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This
month’s frog is the Hawaiian form of D. auratus. D.
auratus was introduced to Hawaii from Taboga Island or possibly
Taboguilla Island in Panama in the 1930’s, and today, sustains
a viable population in Manoa Valley on the island of Oahu. Though
also present in other valleys on the Windward side of Oahu, development
and land disputes have made these areas relatively inaccessible. It
is not clear whether or not the D. auratus populations in these
areas have continued to thrive. It is no longer legal for anurans
to be exported out of the State of Hawaii, except under strict regulation
by the State. However for a long time prior to this, many D. auratus
were exported to the U.S. mainland and abroad.
D.
auratus
is encountered most frequently in the residential areas of Manoa Valley.
Manoa is known for the amount of rain it receives on a regular basis.
The wide use of bromeliads in landscaping, as well as inadvertent
trash such as buckets and cans, has provided the breeding ground for
D. auratus. Oddly, it is very difficult to find any D. auratus
in the trails and forested areas in the valley. While the habitat
seems to be ideal, the lack of suitable tadpole deposit sites cannot
sustain the population. Thus, D. auratus have adapted to finding
suitable deposit sites in the neighborhood, which are more than abundant.
Hawaiian D. auratus are highly variable in color and pattern.
The black coloration is usually more of a dark chocolate brown, and
they can be anywhere from green, to a bronzy gold coloration. Their
patterns are even more variable, as evidenced in some of the reticulated
animals found there.
Hawaiian auratus breed readily in captivity. The males will usually call from a hidden place, in hopes of attracting a willing female to breed. Receptive females will follow the male around, stroking his back until he leads her to a bower. Placing coconut shells with petri dishes under them is one way to encourage the males to breed where the eggs can be found. The tadpoles of D. auratus should be reared individually, outside the frog’s enclosure. They can be raised on a diet of tropical fish food until metamorphosis, which should take about 6 to 8 weeks. Froglets can be raised together, and fed small food items such as pinhead crickets or fruit flies. Until recently, Hawaiian D. auratus had been one of the standards in dart frogs. Although Hawaiian auratus are considered common, and relatively shy, they have been responsible for bringing many beginners into the hobby. Though increasingly less common, now that Hawaii has closed to export, their hardiness, and relatively prolific nature still makes this an excellent frog to keep in a collection.
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