Animal Information

Golden Frog

Atelopus zeteki

Golden Frog

Range

Atelopus zeteki inhabits streams along the montane slopes of the Central Cordilleran rainforests and cloudforests of western-central Panama (Lindquist and Hetherington 1998b), from 335-1,315 m above sea level (IUCN 2006).

Habitat

They are found in the moist environment of the rainforest floor, from lowlands up to the cloud forests. They are often found in the vicinity of fast-moving streams, where they breed.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Atelopus zeteki, the Panamanian Golden Frog, is a small, brightly-colored, toad-like frog. They are small, slim-bodied, pointy-snouted toads with highly-variable coloration.

Dietary Classification

Diet in the Zoo: fruit flies, small crickets, termites

Diet in the Wild: small insects such as flies and gnats

Behavior/Adaptations

Their brightly colored skins serve as a warning that they have poisonous glandular skin secretions.

Atelopus zeteki is the most toxic species of Atelopus; the skin of an individual contains enough toxins to kill 1,200 20g mice (Savage 2002).

Status

Listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN; they are probably extinct in Costa Rica.

Classification

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
Animalia Chordata Amphibia Anura Bufonidae Atelopus zeteki