Panamanian golden frog

Physical features

• The Panamanian golden frog is a small, brightly colored frog that often has distinctive black patches on the limbs, back, and sides of the body. The shade varies between individuals from gold, pale yellow, bright yellow, greenish-yellow, to orange. Some individuals lack dark markings altogether. The head is long with a pointed, protruding snout, and the eyes have elliptical-shaped pupils.

• Their bodies are approximately 1-2 inches in length. The size of the Panamanian golden frog can vary greatly between habitats, with individuals found in lower elevation forests usually being smaller than those in higher elevation wet forests.

• Panamanian golden frogs are sexually dimorphic. The female frogs are up to twice the size of the males. Both sexes are similar in coloration with the exception of males having dark brown keratinized areas on their first fingers (known as nuptial pads) during the breeding season, and females having pale eggs visible through their abdominal skin.

• For protection, Panamanian golden frogs secrete a poison from their skin which can affect nerve cell function.

• These frogs are a solitary species. The males are highly territorial and do not allow other males to approach their territory.

Diet: Insectivore

• Wild – small invertebrates

• Zoo – crickets, fruit flies, bean beatles, springtails

Reproduction

• In the late rainy season and early dry season, between November and January, the female Panamanian golden frog moves to streams, where males maintain established territories, to reproduce.

• After mating has occurred, the female deposits a single string of approximately 300-400 cream-colored eggs into the water. The eggs are looped, arranged into layers, and attached to the underside of a rock for safety.

• After 9 days the eggs hatch and the larvae begin to develop. An adhesive area on the underside of the body ensures that the larva remains attached to the rock and prevents it from being swept away by the current.

• The larva of the Panamanian Golden frog has an oval-shaped, somewhat flattened body and a rounded tail. The coloration of the larva is dark brown or black on the back with metallic gold markings.

• After the larva has metamorphosed it is blackish-brown with green markings. After several months to a year, it undergoes a color change and obtains the characteristic bright coloration of the mature adult.

Interpretive Information

• Also commonly known in Panama as the rana dorada.

• They are considered a good luck symbol to the people of Panama. There is even a national celebration held across Panama every year on August 14th.

• The Panamanian golden frog is the most toxic species in its genus (Atelopus), with its skin containing enough toxins to kill up to 1,200 mice.

• Atelopus is the most threatened genus of frogs in the world.

• Male golden frogs defend their territory by “semaphoring” – a form of hand waving to signal rival frogs to stay away. The frogs can vocalize (a lox, buzzing trill) but noise of waterfalls and flowing water in their habitat makes hand signals a more effective form of communication.

• Instead of hopping or leaping like most frogs, Panamanian golden frogs move around with a distinctive walk, but can hop when necessary.

• The pattern of spots on each frog is unique and, like human fingerprints, can be used to identify individual frogs.

• They are able to climb trees and can be found up to about 10 feet from the ground.

• Panamanian golden frogs have no external ears with which to hear. It is thought that they may detect sound through their lungs, which are located just beneath the skin and vibrate when sound waves hit them.

• Golden frogs are diurnal, with males spending their days feeding and defending territories along stream edges, while females forage in the forests away from the streams until breeding season. At night, they sleep on vegetation elevated off the forest floor and stream edge.

Updated July 2024