26 Nisan 2015 Pazar

Similar but different, the fascinating mimicry


These two frogs are so similar that you might think are of the same species, but in fact they are not, they are different species, but one, Ranitomeya imitator (below), whose name could not be more appropriate, is a master of camouflage, and mimics Ranitomeya summersi (above) with remarkable accuracy.
Ranitomeya imitator, commonly referred to as Mimic Poison Frog, is known for its variety of phenotypes (morphs) even in a single population, however, at the Huallaga Canyon, R. imitator exhibits only the phenotype mimic of the sympatric and Endangered R. summersi, known from only a few localities in central Peru near the Huallaga river valley.
References: [1] - [2] - [3]
Photo credit: ©Brad Wilson | Locality: San Martin, Peru (2010)

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