Adelphobates

Dendrobates galactonotus

Dendrobates is a genus of poison dart frog ( Dendrobatidae ). It currently consists of three relatively small species that are found in various regions of Brazil.

Types and characteristics

The species of the genus Dendrobates are small to medium-sized poison dart frogs. All species are conspicuously colored and have usually a shiny black color with different sized orange and white spots or larger areas of the body. Especially A. galactonotus has a very large range of variants, while castaneoticus A. and A. quinquevittatus very little vary in their coloration.

The genus itself, however, was not described on morphological, but on the basis of molecular biological characteristics. Due to their genetic characteristics are the three types of a clearly defined clade of other species, which justifies a separate genus. As a common feature apart from the genetics the critters bright colored clutch and also have bright larvae.

Occasionally, a fourth type, Dendrobates captivus mentioned. This is done in a newly established genus under the name Excidobates captivus since 2008.

Dissemination

Also A. quinquevittatus in western Peru - - The species of the genus live in Brazil and only come south of the Amazon and west of the Río Ucayali ago. They are inhabitants of the lowland rain forests along the south side of the Río Amazonas. A. castaneoticus and A. galactonotus are partially sympatric be found in the state of Pará.

Way of life

All species are active during the day in the leaf litter of their forest habitats and feed on small insects such as ants or termites.

The larvae are distributed after hatching on small water accumulations in plants ( phytotelmata ), where A. and A. castaneoticus galactonotus very often water- filled fruit shells of the Brazil nut ( Bertholletia excelsa ) use. Also A. quinquevittatus uses the fruit peel, the larvae but are also frequently sold in other miniature waters in leaf axils or tree hollows.

System

The genus Dendrobates was introduced in 2006 by Grant and others in the context of a comprehensive revision of the poison dart frog. As a type species of the genus discovered in 1990, the species A. castaneoticus is considered. All species previously belonged to the genus Dendrobates and were appropriately structured as a separate taxon and these juxtaposed as sister taxon. Together with the genus Oophaga these three genera in turn the sister taxon of Minyobates, Phyllobates and Ranitomeya dar.

A. quinquevittatus was used as Dendrobates quinquevittatus long time as a collective name for different types and included different Dendrobates species of Brazil, Peru and Ecuador. After the identification of individual species, these were placed together in a Artkomplex and as Dendrobates quinquevittatus sl referred to. In 1990, a redescription of the species and thus a clear differentiation from other species; in the same publication was (formerly D. castaneoticus ) first described and is now placed in the relationship of A. quinquevittatus and D. ventrimaculatus, Ranitomeya ventrimaculata, also A. castaneoticus. The latter was defined by genetic studies of the present Dendrobates species in 2003, at the same time was the previously slammed in the relationship area of Dendrobates tinctorius suspected A. galactonotus the group.

Endangering

The three species of the genus are classified due to their suspected, relatively wide distribution area and the presumed large population in the IUCN Red List as not at risk ( "Least Concern" ).

Etymology

The name Dendrobates is derived from the Greek word adelphos = twin or brother. It refers to the long-standing collaboration of Charles W. Myers and John W. Daly. Both were about for decades together with the poison dart frogs and have described several types and decrypts other key results from the biology of the animals.