''Epipedobates narinensis'' is a species of
poison dart frog
Poison dart frog (also known as dart-poison frog, poison frog or formerly known as poison arrow frog) is the common name of a group of frogs in the family Dendrobatidae which are native to tropical Central and South America. These species are ...
(family Dendrobatidae).
It was first described as a distinct species in 2008.
Taxonomy
After a major reclassification of poison dart frogs in 2006,
Epipedobates
''Epipedobates'' is a genus of poison dart frogs native to northern South America (Colombia and Ecuador) west of the Andes, including the western slopes. Common name phantasmal poison frogs has been suggested for the genus.
Taxonomy
''Epipedobat ...
had only 5 species remaining in the genus. ''E. narinensis'' is one of two species since discovered and described in Epipedobates, the other being ''
Epipedobates darwinwallacei.''
Description
No females were identified in the initial description. Males have a
snout-vent length of 15-17mm, with a dark green
dorsum and black
flanks. A light green to blue-green
ventrolateral
Standard anatomical terms of location are used to describe unambiguously the anatomy of humans and other animals. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position provi ...
line extends from the lip to the groin. The abdomen is yellow to yellow-green, mottled and reticulated. ''E. narinensis'' is similar to ''
E. boulengeri'' and ''
E. espinosai. E. narinensis'' is distinguishable by its forefinger being much longer than its second finger, compared to the forefinger being only slightly longer than the second finger in other species.
Young
After the eggs hatch, the adult frog carries the tadpoles to water, though scientists do not know which type of body of water the species preferes. People have observed male frogs carrying two or three tadpoles at the same time.
At stage 25, the tadpole measures 3.2 mm in body length and 8.2 mm in total length. It has a rounded snout in the lateral view. Its mouth is underneath its body.
Habitat
Little is known about the distribution of ''E. narinensis.'' It was first described in
Nariño, Colombia. The frog's range includes at least one protected park:
Reserva Natural Biotopo Selva Húmeda.
This diurnal frog has been observed in the leaf litter in
rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by a closed and continuous tree Canopy (biology), canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforests can be generally classified as tropi ...
s between 540 and 600 meters above sea level.
Threats
The IUCN classifies this frog as data deficient. Its suffers from illicit
coca
Coca is any of the four cultivated plants in the family Erythroxylaceae, native to western South America. Coca is known worldwide for its psychoactive alkaloid, cocaine. Coca leaves contain cocaine which acts as a mild stimulant when chewed or ...
farming and the resultant fumigation, which has been condemned by the government.
Oil spill
An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. The term is usually given to marine oil spills, where oil is released into th ...
s also pose a threat to this frog.
References
narinensis
Amphibians described in 2008
{{Dendrobatidae-stub