The people of Panama consider the Panamanian Golden Frog as a symbol of their good fortune. The Panamanian Golden Frog is the national animal of Panama.  The Panamanian Golden Frog is biologically known as Atelopus zeteki. Although the Panamanian Golden Frog apparently seems like a species of frog but its binomially considered as a “true toad” (Bufonidae). The Panamanian golden frog prefers semaphoring over vocalization; semaphoring is a hand-wave used to grab the attention of other frogs. Atelopus zeteki or the Panamanian Golden Frog is listed as critically endangered by IUCN.

The Panamanian Golden Frog

The Panamanian Golden Frog prefers to inhabit in the tropical forest regions, particularly on mountains, near the water bodies. In the wet tropical forests which are ideal for their growth, the male can grow to 48 mm and weigh up to 12 g, and the female can be as large as 63 mm and weigh up to 15 g. Panamanian golden frog population is on the verge of extinction, and the species is listed as critically endangered. Some experts believe the frog to be extinct in the wild.

Atelopus zeteki : Image by Adam Fink

Another amazing feature of the Panamanian Golden frog is the production of toxins in their skin that make them noxious meals for predators. Panamanian golden frogs are insectivores. They feed on a wide variety of small invertebrates in the forests near their streams. The Panamanian Golden frogs are sexually dimorphic and in the season of mating the females deposit light-sensitive eggs. They hide their egg clutches in dark crevices under rocks to avoid exposing the developing eggs to light.

The Panamanian Golden Frog has the great significance in the culture of Panama. A great local myth associated with the Panamanian Golden Frog is of turning of it into gold after death. The greatest threat to the population of the Panamanian golden frogs in the wild is habitat loss and other human activities such as illegal collection for the pet trade.