The Poisonous Granular Frog

The spectacular family of poisonous frogs (Dendrobatidae) surprises with its beautiful and colorful and lethal frogs. In Costa Rica, we have eight species of poisonous frogs. Those of the genus "Silverstoneia" and "Allobates" are not harmful.

The genus "Oophaga" is famous for its "pants," and the only two species of Oophaga of Costa Rica (O. Pumilio and O. Granulifera) are those that present pants.

The Granular Poisonous Frog (Oophaga Granulifera) is endemic to the Central Pacific and southern Costa Rica and part of Panama. It can be located near gorges in the woods.

In Costa Ballena, you can find the Red morpho with its green pants and his back "Granular," hence its name.

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After Hacienda Barú towards the Central Pacific, its main red color changes to  Orange for the Matapalo sector, yellow in Portalón, and finally an olive green in San Rafael, Quepos always with its green and sometimes light blue pants.

These frogs are in danger due to the loss of their habitat. It is also exploited by smugglers to sell them as Terrarium pets.

Its venom is neurotoxic and very dangerous. It is not recommended to manipulate animals in freedom, especially the beautiful multicolored frogs.

The dangerous thing would be for the poison to reach a wound, or you would suck it.

Indigenous peoples used the poison of these frogs for hunting, smearing the poison on their arrows. That is why some of them are called "arrowhead frogs or dart frogs" in general (phyllobates).

Granular poisonous frogs are well distributed in Costa Ballena. It is a great attraction for tourists and so of interest for tour guides. Costa Ballena is one of the main places to see the Red Morpho, one of the granular venomous frogs.

They are diurnal, and males are heard singing to attract females to reproduce. The female lays her eggs in leaf ponds in the forest. As the hours pass, the eggs become tadpoles waiting for their father to place them in a bromeliad where they will be safe.

The mother feeds them with infertile eggs until they grow and can find food on their own.