates auratus is an established exotic dendrobatid in Hawaii and most closely resembles D. leucomelas (USGS 2002). However, D. auratus does not have three distinct crossbands (McKeown 1996). Due to the absence of the omosternum, D. leucomelas is considered a close relative to D. historionicus (also lacking the omosternum). But Myers and colleagues have removed D. leucomelas from the historionicus-group due to its differences in call (Walls 1994). It has also been placed in the tinctorius-group because of its similarities to others in that group with tadpole behavior, aspects of color pattern, and its resemblance to D. auratus and D. tinctorius. It has also been successfully bred with D. tinctorius and D. truncates (Walls 1994).

This species is known from the Guianan Orinoco drainage of Venezuela north to the Río Orinoco (in Bolívar and Amazonas States), east into Guyana to the Essequibo River, south into extreme northern Brazil, and west into eastern Amazonian Colombia. In Venezuela it has been recorded from sea level up to 500m asl.

Yellow banded poison dart frogs, Dendrobates leucomelas, are found in the Neotropical region, in northern South America. The range includes Venezuela, northern Brazil, Guyana and southeastern Colombia.

Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )

Dendrobates leucomelas is found in the Guianan Orinoco drainage of Venezuela north to the Río Orinoco, east into Guyana to the Essequibo River, south into extreme northern Brazil, and west into eastern Amazonian Colombia (Amphibian Species of the World AMNH website). They are native to South America but in 1994 one specimen was collected on Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, possibly due to a pet release (USGS 2002). D. leucomelas prefers moist or wet, forested, lowland regions and temperatures often reaching 30° C or warmer (Silverstone 1975; Honolulu Zoo 2002). They are usually found between 50 and 800 meters above sea level in leaf litter, fallen trees, forest floors, stones and occasionally trees (Honolulu Zoo 2002; Walls 1994).

Dendrotes leucomelas is one of the largest species in the genus Dendrobates, with an adult body (snout to vent) length ranging from 3.1 to 5 cm, although individuals are only rarely more than 4 cm. Average weights of 3 g are reported.

This species is defined by its distinctive yellow and black bands across the body. As an individual frog ages, the black bands often break off into spots. This bright coloration undoubtedly represents aposematic coloration, which is defined as having conspicuously bright colors that are used as a warning of danger or distastefulness to potential predators. These frogs are known to produce toxic chemicals in their skin, making htem poisonous to most would-be predators. Females of this species are often larger and more robust than the males.

Average mass: 3 g.

Range length: 31 to 50 mm.

Average length: 40 mm.

Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry ; poisonous

Sexual Dimorphism: female larger

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Terrestrial
• Freshwater

Yellow-banded poison dart frogs prefer humid or wet habitats and can be found on forest soil in moist stones, wet tree trunks, and roots of rainforest trees. Tadpoles can be found in epiphyllic plants such as bromeliads. They are found in lowland regions with average temperatures of 26 to 30 degrees celsius or above. These frogs have been reported at elevations of 50 to 800 m above sea level.

Range elevation: 50 to 800 m.

Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: rainforest

Largely insectivorous, the diet of these frogs consists of ants, termites, tiny beetles, crickets, and other small insects and spiders. They spend most of their time in the wild foraging for food, presumably because their prey are so small. In captivity, they are fed crickets and fruit flies (often, "pinhead" crickets and wingless fruit flies). When raised in captivity, D. leucomelas lose their skin toxins, which indicates that they may synthesize the toxins from some component of their diet. One major source of food in the wild that may provide chemicals to synthesize the toxins are formacine ants.

Young are sometimes canabalistic, although this behavior is apparently limited to times when unwary adults place new tadpoles into an already occupied pool. Although some Dendrobates species feed their young with unfertilized eggs, this behavior has not been observed in D. leucomelas.

Animal Foods: amphibians; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods

Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )

These animals, along with all other animals, play an important role in maintaining the balance of nature. They are predators of ants, termites, tiny beetles, crickets, and other small insects and spiders. They are prey to snakes.

Many potential predators are undoubtedly repelled by the toxic skin secretions of this frog, but some snakes may be able to eat them. The tadpoles are also prey to damselfly nymphs.

