Ranitomeya toraro

{{Speciesbox

| image =

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref =

| taxon = Ranitomeya toraro

| authority = Brown, Caldwell, Twomey, Melo-Sampaio, and Souza, 2011

| range_map =

| synonyms =

| synonyms_ref =

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Ranitomeya toraro, the Apuriná poison frog, is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae. It is endemic to Colombia and Brazil and possibly nearby Peru.{{BioRef|ASW6

|title=Ranitomeya toraro Pérez-Peña, Chávez, Twomey, and Brown, 2010

|url=https://amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org/Amphibia/Anura/Dendrobatoidea/Dendrobatidae/Dendrobatinae/Ranitomeya/Ranitomeya-toraro

|access-date=July 5, 2024}}{{BioRef|amphibiaweb

|title=Ranitomeya toraro Brown, Caldwell, Twomey, Melo-Sampaio, & Souza, 2011

|author1= Sophie Allen|author2= Tiffanie Dowd|author3= Kaylee Pebelier

|editor1= Ann T. Chang

|date=April 19, 2022

|language=

|url=https://amphibiaweb.org/species/7732

|access-date=July 5, 2024}}{{cite IUCN

|title= Apuriná Poison Frog: Ranitomeya toraro

|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/78584817/85902680

|page=e.T78584817A85902680

|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T78584817A85902680.en

|id=78584817

|year=2023

|author1=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group

|access-date=July 5, 2024}}{{cite journal|author1= Brown JL|author2= Twomey E|author3= Amezquita A|author4= De Souza MB|author5= Caldwell JP|author6= Loetters S|author7= Von May R|author8= Melo-Sampaio PR|author9= Mejia-Vargas D|author10= Perez-Pena P|author11= Pepper M|author12= Poelman EH|author13= Sanchez-Rodriguez M|author14= Summers K|year= 2011|title= A taxonomic revision of the Neotropical poison frog genus Ranitomeya (Amphibia: Dendrobatidae). |journal=Zootaxa |volume=3083|pages= 1–120|doi=10.1055/sos-SD-201-00174|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230583147|access-date=July 5, 2024|type=Abstract}}

Taxonomy

Scientists used to classify this frog as conspecific with Adelphobates quinquevittaus and Ranitomeya ventrimaculata under the names Dendrobates quiquevittatus and Dendrobates ventrimaculatus but reevaluated the classifications in 2011.

Description

The adult frog measures 15–17 mm in snout-vent length. The toes of all four feet have climbing disks. The skin of the frog's head and back is black. It has stripes, like other frogs in Ranitomeya, but they are thinner and narrower. This frog has stripes from its eyelids to its vent and one in the middle from the snout to the vent. There is a yellow spot on the snout. There is a ventrolateral stripe that is green-blue in color near the front legs and yellow near the groin. The chin is yellow in color with black spots. The belly and legs are black with light blue patterns that form ovals.

Habitat

This frog lives in undisturbed primary and secondary forest in Amazonia. The frogs have been found on leaf litter, on logs, and on branches as high as 35 cm higher than the ground.

Life cycle

Scientists have observed two clutches of eggs, one above a pool of water in a bromeliad plant, and one single egg above a pool of water in a bananeira-brava plant. They have also observed tadpoles swimming in the pools in P. guayanese and Heliconia plants, one tadpole per pool. Scientists think the tadpoles might engage in conspecific cannibalism. They have also seen adult male frogs carrying tadpoles on their backs. Other frogs in Ranitomeya carry their tadpoles to transport them from one pool of water to another.

Threats

The IUCN classifies this frog as least concern of extinction because of its large range and population. Scientists believe it might be at some risk of capture for the international pet trade, but no one has been caught selling it yet as of 2023.

References

Category:Frogs of South America

Category:Amphibians of Colombia

Category:Frogs of Brazil

Category:Amphibians described in 2011

toraro