Phantasmal Poison Frog
1.2.0
Nomenclature: Epipedobates tricolor
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Country of Origin: Central Ecuadorian province, Bolivar.
Locality Variation: Zarayunga
Information: This species is 1 of 7 species in the Epipedobates genus all of which use Aposematism as a defence mechanism. Aposematism basically derives from the Greek words that mean "Warning Colours" a defence which wards off potential predators and threats. However, Like most of the Dendrobatidae (Poison Dart Frog) Family they are highly toxic but it is a very common misconception that they are and have been used by Native Tribes for their darts, only the Phyllobates genus have been known to be used in this manner. However, many Amerindian tribes have been known to use Epipedobates tricolor for their darts mainly due to the unique nature of it's toxins.
Despite it's high IUCN classification, it is actually very widely bred in captivity and is often kept by both Private Keepers and Zoological Collections. However even though this species is widely kept in captivity, one of it's main threats is not from Over-collection for the Pet Trade, but for it's Medicinal uses to science. Epibatidine is an alkaloid commonly extracted from the E.tricolors skin and is used in Epibatidine, a painkiller that is 200 times as potent as Morphine.
