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Ranitomeya summersi
AKA: Ranitomeya fantastica, Dendrobates fantastica, Banded fants.
References:
(1) Understory Enterprises Inc. - Ranitomeya summersi
(2) Dendrobates.org - Ranitomeya summersi
(3) AmphibiaWeb - Dendrobates summersi
AKA: Ranitomeya fantastica, Dendrobates fantastica, Banded fants.
- Difficulty:
Intermediate to Advanced
- Location & History:
This species occurs in the central Huallaga Canyon near the towns of Sauce and Chazuta in San Martin, Peru. This species appears to be primarily associated with premontane habitats, occurring up to 684 m elevation. Habitats tend to be relatively dry, with reduced rainfall between the months of June through September. (1)
- Descriptions & Behavior:
Long considered a morph of R. fantastica, Brown et all, 2008 elevated this banded frog to species status based on genetics, distribution and behavior. (1) Brown et al. (2008) showed this species forms a clade sister to Ranitomeya fantastica. This species was previously considered to be a morph of R. fantastica until more detailed investigations revealed that these frogs were distinct with respect to morphology, call, and genetics. (2)
Ranitomeya summersi is a large species of Ranitomeya, with adults reaching 20.4 mm SVL. Adults have a black body with conspicuous orange ‘rings’ encircling the body and outlining the top of the head. An orange line is also present running along the dorsal surface of each limb. Ventral coloration is black with irregular orange lines. Little variation has been documented in this species, although the dorsal orange markings are sometimes broken or have branching patterns.
- General Care:
Ranitomeya summersi is a diurnal, terrestrial species. Little is known about the breeding behavior in the wild, but adults can frequently be found in Dieffenbachia axils which contain water. Courtship and egg deposition take place in leaf litter. Clutches consist of 4-9 eggs. Tadpoles are transported by the male to water bodies in tree holes or Dieffenbachia axils. These frogs can be found in disturbed areas, and can be locally abundant, especially in habitats with high densities of Dieffenbachia.(2)
- Breeding & tadpole Care:
- Pictures:
References:
(1) Understory Enterprises Inc. - Ranitomeya summersi
(2) Dendrobates.org - Ranitomeya summersi
(3) AmphibiaWeb - Dendrobates summersi