Ranitomeya imitator, the frog with the
"mask"
Lars Fehlandt (Cologne)
Ranitomeya
imitator,
formerly Dendrobates
imitator, is a
poison dart frog of about 23 mm length from Peruvia The
species imitates three different other species that are
living syntopically. This so-called norming of signals is
known by the term Müller’sche Mimikry and serves to share the
advantages of the species. The term originates from the
description of the phenomenon by the German biologist Johann
Friedrich Theodor Müller (1821–1897) in 1879.
Sharing the concept of Müller’sche Mimikry means there are no
models and imitators but inedible species adapt their warning
colours to make them all profit from each other. A potential
predator needs to make a bad experience only once and will
avoid all of the participating species in the future because
it can not or only insufficiently distinguish the different
species of prey.
Lars
Fehlandt's profession is about ornamental fish and
Crustaceans, but in his spare time he is fascinated by
amphibians. He reports from his experience as a field
herpetologist and breeder on the natural occurrence of
Ranitomeya
imitator, explains
the strategical advantages of signal norming and the
successful keeping and breeding of the species.