Known Predators:

• snakes
• damselflies

Anti-predator Adaptations: aposematic

Males use vocalizations such as chirps, buzzes, trills and hums to attract females. Direct behavioral actions facilitate courtship and stimulate oviposition. Call sound like pleasant "birdlike" trills, lasting for 10 to 15 seconds.

In addition to vocalizations, males use visual cues as well to show off their brightly colored bodies. Tactile communication is important in breeding, as females and males touch one another in courtship.

Tadpoles use vibrations through water to signal their presence in a water pool to adult frogs. Should a male deposit a second tadpole into a pool, the first tadpole is likely to eat it.

These frogs depend upon vision to locate prey. In general frogs are not known to have a strong sense of smell, so it is unlikely that they use chemical communication.

Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic

Other Communication Modes: vibrations

Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; vibrations

Male poison dart frogs find the best site for the female to deposit a few large eggs, usually on the underside of a leaf that is near water. The eggs are then fertilized, protected and maintained by the male. It is the male's duty to keep the eggs moist so they can grow. There are conflicting reports of the paternal care of these frogs, with some accounts indicating that the male of this species transports the fertilized eggs in his mouth to water (Honolulu Zoo, 2003) and others indicating that the male transports tadpoles to water after the eggs have hatched (Lehmann, 2003). The reason for this discrepency is not apparent, although it may be reasonably concluded that transport of the young is accomplished by their father. Eggs hatch into tadpoles about 10 to 14 days after fertilization.

After 70 to 90 days, the tadpoles have fully metamorphed into froglets. They are mature between 12 and 18 months.

The longest living Dendrobates in captivity survived for 20.5 years. However, the expected lifespan of a poison dart frog in captivity is 10 to 15 years. In the wild, individuals probably live from 5 to 7 years.

Range lifespan

Status: captivity: 20.5 (high) years.

Typical lifespan

Status: wild: 5 to 7 years.

Typical lifespan

Status: captivity: 10 to 15 years.

Maximum longevity: 11.5 years (captivity)

During mating season, males use vocalizations described as chirps, buzzes, trills, and hums to get the attemtion of females. They also show off their brightly colored bodies. Calling is most intense for an hour or two after sunrise and before sunset.

After a female chooses a male, she follows him to his chosen breeding ground and strokes his back and snout. Sometimes both the male and female slowly circle one another and stamp their feet. Females compete for males.

The male frog leads the female to an appropriate spot to deposit her eggs. The eggs are usually laid on leaves, in areas of high humidity. Then the male frog tends to the eggs and newly hatched tadpoles.

In some species in the genus Dendrobates, newly hatched tadpoles cling the male's back. Sitting upon their father, the tadpoles ride through the forest understory. The male climbs high up into the forest canopy, where he deposits the tadpoles into one of a variety of water-holding plants, particularly bromeliads. Although most sources indicate that this is also true for D. leucomelas, at least one indicates that the male transports the eggs to a water source prior to hatching (Honolulu Zoo, 2003).

Bromeliads are ideal for tadpole growth because they have numerous cup-like leaves filled with water. One tadpole is placed in each pocket of water. The parent distributes the tadpoles among many plants, presumably so that predators will not be able to locate all of the tadpoles. The primary predators on the tadpoles are giant damselfly nymphs, which have hatched from eggs also laid in the bromelid plants.

Another danger for the tadpoles is other dart frogs, including conspecifics. If an adult frog approaches a plant that is already occupied, the tadpole will produce a warning signal by aiming its head at the center of the plant, holding itself rigid, and rapidly vibrating its tail. If an tadpole-carrying parent ignores this signal and accidentally deposits another tadpole in the same bromelid sanctuary, the original tadpole will eat it.

Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)

Breeding occurs during a limited season each year, from February to March. Female D. leucomelas lay multiple clutches of 2 to 12 eggs, and may lay as many as 1000 eggs during the breeding season.

Eggs are fertilized externally, then cared for by the male of the species. Young metamorphose by 70 to 90 days of age. The young froglets are sexually mature by two years of age.

Breeding interval: Once yearly during the rainy season

Breeding season: Breeding is reported to occur between February and March.

