Panamanian golden frog
Conservation Messaging Opportunities
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 dry 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 areas on their first fingers 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.
Range and Habitat
Range –Endemic to the mountain slopes in the Central Cordilleran rainforest of west-central Panama
Habitat –Wet and dry tropical mountain forests, with breeding and development occurring in forest streams
Diet: Insectivore
Wild – small invertebrates
Zoo – crickets, fruit flies
Lifespan
Wild – Unknown
Zoo – 5-12 years
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 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.
Conservation: Critically Endangered
The major threat is chytridiomycosis, an infectious fungal disease, which has led to catastrophic population declines in many other species. Other threats include the deforestation of habitat for agriculture and infrastructure development, water pollution, and over collection for the pet trade.
This species is protected in Panama by national legislation. Populations have been recorded in various protected areas. A successful captive-breeding program involving many zoos in North America is in place, although no re-introductions will be made until existing threats can be addressed and resolved.
Interpretive Information
Also commonly known in Panama as the rana dorada.
They are considered a good luck symbol to the people of Panama.
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.
The toxins in the skin of these frogs are found in high concentrations in the prey they eat. In captivity, poison frogs lose their toxic properties due to the lack of toxic substances in the food they consume.
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 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.
References
Golden arrow poison frog. Arkive. Retrieved from http://www.arkive.org/golden-arrow-poison-frog/atelopus-zeteki/
Information on amphibian biology and conservation. (2014). Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Retrieved from: http://amphibiaweb.org/.
Karen Lips, Frank Solís, Roberto Ibáñez, César Jaramillo, Querube Fuenmayor 2010. Atelopus zeteki. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. Retrieved from www.iucnredlist.org
Panamanian Golden Frog. Denver Zoo. Retrieved from http://www.denverzoo.org/downloads/dzoo_golden_frog.pdf
Panamanian Golden Frog. San Diego Zoo. Retrieved from http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/content/amphibians
Updated 2014