Silverstone’s Poison Frog Trivia

When they reach sexual maturity, males begin making trilling calls.

Further research is needed into the distribution, population status, ecology, and threats affecting the Silverstone’s poison frog, especially with regards to the impact of illegal trade. The population status and trends of this species are not fully known, as there is insufficient data for the species. There is also a need for population monitoring of the status of this species given the threats of habitat loss and harvesting.

Further research is needed into the distribution, population status, ecology, and threats affecting the Silverstone’s poison frog, especially with regards to the impact of illegal trade. The population status and trends of this species are not fully known, as there is insufficient data for the species. There is also a need for population monitoring of the status of this species given the threats of habitat loss and harvesting.

Further research is needed into the distribution, population status, ecology, and threats affecting the Silverstone’s poison frog, especially with regards to the impact of illegal trade. The population status and trends of this species are not fully known, as there is insufficient data for the species. There is also a need for population monitoring of the status of this species given the threats of habitat loss and harvesting.

Further research is needed into the distribution, population status, ecology, and threats affecting the Silverstone’s poison frog, especially with regards to the impact of illegal trade. The population status and trends of this species are not fully known, as there is insufficient data for the species. There is also a need for population monitoring of the status of this species given the threats of habitat loss and harvesting.

The Silverstone’s poison frog’s pattern is developed within a month or so, and expansion of the orange-reddish areas occurs after twelve months.

The Silverstone’s poison frog is threatened by agriculture, habitat destruction, and illegal smuggling for the international pet trade.

The Silverstone’s poison frog is threatened by agriculture, habitat destruction, and illegal smuggling for the international pet trade.

The Silverstone’s poison frog is threatened by agriculture, habitat destruction, and illegal smuggling for the international pet trade.

Male adult Silverstone’s poison frogs are large and have a maximum snout-vent length of 38.3 millimeters (1.5 inches). Females have a maximum snout-vent length of 42.8 millimeters (1.7 inches).

The Silverstone’s poison frog is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species given that its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 2,874 square kilometers, it is considered to occur in two threat-defined locations (based on the currently known disjunct geographical localities and trade pressure exerted in Cordillera Azul) and there is a continuing decline in the number of mature individuals due to illegal harvesting, as well as a decline in the extent and quality of habitat.

The female lays her eggs terrestrially in a closely packed single layer underneath leaves and leaf-litter.

The Silverstone’s poison frog can be distinguished from other members of the Dendrobatidae family by its large size and the lack of stripes in its orange-and-black or red-and-black coloration. Although they superficially resemble the black-legged poison dart frog (Phyllobates bicolor), they can be readily differentiated by observing the coarsely granular skin on the lower back that is smooth in P. bicolor , more prominent foot tubercles, and by various other differences.

The Silverstone’s poison frog can be distinguished from other members of the Dendrobatidae family by its large size and the lack of stripes in its orange-and-black or red-and-black coloration. Although they superficially resemble the black-legged poison dart frog (Phyllobates bicolor), they can be readily differentiated by observing the coarsely granular skin on the lower back that is smooth in P. bicolor , more prominent foot tubercles, and by various other differences.

The Silverstone’s poison frog can be distinguished from other members of the Dendrobatidae family by its large size and the lack of stripes in its orange-and-black or red-and-black coloration. Although they superficially resemble the black-legged poison dart frog (Phyllobates bicolor), they can be readily differentiated by observing the coarsely granular skin on the lower back that is smooth in P. bicolor , more prominent foot tubercles, and by various other differences.

The Silverstone’s poison frog is a habitat specialist.

The Silverstone’s poison frog has paternal parental investment.

The Silverstone’s poison frog is a freshwater species.

The Silverstone’s poison frog is endemic to South America.

The Silverstone’s poison frog was officially described in 1979.

The head, body, and forelimbs of an adult Silverstone’s poison frog is orange or red, sometimes with heavy black spots, marbling, or mottling, especially towards the rear.

The head, body, and forelimbs of an adult Silverstone’s poison frog is orange or red, sometimes with heavy black spots, marbling, or mottling, especially towards the rear.

The toe discs tend to be slightly wider than the finger discs.

The poison is not fatal and predators seem to recover fully.

Teeth are present on the Silverstone’s poison frog’s maxillary arch.

The skin of the Silverstone’s poison frog’s lower body and hind limbs is coarsely granular, especially on the back. It gradually smooths out in the skin atop the head, and on the forelimbs and ventral surfaces.

The Silverstone’s poison frog’s small, shallow, subgular vocal sac, located in the throat, is rarely indicated externally by a weak longitudinal crease (not a definite fold) on each side of throat.

The Silverstone’s poison frog makes mating trills to attract females.

The population status and trends of this species are not fully known, as there is insufficient data for the species. Current subpopulations appear to be a small fraction of what they once were, although there is not enough data to determine population size.

The Silverstone’s poison frog has little external sexual dimorphism except in size. Females are typically slightly larger than males.

Due to harvesting of the Silverstone’s poison frog for the pet trade, the population is thought to be decreasing.

Silverstone’s poison frog tadpoles are grayish or blackish-brown, with a few smatterings of darker spotting.

Silverstone’s poison frog tadpoles are grayish or blackish-brown, with a few smatterings of darker spotting.

Silverstone’s poison frog tadpoles are grayish or blackish-brown, with a few smatterings of darker spotting.

