CENTRAL / SOUTH AMERICAN POISONOUS FROGS

Phyllobates vittatus

Family: Dendrobatidae Genus: Phyllobates Species: vittatus Common Names Golfodulcean Poison-Arrow Frog , Golfodulcean Poison Frog Countries Costa Rica
	Species Distribution Map	Photo copyright Chris van der Lingen

Taxonomy and Biology

Adult length: 22mm

Description

Head dorsum, dorsal surface body and flank colour is black with a pair of broad, bright orange ( sometimes yellowish or reddish orange ), dorsolateral stripes that commence on the snout ( usually continuous around the snout ), passes over the eyes and extend to the posterior body to the base of the thigh. Traces of a bright orange vertebral stripe may also be present. A white to yellowish stripe or streak usually extends from the upper lip margin to the base of the arm where it may be continuous or separated from a white to yellowish stripe or streak on the upper arm. Arms are whitish to green ( occasionally with a yellowish tint ) with fine black dotting or mottling. Hind legs are dotted or mottled whitish to green and black. Head venter is mainly black with white to green or bluish green mottling. Ventral body surface is white to green or bluish green mottled with black.

Habitat

Wet lowland rainforest.

Habits

Diurnal and terrestrial frog found amongst leaf litter on the forest floor or amongst small plants and shrubs.

Prey

Feeds mainly on ants, beetles and insect larvae.

Poison Activity

Poison Type: Batrachotoxins, Indolizidines