Common Name: Bloody Bay Poison Frog, Tobago Stream Frog, Tobago Poison Frog
Scientific Name: Mannophryne olmonae
Family: Aromobatidae – Cryptic Poison Dart Frog family
Location: Trinidad and Tobago
Female Size: 0.85 inches (21.6 mm)
Male Size: 0.82 inches (21.0 mm)
The Bloody Bay Poison Frog lives in the rain forests in the Northeast of the island of Tobago. They live near rocky shady streams and creeks. The frogs are a member of the Aromobatidae, the Cryptic Poison Dart Frog family which is slightly different than the regular Poison Dart Frog family – Dendrobatidae. Unlike regular Poison Dart Frogs that show off they are poisonous with their bright colors, the frogs of Aromobatidae does not have bright colors but dull, neutral colors that allow them to blend into their environment. This coloration allows them to be diurnal, active during the day just like the frogs in the family Dendrobatidae.
The female frog lays her eggs on land. There, the male guards the eggs and wait for them to hatch. Once the eggs hatch, the male frog carries the tadpoles on his back to pools near the stream that lack predators. There, the tadpoles complete their metamorphosis.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assesses the Bloody Bay Poison Frog as Vulnerable with Extinction. This is due to the small range of the frog and the presence of Chytrid Fungus, a deadly pathogen, amongst the frogs. Currently, the frog hasn’t exhibited any health problems from the disease but could cause problems if it did.