Common Name: Kokoe Poison Dart Frog
Scientific Name: Phyllobates aurotaenia
Family: Dendrobatidae – Poison Dart Frog family
Location: Colombia
Female Size: 1.4 inches (35 mm)
Male Size: 1.3 inches (32 mm)
The Kokoe Poison Dart Frog is one of the three frog species that is used to make poison darts by the Chocó tribe. It is one of the most toxic species, I wouldn’t recommend touching a wild one. They are a diurnal species, active during the day thanks to their bright colors that warn predators about their poison.
The frogs live in the leaf litter of primary and secondary rain forests. The male frogs call from the leaves to attract a female frog. The female frog lays her eggs in the leaf litter. Once the eggs hatch, the male frog carry the tadpoles on his back to slow moving streams where the tadpoles will complete their metamorphosis.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assesses the Kokoe Poison Dart Frog as Least Concern for Extinction. They have a good sized range and large population. However, their range is shrinking due to humans destroying the forests to make room for farms and mines.