### Identification Hardly larger than a thumbnail, *Epipedobates anthonyi* is a stunning "jewel" of the leaf litter. Adults typically measure 19–26 mm and sport a rich, mahogany or maroon-red base color. What makes them unmistakable are the three bold, longitudinal stripes—usually mint green, cream, or brilliant white—running down the back and flanks. Look closely at the snout: a distinct light-colored stripe runs across the upper lip, a key field mark. While easily confused with *E. tricolor*, *anthonyi* generally displays more irregular, broken marbling on its underbelly and a more rounded snout.
### Habitat & Range This species is a specialist of the tumbesian dry forests and tropical montane forests of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Unlike many "jungle" frogs, they thrive in slightly drier conditions, often found near rocky streams or shaded ravines at elevations between 150 and 1,700 meters. They are most frequently spotted hopping through coffee plantations or thick leaf litter near water sources.
### Behaviour A diurnal powerhouse, the male *E. anthonyi* is a vocal sentinel. You’ll likely hear them before you see them; their call is a persistent, high-pitched "chirp-chirp-chirp" used to defend territory. They are remarkably devoted parents. After the female lays eggs in the leaf litter, the male guards them. Once hatched, the tadpoles wriggle onto their father’s back, and he carries them "piggyback" to a nearby stream or water-filled bromeliad to complete their metamorphosis.
### Diet As a dedicated micro-predator, this frog spends its day foraging for "micro-fauna." Its diet consists almost entirely of tiny invertebrates including ants, springtails, mites, and fruit flies, which it snatches with a lightning-fast, sticky tongue.
### Fascinating Fact This tiny frog is a pharmaceutical powerhouse! It produces a unique alkaloid called epibatidine. When first discovered, scientists found it to be an analgesic 200 times more potent than morphine, though it proved too toxic for human use. It remains a vital subject in neurological research today.