There is an interesting link in a new thread in the Lounge - Website Updated! - http://www.dendroboard.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3726 -
On the "Dendrobates" page of Evan's link - http://personal.ecu.edu/emt0424/peru04/dendrobates.html - there are pictures of several different morphs of D. Imitator. The interesting thing is, where the D. Imitator's range overlaps with D. ventrimaculatus (Yurimaguas lowlands), the Imitators strongly resemble the vents. However, where the D. Imitator's range overlaps with D. fantasticus (Jeberos), the Imitators strongly resemble the fants.
This begs the question: Is the resemblance due to hybridization of the species or has the D. Imitator evolved to mimic the frogs that it shares territories with?
Hybridization:
Can D. Imitator cross breed with D. Ventrimaculatus and/or D. Fantasticus and produce viable offspring?
If so, what prevents the complete merger of these species into a single morph? Are there audible or visual stimulus that prevent or limit cross breeding?
Mimicry:
If D. Imitator has evolved to mimic the frogs that it shares territories with, what is the advantage of mimicking either of the other species?
Do the other species contain a more efficient toxin that prevents or limits predation?
Also, are the frogs genetically different?
Tim
On the "Dendrobates" page of Evan's link - http://personal.ecu.edu/emt0424/peru04/dendrobates.html - there are pictures of several different morphs of D. Imitator. The interesting thing is, where the D. Imitator's range overlaps with D. ventrimaculatus (Yurimaguas lowlands), the Imitators strongly resemble the vents. However, where the D. Imitator's range overlaps with D. fantasticus (Jeberos), the Imitators strongly resemble the fants.
This begs the question: Is the resemblance due to hybridization of the species or has the D. Imitator evolved to mimic the frogs that it shares territories with?
Hybridization:
Can D. Imitator cross breed with D. Ventrimaculatus and/or D. Fantasticus and produce viable offspring?
If so, what prevents the complete merger of these species into a single morph? Are there audible or visual stimulus that prevent or limit cross breeding?
Mimicry:
If D. Imitator has evolved to mimic the frogs that it shares territories with, what is the advantage of mimicking either of the other species?
Do the other species contain a more efficient toxin that prevents or limits predation?
Also, are the frogs genetically different?
Tim