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PANAMANIAN GOLDEN FROG Anura Family: Bufonidae Genus: Atelopus Species: Zeteki

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PANAMANIAN GOLDEN FROG Anura Family: Bufonidae Genus: Atelopus Species: Zeteki PANAMANIAN GOLDEN FROG Anura Family: Bufonidae Genus: Atelopus Species: zeteki Range: Endemic to Panama in Central America Habitat: rain forests and cloud forest streams Niche: insectivorous, diurnal, semi-aquatic Wild diet: invertebrates such as beetles, flies, ants, springtails, caterpillars, wasps and spiders Zoo diet: Life Span: 12 years Sexual dimorphism: females are 25% longer and heavier than males Location in SF Zoo: South American Tropical Rainforest and Aviary APPEARANCE & PHYSICAL ADAPTATIONS: Panamanian Golden Frogs are a light yellowish green to bright gold with some individuals exhibiting black splotches on their back and legs. Panamanian golden frog is brightly colored to warn potential predators that it is very toxic (aposematic). Like other frogs and toads, the golden frog is capable of secreting a poison to help protect themselves from predators and they are toxic to the touch. The Panamanian golden frog has a variety of toxins, including the nerve toxin “zetekitoxin” after their scientific name. The toxins are acquired through the different is kinds of invertebrates and insects that it eats. All animals in the Bufonidae Family have toxic skin secretions for protection, but the Panamanian golden frog's Weight: M 0.1 to 0.4 oz secretions are the most toxic of this group. F 0.14 to 0.5 oz Length: M 1.4 to 1.9 in Males have nuptial pads, a secondary sex characteristic, a F 1.7 to 2.5 in swelling on the forearm and hand that aids with grip. These pads are used primarily in clasping females during amplexus. STATUS & CONSERVATION The Panamanian golden is a rare species of toad to Panama. Although they are classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, it is believed that the species may have been extinct in the wild since 2007. Populations have dropped by 80% over the last ten years, most likely due to chytridiomycosis. COMMUNICATION AND OTHER BEHAVIOR Male Panamanian golden frogs make a whistling sound and are known to make at least two different kinds of calls that are loud enough to carry into the forest from their home near the water's edge. These frogs have no eardrums and also exhibit a form of sign language in order to signal to each other. They appear to “wave” their hands or move their feet to greet each other, attract a mate or to defend their territory. When the frog encounters a predator, it often waves and lifts its foot at the predator to call attention to its stunning and beautiful coloring. This coloring is a warning of its toxicity, which is enough to make a predator no longer consider the frog as a meal. This adaptation is thought to have evolved because of the noise of the fast-moving streams, which formed its natural habitat. The male tends to stay near the streams where breeding occurs, while in the nonbreeding season, the female retreats into the forests. Adult males, which are active on the ground during the day, recede into the trees and perch there at night. This is most likely a defense mechanism. If the predator is approaching at night, the frog cannot rely on a visual strategy for fleeing. They perch on trees because it gives them the advantage of hearing approaching predators or feeling their weight on the tree branch. COURTSHIP AND YOUNG Between November to January female frogs will return from the forest to the streams where the males will have been marking out territory. They pair in amplexus and the female finds a shallow place in a stream. She lays a long strand of eggs, which she attaches to a rock or pebble sheltered from the sun. The tadpoles spend their early days eating algae from the rocks near the hatch site. The tadpoles develop into frogs after about four to eight months. Youngsters are much more secretive than the fully toxic adult, hiding until they can protect themselves with their skin secretions. Sexual Maturity: 2 years Incubation: 9 days Weight at birth: # of eggs: 200 – 620 per clutch Length at birth: 0.2 in at metamorphosis MISCELLANEOUS Despite its common name, the Panamanian golden frog is a true toad. They are also known as golden arrow poison frog, golden frog or zetek’s golden frog. The Panamanian golden frog is Panama’s national animal; August 14 is National golden frog day. These frogs are considered signs of good luck and prosperity. Project Golden Frog is an organization that strives to ensure the survival of this culturally significant species. This international conservation consortium increases public awareness of global threats to amphibians and helps bring this and other amphibian species back to the wild. Sources: created: 4/2015 http://theanimalfacts.com/reptiles/panamanian-golden-frog/ http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/panamanian-golden-frog http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?where-genus=Atelopus&where-species=zeteki .
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