HARLEQUIN TOADS Genus: Atelopus

FRIENDLY GREETINGS Some species perform what BRIGHTLY COLORED looks like a “hand” wave to Harlequin toads come in an the opposite sex across the impressive palette of colors: river stream, maybe because orange, green, gold, blue, they can’t hear the calls black, brown and even purple. over the roar of the water. Because of their impressive and vibrant color combos, they’re sometimes called “clown frogs.”

LONG MATING SEASON Pairs can be in amplexus HARD TO SPOT (the frog mating hug) for a few weeks, during Many species are hard to see which time the males because individuals are spread often forgo food in their out in dense forest. But they commitment to breed, are quite conspicuous during losing up to 30 percent the breeding season when they of their body weight! all come down to the streams in search of potential mates.

ON THE SMALL SIDE The smallest species of harlequin toads measure about an inch in length. Overall the group of toads range in size from that of a human baby’s Toad Mountain Harlequin frog (Atelopus certus) © Brian Gratwicke thumb to that of an adult thumb.

IMPORTANT INDICATORS OF WATER QUALITY

Because frogs breathe through As a result, the health and Why is this important? their skin (in addition to using presence of harlequin toads Because like canaries in a coal lungs), they are particularly and other frogs in streams give mine, frogs will tell us if there’s sensitive to changes in the us an idea of the quality of the a problem in the environment environment around them. water where they live. before it affects us directly.

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE This species-rich genus of Neotropical toads from Central and South America range as far north as Costa Rica and as far south as Bolivia.

MORE 96 SPECIES 0-3500 THAN % meters above sea level 75 PLUS MORE UNDESCRIBED live in high-elevation ecosystems

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THREATS The many different species of harlequin toads across South and Central America have at least one thing in common: Many populations have suffered sudden catastrophic declines since the early '80s as the result of a number of threats, with a deadly disease called chytridiomycosis at the top of that list.

Disease Habitat Climate Water Introduced Illegal loss change pollution species trade

HARLEQUIN TOAD CONSERVATION STATUS

% 14 EX EXTINCT

% 5 CRITICALLY CR ENDANGERED

60% EN ENDANGERED 17 % VU VULNERABLE

% NEAR THREATENED/ 2 OTHER LEAST CONCERN/ DATA DEFICIENT

Data from IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

A FUTURE FOR HARLEQUIN TOADS There is no doubt that harlequin toads are in critical condition. But together we aim to put an end to this extinction crisis.

REDISCOVERY HABITAT PROTECTION In the past 10 years, biologists, indigenous la il e r The establishment of protected areas and r r o o communities and others have rediscovered some Z o better management of those that already

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