Close-up of a brown and white spotted frog sitting on a wet surface, with a blurred green and brown background.

Frog sitting on a bright green leaf, with droplets of water around it, creating a vibrant, natural scene.

Close-up of a small frog with brown and white patterns, sitting on a textured surface next to a green leaf, with blurred foliage in the background.

Marañón Poison Frog

At Paignton Zoo, our spotty Marañón poison frogs can be found in Amphibian Ark.

Marañón Poison FrogExcidobates mysteriosus

Class:
Amphibia
Order:
Anura
Family:
Dendrobatidae

About the Maranon poison frog

The Marañón poison frog is a small rainforest amphibian growing to around 3–4 centimetres in length. Native to the tropical forests of Peru’s Marañón River drainage, it lives among leaf litter on the forest floor. Its brown to orange colouring provides camouflage against fallen leaves, helping it avoid predators.

This species is an insectivore, feeding on small invertebrates such as ants and mites. Like many poison frogs, its chemical defences are linked to compounds obtained from its natural diet.

Conservation

The species is currently listed as Endangered, with deforestation and habitat fragmentation within Peru’s Marañón region posing significant risks to its limited population.