Yellow and black poison dart frog perched on a dark, textured surface in a natural, leafy environment. At Paignton Zoo in Devon, UK

Yellow-headed Poison Frog

You can discover our yellow-headed poison frogs inside Tropical Trails at Paignton Zoo.

Yellow-Headed Poison FrogDendrobates leucomelas

  • Class:

    Amphibia

  • Order:

    Anura

  • Family:

    Dendrobatidae

About the yellow-headed poison frog

The yellow-headed poison frog is a bold and brilliantly patterned rainforest species. Growing to around 3–5 centimetres, it has bright yellow colouring marked with black bands or reticulated patterns that warn predators of its toxicity.

In the wild, these frogs feed on ants and mites, from which they derive their defensive toxins. They are mostly solitary but may gather around breeding sites in humid forest leaf litter.

Conservation

The species is listed as Least Concern, although habitat loss in Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil, along with collection for the pet trade, can affect local populations.