Common Name: Vicente’s Poison Frog
Scientific Name: Oophaga vicentei
Family: Dendrobatidae – Poison Dart Frog family
Location: Panama
Size: 0.7 – 0.9 inches (18 – 23 mm)
The Vicente’s Poison Frog lives along the eastern lowlands of the coast of Panama. They come in a variety of different colors. They live mostly in trees but are seen in some areas on the ground or the base of trees. Even mating takes place in the trees. Females lay their eggs in plants, lay unfertilized eggs for their tadpoles to eat, and move the eggs from plant to plant if the water is drying up. The genus Oophaga means egg eating.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assesses the Vicente’s Poison Frog as Endangered with Extinction. The habitat for the frog is being destroyed to make room for farms, mines, and houses. Besides that, Chytrid Fungus, a deadly disease for frogs, has been found in the species. There are some frogs in captivity to help keep them safe, including at the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project.
