Dendrobatidae
Dendrobatidae
Dendrobatidae includes the poison frogs and related species . There are 62 species in Peru , 7 both in the Madre de Dios department and in the Manu area of which we include 4 species in this guide . It is the sister family to Aromobatidae . Identification can be difficult in this group as there are several mimic species . The patterns of coloration and the calls are the best features to identify between species . Poison frogs are generally small and fast-moving . They are usually very colorful , except the Colostethus species which are brown and dull .
Poison frogs are diurnal species , but they can be found at night resting on low vegetation . Most of them are terrestrial , but some are arboreal , such as Ranitomeya species . Many of them are toxic , and in a few species this venom is even lethal . The patterns of coloration serve them to warn predators of their toxicity . Some of them have a specialized diet , mostly feeding on ants , mites and termites , to obtain the chemical compounds that they need to be toxic . Males are territorial and commonly show parental care towards their eggs and tadpoles . Males guard the clutch , and later they carry the tadpoles on their backs to a stream , pond or water-holding epiphytes such as bromeliads .
Ameerega sp1 ( shihuemoy ) life stages / Ciclo de vida de Ameeega sp1 ( shihuemoy )