Brachycephalus pernix

Brachycephalus pernix is a small and brightly coloured species of frog in the family Brachycephalidae. It is endemic to Paraná in southeastern Brazil and only known from a single location at an altitude of on Serra da Baitaca in Serra da Baitaca State Park. This diurnal species lives among leaf litter on the floor of Atlantic rainforest.
Its conservation status was last reviewed by the IUCN in 2004 where regarded as data deficient, but an independent review in 2019 that used IUCN's criteria recommended that B. pernix should be recognised as vulnerable.

Appearance and toxicity

Although very small with a snout–to–vent length of in adult males and in adult females, B. pernix is a medium-large species of Brachycephalus. It is overall bright orange with a variable amount of black mottling or spotting above, ranging from little in some individuals to much in others. The bright pattern is considered aposematic since its skin and organs contain tetrodotoxin and similar toxins.