Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Since Otis and I seem to have hijacked amphiman's thread of October 21st Red-eyed tree frog--I thought I'd move any further discussion up here in case anyone else has some views on the subject. Otis asked if using Dendrobates imitator was now considered "politically incorrect." I'm not certain that there is even a consensus among dart people that accepts the new systematic revision by Grant, et. al. So far, I haven't found any of the current popular breeders that have changed their listings yet. We'll just have to wait and see, I guess. In the meantime, as long as we all know an imitator is still an imitator, whether it is Ranitomeya imitator or Dendrobates imitator, or a pumilio is still a pumilio whether we call it D. pumilio or Oophaga pumilio, the confusion can be kept at a minimum. At least they haven't meddled much with the species names we're used to, except to change a few endings for agreement with the new genus designation. (Dendrobates fantasticus is now Ranitomeya fantastica, D. reticulatus, now R. reticulata, etc.)

In the meantime, I don't think any of us is going to get beat up over using the terminology we're used to. After all, the newest book has just been published, and it's relatively expensive, so not everyone is going to invest in it. The casual hobbyist isn't expected to keep up with esoteric scientific articles and proposals.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

Dendrobates: auratus blue, auratus Ancon Hill, tinctorius azureus, leucomelas. Phyllobates: vittatus, terribilis, lugubris. Epipedobates: anthonyi tricolor pasaje. Ranitomeya fantastica, imitator, reticulata. Adelphobates castaneoticus, galactonotus. Oophagia pumilio Bastimentos. (updated systematic nomenclature)

yeah my B. I saw that book at Frogday for sale by Blackjungle for 165, it looked nice when I was flipping through it and stuff but 165!theres a lot of info in it and it's probably worth the money, just don't have enough b/c bought way too many frogs that day. I just feel bad for all those people who named stuff after dendrobates, like dendroboard. people will still know what it means but still... it was a great idea not to change the indivigual species name. I think I will just refrain from saying anything but the species name for a few years did you get the book? hopefully it will get cheaper soon.
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RES
WTF
FBT
Russian Tortoise
Hingeback tortoise
Leos
Lawsons Dragon
Aussi
Ocelot Gecko
0.0.3 Vietnamese Mossy Treefrogs
Oregon Newt
Japanese FBN
American Bullfrog
0.0.4 D. tinctorius
D. auratus
D. leucomelas
1.1D. imitator
0.0.2 imitator intermedius
1.1.1D. lamasi
Grandis Day Gecko
Mali Uro
0.0.4 Hourglass Treefrogs
Hedgehog, bunnies, dog, fish, crawfish...

I had pre-ordered the book two years ago, so paid $149.00 for it before it was published. In the meantime, they did a lot more work on it, so the finally publishers price was more.

Most of the poison frogs we are familiar with as hobbyists are still under a superfamily, Dendrobatoidea, (poison frogs in general) with Dendrobatidae (poison frogs specifically) and Aromobatidae families below that, and then subfamilies such as Dendrobatinae below that--followed by the genus names, which show the most changes. But as far as forum names and hobbyist are concerned, the name "Dendro" is still pertinent for all practical purposes.

Since the book doesn't include a schematic "family tree," (before and after the changes, including all species) it's hard to tell the current relationships and what changes have been made at a glance. Taxonomists have more rules than the IRS.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

Dendrobates: auratus blue, auratus Ancon Hill, tinctorius azureus, leucomelas. Phyllobates: vittatus, terribilis, lugubris. Epipedobates: anthonyi tricolor pasaje. Ranitomeya fantastica, imitator, reticulata. Adelphobates castaneoticus, galactonotus. Oophagia pumilio Bastimentos. (updated systematic nomenclature)

There are some questions being asked about the new taxonomy...

see http://www.amphibiatree.org/?q=node/253. I wouldn't jump to embrace it just yet..

Ed

Thanks so much for your information and sources, Ed. Your time and edification is always appreciated.

I wonder why a relatively major new publication directed toward hobbyists has embraced the systematic revisions while there are still so many questions about it.

From an amateur's standpoint, I can see a few practical genus separations among the egg feeder thumbnails, obligate egg feeders and other Dendrobates that would at least be useful at this time. On the other hand, I'm certainly willing to wait and see before going into using the new nomenclature full force.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

Dendrobates: auratus blue, auratus Ancon Hill, tinctorius azureus, leucomelas. Phyllobates: vittatus, terribilis, lugubris. Epipedobates: anthonyi tricolor pasaje. Ranitomeya fantastica, imitator, reticulata. Adelphobates castaneoticus, galactonotus. Oophagia pumilio Bastimentos. (updated systematic nomenclature)

150 is the cheapest i've seen it for sale. and few places actually carry it, i know blackjungle has it for 165. it's unfortunate the book doesn't have the before and after kind of thing for their names. that would have been helpful. thanks for all the info Patty! maybe i can beg my parents to get me that book for Christmas or something, maybe next year, see if it goes down at all.
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RES
WTF
FBT
Russian Tortoise
Hingeback tortoise
Leos
Lawsons Dragon
Aussi
Ocelot Gecko
0.0.3 Vietnamese Mossy Treefrogs
Oregon Newt
Japanese FBN
American Bullfrog
0.0.4 D. tinctorius
D. auratus
D. leucomelas
1.1D. imitator
0.0.2 imitator intermedius
1.1.1D. lamasi
Grandis Day Gecko
Mali Uro
0.0.4 Hourglass Treefrogs
Hedgehog, bunnies, dog, fish, crawfish...