poison dart frogs from the Otorongo Expeditions Amazon River Lodge

How are there so many different species!

Changing climate and terrestrial shifts are the very motor for the diversification of species. Plate tectonics can sever the flow of water, creating Mega lakes, flooding forests and would empty violently to change the course of drainages. As time progress, those species that are isolated geographically, evolve independently from their ancestors (Geographic speciation)

Millions of years pass with environmental stability and new habitats are formed. The habitats create new opportunities and niches in which an ancestral species may find it beneficial to their success and will fill that void, over time evolving into a different species. (Niche speciation)

The destructive nature of our environment is a creator as much as it is a destroyer.

Where can you find them?

There are several lifestyles these frogs can exhibit, some may stay strictly on the forest floor and breed in fallen fronds that collect water. These individuals aren’t as acrobatic as others that can jump vertically up a tree trunk, defying gravity. Many times we can hear them chirping before we see them. Other times, they are a fleeting glimpse when they rocket their way out of your path.

How do you find them?

I have a personal tactic. step, stop step stop and use your peripheral vision to pick up any movement. It helps to know where they prefer to be as well.

How poisonous are they?

The poison frog species we have on our property are not the terribly toxic species found in Colombia and Panama (Phyllobates) Of the 170 species of poison frog, only 3 have the toxicity sufficient to kill a human. Unless you plan on eating frogs though, the chances of being poisoned by them are slim to none.

Can we handle the frogs?

While it is safe for us to handle them, we prefer that guests be passive observers and not molest them while on the hike. Besides being small and easily crushed, they could be transporting precious cargo such as 10 little tadpoles on their backs! Imagine if everyone who visited, handled the poison frogs? There would be none left to even see!

-Also, handling the frogs can be harmful to them, the oils and chemicals on our skin can be absorbed by the frogs, poisoning the poison dart frog.

Where do they get the toxicity?

Frogs obtain the base compounds from the prey that they consume. Ants, mites and millipedes all have complex alkaloids and are consumed by the frogs. The chemicals present in prey are accumulated and sent to the poison glands on the skin. The compounds once used to protect the ants from predators, ends up exuded as skin secretions giving the frogs a nasty and often deadly taste.

Why are they so colorful?

This adaptation is called aposematic coloration. Conspicuous, bright coloration meant to advertise to predators as an unsavory and potentially dangerous gamble. Most all poison frogs have striking colors, with bright contrasting warning colors, stripes or spots. This is a different strategy compared to most bite sized morsels which prefer good camouflage to avoid predation.

These noxious natties fart in the direction of danger, flaunting their attractive colors, daring something stupid enough to eat it.

Allobates trilineatus

Allobates trilineatus, Rocket frog is a species of small, diurnal frog found in the Amazon Basin and surrounding regions of South America. They are the second most widely distributed Allobates in the genus in South America.

These frogs are relatively social, and individuals communicate with chirps and calls. They are known for distinct black and dull yellow striped dorsal pattern, which serves as an excellent camouflage in their habitat. Cryptic colors are something they rely on due to their non-toxicity. They are very high on the list of prey items for predators.

This species holds an important space in the food web, consuming small insects , trading energy up the chain to larger organisms. We find this species very commonly around our lodge, often on leaf litter jumping so fast, you barely see it! Recent molecular studies have suggested that this frog is actually several distinct species across its range.

2. Amereega hanheli

Ameerega hahneli, also known as Hahnel's poison frog, is a small black frog with white dorsal stripes of white. They have small yellow striped in their armpits and thighs. The species was first described in 2014, and not much is known about its biology or behavior.

Like other poison dart frogs, Ameerega hahneli produces toxic skin secretions that serve as a defense mechanism against predators. These secretions contain a variety of alkaloid compounds that can be highly toxic. This species is very common on the forest floor, where we can see them in small pools of rainwater where they will deposit eggs and grow their young.

3. Amereega párvula

also known as the ruby poison frog, is a minute species of poison dart frog found in the western Amazon basin of Peru and Ecuador. It is one of the smallest poison dart frogs, measuring only about 1-2 cm in length. Like other poison dart frogs, the ruby poison frog produces toxic skin secretions that serve as a defense mechanism against predators.

The species is known for its deep ruby red back with a marbled sky blue thigh pattern and belly. This is another mainly terrestrial species that breeds in puddles or even water collected on fallen palm fronds. The adults can be observed, transporting tadpoles on their back from puddle to puddle where food sources for the young may be greater.

4. Amereega bilinguis

Ecuador poison frog was only known in Ecuador specifically along the Napo River. This caused great confusion in early days of exploration of the Am species is known for its distinct coloration, which features a bright yellow or orange body with two parallel black stripes running down its back.

Like other poison dart frogs, Ameerega bilinguis produces toxic skin secretions that serve as a defense mechanism against predators. These secretions contain alkaloid compounds that can be highly toxic and known to be derived from their diet of ants and other insects.

