Sira Poison Dart Frog

About the Sira Poison Dart Frog

Ranitomeya sirensis or the Sira poison frog is a species of poison dart frog found in the Amazonian rainforests of northern Bolivia (Pando Department), westernmost Brazil (Acre), and eastern Peru. Scientists gave this frog the Latin name sirensis because of the place where it was first formally observed: Serranía de Sira.

The adult male frog measures 15–17 mm long in snout-vent length. This species has a number of distinct color morphs. The frogs that live in the Sira mountains have red skin on their backs with turquoise-green coloration on their limbs. Their bellies are blue-green with one red patch each. Frogs in other parts of the species' range are black with yellow stripes. All of these frogs have disks on their toes for climbing.

Like most Ranitomeya species, R. sirensis is a mildly toxic poison dart frog. Its skin secretes small amounts of pumiliotoxins which coat the frog and cause pain and mild muscle spasms if the frog is handled carelessly. The symptoms may be more severe if the frog is ingested, but unlike the Phyllobates and Oophaga species, R. sirensis secretes the comparatively mild pumiliotoxin C in very small quantities... Wikipedia →