Minyobates steyermarki

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Minyobates steyermarki
Systematics
Subordination : Neobatrachia
Superfamily : Dendrobatoidea
Family : Poison Dart Frogs (Dendrobatidae)
Subfamily : Dendrobatinae
Genre : Mini yobates
Type : Minyobates steyermarki
Scientific name of the  genus
Mini yobates
Myers , 1987
Scientific name of the  species
Minyobates steyermarki
( Rivero , 1971)

Steyermarki Minyobates is a kind from the family of poison dart frog (Dendrobatidae). Today it is considered the only species of the genus Minyobates . It used to be assigned to the genus Dendrobates , but was placed in its own genus due to its morphology and way of life. This classification was initially controversial, but could be confirmed by genetic studies. The genus Dendrobates is the sister taxon to Minyobates . Eight other species, previously also listed under Minyobates , were laterassigned tothe genus Ranitomeya and thenoutsourcedas the new genus Andinobates .

features

The frogs reach a head-trunk length of only 14 to 16 millimeters, with the females being somewhat larger and more powerfully built than the males. The body is colored rusty brown to dark red and has partly indistinct, dark brown spots. The skin is smooth and has a slightly grainy structure on the sides. There are widened adhesive discs on the fingers. The first finger is longer than the second.

Occurrence

The species is only known from a locality in the south of Venezuela from the state of Amazonas , on the border with Brazil . It is about a 10 square kilometer rainforest area of ​​the low and premontaneous level on the Cerro Yapacana at 600 to 1200 meters above sea level. The animals live in bromeliads growing on the ground, but they are also said to occur on bromeliads growing in tree tops.

Way of life

Minyobates steyermarki is characterized as a not very agile, somewhat shy species. In captivity, however, the animals are said to behave quite aggressively. The males start calling at about eight months, but they do not fertilize clutches until about 12 months of age. The call is unique within the poison dart frog family and is similar to the beeping of birds. Individual whistles are given in series. If there are several males together, the whistles are synchronized. Otherwise, little is known about courtship behavior. The spawn is deposited a short time after the call. The male lures the female to the designated storage area. No amplexus can be observed when laying eggs . Similar to the genus Dendrobates , egg laying and insemination can take place separately from each other.

The clutches have a diameter of about 15 millimeters and consist of three to nine eggs, on average there are four. These are initially colored black and later become a little lighter. At 20 ° C, the larvae hatch after 10 to 14 days and are 8 to 10 millimeters long. They are omnivores and take around 70 days to metamorphose into a frog. This is then 8 to 10 millimeters long and has two more or less pronounced red vertical stripes on the back.

Brood care behavior is only known from animals living in captivity. Only the male looks after the clutch. The larvae are carried on their backs to suitable water sources. These are various phytotelma , such as accumulations of water in the leaf axils of bromeliads . The tadpoles are not supplied with food eggs.

Poison

The poison contains the skin toxins pumiliotoxin -A, decahydroquinoline and indolizidine .

Danger

Minyobates steyermarki is classified as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List because of its extremely small distribution area and the decline in this forest area . The causes of danger include the operation of open gold mines, forest fires and illegal collection and export for animal husbandry or scientific purposes. For example, it was reported in 1999 that around 150 specimens were smuggled into Germany.

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Search for taxon: Minyobates. Amphibian Species of the World 6.0, American Museum of Natural History , accessed November 24, 2019.
  2. ↑ Jason L. Brown, Evan Twomey, Adolfo Amézquita, Moisés Barbosa de Souza, Janalee P. Caldwell, Stefan Lötters, Rudolf von May, Paulo Roberto Melo-Sampaio, Daniel Mejía-Vargas, Pedro Perez-Peña, Mark Pepper, Erik H Poelman, Manuel Sanchez-Rodriguez & Kyle Summers: A taxonomic revision of the Neotropical poison frog genus Ranitomeya (Amphibia: Dendrobatidae). In: Zootaxa . No. 3083, 2011, pp. 1-120.
  3. ↑ Minyobates steyermarki in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2007. Posted by: La Marca, E. & Señaris, C., 2004. Retrieved on June 28 of 2008.

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