Vivariums;Oophaga granulifera

2- Oophaga granulifera - Taylor, 1958 - The granular poison frog :

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The granular poison frog (Oophaga granulifera) is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae, found in Costa Rica and Panama.[1]Originally described as Dendrobates granuliferus, it was moved to Oophaga in 1994.[2] Its natural habitats are tropical humid lowland forests; it is threatened by habitat loss.[1]

Granular poison frog

Conservation status :

Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classification:

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Amphibia

Order:Anura

Family:Dendrobatidae

Genus:Oophaga

Species:O. granulifera

Binomial name:

Oophaga granulifera
(Taylor, 1958)

Synonyms :

Dendrobates granuliferus Taylor, 1958
Dendrobates granulifer Taylor, 1958
Oophaga granuliferus (Taylor, 1958)

Description :

The granular poison frog is a small frog with slender limbs growing to about 20 mm (0.8 in). Its skin is finely granulated and its colour is typically bright orange head, body and upper arms and bluish-green underparts, legs and lower arms. In the vicinity of Quepos, Costa Rica, there is a colour morph in which the orange colour is replaced with olive green.[3]

Distribution and habitat :

The granular poison frog is native to Costa Rica and Panama. Its range extends from southwestern Costa Rica through the adjacent area of south-western Panama at heights of up to 100 m (328 ft) above sea level. It may also occur in south-eastern Costa Rica. It inhabits the leaf litter of the floor of humid low altitude forests.[1]

Behaviour :

The granular poison frog is a diurnal terrestrial species. Breeding takes place in the rainy season and the female lays groups of three or four eggs in curled up dead leaves, under stones, in twig forks and in leaf axils just above the ground. The male guards the eggs and keeps them moist with his urine. When they hatch, the female carries the tadpoles singly to temporary water bodies such as hollows in trees,

leaf axils of species such as Dieffenbachia and to bromeliads, at heights of a metre or two off the ground. The volume of water in these cavities averages 2.4 ml (0.084 imp fl oz; 0.081 US fl oz). The female feeds the tadpoles on an ongoing basis by laying unfertilised eggs in the water bodies.[3]

The frog is an aposematic animal, and it uses poison only for self-defense from predators. Its bright colors are used as a warning signal to all possible predators. Experimental studies in Costa Rica suggest the male granular poison frog spends the majority of its time and energy defending its calling site. These warning signals are more vocal (acoustic) than visual. If an encroaching male dared to approach too closely, a fight could ensue.[4]

Status :

The IUCN has listed this species as being "Vulnerable" because its range is relatively small, its numbers seem to be declining and it is threatened by destruction of its rainforest habitat.[1]

For the external links , refrences click here to read the full wikipedia article

Video :

Oophaga granulifera

Care Articles :

1- Oophaga granulifera (T AYLOR , 1958)

courtesy to : www.dendrobase.de/index.php

Etymology:

The epithet granulifera * comes from the Latin words "granum" (grain, plural = granuli) and "fere" (mostly, fairly). It refers to the heavily granulated skin of the frogs.

*Due to the female stem of the genus in a new combination with Oophaga (f) there are also some changes regarding the gender-specific suffixes from -us (m) to -a (f). Dendroates granuliferus (m) becomes the taxon Oophaga granulifera (f)

Synonyms:
Oophaga granulifera ( GANTANT , F ROST , C ALDWELL , GAGLIARDO , H ADDAD , K OK , M EANS , N OONAN , S CHARGEL & W HEELER , 2006)
Oophaga granulifera (B AUER , 1994)
Dendrobates granulifer (D UELLMAN , 1993)
Ranitomeya granuliferus (A NONYMOUS , 1985)
Dendrobates granuliferus (T AYLOR , 1958)

sensu F ROST , 2006

English name: Granular Poison Frog
German name: Granulated poison dart frog, kitsch frog (M EYERS , 1974)

system :

Classification:
Amphibia-> Anura-> Dendrobatoidea-> Dendrobatidae-> Dendrobatinae-> Oophaga -> Oophaga granulifera (T AYLOR , 1958)

Group:

The genus Oophaga B AUER 1994 corresponds to the former Histrionicus group in the sense of M YERS (1984) or the classification of S ILVERSTONE (1975) in Pumilio and Histrionicus group.

Note on the scheme:

The most original representative of the genus Oophaga . Genetically, the species is relatively isolated and is less closely related to all other species of the genus than these among themselves. The morphologically very similar O. pumilio , for example, is more closely related to the Colombian O. histrionica than to O. granulifera . Presumably, the species has migrated to Central America before the other present-day species reached Central America and has been encased in islands due to climatic changes in the southeast of Costa Rica.

Threat status :

Annex II of the WA. Annex B of the EUArtschVO. Notifiable according to BArtSchVO.

According to the IUCN (2006), the species is considered endangered (vulnerable). The endangerment of the species results from the continuing biotope loss and the habitat fragmentation

of the relatively small area (less than 20,000 km 2 ).

