CENTRAL / SOUTH AMERICAN POISONOUS FROGS
Epipedobates pictus
Taxonomy and Biology Adult length: 17mm 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 yellowish, sometimes broken, dorsolateral stripe that commencing on the snout ( not 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 ( not in contact with upper stripe ), passing beneath the eyes to the junction of the arms ( sometimes incomplete posterior to the arm ) and extending posteriorly toward the groin. Arms are usually paler brown with some scattered black spotting and a yellow to reddish orange stripe or patch at the base of the arm. Thigh is brown with some black spotting and with a white, yellow, orange or reddish flash marking. Lower leg is usually brown with some black spotting and a bright , usually yellow to red, spot under the shank. Head venter and throat is usually mainly black. Ventral body surface and ventral surfaces of limbs are black marbled or mottled with white to blue. Habitat Lowland rainforest up to an elevation of about 900 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: Histrionicotoxins
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