AnimaliaHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN ENInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Endangered — faces a very high risk of extinction if threats are not urgently addressed.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Andinobates claudiae
Claudia's Poison Frog
(Jungfer, Lötters & Jörgens, 2000)
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
One of the smallest known poison frogs in Central America, showcasing an ultra-miniaturized body frame. Adults typically display a smooth, dark metallic brown, dark bronze, or nearly blackish base dorsal color, elegantly contrasted by highly distinctive, bright red, deep orange, or iridescent gold spots and short longitudinal flashes near the head, upper arms, or snout. The limbs are slender and dark. Its ventral side is smooth, showcasing a uniformly dark, dark grayish-brown hue, lacking bright patterns. The head is relatively narrow with prominent, completely dark eyes adjusted for sharp, close-range diurnal hunting.
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Anonymous Curator
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Last modified by
Julia Trouin
TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Chordata
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Amphibia
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Anura
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Dendrobatidae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Andinobates
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.(Jungfer, Lötters & Jörgens, 2000)
Record Completeness
96%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
Native
Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Unknown
Breeding SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
Wet Season
Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Carnivore
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
Strictly endemic to the moist humid lowland forests of the Bocas del Toro Province in western Panama, found at low elevations between 5 and 145 meters above sea level. It is highly dependent on pristine forest floor conditions containing deep, humid leaf litter and dense clusters of wild Heliconia and bromeliad plants.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
Exclusively diurnal and closely tied to wet forest floors. Adult frogs spend their day actively searching through leaves for microscopic prey. Males establish small acoustic territories within Heliconia patches, utilizing very soft, low-amplitude buzzing advertisement calls that are difficult for large predators to locate.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
Exhibits complex, localized spatial organization centered around reproductive assets. Mating is predominantly polygamous. Males have smaller home ranges and core areas than females because their movements are strictly anchored to the locations of suitable larval rearing plants.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Terrestrial micro-invertivore and specialized myrmecophagous insectivore of the forest leaf litter.Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
Acts as a specialized terrestrial micro-predator feeding heavily on small collembolans, specialized ants, and tiny soft leaf litter mites, concentration skin toxins from their diet. It is preyed upon by specialized forest floor spiders, juvenile snakes, and larger forest invertebrates.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
Females lay small egg clutches on the humid ground or hidden leaf structures. After hatching, the dedicated male father assumes sole parental care, loading the tadpoles onto his back and embarking on calculated treks through the forest to deposit them into the small water pools contained within lower, volume-rich Heliconia leaf axils.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
1.1 - 1.5 cm
Weight (Grams)
0.2 g - 0.5 g
Offspring per cycleTypical number of young (live births, eggs, or seeds) produced by one adult in a single reproductive event or breeding season.1 - 4
Sexual DimorphismObservable physical differences between males and females of the same species (e.g., size, coloration, features).Yes
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
8 - 12 Months
Gestation / IncubationDuration from fertilization to birth (mammals) or to hatching (egg-laying species).
12 - 16
Lifespan EstimatedExpected duration of life from birth to natural death under wild conditions.
Males1 - 3 Years
Females1 - 4 Years
Sexual DimorphismPhysical differences in size, coloration, or morphology between males and females of this species.
Males Multi-lang
Males are marginally smaller but overlap heavily with females, averaging 1.28 cm (ranging from 1.15 to 1.50 cm) in snout-vent length. They possess an internal vocal sac and are structurally distinguished by their distinct behavioral territory defense and calling properties.
Females Multi-lang
Females are slightly more robust on average, measuring approximately 1.31 cm (ranging from 1.19 to 1.50 cm) in snout-vent length. They completely lack vocal structures or slits and exhibit significantly larger home ranges due to their active, expansive searching behaviors.
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
Skin alkaloids providing chemical defense against small terrestrial predators, accompanied by cryptic baseline colors with localized aposematic highlights to warn visual hunters while maintaining floor camouflage.
Ultra-small mass and specialized digital pads that enable nimble climbing and precise navigation through the narrow, water-filled vertical channels of Heliconia leaf axils.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Severe habitat fragmentation due to rampant coastal and mainland deforestation for cattle ranching, small-scale banana farming, and expanding agricultural frontiers.
High risk of illegal collection driven by the international pet trade targeting rare, miniature endemic dendrobatid species with restricted geographic ranges.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
Fathers display incredible spatial awareness, investing considerable time inspecting multiple leaf axils and traveling far beyond their normal territory borders to select cavities with maximum water volume.