A 52-year-old Manoa man pleaded not guilty Thursday to illegally importing four poison dart frogs last year.

Charles Nishi­hira is facing a maximum five-year prison term and a fine of between $50,000 and $200,000 for allegedly importing restricted animals without a permit.

An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment April 8  charging  Nishi­hira with bringing the frogs into the state on March 19, 2014. 

Nishihira is free after posting bail of  $2,000.

His Circuit Court trial was scheduled for the week of June 22.

The 1- to 1.7-inch frog gets its name because its skin glands contain an alkaloid toxin, which it derives from the ants it eats in its native habitat.