The Panamanian Golden Frog (Atelopus zeteki), was an endemic frog species to Panama and was now classified under the category Critically Endangered by the IUCN. In captivity, individuals have been collected in a bid to preserve the species, which was assumed to be extinct in the wild since 2007. It is of national symbol, appearing on state lottery tickets and in local mythology which they believed that once the frog dies it turns to gold and brings good luck to those fortunate enough to see it. In Panama, August 14 was declared as the National Golden Frog Day.
Aside from its golden appearance and smooth-skinned like feature, this Frog was actually classified as TRUE TOAD for it has the capabilty to secrete poison, a water soluble neurotoxin called zetekitoxin to protect themselves from predators.
Like other frogs, they appear to socialize with others using sounds produced and handwaving. Handwaving signals vary from friendly waves to signals to back off. However, the species faces its decline numbers possibly due to fungal infection, chytriodiomycosis, which is an invasive fungal pathogen that reached El Valle, the home of these Panamanian Golden Frogs in the year 2006. The fungus affects the frog’s skin which causes it to be dry resulting to difficulty in breathing. But later in the course, scientist also found out that this fungal infection can also be brought by climate change. And it kills 80% of the native population within a month.
With all these alarming state, “Project Golden Frog” was established with the coordination of the Republic of Panama and United States that aims primarily in greater understanding of the golden frogs, heightened current global awareness towards them and preservation and conservation of this vanishing species.
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