CENTRAL / SOUTH AMERICAN POISONOUS FROGS

Epipedobates silverstonei

Family: Dendrobatidae Genus: Epipedobates Species: silverstonei Common Names Silverstone’s Poison-Arrow Frog , Silverstone’s Poison Frog Countries Peru
	Species Distribution Map

Taxonomy and Biology

Adult length: 36mm

Description

Head dorsum, body dorsum and flanks are bright orange or bright reddish orange, sometimes paler orange on the snout tip and upper lip margin ( especially young specimens ) with black spotting or a network pattern on the body. The black pigment tends to be more concentrated posteriorly with the head usually uniform orange or reddish orange ( occasionally a black spot between the eyes on the midline and / or a blackish tympanum spot ). Legs and arms are bright orange or bright reddish orange sometimes with black spotting on the arms and often with some black spotting or a network pattern on the hind legs. Head venter, throat and ventral body surface varies from almost entirely pale orange to almost entirely black but most often more blackish on the throat . Ventral surface of legs is mainly black.

Habitat

Elevations of about 1300 to 1800 metres in wet montane rainforest.

Habits

Diurnal and terrestrial frog.

Prey

Feeds mainly on ants, beetles and insect larvae.

Poison Activity

Poison Type: Pumiliotoxins, Indolizidines