Harlequin Poison Frog

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Dendrobates histrionicus

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Suborder:	Neobatrachia
Family:	Dendrobatidae
Genus:	Dendrobates
Species:	D. histrionicus

Binomial name

Dendrobates histrionicus
(Berthold, 1843)

The Harlequin Poison Frog (or Harlequin Poison Dart Frog), Dendrobates histrionicus, is a species of Poison Dart Frog with a native range from Western Ecuador to the Choco region of Colombia. The frog is normally found on the ground of tropical rain forests, among fallen limbs or leaf litter.

The Harlequin Poison Frog has a variety of color morphs, differing from one valley to the next in its native range. The base color is a bright orange, with a webbing of black over the entire body. Of the color morphs, the base color may be of clear to dull orange, yellow, red, white or blue. The web pattern varies from small lines to big lines or speckled, incomplete lines, or a completely black frog with just a few spots. The various color morphs can be found in surprisingly close proximity, with populations of differing coloration being found on adjacent hillsides. The Bilsa Biological Station (operated by the Jatun Sacha Foundation) boasts three color morphs - red, yellow and orange - within their 3300 hectare protected area located within Ecuador's Mache and Chindul coastal mountain Ranges.

[1]This image gallery shows a variety of Harlequin Poison Frog color morphs.

The Harlequin Poison Frog is an obligate egg-feeder. After a parent transports newly-hatched tadpoles to a tiny water reservoir (often in the axil of a Bromeliad), the mother returns periodically and lays unfertilized eggs, on which the tadpoles feed until they are ready to metamorphose and exit the water.

Because of this rearing behavior, Harlequins are among the most difficult Poison Dart frogs to raise in captivity. As a result, they are not widely available to the domestic pet trade, and those which are available may be illegally smuggled imports rather than legally-bred domestic animals. Wild-caught dart frogs are often stressed, require more care, have a much higher fatality rate, and may also be toxic and dangerous to handle. A few domestically-bred animals are nevertheless available, and are highly sought-after in the pet trade.[2]

[edit] References

Bolívar et al (2004). Dendrobates histrionicus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is of least concern