Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone know why Dendrobates twitch theyre toe?

When i first started out, i always thought it was a sign of MBD (lol), but then i saw other peoples darts, and they do the same thing...just thought it was facinating, but does anyone know why exactly?
Thanks

I've viewed this in my P. aurotaenia as well as all of my phyllomedusas. I think it's a lure. So the insects are distracted with that while they are eaten.
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P. sauvagei
derekb15.tripod.com/tropicaltreasures
4.2 P. sauvagei
3.2.7 P. hypochondrialis
2.0 P. vaillanti
0.0.3 P. aurotaenia
2.2 B. orientalis
0.0.10 S. pustulosa
0.0.3 B. americanus
1.0 T. horsefieldi

Ed Smith and a few other guys are doing a study on toe twitching. I forget how it goes, but there's some morphs that do it more, and I think one of the sexes did it more too, but I really dont' remember. Maybe Mark knows (he was there for the convo too).
Best,
J

I have noticed that all of my non-abroeal frogs do this. i have marine toads, rococco toad and my smokey jungle frog all do this, as well as my darts. None of my aboreal frogs do this though. I agree that it is a lour. I have only seen this behavior durring feeding.

This behavior is technically called digital fluttering. i am also starting a study on this behavior. It has been found in many spp. Southern toads, Phyllomedusas, American hylids- when they are froglets, etc... Nobody has been able to narrow it down to the real cause or why they do it, but it has a strong correlation with feeding and hunting. I'll post when the results of my study are complete.

Enjoy
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Justin
stk18119@loki.stockton.edu

D.auratus
D.leucomelas
D.tinctorius (lorenzo, yellowback, citro, pb, oyopak,etc.)
D.azureus
D.ventrimaculatus
D.pumilio (blue jeans, red, bastimentos)
P.aurotaenia
P.bicolor
E.tricolor

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too many treefrogs and toads to list!