Croaking Science: More than meets the eye- cryptic frogs are more colourful than you think

Mannophryne is a genus of 20 frog species found in the forests of Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. They belong to the family Aromobatidae, the sister family to the well-known Dendrobatidae, or poison dart frogs. Unlike poison dart frogs, that are brightly coloured to advertise their toxicity, aromobatids use cryptic colouration to blend into their surroundings as they do not have toxic compounds in their skins. In addition, they have a very effective escape response and can identify and reach cover quickly. This has led to one of their common names of rocket frogs, as well as being known as stream frogs, because of their normal habitat of stream margins. Leer más.