Dendrobates azureus
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- "Okopipi" redirects here. For the anti-spam software tool, see Okopipi (software tool).
Dendrobates azureus is a type of poison dart frog found in South America, specifically in the Sipaliwini District in Suriname. Dendrobates azureus is widely known as the Blue Poison Dart Frog or by its Tirio Indian name, Okopipi.
The frog has blue skin and black patches, which serve as a warning to would-be predators that the skin contains a deadly neurotoxin. This substance is often used on the tips of arrows or darts of natives, hence the term poison dart frog. It grows between 3 and 4.5 cm in length and has a typical lifespan of five years in the wild. It is found in dark moist areas, especially under rocks near streams. Unlike most frogs, it lays its eggs on land, usually under a rock in a mossy area.
The paralytic neurotoxins are not produced by the frog itself, but taken from many of its insect prey in the wild and deposited in the skin. As a result, frogs raised in captivity (often for the pet market) lack defensive poison.
Trivia
- Dendrobates azureus is the mascot of the Azureus project, an open source client for the BitTorrent protocol.
- Okopipi (software tool) is also the name used by the newer version of Blue Frog.
References
- Reynolds et al (2004). [Dendrobates azureus]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is vulnerable
External links
- [Dart Den]- Poison dart frog resource and forums.
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