Early Christmas Present

[John]

Who said there was no such thing as amplexus in Dart Frogs? This is inguinal amplexus:




OK I'm kidding, but I couldn't resist, given how perfectly symmetrical this is. Just in case anyone is still confused, this is not amplexus - I was kidding - it's two males wrestling for breeding/territory rights.

[Kurt]

Actually it's the Heimlich maneuver. One frog was choking and the other was trying to save its life. I was there, I saw it.

[Mike]

Just to be more specific, Dendrobatinae (sub-family) don't engage in amplexus. Epipedobates tricolor and E. anthonyi will breed in this position with the male on top grasping the female, and probably a few other species. Epipedobates are in the sub-family Colostethinae, while Colostethinae, Dendrobatinae, and Hyloxalinae make up the family Dendrobatidae which are all considered poison dart frogs.

[Mike]

"Dart frogs" in cephalic amplexus:

[Kurt]

Man, that fruit fly really gives one a scale to the size of these frogs.