Cream-backed poison frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cream-backed poison frog |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hyloxalus
|
| Species: |
subpunctatus
|
The cream-backed poison frog (Hyloxalus subpunctatus) is a small frog that lives only in Colombia. It belongs to the Dendrobatidae family, which includes many famous poison dart frogs. You can find these frogs in different places like high-up grasslands, wetlands, swamps, and even in gardens or city areas.
This frog is special because it's one of the less poisonous members of its family. Its name has changed a few times since it was first found. It was first called Dendrobates subpunctatus. Later, its name changed to Colostethus subpunctatus. Now, because of small differences in its bones, it's placed in a different group called Hyloxalus.
Froggy Defenses
Like many frogs in the Hyloxalus group, the cream-backed poison frog has weak poisons. These poisons are not as strong as those found in other poison dart frogs. Scientists think this frog might be a very old type of poison frog. It has only just started to make skin poisons. Also, its colors are still quite plain.
Even with weak poison, it's a good defense. If a predator tries to eat the frog, the chemicals in its skin cause pain. This bad taste usually stops the predator from trying again. However, very determined predators, like snakes, might still eat them. This shows that the cream-backed poison frog might be a newer species compared to other very poisonous frogs.
What the Frog Looks Like
The cream-backed poison frog is one of the smallest poison dart frogs. When it's fully grown, it reaches about 2 cm long. As we mentioned, its skin has weak poisons. These poisons make it taste bad to animals that might want to eat it. But it mostly relies on its body colors to hide.
Like many Hyloxalus frogs, it has plain colors. Its main body is a wood-brown color. It has cream-colored stripes running down its back. These stripes give the frog its common name. Its sides can be dark gray or even black.
Scientists think this frog might be a very old type of poison dart frog. It shares some features with tree frogs. For example, it has long, thin toes with sticky discs at the ends. These discs help it grip leaves. It also has a little bit of webbing between its toes. Tree frogs use their sticky toes to climb trees. The cream-backed poison frog uses its sticky toes to hold on tight as it moves through fallen leaves. Other poison dart frogs do not have webbing on their feet. Their toe discs are also not sticky.
Another interesting fact is that the cream-backed poison frog does not take care of its young. Most other poison dart frogs do. This is another sign that it might be a very old or "primitive" type of frog.
Where They Live
The cream-backed poison frog lives in the high mountain areas of central Colombia. This region is called the Altiplano Cundiboyacense. You can find them in the Eastern Mountains. They live in places like Boyacá, Cundinamarca, and Meta departments.
These frogs live at high altitudes, from about 2,000 to 3,500 meters above sea level. Their homes include open areas, marshes, wetlands, and the edges of forests. They also live in a type of mountain grassland called páramo. These frogs cannot live in water that is dirty. They avoid water polluted by city waste or farm chemicals.
