Learning Ability of Poison Dart Frogs

In the animal kingdom, making the right decision can mean the difference between life and death—which is why animals need well-developed cognitive abilities. While mammals and birds have already been studied extensively and have been shown to possess advanced cognitive abilities, there is still a lack of research on other animal groups.

The project described here, which is being conducted in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Ecology at the University of Bern, investigates the learning abilities and decision-making processes of poison dart frogs. Our focus is on two species: the golden poison dart frog (Phyllobates terribilis) and the two-colored poison dart frog (Phyllobates bicolor).

In Project 1, we are testing whether frogs can spontaneously distinguish between larger and smaller amounts of food—a skill that helps animals in the wild make smart decisions. In Project 2, we are investigating their ability to learn and adapt their behavior when conditions change—a cognitive process known as reversal learning.

The frogs voluntarily participate in the experiments in the test arenas. Through this research, we hope to expand our understanding of cognitive evolution beyond mammals and birds by exploring the abilities of these remarkable amphibians.