Harlequin Poison Frog
Encyclopedia
The harlequin poison frog (or harlequin poison dart frog), Dendrobates histrionicus, is a species of poison dart frog
with a native range from Western Ecuador
to the El Chocó region of Colombia
. The frog is normally found on the ground of tropical rain forests, among fallen limbs or leaf litter.
s, which differ from one valley to the next in its native range. The base color is a bright orange, with a webbing of black over the entire body. Of the color morphs, the base color may be of clear to dull orange, yellow, red, white, or blue. The web pattern varies from small lines to big lines or speckled, incomplete lines, or a completely black frog with just a few spots. The various color morphs can be found in surprisingly close proximity, with different colored populations on adjacent hillsides. The Bilsa Biological Station (operated by the Jatun Sacha Foundation
) boasts three color morphs—red, yellow, and orange—within their 3000 hectares (30 km²) protected area located within Ecuador's Mache and Chindul coastal mountain Ranges.
s to a tiny water reservoir (often in the axil
of a Bromeliad
), the mother returns periodically and lays unfertilized eggs, which the tadpoles feed on until ready to metamorphose and exit the water.
This rearing behavior makes harlequins among the most difficult poison dart frogs to raise in captivity. As a result, they are not widely found on the domestic pet market, and those available may be illegally smuggled imports rather than legally-bred domestic animals. Wild-caught dart frogs are often stressed, require more care, have a much higher fatality rate, and may also be toxic and dangerous to handle. A few domestically-bred animals are nevertheless available, and are highly sought-after in the pet trade.
Poison dart frog
Poison dart frog is the common name of a group of frogs in the family Dendrobatidae which are native to Central and South America. These species are diurnal and often have brightly-colored bodies...
with a native range from Western Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
to the El Chocó region of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. The frog is normally found on the ground of tropical rain forests, among fallen limbs or leaf litter.
Color morphs
The harlequin poison frog has a variety of color morphPolymorphism (biology)
Polymorphism in biology occurs when two or more clearly different phenotypes exist in the same population of a species — in other words, the occurrence of more than one form or morph...
s, which differ from one valley to the next in its native range. The base color is a bright orange, with a webbing of black over the entire body. Of the color morphs, the base color may be of clear to dull orange, yellow, red, white, or blue. The web pattern varies from small lines to big lines or speckled, incomplete lines, or a completely black frog with just a few spots. The various color morphs can be found in surprisingly close proximity, with different colored populations on adjacent hillsides. The Bilsa Biological Station (operated by the Jatun Sacha Foundation
Jatun Sacha Foundation
The Jatun Sacha Foundation is a private Ecuadorian Non profit NGO founded in 1985.The purpose of this organisation is outlined on its website as:...
) boasts three color morphs—red, yellow, and orange—within their 3000 hectares (30 km²) protected area located within Ecuador's Mache and Chindul coastal mountain Ranges.
Life history
The harlequin poison frog larvae is an obligate egg-feeder. After a parent transports newly-hatched tadpoleTadpole
A tadpole or polliwog is the wholly aquatic larval stage in the life cycle of an amphibian, particularly that of a frog or toad.- Appellation :...
s to a tiny water reservoir (often in the axil
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
of a Bromeliad
Bromeliaceae
Bromeliaceae is a family of monocot flowering plants of around 3,170 species native mainly to the tropical Americas, with a few species found in the American subtropics and one in tropical west Africa, Pitcairnia feliciana...
), the mother returns periodically and lays unfertilized eggs, which the tadpoles feed on until ready to metamorphose and exit the water.
This rearing behavior makes harlequins among the most difficult poison dart frogs to raise in captivity. As a result, they are not widely found on the domestic pet market, and those available may be illegally smuggled imports rather than legally-bred domestic animals. Wild-caught dart frogs are often stressed, require more care, have a much higher fatality rate, and may also be toxic and dangerous to handle. A few domestically-bred animals are nevertheless available, and are highly sought-after in the pet trade.