Valle de Huallaga Poison Frog

About the Valle de Huallaga Poison Frog

Ameerega pepperi is a species of poison frogs found in central Peru. It is similar morphologically to A. bassleri, A. cainarachi and A. yoshina; but can be distinguished by its advertisement call. Two adult male specimens were both 28.6 mm long in snout-vent length and the female frogs were 30.8–34.4 mm long. The skin of the dorsum back is black with red, orange, or yellow patterning. There is more color near the head and less near the vent. There are two yellow stripes from each eye down the body. There are two yellow labial stripes starting at the nares. The ventrum is dark blue with black patterning. The legs are black or dark green in color. There are stripes on the back legs. The iris of the eye is black in color. These frogs can differ in color geographically. Frogs from further south have more red on their backs and frogs from further north have more yellow and orange on their backs.

Scientists named this frog for Canadian conservationist Mark Pepper. This frog lives in undisturbed primary and secondary forest. The adult frogs have been found hiding next to boulders near streams. Scientists observed the frog between 380 and 1000... Wikipedia →