Ameerega trivittata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ameerega trivittata |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ameerega
|
| Species: |
trivittata
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Epipedobates trivittatus |
|
The three-striped poison frog (scientific name: Ameerega trivittata) is a colorful frog from the Dendrobatidae family. It used to be known as Epipedobates trivittatus. You can find this frog in many South American countries like Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. It might also live in Ecuador and French Guiana.
These frogs live on the ground in warm, wet forests and sometimes in temporary marshes. They are active during the day (diurnal) and stay on land (terrestrial). They are quite large for a frog, growing up to 50 mm. Their skin feels bumpy, and they don't have webbed feet. They are famous for their bright stripes, which can be green, yellow, or orange.
Male frogs are great dads! They guard the eggs laid on the ground. Once the tadpoles hatch, the males carry them on their backs to small pools of water. Sadly, these frogs are losing their homes because of habitat loss.
Meet the Three-Striped Poison Frog
Male three-striped poison frogs are about 42 mm (1.65 in) long. Females are a bit bigger, reaching about 55 mm (2.17 in). This makes them quite large for a poison frog!
Their snout (nose area) sticks out a little, and they don't have teeth. Their back feels a bit bumpy, like fine sand. But their sides and belly are smooth. Their fingers and toes don't have webbing, and their first finger is longer than the second.
The colors of these frogs can be a bit different depending on where they live. Generally, they have a black back and sides. Their belly is black, but it turns a bit blue towards the back. Their legs are usually yellowish-green or light brown. Two bright stripes, often yellowish-green, run from their snout all the way to their back legs.
Life in the Forest
The three-striped poison frog is active during the day. It lives on the ground among fallen leaves in tropical forests. You can find them in both old, untouched forests and newer, regrowing forests.
What They Eat
Their main food is ants. Ants are very common on the forest floor, so these frogs have plenty to eat!
Family Life
During the time when they are ready to have babies, male frogs become very protective of their space. Females, however, are not territorial.
The female frog lays a small group of eggs. She hides them under fallen leaves during the rainy season. The eggs take about 15 days to hatch. During this time, the male frog stays with them and guards them carefully.
Once the tiny tadpoles hatch, the male frog carries them on his back. He takes them to a good spot, like a temporary puddle or a small crack filled with water. The tadpoles then grow and develop there for about 41 to 54 days. After this, they go through metamorphosis, changing from tadpoles into tiny frogs.
