Blue Jeans
Artwork Description
While in Costa Rica, I was able to find several species of the colourful poison dart frogs, one of which was the blue jean poison dart frog (also known as the strawberry poison dart frog). Measuring less than 1 inch, these colourful little amphibians produce powerful skin toxins resulting from their diet, and can often be found among the forest floor and leaf litter. However, unlike many other frogs whose tadpoles develop in ground water, dart frogs will transport a tadpole to the bromeliads high up in the canopy, where the small central pool of the plant acts as a nursery for the developing tadpole. The frogs receive the protection of these hard-to-reach places while the bromeliads benefit from the waste nutrients produced by the frogs, demonstrating a wonderful example of the symbiotic relationships that so many tropical species capitalize on in this highly competitive environment.
