Dendrobates histrionicus | |
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Dendrobates histrionicus | |
Conservation status | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Suborder: | Neobatrachia |
Family: | Dendrobatidae |
Genus: | Dendrobates |
Species: | D. histrionicus |
Binomial name | |
Dendrobates histrionicus (Berthold, 1843) |
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Synonyms | |
Oophaga histrionica |
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 El Chocó region of Colombia. The frog is normally found on the ground of tropical rain forests, among fallen limbs or leaf litter.
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The harlequin poison frog has a variety of color morphs, which differ from one valley to the next in its native range.[1] 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 different colored populations on adjacent hillsides. The Bilsa Biological Station (operated by the Jatun Sacha Foundation) boasts three color morphs—red, yellow, and orange—within their 3,000 hectares (30 km2) protected area located within Ecuador's Mache and Chindul coastal mountain Ranges.
The harlequin poison frog larvae 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, which the tadpoles feed on until ready to metamorphose and exit the water.
This rearing behavior makes harlequins among the most difficult poison dart frogs to raise in captivity. As a result, they are not widely found on the domestic pet market, and those 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]
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