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Project Noah Nature School
Ameerega trivittata (formerly Epipedobates trivittatus)
This is a tiny little frog that is commonly found hopping through the leaf litter on the forest floor. My guide book (Reptiles and Amphibians of the Amazon, Bartlett & Bartlett) does not have an exact match but after much investigation by a Project Noah Ranger (bayucca), he determined that it is Ameerega trivittata or three-striped poison frog. There appears to be a lot of variation in the coloring and striping of these species! Our spotting is missing the third stripe down its back and is not as green as some. Follow this link to listen to a recording of its call: http://www.dendrobates.org/calls/trivitt...
Peruvian Amazon, Loreto District. Lowland rainforest. Photographed along the trail of Explorama Lodge. If you are lucky you may see a male carrying tadpoles on its back. The males carry the tadpoles up tree trunks into the forest canopy where they deposit the tadpoles into water collected inside bromeliads.
The frog in this picture was handled by a professional, but we strongly discourage you from doing so. Here's three reasons not to handle frogs with your bare hands. 1. They are very fragile and their skin readily absorbs bug spray and other oils from your skin. 2. Poison dart frogs are given their name for a reason. Their skin secretions are toxic and sometimes even deadly. The tiniest, invisible cut on a finger can allow the toxin to enter your system. 3. Wildlife doesn't do well when it is disturbed = please avoid casual contact with any wildlife - enjoy them from a distance.
You are the best bayucca! Muchas Gracias. The links are very helpful and your photo looks almost identical to what is in my field guide. I will update the scientific name right now!
In my eyes there is only one possible candidate left: Ameerega trivittata or formerly called Epipedobates trivittatus. I don't think it is a color morph but just a variation. Confusing are/were the slightly thicker yellow stripe, the small single spot below the eye and "no" stripe following the foreleg.
If you look carefully you will also see the blue spots/markings on the underside of the hindlegs.
I just add some links to compare, sometimes you have to scroll.
http://www.inaturalist.org/life_lists/61...
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Three-Stri...
http://www.amazonbirding.com/explore-man...
http://core.ecu.edu/biol/summersk/summer...
Mine with more green legs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominikhofe...
Just added another shot - not a good one, but from a different angle. This is all I have! These were shot before we knew about PN and what kind of images we should capture for ID.
Any other shot?? Specially belly and legs! I have it in my favs for getting closer, try to find some time...
Any ID suggestions on this beauty? I'd like to at least determine if it's genus is dendrobates or epipedobates.
Thanks to Project Noah rangers! As bayucca mentioned, "Most important thing: Do not touch" if we don't know them. Glad that it was "in the hands of an expert"!
Lovely! You might like to add this to the Poison Dart Frogs mission http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/7726....
Most important thing: Do not touch this frogs if you have some injuries on your fingers, even small ones. If you peel an orange or lemon you might see what I mean. No visible injuries does not mean that there are not any present. For such a potent toxin you could get some troubles... And never touch animals with insect repellent on fingers.
Good question Luis. We certainly don't recommend handling these frogs unless you know what you are doing. This one is in the hands of an expert!
Spotted on Mar 25, 2004
Submitted on Jan 25, 2013
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