Dart Frogs
Dart frogs
live in rainforests. There
are many kinds
of dart frog in
the Amazon
rainforests.
Dart frogs
are small, bright,
and shiny. Some are blue. Some are red, pink, or orange.
Some are green or yellow. Some have stripes or spots.
Dart frog skin is always wet. It is covered with liquid that
is a poison. Dart frogs’ bright colors warn animals not to eat
them. When animals eat dart frogs, they get sick and
sometimes they die. Even a tiny taste can be harmful.
Native people have lived in the Amazon for a long time.
They use arrows and darts to hunt. They know how to make
poison darts from dart frogs. That is how dart frogs got their
name.
Scientists study dart frogs to learn about frog poison.
They hope to make medicine from it.
Someday you may visit the Amazon rainforest. You may
see dart frogs there, but you will know not to touch them.
Dart frogs are pretty, but they are poison!
Did you know? Frogs breathe
through their noses. They also
breathe through their skin!
Almost all frogs that live near us in the United
States do not have poison on their skin. It is safe to
touch them, but please do not hurt them!
Big Gift “Amazon Activities” are a gift from Earth’s Birthday Project. www.earthsbirthday.org/biggift
Dart Frogs
Fill in the circle next to the correct answer.
1. What do dart frogs look like?
c dull
c bright and shiny
c gray
2. What does dart frog skin feel like?
c dry
c bumpy
c wet
3. How do native people use dart frogs?
c to make darts
c as pets
c for food
4. Dart frogs breathe though their noses. What else do they
breathe through?
c ears
c skin
c eyes
5. Where do dart frogs live?
c rainforests
c deserts
c oceans
6. Scientists study dart frogs. What do they want to make
from frog poison?
c food
c darts
c medicine