| Discovery |
Myers, C.W. en J.W. Daly (1976): Preliminary evaluation of skin toxins and vocalisations in taxonomic and evolutionary studies of poison-dart frogs (Dendrobatidae), -Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, 157,3: 173-262, pls. 1-2.
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| Type locality |
In montane forest approximately 13 km west of Dagua (town), 850 -1200 meters elevation on south facing versant of upper Rio Anchicaya drainage, Department of Valle, Colombia'
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| Holotype |
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| Etymology |
Named for the late F. Carlos Lehmann Valencia, biologist conservationist and founder of natural history museum in his native Colombia.
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| Classification |
Member of the Dendrobates histrionicus group
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| Synonymy |
German name: Rotgeringelter Pfeilgiftfrosch
English name: Redbanded poison(-arrow) frog
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| History |
Myers and Daly (1976: 240) described this species based on material collected by them in 1973 in western Colombia. This species did vary from the surrounding D.histrionicus populations according to them, because of the different colour pattern: black with two orange-red side bands (sometimes interrupted) on the body and orange bands on the legs with white fingers and toes. D.lehmanni also has a different kind of toxin in the skin then D.histrionicus: no histrionicotoxine but pumiliotoiine A and B. Besides is D, lehmanni found on a higher elevation then D. histrionicus according to Myers and Daly.
Stefan Lotters (1990: 138) describes two colour variations in the area of the type locality of D.lehmanni and mentions D. lehmanni as a species with a variable colouring, ranging from a black / brown, grey or orange base with red, orange, yellow, blue or gree-white bands or spots. Investigation of the blood serum by using electrophoresis, of three D.lehmanni and two D.histrionicus populations, shows a large variety of both populations and colour varieties. Besides cross breeding experiments have been performed with both species (Zimmermann and Zimmermann, 1981 and 1988). According to Lotters there is a slow transition between both species. The new location is in lower regions on the slope what removes an isolation in habitat (read elevation). According to Lotters is the own status of the species D. lehmanni open for discussion.
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| Physical description |
A larger Dendrobates up to about. 35.5 mm. They have no teeth, the first finger is shorter then the second, omosternum usually absent, tarsal tubercle present, has the skin toxins pumiliotoxine A and B. D.lehmanni is a species that varies in colour with a black, brown, grey or orange base with red, orange, yellow, blue or green-white bands or spots. The fingers and toes are white.
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| Distribution |
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| Biotope |
Myers and Daly found this species in an area with close montane rainforest at 850 to 1200 meter elevation on the southern slopes of a valley. The forest was of average hight and the undergrowth was very tight. A lot of trees were fully overgrown with mosses and bromeliads, also close to the ground. Lotters did find D.lehmanni several kilometres west, southwest and south-east of the type locality at elevations of 450 to 600 m.
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| Care and breeding |
D.lehmanni can be kept in a medium sized vivarium with a lot of plants and temperature of about 22-23°C. Breeding in captivity is very difficult. D.lehmanni takes care of the larvae in the same way as D. histrionicus, by feeding the larvae with non-fertilised eggs laid by the female. The only known successes with breeding this species have been in very large vivaria (greenhouses) with a lot of growth. The larvae that appear after 3 weeks from the 2-4 eggs are brought to water in bromeliads one by one. Metamorphosis takes about 3 months and are fully grown and ready to breed in about 1 year.
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| Foto's |
The foto's ( with the copyright mark ) published here with the kind permission of www.pumilio.com ©
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| Films |
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