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AmphibianTerrestrialIntermediate
©AI Generated·Proprietary
Darwin-Wallace Poison Frog
Epipedobates darwinwallacei
A recently reclassified species bearing the names of the two fathers of evolutionary theory. It stands out for its darker, slightly bulkier build compared to its slender cousins.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Dendrobatidae
Subfamily:Colostethinae
Genus:Epipedobates
Species:Epipedobates darwinwallacei
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
80 - 100 %
Day temperature
22 - 26 °C
Night temperature
20 - 22 °C
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the western Andean slopes and foothill forests of northwestern Peru and southwestern Ecuador. This terrestrial species inhabits the humid leaf litter of the forest floor, living among decaying organic matter, root networks, and damp soils under dense canopy shade.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A small, robust poison frog, with adults reaching 2 to 2.5 cm in length. Coloration is dark and cryptic, featuring a rich mahogany or dark coffee-brown body with variable cream, pale yellow, or white stripes along the flanks and back. The belly is lighter and smooth.
Behavior and Habits: Highly active, diurnal, and inquisitive frogs. Males display elaborate courtship behaviors, emitting a distinct high-pitched metallic trill. Parental care is highly developed: after eggs are laid in damp, sheltered terrestrial spots, the male carries the hatched tadpoles on his back to deposit them in water-filled leaf axils.
Morphology: Sexual dimorphism is visible in adult specimens. Gravid females are noticeably rounder and larger. Males are smaller, more slender, and exhibit darker throat coloration associated with their vocal sacs, which expand during calling.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Best housed in a horizontal, bioactive terrarium (minimum 45x45x45 cm for a small group). Use a deep layer of sterilized oak or magnolia leaf litter over a well-draining clay substrate to prevent waterlogging. Provide low hides like coconut huts, cork bark, and live plants such as bromeliads for tadpole deposition.
Lighting and Heating: Prefers moderate temperatures reflective of Andean foothills, ideally 24-25°C during the day and dropping to 20-21°C at night. Temperatures above 28°C can be fatal. Provide low-intensity LED lighting and a 2-5% UVB lamp to support plant growth and prevent metabolic bone disease.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high humidity levels between 80% and 90%. Excellent ventilation is critical to prevent stagnant, bacteria-heavy conditions. Lightly mist the enclosure daily using reverse osmosis or declorinated water. They absorb water through their skin and do not require deep water dishes.
Feeding and Supplementation: Requires tiny live prey due to their small mouth size. Offer wingless fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), springtails, and micro-crickets. Dust all feeders with a high-quality calcium and vitamin D3 supplement 2-3 times a week to ensure healthy bone development.
Compatibility: Exceptionally social and can be housed in small groups or harems. Unlike some other poison frogs, intraspecific aggression is minimal, though ample hiding spots must be provided. Keep housed in species-specific tanks to prevent hybridization with related species (like E. tricolor).
Health and Common Diseases: Never handle with bare hands, as human skin oils, soaps, and body heat can damage their permeable skin and lead to systemic toxicity. They are susceptible to metabolic bone disease (MBD) and bacterial infections (like red leg syndrome) if kept in unhygienic or waterlogged conditions.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Endemic to the western Andean slopes and foothill forests of northwestern Peru and southwestern Ecuador. This terrestrial species inhabits the humid leaf litter of the forest floor, living among decaying organic matter, root networks, and damp soils under dense canopy shade.
Origin
Extra-Amazon South AmericaNorth America
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- No verified data available
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
