Epipedobates espinosai

{{Short description|Species of frog}}

{{Speciesbox

| status = DD

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| image = Epipedobates darwinwallacei (11750144123).jpg

| taxon = Epipedobates espinosai

| authority = (Funkhouser, 1956)

|status_ref=

|synonyms=*Phyllobates espinosai Funkhouser, 1956

  • Dendrobates espinosai Myers, Daly, and Malkin, 1978
  • Epipedobates espinosai Myers, 1987
  • Ameerega espinosai Frost, Grant, Faivovich, Bain, Haas, Haddad, de Sá, Channing, Wilkinson, Donnellan, Raxworthy, Campbell, Blotto, Moler, Drewes, Nussbaum, Lynch, Green, and Wheeler, 2006
  • Dendrobates boulengeri Myers, Daly, and Malkin, 1978
  • Epipedobates robnatali van der Horst and Woldhuis, 2006
  • Epipedobates darwinwallacei Cisneros-Heredia and Yánez-Muñoz, 2011

}}

The Darwin-Wallace poison frog, espinosa poison frog, turquoise-bellied poison frog, or turquoise-bellied poison arrow frog (Epipedobates espinosai) is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae endemic to Ecuador.{{BioRef|ASW6

|title=Epipedobates espinosai (Funkhouser, 1956)

|url=https://amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org/Amphibia/Anura/Dendrobatoidea/Dendrobatidae/Colostethinae/Epipedobates/Epipedobates-espinosai

|access-date=October 25, 2024}}{{BioRef|amphibiaweb

|title=Epipedobates espinosai (Funkhouser, 1956)

|author1= Luis A. Coloma|author2= Diego A. Ortiz|author3= Caty Frenkel |author4= Gabriela Pazmiño-Armijos

|editor1=

|date=May 29, 2013

|language=es

|url=https://amphibiaweb.org/species/1660

|access-date=October 25, 2024}}{{cite IUCN

|title= Turquoise-bellied Poison Frog: Epipedobates espinosai

|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/78499773/78500143

|page=e.T78499773A78500143

|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T78499773A78500143.en

|id=78499773

|year=2023

|author1=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group

|accessdate=October 25, 2024}}

Description

The adult male frog measures 16.0–17.5 mm in snout-vent length and the adult female frog 15.2–20.38 mm. The skin of the frog's back is coffee or dark red in color with blue and white reticulations or other marks. The flanks are black in color with some turquoise.

Habitat

This diurnal frog lives near streams in lowland forests, where it is associated with the leaf litter. Scientists observed the frog between 858 and 1719 meters above sea level.

Young

Scientists have observed the tadpoles in streams near fast waterfalls. Although they have not observed the females laying eggs, they infer that they lay them on the ground, like other frogs in Epipedobates. They have observed male frogs carrying tadpoles on their backs, in October, so they infer that the male frogs carry the tadpoles to water.

Threats

The IUCN classifies this frog as data deficient. Its threat level is not certain. However, its habitat is subject to deforestation in favor of agriculture, livestock cultivation, and logging. Scientists believe this frog might be part of the international pet trade but do not know if this poses a threat.

References