Marbled poison frog explained

The marbled poison frog or marbled poison-arrow frog (Epipedobates boulengeri) is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae found in western Colombia (Cauca, Nariño, Valle del Cauca Departments, including Gorgona Island) and northwestern Ecuador, at elevations of 10m-1500mm (30feet-4,900feetm) asl. It likely represents a species complex of at least two species.[1] [2] [3]

Description

Males measure 15mm20mm and females 17mm21mm in snout–vent length. Colouration is variable; dorsum is dark reddish to uniform dark brown, sides are black. There is a pale yellowish or creamy white lateral line and cream-coloured dorsolateral line. Iris is dark coppery black.[3]

Diet

Diet is varied and includes mites, ants, coleopterans, dipterans, homopterans, and colembolas.[3]

Habitat and conservation

Its natural habitats are dense moist tropical rainforests as well as altered habitats like gardens and railway tunnels. It is a common species. It is threatened by habitat loss; while a somewhat adaptable species, it disappears if the habitat becomes too open and dry.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Epipedobates boulengeri (Barbour, 1909) . Frost, Darrel R. . 2015 . Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 . American Museum of Natural History . 17 April 2015.
  2. Web site: Epipedobates boulengeri (Barbour, 1909) . Acosta-Galvis, A.R. . 2014 . Lista de los Anfibios de Colombia V.05.2015.0 . www.batrachia.com . 17 April 2015.
  3. Web site: Epipedobates boulengeri . Coloma, L.A. . Ortiz, D.A. . Frenkel, C. . amp . 2013 . Ron, S. R., Guayasamin, J. M., Yanez-Muñoz, M. H., Merino-Viteri, A., Ortiz, D. A. and Nicolalde, D. A. 2014. AmphibiaWebEcuador. Version 2014.0 . Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ) . 17 April 2015.