Brazilian poison frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brazilian poison frog |
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Dendrobates vanzolinii Myers, 1982 |
Ranitomeya vanzolinii, also known as the Brazilian poison frog or spotted poison frog, is a species of frog in the Ranitomeya genus, from the poison dart frog family, Dendrobatidae. It is found in the Amazonian rainforests of Brazil and Perú, and possibly Bolivia.
Etymology
The specific name vanzolinii honors Paulo Vanzolini, a Brazilian herpetologist and composer.
Description
When fully grown, R. vanzolinii grows to around 16.7–19 mm (0.66–0.75 in) in snout–vent length. As with all dendrobatid frogs, this species will feed on a variety of tiny invertebrates, including ants, termites and tiny beetles, most of which naturally contain certain toxic compounds, including formic acid. The frogs then retain these elements in their skin as a defense mechanism (which increases in potency as long as the frog continues living and eating), thus earning them the colloquial moniker of “poison frogs”, “poison arrow frogs”, or “poison dart frogs”.
During the breeding season, males have a “cricket”-like, trilling call, which attracts females. Unlike some dendrobatid frogs, R. vanzolinii parents actively protect and feed their tadpoles. The female will lay a fertile egg (or eggs) in a tiny pool of collected rainwater, typically within the central funnel, or “cup”, of a bromeliad. Once the eggs hatch, the female is encouraged by the male to lay an infertile egg into the same small pool, in an effort to provide the young with a source of nutrition until it sprouts limbs and can fend for itself. The parents form a monogamous pair during this period.
Habitat and conservation
The species' natural habitats are pre-montane cloud forests and lowland rainforests. Adults are primarily arboreal, mostly found up to 2 metres above ground, occasionally higher.
Populations have probably declined in recent years. It is locally threatened by habitat loss and illegal pet trade.