In captivity, they are typically fed a diet of fruit flies and other small insects. Not much is known about their biology or behavior in the wild, but they are commonly kept as pets by amphibian enthusiasts due to their striking appearance.

Allobates femoralis

Allobates femoralis, also known as the brilliant thighed poison frog, is a small species found in the rainforests of Central and South America. Bright thighs are terrestrial and spends most of its time on the forest floor where they hunt for prey and breed in small puddles and pools.

This frog is black with long white lines running down its sides. The most distinguishing feature is its fire red swath on the thighs that advertise poison. It was long thought that this frog was only faking being poisonous, benefiting from other similar frog species which really are toxic. It turns out, these frogs are actually toxic! In a study done in 2018 (Amézquita et al) it was found that they were not faking it at all, although very low potency, the researchers managed to kill a few mice.

Ranitomeya amazónica

Ranitomeya amazonica is a complex species. Their patterns can vary tremendously and has caused much confusion. Proudly, I can say the “white sands” morph was found by myself on the lodge property in 2007. Initial thoughts from renown herpetologists were saying “ where did you import the bromeliad from, that frog shouldn’t be there”.

This species is known for complex breeding biology and parental care. The adult male will defend a territory like a bromeliad with water containing cavities( phytotelma). The females listen for a male chirping away at his nest site, enticing the female to deposit eggs. Once deposited, the male takes over the care of the tadpoles, transporting them to better water or better prey.

Sometimes the adult will drop smaller siblings to a larger tadpole to promote cannibalism, concentrating resources and speeding up the growth of one. In other cases, the female can lay unfertilized eggs for her young to feed on.

They are a very calculating species, understanding more about trade offs than some humans.

Ranitomeya reticulata

also known as the Reticulated Poison Frog. This frog has similar breeding biology as the Amazon Poison frog. Both breed in water cavities above ground and can jump vertically up a tree trunk. The Reticulated poison frog is brightly colored and is characterized by its intricate reticulated pattern of black, blue, orange and red.

Like other poison dart frogs, R. reticulata secretes toxins from its skin which serves as a defense mechanism against predators. This small frog of 2.5cm is very common in our area and is most likely the first species you see when on a hike with us!

what does Otorongo do to mitigate possible harms of ecotourism on the frogs?

We are very aware about the black market trade of animals and we do not allow any collection on our property without proper permitting. We believe that ethical observation is important for the conservation of the species. Previously we saw decline in numbers due to our guides handling the frogs too much so we implore everyone to be passive observers.

As well, we provide frog hotels on our property, made from pvc tubes and cut bottles to simulate phytotelma and stimulate breeding. when on excursion, keep you eyes peeled and you may see some tadpoles swimming around.

Thats all for now folks!

Now, if you aren’t the type of adventurous traveler, there are ways to see these frogs from the comfort of your home. While collecting these species in the wild has decreased their numbers in certain areas, there are many frog breeders in the USA, Canada and Europe. The frogs that are bred in captivity are non toxic, they do not have the natural prey items that contain the poisons they use to concentrate on their backs.

below - resources for further research

favorite frog breeders. quick video of tadpole and adult

Mark Pepper and Manuel Sanchez from Understory Enterprises Have contributed tremendously to the study of these creatures , as well they have perfected the husbandry practices for raising over 30 species of poison frogs. I can personally recommend these guys as I have observed their work and ethic, it is outstanding!

For more info about toxicity of poison frogs,

A very prominent researcher of Tropical evolutionary process and GOD level Knowledge of frogs

Jason Lee Brown

Amézquita, Adolfo & Ramos, Óscar & González Montoya, Mabel & Rodríguez-López, Camilo & Medina, Iliana & Simões, Pedro & Lima, Albertina. (2017). Conspicuousness, color resemblance, and toxicity in geographically diverging mimicry: The pan-Amazonian frog Allobates femoralis. Evolution. 71. 10.1111/evo.13170.

Guillory, Wilson & Muell, Morgan & Summers, Kyle & Brown, Jason. (2019). Phylogenomic Reconstruction of the Neotropical Poison Frogs (Dendrobatidae) and Their Conservation. Diversity. 11. 126. 10.3390/d11080126.

Jaramillo-Martinez, Andres & Gagliardi-Urrutia, Giussepe & Simões, Pedro & Castroviejo-Fisher, Santiago. (2021). Redescription and phylogenetics of Allobates trilineatus (Boulenger 1884 "1883") (Anura: Aromobatidae) based on topotypic specimens. Zootaxa. 4951. 201-235. 10.11646/zootaxa.4951.2.1.

Saporito RA, Donnelly MA, Norton RA, Garraffo HM, Spande TF, Daly JW. Oribatid mites as a major dietary source for alkaloids in poison frogs. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 May 22;104(21):8885-90. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0702851104. Epub 2007 May 14. Erratum in: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Nov 11;105(45):17586. PMID: 17502597; PMCID: PMC1885597.

Amazon poison frog and tadpole at the otorongo expeditons amazon river lodge

Poison dart frogs from the Otorongo Expeditions Amazon River Lodge