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Panamanian Golden Toad
Atelopus zeteki
The Panamanian Golden Frog is an extremely rare, vibrant yellow-gold jewel that is tragically extinct in the wild. It uses unique semaphoring behavior in humid mountain forests and running streams.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Bufonidae
Genus:Atelopus
Species:Atelopus zeteki
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Water Temperature
20 - 24 °C
pH Value
6.5 - 7.5
Environment
Freshwater / Semi-aquatic
Humidity
80 - 90 %
Day temperature
20 - 22 °C
Night temperature
16 - 18 °C
Ambient temperature
20 - 22 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Originally endemic to the humid mountain forests and rushing volcanic streams near El Valle de Antón in central Panama. A diurnal species that inhabited mossy boulders and riparian margins. Tragically, it is now Extinct in the Wild (EW) due to chytridiomycosis.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A slender, agile toad growing to 4–6 cm in length. The body is a vibrant, uniform golden-yellow or greenish-yellow, often marked with contrasting black spots or stripes on the back. It lacks a visible tympanum and has long, thin limbs without large toe discs.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly diurnal. Because they live near loud waterfalls, they do not communicate with calls; instead, they use a unique behavior called "semaphoring" (waving their front legs in a slow, rhythmic motion) to attract mates or defend territory.
Morphology: Sexual dimorphism is marked by size and shape: adult females are significantly larger, heavier, and rounder, while males are smaller, more slender, and display active semaphoring behavior during breeding.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Require a specialized forest terrarium with a running water system (minimum 45x45x45 cm). Use smooth river stones, vertical logs, and live moss. A high-quality water filtration system simulating a clean stream is highly recommended.
Lighting and Heating: Prefer cool, montane conditions. Maintain temperatures of 20–22°C during the day; temperatures exceeding 24°C can cause fatal heat stress. A night drop to 16–18°C is essential. High-quality UVB (5%) lighting is mandatory as they are diurnal.
Humidity and Hydration: Require high humidity of 80–90% with strong ventilation to prevent stagnant air. Mist the enclosure daily with pure, dechlorinated water. Provide dry areas on elevated rocks for basking and drying off.
Feeding and Supplementation: Diurnal insectivores. Offer small live insects such as micro-crickets, fruit flies, and springtails. Dust prey with calcium, vitamin D3, and multivitamin supplements three times a week to prevent metabolic bone disease.
Compatibility: Males are highly territorial and will wrestle aggressively over territory. Keep them in harems (one male with multiple females) in spacious setups. Never mix them with other species to protect their extremely rare genetic lines.
Health and Common Diseases: Extremely delicate. Highly susceptible to chytridiomycosis and bacterial infections like Red Leg syndrome if water quality or hygiene declines. Never handle them. Maintain pristine, bio-secure conditions.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Originally endemic to the humid mountain forests and rushing volcanic streams near El Valle de Antón in central Panama. A diurnal species that inhabited mossy boulders and riparian margins. Tragically, it is now Extinct in the Wild (EW) due to chytridiomycosis.
Origin
Extra-Amazon South AmericaCentral America and Caribbean
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 6.3 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 6.3 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 6.3 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
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Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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