Panamanian golden frog

Panama Stummelfußfrosch ( Atelopus zeteki )

The Panama Stummelfußfrosch ( Atelopus zeteki ) is a rare Froschlurch from the family of toads ( Bufonidae ). He was scientifically named after the American entomologist James Zetek ( 1886-1959 ).

Description

The Panama Stummelfußfrosch reached a size of 3.5 to 4 centimeters. He is yellow orange and has black spots on his back, the flanks and on the head. To protect themselves from predators, secretes its smooth skin from the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin.

Dissemination

Its occurrence is limited to the region east of the Serranía de Tabasara mountain range in the Panamanian provinces of Veraguas and Panama.

Habitat and behavior

Habitat of this type are the high rainfall mountain forests of Panama at altitudes 335-1315 m above sea level. Due to the high humidity of the Stummelfußfrosch has moved its breeding sites in tree hollows filled with rain water or in puddles. During mating, the males cling to the backs of females. The males alone are responsible for the care of the brood. The females leave after spawning the area. The development time of tadpoles takes about four weeks. During this time, the male defends his brood against other frogs. They are diurnal and hunt both on the ground and in trees. The diet consists of centipedes, ants, spiders and beetles.

Endangering

The reasons for the fall of the Panama Stummelfußfrosches are varied. Causes, for example, the clearing of the Panamanian forests and thus the loss of its habitat and trapping for the illegal pet trade. Even more devastating, however, had an impact, the fungal disease chytridiomycosis, which have fallen in the past decade, more than 80 percent of the stock to the victim. In the Cerro Campano, the species is probably extinct. The El Chocó population collapsed in 2004 together dramatically and is now extinct as in the wild. 2007, the last known wild population of Panama Stummelfußfrosches in Valle de Anton David Attenborough has been documented in the series Life in Cold Blood. In order to preserve the species from extinction, the Houston Zoo in Valle de Anton has built the " El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center ," in which this species was already bred successfully.