Hello herpers...meet the Panamanian golden frog Atelopus zeteki. For my final blog I wanted to feature a species I have not caught, having never been to Panama. I was introduced to this species by the PBS special "The Thin Green Line." This species is considered "critically endangered" by the IUCN. Along with threats of habitat destruction and pollution, Chytrid fungus (Bd) has reduced populations by 80%. These guys live in forest near streams and are very territorial for breeding areas. They deposit egg masses from 200-600 eggs. They produce zetekitoxin in their skin for protection from predator and signal this with there bright aposematic yellow coloring. Juvenilles do not express this color and are very reclusive, it is hypothesized that the juvenilles do not express the toxins along with the color forcing them to hide for survival until they mature into adults. These frogs have become a keystone species in the fight against amphibian decline. For more information about Chytrid fungus I've place the link for "The Thin Green Line" below, as well as a link to "Project Golden Frog."

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/frogs-the-thin-green-line/introduction/4763/

http://www.ranadorada.org/goldenfrog.html

William Hauer
Miami University