Origin, development, and function of colored inguinal and axillary spots in cryptic lineages of poison frogs (Amphibia: Anura: Dendrobatoidea)

Abstract

The study of biological models exhibiting dual cryptic-aposematic anti- predatory strategies based on their coloration, can shed important light on some of the great controversies in the evolution of aposematism. Among them, the greatest vulnerability faced by the first conspicuous individuals within a population; the link between conspicuous coloration and other traits indicative of condition, physiological performance and development of toxicity; and the consequences of aposematic coloration in contexts of courtship, sexual selection and reproductive isolation. In this context, this thesis investigates the functional and evolutionary origin, and the ecological correlation of the femoral and inguinal colorful spots in frog lineages of the superfamily Dendrobatoidae historically considered as cryptic.