Adult: Species description based on Savage (2002). A tiny poison frog (males to 21 mm, females to 24 mm). Dorsal: The dorsal surface is black, with a narrow gold, yellow, or orange stripe that extends all the way around the forward part of the body--across the snout, above the eyes, back along the sides of the dorsum. The upper surfaces of the arms and legs are speckled with similar colors. A light blue or white wavy stripe extends down from below the eye to just in front of the arm. Ventral: The ventral surface is mottle black with pale blue, green, grey or white. Eye: The eye is black.
Egg: Eggs hatch in 9-14 days (Zimmerman 1982, Weygoldt 1987). Tadpole: The tadpole is small and dark brown, with some darker blotches on the tail (Savage 2002). The tail is moderately long with reduced tail fins (Savage 2002). Metamorphosis takes place after 60 days (Zimmerman 1982, Weygoldt 1987).
Habitat: Lowland and premontane forest to 600 m. Call: A low, raspy trill (Savage 2002) Behavior and communication: Males are not territorial (Savage 2002). In captivity, a male and female may court for many days prior to amplexus, frequently touching one another (Zimmerman 1982, Weygoldt 1987). Males stay close to eggs, and will rehydrate them if they begin to dry out (Zimmerman 1982, Weygoldt 1987). At hatching, the male carries the tadpoles, a few at a time, to a small body of water to continue development (Zimmerman 1982, Weygoldt 1987). Karyotype: 2N = 24 (Rasotto et al 1987) Type locality: der Weg zwischen Bocca del toro und dem Vulcan Chiriqui. . . zwischen 5000′ und 7000′ Höhe (Panama)
Diagnostic description: Small in size between 1.8-2.4 cm in length. More elongated wide head, large eyes. Back and black head. With a narrow yellow or golden dorsolateral stripe from the dorsal base of the thigh to above the eye then continuing through the nose. Golden rays, creams, whitish or bluish from the bases of the arms up under the eyes. Upper surfaces of the limbs marbled with black and gold, yellow or yellow-green. Belly and undersides of the limbs marbled with black and blue, greenish, white or silver. With a clear ventrolateral stripe on the sides. With ovoid and low below all digits without enterdigitales membranes (Savage, 2002) tubers.
Habitat:They live in the foliage and undergrowth of rainforests.
Reproduction: Adults carry the tadpoles on her back to puddles of water in the soil or in plants to develop there.
Food: They feed on ants.
Behavior: They are diurnal.
Uses: Individuals of this species are highly prized for use in terrariums, so they are removed from their natural habitat to be sold illegally, mainly in Europe and USA.
Distribution in Costa Rica: In the humid lowlands of the Atlantic slope (except north), between 10 and 600 m. Lift (Savage 2002).
Distribution outside Costa Rica: It is found from the Caribbean lowlands of southeastern Nicaragua to northwestern Panama (Savage 2002).
Bocas Species Database
Habitat: Viven en el follaje y la vegetación baja de los bosques húmedos. Distribution: Islas Colon y Bastiemnto