Marbled poison frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marbled poison frog |
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Prostherapis femoralis Barbour, 1905 (junior homonym of Prostherapis femoralis Boulenger, 1884 |
The marbled poison frog (Epipedobates boulengeri) is a small, colorful frog. It belongs to the Dendrobatidae family, which is known for its "poison dart frogs." You can find this frog in western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. It lives in areas from about 10 to 1,500 meters (33 to 4,921 feet) above sea level. Scientists think there might be at least two different types of marbled poison frogs.
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What Does the Marbled Poison Frog Look Like?
These frogs are quite small. Male frogs are usually between 15 and 20 millimeters (about 0.6 to 0.8 inches) long. Females are a bit bigger, measuring 17 to 21 millimeters (about 0.7 to 0.8 inches) from snout to vent (the opening at the end of their body).
Their colors can vary a lot! Their backs are often dark reddish or dark brown. Their sides are black. They have a light yellowish or creamy white line along their sides. They also have another cream-colored line on their upper back. Their eyes have a dark coppery-black color.
What Do Marbled Poison Frogs Eat?
The marbled poison frog has a varied diet. They are insect-eaters! They enjoy munching on tiny creatures like:
- Mites
- Ants
- Beetles (coleopterans)
- Flies (dipterans)
- Plant-sucking insects (homopterans)
- Springtails (colembolas)
Where Do Marbled Poison Frogs Live?
The marbled poison frog's natural home is in thick, wet tropical rainforests. But they can also live in places changed by humans, like gardens and even railway tunnels! This frog is quite common in its habitat.
Protecting Their Homes
Even though these frogs can adapt to some changes, they are still threatened by habitat loss. This means their homes are disappearing. If their forest homes become too open and dry, these frogs cannot survive there. Protecting their rainforest habitat is important to keep these unique frogs safe.