The loss of near-natural forest due to the large-scale cultivation of the economically important oil palm ( Elais guinensis) on the Pacific side of Costa Rica's is probably only by creating state reserves or private protected areas reside. Some populations live in protected areas (Reserva Forestal Golfito, Parque Nacional Corcovado), so the species is not endangered acutely. However, the very low population density that has been observed for years is probably due to incorrect monitoring methods. The species has a pronounced seasonal activity cycle, during which the animals retire into hiding places during the dry season and almost completely cease their activities. Since most observations and counts are made in the dry season (November to May), only a very low population density can be detected. These seasonal variations make accurate population estimation difficult and have so far been likely to underestimate the actual size of the population. The animals are not as good cultural followers asO. pumilio , however, sometimes occur in extensively managed plantations (N IESZPOREK, Pers. Komm.) And secondary forest . On the edge of natural retreat areas, such as rivers, populations are sometimes found in relatively badly disturbed habitats, such as cattle pastures or along roadsides. In the predominantly intensively cultivated palm plantations, the species has no chance of survival.

Description :

size

Medium sized Oophaga species with a head-hull length (KRL) of 19-22mm.

Grooming:

Back and front legs in red to orange-red or yellow to olive green. Lower part of the back, abdomen, hind legs and forefeet in turquoise, mint green, teal, bluish gray, light green, white or even red. Skin strongly granulated (-> Latin name) (text Thomas Ostrowski)

Fig .: Dorsal and ventral view of Oophaga granulifera

Older:

Approximately 6 years

Maturity:

1-1.5 years

Fig .: Terrarium picture of a scene of Oophaga granulifera

Clutch and larvae :

Behavior (ethology) :

General behavior:

Oophaga granulifera is a diurnal inhabitant of the deciduous layer of the rainforest. In many ethological parameters such as territorial behavior and breeding biology, he is a typical representative of the genus Oophaga and most closely resembles the species O. pumilio . O. granulifera , however, is much shyer than this species and lives much more hidden. The activity pattern of the species has a pronouncedseasonality. O STROWSKI visited several habitats of O. granulifera near Dominical (Prov. Puntarenas, Costa Rica) during the years 2003/2004 and observed strong fluctuations of the subjectively detectable population size. In January at the height of the drier season (Verrano) only very early in the morning (6-9 o'clock) animals in very small numbers could be observed. Within three days, only 6 animals were found. Call activity could not be determined. In May at the beginning of the rainy season (invierno) could be counted within an hour up to a hundred animals, their activity was limited to any specific time of day and many calling males could be detected. Towards the end of June, call and general activity declined during the course of the day and only a few animals remained. At the end of August, a second activity maximum with increased call activity was to be proven again. This seasonality of activity phases is likely to be closely related to the seasonal variations of the Pacific climate in Costa Rica. During the dry months from November to May, the animals, with decreasing rainfall, retreat to small and larger streams, hiding there in damp rock crevices or under roots. In particularly dry periods, the biotopes seem to have been cleared and only in the early morning hours can be observed occasionally active animals. With the onset of precipitation, the animals are then active throughout the day and in large numbers in the biotope. If the water levels of the rivers then strongly increase at the height of the rainy season, the animals retreat increasingly. During the drier period, the risk of water loss is high and reproduction is usually not possible due to lack of phytotelmata. Since the vegetation on the forest floor also decreases in many places, there is additionally an increased predation pressure. A restriction of the activity times is therefore certainly useful. Also some Pacific variants of With the onset of precipitation, the animals are then active throughout the day and in large numbers in the biotope. If the water levels of the rivers then strongly increase at the height of the rainy season, the animals retreat increasingly. During the drier period, the risk of water loss is high and reproduction is usually not possible due to lack of phytotelmata. Since the vegetation on the forest floor also decreases in many places, there is additionally an increased predation pressure. A restriction of the activity times is therefore certainly useful. Also some Pacific variants of With the onset of precipitation, the animals are then active throughout the day and in large numbers in the biotope. If the water levels of the rivers then strongly increase at the height of the rainy season, the animals retreat increasingly. During the drier period, the risk of water loss is high and reproduction is usually not possible due to lack of phytotelmata. Since the vegetation on the forest floor also decreases in many places, there is additionally an increased predation pressure. A restriction of the activity times is therefore certainly useful. Also some Pacific variants of During the drier period, the risk of water loss is high and reproduction is usually not possible due to lack of phytotelmata. Since the vegetation on the forest floor also decreases in many places, there is additionally an increased predation pressure. A restriction of the activity times is therefore certainly useful. Also some Pacific variants of During the drier period, the risk of water loss is high and reproduction is usually not possible due to lack of phytotelmata. Since the vegetation on the forest floor also decreases in many places, there is additionally an increased predation pressure. A restriction of the activity times is therefore certainly useful. Also some Pacific variants ofDendrobates auratus show such seasonality of the activity phases correlating with the seasons. The O. granuliferaalso temporarily withdraws at the peak of the rainy season, can probably be explained by the specialized reproductive biology of the species and the preference of brook habitats. At the beginning of the rainy season, the humidity increases and the temperature drops slightly. The water levels of streams and rivers, however, are not particularly high (low background noise in the biotope). Since the species interacts particularly strongly with acoustic signals (courtship and territorial delineation), good audibility is very important for the process of successful courtship and mating. When male animals begin to courtship and call throughout the day, they are still widely audible at low water levels. The female animals are now almost all at the same time receptive and take off their clutch. With the passing of the rainy season, the brooks swell strongly and with it the soundscape along the brooks increases. Communication via acoustic signals is no longer possible. In addition, most females already care for the first larvae and are no longer receptive due to the production of Nähreiern and no longer respond to courtship calls of the males. For males, it is no longer possible or meaningful to demarcate areas by calling off and attracting females. Calling males are now barely audible and all animals are less active and live more reclusive. The activity is mainly limited to foraging and in females to the larvae feeding. At the end of the rainy season (September to October), the females then raised their first kittens and are ready to mate again. Now there are also more calling males and the activity times are extended. It can then be observed again animals in the biotope until the onset of the dry period, the animals completely withdraw.

