Female strawberry frogs fall for many-coloured males. This was investigated by manipulating the males’ colour with light. The gay colour is like a signal to the females: ‘look at me being all coloured!’ And I am still alive, so I must be a very fit male!’ Because animals that do not conform to the standard poison colour code run the risk of being eaten. Strawberry poison frogs are extremely poisonous. Predators that give a multi-coloured frog a try learn quickly: severe stomach complaints are the result.
In the wild the strawberry poison frogs (Oophaga pumilio) occur in the dense rain forests of Central America.
Striking strawberry poison frog
30december2009
Bright red, yellow and black are warning colours and they mean: I am poisonous, do not bite! The strawberry poison frog comes in many colours. It comes with a red front, a blue back, but it can also be completely blue, yellow or green, with or without black stripes or spots.
