poison dart frog
noun
: any of several small brightly colored frogs (family Dendrobatidae) of tropical Central and South America that produce poisonous secretions sometimes used by native peoples to poison dart or arrow tips
called also poison arrow frog
Examples of poison dart frog in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For nearly 40 years, a new species of poison dart frog has been hiding in plain sight, misidentified in museum records and field observations as a related species.
—
Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
Youngsters can be as tiny as a tadpole born from a poison dart frog.
—Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 4 Aug. 2024
During another excursion—a hike and kayak trip into Portobelo National Park—my guide, Jason Ashcroft of Portobelo Adventures, shuffles a patch of leaves to reveal a green poison dart frog, and guides me to an island abloom with wild orchids.
—Terry Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2023
That’s the case for the poison dart frog of South America: a colorful killer that releases poison through its skin and is considered one of Earth's most toxic creatures.
—Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2023
The title of most poisonous animal on Earth is typically given to the beautiful and deadly golden poison dart frog of Columbia—the one-inch-long frog is sometimes drenched in enough poison to kill ten grown men.
—Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2020
That may be why blue poison dart frog dads are so devoted to them—although their version of TLC may strike us as eww.
—National Geographic, 14 June 2019
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
Youngsters can be as tiny as a tadpole born from a poison dart frog.
—Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 4 Aug. 2024
During another excursion—a hike and kayak trip into Portobelo National Park—my guide, Jason Ashcroft of Portobelo Adventures, shuffles a patch of leaves to reveal a green poison dart frog, and guides me to an island abloom with wild orchids.
—Terry Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2023
That’s the case for the poison dart frog of South America: a colorful killer that releases poison through its skin and is considered one of Earth's most toxic creatures.
—Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2023
The title of most poisonous animal on Earth is typically given to the beautiful and deadly golden poison dart frog of Columbia—the one-inch-long frog is sometimes drenched in enough poison to kill ten grown men.
—Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2020
That may be why blue poison dart frog dads are so devoted to them—although their version of TLC may strike us as eww.
—National Geographic, 14 June 2019
Cite this Entry
“Poison dart frog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poison%20dart%20frog. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share