Utterance (vocalization):

The calls differ slightly in the different populations. Deep calls in the southern variants and lighter in the northern forms. The frequency also differs from north to south. (Sound copyright 2005 Thomas Ostrowski)

habitat :

Type find location of the first description

'' on low hills, north of the Río Díquis, about 3 miles north of Palmar Norte, Provincia de Puntarenas, Costa Rica '(TAYLOR, 1958)

Distribution:

Costa Rica, Province of Puntarenas, north of Rio Disquis, 4,8km north of Palmar. (T. Mahn)
You also feel a bit more southern. We found the red color strike north of Golfito, near La Gamba near the El Chorro waterfalls. (Info from Anja de Baas)

Pacific side of Costa Rica and Panama. In Costa Rica from Parrita in the province of Puntarenas to Westpanama in the province of Chiriqui. Lowland species below 600 m above sea level. The known population on the Atlantic side of Costa Rica is according to MEYER probably a settled occurrence of the nominate variant of Osa. (Text Thomas Ostrowski)

Fig .: Distribution area Oophaga granulifera

Biotope:

We visited several localities of some variants in the province of Puntarenas. O. granulifera is a pure lowland inhabitant dependent on primary or old secondary forests. We could never prove animals in plantations! The frogs are strongly bound to a specific brook biotope. The small to medium streams flow in brook beds of volcanic rock. The streams have burrowed into the rock, so that the entire bed consists of stone blocks and slabs. In the horizontal columns of these rocks the animals find shelter in direct proximity to the water (0,5-2m). There were always Dieffenbachien or other similar Araceae present (brood plant after MEYER).
The creek edges were shaded by dense forest and climbed mostly steeply (Kerbtal). The soil was stony, densely covered and covered with many foliage in which we could also find animals. At brooks without such structures we could not prove O. granulifera!
Not the forest but the nature of the stream seems to determine the occurrence. An occurrence in plantations, as partly reported, therefore seems unlikely to me. We visited the biotopes in March 2004 (dry season) and could only find active animals in the early morning. As the temperature increased, the animals retreated into the rock crevices. Was not called in March! (O STROVSKIpersonal observation)

Fig .: Oophaga granulifera "Dominical" in the biotope

I also found the animals in a small banana plantation. Even in a rather high population density of 15 animals on an area of 30 m². Partially sat 3-4adulte animals together. Any waters, such as pools, streams or similar have been missing. (personal communication N IESZPOREK , 2004)

Attitude in the terrarium:

Terrarium / Facility:

Rainforest terrarium from 80x40x40cm
Regenanalge and fogger recommended

temperatures:

Daytime up to 25 ° C, most active at 20-22 ° C,
nighttime lowering around 4-5 ° C
Annual temperature fluctuation minimal (1-2 ° C)
Due to the habitat, along shaded cool streams, the animals are very sensitive to heat!

Humidity:

80-90%, in the morning and in the evening 100% (fog), even in the dry season the moisture values directly at the stream hardly drop below 80%

Nutrition:

Usual small food animals Drosophila, micro-crickets, smallest wax maggots, meadow plankton and spring tails. Young animals very small, need springtails or newly hatched crickets

trim:

The animals were in pairs in the biotope. This also seems to be the best way to keep it. Young animals can be left with the parents for about 1 year. (Text Thomas Ostrowski)

Tips for breeding:

Lays 2-5 (5-15) eggs per clutch of
egg time: 19-20 days

The tadpoles are placed individually in the water.
The females regularly return to the tadpole to provide them with nourishing eggs.
Timing of tadpoles: 87-212 days (according to MEYER) Rearing similarly difficult as in D. pumilio , artificial rearing as described there possible but difficult. According to MEYER, the animals only spawn in the spring.

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