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
F 0.14 to 0.5 oz
secretions are the most toxic of this group.
Males have nuptial pads, a secondary sex characteristic, a
swelling on the forearm and hand that aids with grip. These pads
are used primarily in clasping females during amplexus.
Length: M 1.4 to 1.9 in
F 1.7 to 2.5 in
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.
Incubation: 9 days
# of eggs: 200 – 620 per clutch
Sexual Maturity: 2 years
Weight at birth:
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