Clutches are small, usually made up of about 30 eggs, and have been observed on leaves.

There have been no observations or records of Silverstone’s poison frog courtship.

The Silverstone’s poison frog is not classified as a migrant on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

The hind limbs are largely or partially black and may have spots of body color on the thighs or with bright body color extending dorsally over the thighs and onto the shanks.

The Silverstone’s poison frog’s natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and wetlands.

The Silverstone’s poison frog’s natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and wetlands.

The Silverstone’s poison frog is endemic to the Cordillera Azul, a small mountain range that flanks the eastern side of the Andes, Huánuco Region in Peru.

The Silverstone’s poison frog was discovered in the 1940’s during road construction across the Cordillera Azul on the Amazonian flank of the Peruvian Andes.

To defend against predators, the Silverstone’s poison frog’s piperidine skin secretions contain small amounts of alkaloids, mainly of the pumiliotoxin-A class, a toxin found in the skin of poison frogs. However, the secretions lack the more potent batrachotoxin alkaloids of Phyllobates.

To defend against predators, the Silverstone’s poison frog’s piperidine skin secretions contain small amounts of alkaloids, mainly of the pumiliotoxin-A class, a toxin found in the skin of poison frogs. However, the secretions lack the more potent batrachotoxin alkaloids of Phyllobates.

Prior to its official description as Ameerega silverstonei, this species was known to many people but under incorrect names, such as Phyllobates bicolor or Epipedobates silverstonei.

Only adult males possess the small, shallow, subgular vocal sac in the throat.

The upper third of the Silverstone’s poison frog’s iris is pale bronze with some black suffusion, turning black on the lower two-thirds, with possible minute bronze flecking.

There is no webbing between the digits of either the hands or feet.

Silverstone’s poison frog males are territorial during the breeding season.

Silverstone’s poison frogs are wary and usually quick to hide, and seem to have some preference for edge situations.

The tympanum is seen by dissection to be circular or slightly vertically elliptical with an area greater than 50% of the eye.

During heavy rainfall, no adult frogs call.

Silverstone’s poison frog tadpoles have a keratinized beak that does not appear of considerable size. The mouth has delicately toothed edges, and the lower beak has a broad V-shape. They have a single row of pointed papillae.

Silverstone’s poison frog tadpoles have a keratinized beak that does not appear of considerable size. The mouth has delicately toothed edges, and the lower beak has a broad V-shape. They have a single row of pointed papillae.

Silverstone’s poison frog tadpoles have a keratinized beak that does not appear of considerable size. The mouth has delicately toothed edges, and the lower beak has a broad V-shape. They have a single row of pointed papillae.

It is assumed that female Silverstone’s poison frogs lay eggs more than once a year, and possibly throughout the entire year due to the constantly wet climate in which they live.

The male Silverstone’s poison nurse frog guards the eggs until they hatch, then carries the hatched larvae on his back to a suitable terrestrial body of water, such as an ephemeral pool, stream, puddle, or water-filled crevice where the tadpoles develop until undergoing metamorphosis. Although clutches have been found on dead leaves on the forest floor with male frogs in attendance, males have not been observed to defend eggs when clutches were approached.

The male Silverstone’s poison nurse frog guards the eggs until they hatch, then carries the hatched larvae on his back to a suitable terrestrial body of water, such as an ephemeral pool, stream, puddle, or water-filled crevice where the tadpoles develop until undergoing metamorphosis. Although clutches have been found on dead leaves on the forest floor with male frogs in attendance, males have not been observed to defend eggs when clutches were approached.

The male Silverstone’s poison nurse frog guards the eggs until they hatch, then carries the hatched larvae on his back to a suitable terrestrial body of water, such as an ephemeral pool, stream, puddle, or water-filled crevice where the tadpoles develop until undergoing metamorphosis. Although clutches have been found on dead leaves on the forest floor with male frogs in attendance, males have not been observed to defend eggs when clutches were approached.

In the past, the habitat area where the Silverstone’s poison frog occurs had been somewhat protected by the presence of terrorist groups (accepting drug crops used in drug trafficking). More recently, coca eradication campaigns and alternative development programs have diminished the presence of drug crops in the region.

In the past, the habitat area where the Silverstone’s poison frog occurs had been somewhat protected by the presence of terrorist groups (accepting drug crops used in drug trafficking). More recently, coca eradication campaigns and alternative development programs have diminished the presence of drug crops in the region.

The Silverstone’s poison frog probably breeds throughout the year.

The Silverstone’s poison frog is a diurnal species.

The relative lengths of the appressed toes is 4>3>5>2>1, each terminating in a slightly expanded disc.

The head is generally as wide as the body, except gravid females tend to be more rotund. When described, head width averaged 99 percent of the greatest body width in 12 males (range 87-115%) and 88 percent in six females (78-118%).

There is interpopulational variation in the color pattern of the Silverstone’s poison frog, and perhaps also in the ontogenetic development of the pattern. Geographic variation is likely to be extensive if the species proves to occupy a large range in the montane forest of Cordillera Azul.

The Silverstone’s poison frog is known to be distasteful to snakes.

The flesh of freshly skinned specimens of Silverstone’s poison frog is pinkish white, more like the usual condition in Colostethus than the gray or blackish-colored flesh of most Dendrobates and Phyllobates.

The relative length of the appressed fingers is 3>4≥1≥2, each terminating in slightly expanded disc.