Red back tree climber
| Red back tree climber | ||||||||||||
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Red back tree climber |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Ranitomeya reticulata | ||||||||||||
| ( Boulenger , 1884) |
The red-backed tree climber ( Ranitomeya reticulata ) is a species from the genus of the tree climber ( Dendrobates ) within the family of the tree dart frog (Dendrobatidae). The species is arboreal and insectivorous, and is considered the second most poisonous species of the genus, after the carpenter's poison dart frog ( R. variabilis ). It is moderately toxic, its poison can seriously injure people and kill animals up to the size of a chicken. Ranitomeya reticulata is native to the Amazon rainforest in Peru and Ecuador .
features
The red-backed tree climber is one of the smaller species of poison dart frogs. It is classified in the “thumbnail” group. Males reach 12 mm in length, while the larger females reach up to 15 mm or even 20 mm. They are slim compared to other dendrobatids, which means they are able to squeeze into the tiniest of hiding spots. Like all poison dart frogs, the red-backed tree climber is brightly colored and has a striking pattern, which means that they draw attention to their poison. The species has black legs with a cobalt or sky blue mesh pattern, a black belly and a back, the colors of which range from fiery orange to scarlet. Like all tree frogs, Ranitomeya reticulata has suction cup-like toe tips with which they can hold on to smooth surfaces. When in danger, the frogs excrete their poison.
Poison
The red-backed tree climber is a moderately toxic frog. Its toxins serve as natural protection against predators. Its striking colors serve as warning colors. Like all poison dart frogs, it does not produce its own poison, but stores poison which it ingests with food (beetles, termites, ants). His body is immune to the toxins it stores. The poison is stored in the skin glands. The poison is absorbed by enemies through open wounds, but also through ordinary skin pores. This defense is particularly effective against mammals and birds, and to a lesser extent against reptiles. Some species of snakes are resistant to the venom and occasionally hunt the frogs.
behavior
Multiplication
The red-backed tree climber lives in nature in small groups of five to six animals. At the end of the rainy season, several groups gather for large mating gatherings. The males lure the females with their calls and stroke their backs and lick them. The females show their willingness to mate by tapping with their hind feet. Because mating begins at the end of the rainy season, the eggs are only laid at the beginning of the next rainy season so that the brood have permanent water to survive. As soon as the young hatch from the eggs, the males transport the newly hatched tadpoles into the canopy. The tadpoles are surrounded by a water-soluble mucus that is used to glue them to the back of the males. The male brings the tadpoles into the tiny puddles that form in the rosettes of bromeliads . The females feed the tadpoles with unfertilized eggs, which they put into the water. As soon as the tadpoles transform, their parents accompany them to an existing group of poison dart frogs.
Terrarium keeping
Due to its small size and complicated breeding behavior, the species is only recommended for experienced terrarium owners. The animals die quickly under faulty conditions. In small terrariums there are often fights between same-sex animals.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Icochea, J., et al. 2004. Ranitomeya reticulata . In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. Downloaded on May 31, 2013.
literature
- L. Bauer: A new genus and a new specific name in the dart poison frog family (Dendrobatidae, Anura, Amphibia). - Ripa. Netherlands 1986: 1-12.
- L. Bauer: Pijlgifkikkers and related: the family Dendrobatidae. - In: Het Paludarium. 1988: 1: 1-6.
- GA Boulenger: On a Collection of Frogs from Yurimaguas, Huallaga River, Northern Peru. In: Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1883 (4): 635-638.
- Brown, Twomey: Dendrobates reticulatus BOULENGER 1884 - Dendrobates.org 2006. - Ecology, evolution, and conservation of poison frogs. http://www.dendrobates.org/reticulatus.html March 3, 2007.
- CITES: Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Electronic Database 2005.
- DR Frost: Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 5.0 02/02/2007. Electronic Database Am.Mus.Nat.Hist. New York, USA.
- T. Grant, DR Frost, JP Caldwell, R. Gagliardo, CFB Haddad, PJR Kok, DB Means, BP Noonan, WE Schargel, WC Wheeler: Phylogenetic systematics of dart-poison frogs and their relatives (Amphibia, Athesphatanura, Dendrobatidae). In: Bulletin of the Am.Mus.Nat.Hist. 2006: 299.
- IUCN, Conservation International, and NatureServe .: Global Amphibian Assessment. [www.globalamphibians.org. globalamphibians.org] 2009.
- D. Melin: Contributions to the Knowledge of the Amphibian of South America. Göteborgs Kungliga Vetenskaps och Vitter-Hets Samhalles Handlingar 1941, 1, 4: 66.
- CW Myers: Spotted Poison Frogs: Descriptions of Three New Dendrobates from Western Amazonia, and Resurrection of a Lost Species from Chiriqui. At the. Mus. Nov. 2721, 1982: 1-23.
- R. Sschulte: Poison dart frogs - Part of species Peru. - Nikola Verlag, Stuttgart 1999.
- E. Zimmermann, H. Zimmermann: Obtained by breeding: Poison dart frogs. Dendrobates quinquevittatus and D. reticulatus. Aquarien Mag. 18, 1984, 1: 35-41.
Web links
- T. Ostrowski, T. Mahn: Species description Ranitomeya reticulata. Dendrobase.de - An online database of the family Dendrobatidae (Anura).
[1] September 2019.