CENTRAL / SOUTH AMERICAN POISONOUS FROGS

Dendrobates histrionicus

Family: Dendrobatidae Genus: Dendrobates Species: histrionicus Common Names Kokoe-Pa , Red and Black Poison Frog , Harlequin Poison Frog Countries Colombia, Ecuador
	Species Distribution Map	Photo copyright Chris van der Lingen

Taxonomy and Biology

Adult length: 25mm

Description

Colour and pattern is highly variable ( even within a single locality ) with several morphs being described. In general the colour is brown to black with white, yellow, orange and / or red spots. The brown to black pigment may dominate with a few large, symmetrical, white, yellow, orange or red spots or conversely numerous small white, yellow, orange and/ or red spots may dominate the brown to black ground colour and form an irregular network pattern. Blue or green pigment is absent. The so called “bulls-eye” morph has dorsal surface brown or black, usually with a single ( sometimes 2 or 3 ), large, round, orange or red ( sometimes white or yellow ) spot centrally located on the dorsum, often a similarly coloured large spot on the chin or snout,1 or 2 large spots or bands on both the arms and legs, with or without a large spot on the flanks and usually a similarly coloured very large ventral spot. Sometimes the centrally located spot on the dorsum is absent and replaced by a large spot on either side of the flanks and sometimes the flanks are entirely orange or red ( or white or yellow ). Specimens with a few large spots usually have a very symmetrical pattern. Specimens which may have 20 to 30 moderately sizes spots on the dorsum and flanks tend to have a less symmetrical pattern of spotting, appear half brown or black, with minimal fusion of well defined spots, sometimes with reddish spots on the head and orange or yellow spots on the body and limbs. Specimens with numerous small white or yellow to red spots usually have an asymmetrical pattern and usually appear more yellowish or reddish. The ventral pattern is usually similar to the dorsal pattern.

Habitat

Lowland rainforest ( often with a seasonally dry period of 2 to 4 months each year ) usually below 300 metres in elevation but some populations have been found up to elevations of about 1100 metres.

Habits

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

Prey

Feeds mainly on ants, beetles and mites.

Poison Activity

Poison Type: Histrionicotoxins, Pumiliotoxins, Decahydroquinolines, Pyrrolizidines, Indolizidines, Quinolizidines