show differences in gland shape, distribution, concentration, and in type of granule secreted. The poison of A. picta, unlike that of L. lineatus, contains no proteins and is instead composed of alkaloids and carbohydrates. Furthermore, the poison glands of L. lineatus are concentrated in the head and colored bands of the dorsum (yellow stripes and orange spots). This localization of poison glands in L. lineatus is unlike A. picta and most anurans, which possess a homogenous distribution of glands. Such localized distribution signals to predators that poison is actually located at the colored stripes and spots. A high concentration of glands on the head is theorized to be a result of frog predators starting consumption of anurans at the head. Müllerian mimicry The recent finding of potentially poisonous characteristics in L. lineatus has resulted in a re-definition of the association between this species and A. picta. Predators could learn to avoid the shared color patterns between these two species, resulting in Müllerian mimicry. Use in Research Analysis of anuran skin secretion chemical composition is important and is commonly done because substances found in such secretions can potentially serve as antimicrobials. Benzocaine, a local anesthetic, is frequently orally administered in lethal dosages to humanely kill anurans for study. However, the use of this anesthetic was temporarily a cause for concern in 2018 due to the finding of benzocaine in the skin extracts of the species Melanophryniscus moreirae and Lithobates clamitans, potentially invalidating many compositional studies of skin extracts. Fortunately, it was confirmed in 2020 that orally administered gel benzocaine did not result in the detection of any benzocaine in the skin of Lithodytes lineatus. Benzocaine in liquid form could result in false positives, but benzocaine in gel form applied at toxic doses in the mouths of frogs does not impact the chemical compositions of frog skin extracts and also should not confound any assays done with skin extracts. References External links Leptodactylidae Monotypic amphibian genera Amphibians of Bolivia Amphibians of Brazil Amphibians of Colombia Amphibians of Ecuador Amphibians of French Guiana Amphibians of Guyana Amphibians of Peru Amphibians of Suriname Amphibians of Venezuela Taxa named by Leopold Fitzinger Taxonomy articles created by Polbot