The Sky-blue Poison Frog (Cryptophyllobates azureiventris) is a species of poison dart frog

Poison dart frog

Poison dart frog is the common name of a group of frogs in the family Dendrobatidae which are native to Central and South America. These species are diurnal and often have brightly-colored bodies...

, native to the southern Andes

Andes

The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...

 in South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

. Because of its unique DNA it is the sole species within the Cryptophyllobates genus.

A recent review proposed merging the Cryptophyllobates genus into a new genus, Hyloxalus

Hyloxalus

Hyloxalus is a genus of poison dart frogs. The genus is distributed in Central and South America, from Panama south to Peru , along with Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. Species also inhabit the eastern foothills of the Andes in Bolivia to Venezuela, east to the upper Amazon Basin...

.

Physical description

Its main distinguishing feature is dorsolateral stripes that run down the back and end on the posterior. Although it is usually considered closely related to Epipedobates

Epipedobates

Epipedobates is a genus of poison dart frogs native to northern South America. Recently, many of the species were placed in the revived genus, Ameerega.-Species:Selected species:*Epipedobates anthonyi -...

 genus, observations of its tadpoles offers evidence that it is closer to the Dendrobates

Dendrobates

Dendrobates is a genus of poison dart frogs native to South America. It once contained all poison dart frogs; until recently, frogs such as Dendrobates pumilio and Dendrobates terribilis were scientifically valid names...

genus.