Range number of offspring: 100 to 1000.

Range time to hatching: 10 to 14 days.

Range time to independence: 70 to 90 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (External ); oviparous

The degree and pattern of parental care varies between species of poison dart frogs. In D. leucomelas, the male does all of the parenting. The male tends to the eggs and the hatched tadpoles, and transfers them to the water-filled cavities high in the forest canopy. The female provides the eggs with nutrients to support the tadpole before it hatches, but the male continues to wet and protect the young until they are independent.

Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Male, Protecting: Male); pre-weaning/fledging (Protecting: Male)

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species. 

 
There is 1 barcode sequence available from BOLD and GenBank.   Below is the sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen.  Other sequences that do not yet meet barcode criteria may also be available.
 

Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Species: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1

These frogs are not thought to be an especial conservation concern. They are listed on CITES appendix II, probably because of exploitation and destruction of their habitat for lumber.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: appendix ii

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Population

Population Trend

Dendrobates leucomelas is an insectivore (mostly ants) and is diurnal (USGS 2002; Caldwell 1996; Silverstone 1975). D. leucomelas is toxic in its natural environment and derives its skin toxins from the ants in its diet (Caldwell 1996). It is the only poison frog known to estivate during the dry season (Walls 1994). Males will chirp, buzz, trill, and hum to get females attention while also showing off their brightly colored bodies for an hour or two after sunrise and before sunset (Honolulu Zoo 2002; Walls 1994). Once a female chooses a male she will follow him to his area and stroke his back and snout. Sometimes both the male and female will slowly circle one another and stamp their feet (Walls 1994). The D. leucomelas females compete for males, and the terrestrial eggs are guarded by the male parent in a moist, sheltered area (USGS 2002).

Females lay 100 to 1000 eggs per year and produce 2 to 12 eggs per clutch (Honolulu Zoo 2002). The male rotates the eggs every so often so that they receive enough oxygen. Unlike most historionicus-group dendrobatids, the D. leucomelas tadpoles do not rely on eggs for nutrition; but they will accept almost anything for food (Walls 1994). Once they hatch, the tadpoles are carried on the father's back to small pools of water where they continue to develop (USGS 2002; Richard Stockton College 2002). Metamorphosis takes 70 to 90 days; froglets resemble miniature adults but have duller colored bands. In captivity the froglets must eat regularly (fruit flies, pinhead crickets, and other small insects); going without food for 48 hours can lead to death. Some people have observed that they have a "sweet tooth" for small caterpillars (Walls 1994).

Major Threats

Since D. leucomelas is easily bred in captivity, the selling price on the international market has decreased (Barrio & Fuentes 1999). D. leucomelas is abundant in all places sampled by Barrio and Fuentes in the late 1990's. However, there has not been thorough monitoring to determine the current status of these frogs (Barrio & Fuentes 1998). Dendrobatids are exploited for the pet trade and it is believed that they are overharvested in some areas. They could face declines unless strict trade regulations are set. (CITES 2002). Their habitat is also being destroyed by timber industries and agriculture.

Conservation Actions

These frogs have no adverse economic impact to humans. The skin toxins of this frog are very intense, and are are capable of killing, injuring, or impairing humans if the frogs are carelessly handled; however they are of no danger to people who leave the frogs alone.

Negative Impacts: injures humans (poisonous )

Dendrobates leucomelas helps keep its prey populations in balance, and consumes many insects that humans would consider pests. Along with other poison dart frogs in the family Dendrobatidae, this frog is used in medical research because its complex skin toxins are a possible source of medicines for human diseases. Also, certain Dendrobatid frogs were of importance to the Colombian Choco Indians who used the poisons from the frog's skin to tip their hunting darts.

Some amphibian hobbyists keep and breed these and other poison dart frogs, which may have an economic benefit if such trade can be shown to be sustainable and does not reduce natural frog populations.

Positive Impacts: pet trade ; source of medicine or drug ; research and education; controls pest population

Humans keep D. leucomelas for pets and are popular species in the pet trade (USGS 2002). Some compounds of their skin have pharmacological properties, and have proved to be valuable in biomedical research (Honolulu Zoo 2002).