Their vibrant colors also serve a purpose: most brightly-colored frogs are poisonous. Their colorful skin warns off predators who might try to eat them otherwise. It’s kind of funny that these frogs look so stunning to us since it’s the opposite of evolution’s intent! Luckily, it still does its job of warding off predators in the wild. Here are the top 12 prettiest frogs in the world.
1. Blue Poison Dart Frog
These frogs are bright blue with dark eyes. They have black spots which are large along their backs and grow smaller down their bodies. Poison dart frogs eat insects, including poisonous ants. This leads to their own skin becoming poisonous to predators who try to eat the frogs. Poison dart frogs are about two inches long and live for six years. Their habitat is limited since they live on “rainforest islands” in Suriname. These “islands” are cooler areas of the rainforest, ranging from 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit during the daytime, and humid.
2. Red-Eyed Tree Frog
Red-eyed tree frogs are incredibly colorful. They have green bodies with white tummies, red-orange feet, and blue and yellow markings along their sides. Their eyes are large, round, and—you guessed it—red! These tiny frogs are just 2-3 inches long, with females being larger than males. Despite all of their colors, these frogs aren’t poisonous. Their diet consists of insects such as crickets, moths, and flies. Red-Eyed Tree Frogs live in rainforests and love high temperatures and humidity. Their lifespan is around five years.
3. Golden Poison Frog
Golden poison Frogs are yellow to orange in color, like little golden nuggets! They have dark eyes and small black markings on their bodies. These frogs are small, growing to just under two inches in length, but they hold an incredible amount of poison on their tiny bodies! The poison of just one frog could kill ten people. They live in a rainforest on the coast of Colombia and are an endangered species. Most Golden Poison Frogs live around 6-10 years.
4. Mimic Poison Frog
Mimic poison frogs are yellow or orange with blue legs and hinds. They have gorgeous black markings which are large and long on their backs and tiny polka dots on their toes. They are a type of poison dart frog native to Peru. Their poison is mild, but their appearance mimics that of more dangerous species. Their lifespan is around 4-8 years. These frogs are thick in appearance, with brown and pastel blue bodies. Their eyes are large and bright.
6. Mexican Dumpy Frog
Mexican dumpy frogs are tree frogs with blue-green bodies and tan undersides. These pretty frogs have dark eyes and grow up to 4 inches in length. These frogs mate in foliage, and their tadpoles actually fall into the water after hatching from their eggs! Their feet are super sticky and perfect for climbing. They can live up to 20 years in captivity but live shorter lives in the wild.
7. Borneo Eared Frog
These frogs are bronze to tan in color with darker markings. They get their name from the “ears” behind their eyes, which are actually part of their skull. Borneo eared frogs are 2.5-3.5 inches long. They dwell in trees and can live for over 5 years.
8. Dyeing Dart Frog
Dyeing dart frogs are yellow, blue, and black. The tops of their heads and backs are bright yellow, while the rest of their bodies are electric blue. Their entire bodies are covered with black, patchy markings. This spectacular species is the talk of legends. It gets its name from the myth that the frogs’ skin was used to dye parrot feathers. These frogs are incredibly poisonous due to the toxic insects that they eat. They live in Brazil and have a lifespan of around 5 years.
9. Phantasmal Poison Frog
These cute critters are red with milky white stripes that run from the top of their heads back toward their rear. They also have spots on their legs of the same color. Not even an inch long, these frogs are quite toxic in the wild due to their insect diet. They live in the forests of Ecuador, residing in fallen leaves near bodies of water. They can live up to 15 years in captivity, though their lifespan in the wild is typically much shorter.
10. Lovely Poison Frog
These graceful-looking amphibians are black with thin yellow stripes on each side of their bodies. Their legs are patterned, their eyes so dark that they blend right into their skin! The Lovely poison frog is a teeny thing, maxing out at .94 inches. These animals live in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama, and are often found on rocks near streams. They’ve been known to live over 15 years in captivity.
11. Red-Backed Poison Dart Frog
These amphibians have purely red backs, blue or white bodies, and black eyes and markings. They’re less than a half-inch long and weigh barely over one gram! Like all poison dart frogs, they’re incredibly poisonous despite their tiny size! They’re also very beautiful frogs. They live in the leaf litter or among the tree roots of Central and South America, and have been known to live around 8-12 years.
12. Green and Black Poison Dart Frog
Neon green and black, these banded frogs live on forest floors. Native to Central and South America, they are now also found in Hawaii. Their poison actually varies by region, and the frogs found in Hawaii are less toxic due to their diet. Green and Black Poison Dart Frogs grow to about 1.5 inches long and can sometimes live over 10 years.
