Dendrobates nubeculosus Jungfer & Böhme, 2004
Rockstone Poison Dart Frog | family: Dendrobatidae subfamily: Dendrobatinae genus: Dendrobates |
Species Description: Jungfer K-H & W Böhme. 2004. A new poison-dart frog (Dendrobates) from northern central Guyana (Amphibia: Anura: Dendrobatidae). Salamandra 40: 99–104. | |
Etymology: The species epithet “nubeculosus” means “covered with small clouds” in Latin, which is most likely referencing its small ill-defined dorsal spots (Jungfur and Bohme 2004). |
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Description DIAGNOSIS: Size and coloration differentiate D. nubeculosus from all other species of its genus in northern South America. Four species of Dendrobates from other regions—D. mysteriosus, D. arboreus, D. histrionicus, and D. sylvaticus—have dorsal patterns of light spots that resemble D. nubeculosus. Dendrobates mysteriosus from northern Peru bears well-defined light spots that are evenly distributed, but are ill-defined ventrally. Dendrobates arboreus from western Panama is smaller than D. nubeculosus. Additionally, unlike D. nubeculosus, D. arboreus has light spots that are always discrete and never merge (Myers 1982). Some populations of the polymorphic D. histrionicus and D. sylvaticus from the Pacific versant of Columbia and northwestern Ecuador resemble D. nubeculosus in color (Jungfer and Bohme 2004). Dendrobates maculatus from around western Panama is spotted dorsally and laterally. Unlike D. nubeculosus, its finger I is slightly longer than finger II (Myers 1982). COLORATION: In life, the holotype was primarily black or dark brown with blue splotches on the dorsum. It had lateral blue and black patterns, with a solid black ventral surface. The dorsum and venter were dark with ill-defined light spots. In alcohol, the dorsal surfaces of the head and body are covered with numerous irregular, ill-defined light grey spots. The dorsal surfaces of the humeri have a few slightly darkened spots. When the specimen dries after being removed from the preservative, several reddish-brown areas appear on the posterior part of the abdomen, dorsally and laterally on the thighs, and in the interorbital area. This information might indicate lighter reddish-brown coloration in the living frog (Jungfur and Bohme 2004). VARIATION: Drawing conclusions from other members of the Dendrobates genus, it is surmised that D. nubeculosus females are larger than their male counterparts (Jungfur and Bohme 2004). Distribution and Habitat Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Guyana
Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors Larva Trends and Threats Comments PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS: Dendrobates nubeculosus resides in northern central Guyana and is assumed to be a member of the D. tinctorius group. Based on morphology, D. leucomelas, with its similar skin texture and short legs, may be D. nubeclosus’ closest relative (Jungfur and Bohme 2004).References Jungfer, K.-H. and W. Böhme (2004). A new poison-dart frog (Dendrobates) from northern central Guyana (Amphibia: Anura: Dendrobatidae). Salamandra, 40, 99–104. [link] Myers, C.W. (1982). Spotted poison frogs: Descriptions of three new Dendrobates from western Amazonia, and resurrection of a lost species from "Chiriqui". Amer. Mus. Novit., New York, 2721, 1-23. [link]
Originally submitted by: Sophie dela Cruz (2023-11-09) Description by: Sophie dela Cruz, Kate Korchek (updated 2023-11-14)
Distribution by: Sophie dela Cruz, Kate Korchek (updated 2023-11-14)
Life history by: Sophie dela Cruz, Kate Korchek (updated 2023-11-14)
Larva by: Sophie dela Cruz (updated 2023-11-09)
Trends and threats by: Sophie dela Cruz (updated 2023-11-09)
Comments by: Sophie dela Cruz, Kate Korchek (updated 2023-11-14)
Edited by: Ann T. Chang (2024-08-22) Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2024 Dendrobates nubeculosus: Rockstone Poison Dart Frog <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/6578> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Dec 3, 2024.
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Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 3 Dec 2024. AmphibiaWeb's policy on data use. |