CENTRAL / SOUTH AMERICAN POISONOUS FROGS

Epipedobates femoralis

Family: Dendrobatidae Genus: Epipedobates Species: femoralis Common Names Brilliant-Thighed Poison-Arrow Frog , Brilliant-Thighed Poison Frog Countries Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana
	Species Distribution Map

Taxonomy and Biology

Adult length: 20mm

Description

Quite variable in colour and pattern over its range. Head dorsum, dorsal body surface and flanks are dark brown to black, often darkest on the flanks with a white to yellowish or pale brown, usually continuous, dorsolateral stripe that commencing on the snout ( continuous around the snout ), passing over the eyes and extending posteriorly to the groin and a white to yellowish lower lateral stripe commencing on the snout ( usually in contact with upper stripe ), passing beneath the eyes to the junction of the arms ( sometimes incomplete posterior to the arm ) and extending posteriorly to the thigh. arms are usually paler brown with some scattered black spotting and a white to yellow stripe or patch at the base of the arm. Thigh is either blackish or brown with some black spotting and with a white, yellow, orange or reddish flash marking ( often comma-shaped ). Lower leg is usually brown with some black spotting and without a bright spot under the shank. Head venter and throat is brown or black. Ventral body surface is brown to black mottled with white.

Habitat

Lowland rainforest up to an elevation of about 600 metres.

Habits

Diurnal and terrestrial frog that inhabits the forest floor leaf litter.

Prey

Feeds mainly on ants, beetles and other small insects.

Poison Activity

Poison Type: Indolizidines