Panamanian Golden Frog
Distribution
Panama
Diet
Insectivore
Habitat
Forests and Wetlands
Latin Name
Atelopus zeteki
IUCN conservation status
Probably extinct in the wild, the future of this tiny frog depends on conservation efforts in zoological facilities.
Interesting informations
Eat Without Being Eaten!
This pretty little frog (which actually belongs to the toad family) prefers fast-flowing streams, where it roams during the day in search of insects. Its bright colors serve as a warning to potential predators that it is toxic and dangerous to eat.
A Tiny Amphibian with a Powerful Toxin!
Its diet contributes to making it neurotoxic, even to the touch: the more diverse insects and invertebrates the frog consumes, the more toxic its secretions become. The Panamanian golden frog is believed to produce the most harmful secretions of all the toad family (Bufonidae).
Scattered in Their Environment, Frogs Signal to Attract Each Other’s Attention
Without eardrums, the small male amphibians use a form of sign language to communicate: they wave their legs or lift and move their feet to attract a mate or signal their presence. Once he has the female’s attention, the male climbs onto her back and holds on tightly. He can stay there for several days until she lays her eggs.
Victim Of Fungus And Uncontrolled Harvesting, It Stands Out By Its Absence In The Wild
The national animal of Panama, it was long captured and introduced into hotels and restaurants to bring good luck. Decimated by a fungal disease, chytridiomycosis, it has not been seen in the wild since 2009. It now survives only in about forty accredited zoological institutions working to keep the species alive.
