Marbled poison frog

The marbled poison frog or marbled poison-arrow frog is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae found in western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador, at elevations of asl. It likely represents a species complex of at least two species.

Description

Males measure and females in snout–vent length. Colouration is variable; dorsum is dark reddish to uniform dark brown, sides are black. There is a pale yellowish or creamy white lateral line and cream-coloured dorsolateral line. Iris is dark coppery black.

Diet

Diet is varied and includes mites, ants, coleopterans, dipterans, homopterans, and colembolas.

Habitat and conservation

Its natural habitats are dense moist tropical rainforests as well as altered habitats like gardens and railway tunnels.
The frog's known range includes many protected parks: Reserva Ecológica Cayapas-Mataje, Parque Nacional Mache Chindul, Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas, Reserva Ecológica Los Illinizas, Parque Natural Isla Gorgona, Reserva Natural Biotopo, and Reserva Natural Indígena La Nutria.

Threats

The IUCN classifies this frog as least concern of extinction. Scientists note that it is tolerant to habitat disturbance. What threat it faces comes from habitat loss from deforestation associated with agriculture, including illegal agriculture, and logging. The introduction of invasive fish also poses some threat. Scientists noted the presence of the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis on this frog but they did not note any specimens who were sick with the corresponding fungal disease chytridiomycosis, which kills frogs. This animal shows some presence on the international pet trade, but scientists do not know if this is a danger to the frog or not.