Ranitomeya imitator

Mimic Poison Frog (Ranitomeya imitator) - San Martin Department, Peru

 

These are the reason that I am here in Peru, I am working with this species and Ranitomeya variabilis. Ranitomeya imitator is truly an amazing little frog, it utilizes tiny little pools of water as deposition sites for its tadpoles which gives them an advantage as these tiny little pools of water are devoid of competitors and predators, however they also don't contain enough nutrients for the tadpoles to survive to metamorphosis so the male frequently checks up on them. He will then lead the female back to the sites where the tadpoles are located and she will lay an unfertilized egg for the tadpoles to feed on in a behavior called trophic egg feeding. So far these are the only frogs that have been shown to be genetically monogomous, likely evolved due to the need for high levels of biparental care. This is the first individual I have photographed of this species but certainly not the last, more photos to come as I take them!

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