Panamanian golden frog

mongo77 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 05:07 AM

I was at the bronx zoo today, and i was looking at their exhibit. The sign said that they have no eardrums so they wave their arms to attract mates! The male frogs( I saw 2), both called in front of me and it was audible as well as visible! The zoo keeper who happened to be near us said that they did that to let other animals around them know they were there, He later came back to say that the throat display was important to visibly stimulate the females. Why would they advertise their location audibly if it didn't help them locate a mate? I think it would help predators locate them? Isn't it extra energy that they don't need to expel for the sound if it doesn't help them mate? He also said they were no longer alive in the wild.

Ed · #2 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 01:20 PM

It is believed that they are extinct in the wild. They are lacking some of the inner ear structure but can hear within certain frequencies as they use thier lungs to pick up and transmit the sounds. See http://www.jstor.org/pss/1446859 and http://www.springerlink.com/content/gc4qupu2upac9e1r/ and http://www.springerlink.com/content/u68j4f0q572816kv/ and http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg1 ... sound.html
The arm waving and posture display is used because this species primarily calls in areas of heavy water flow in the stream which prevents the call from being audible so the signaling is used. The do call which can be heard when the animals are close together.

Ed

JJuchems · #3 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 02:23 PM

My local zoo just got a group. They were told to destroy all eggs. They are awsome frogs.

Jason Juchems

Ed · #4 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJuchems

My local zoo just got a group. They were told to destroy all eggs. They are awsome frogs. Jason Juchems

That means they have a sibling group.

Ed

JJuchems · #5 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 07:31 PM

That's what I figured. The zoo is Peoria Zoo (formerly Glenn Oak) in Peoria, IL. Doug Holmes, the head keeper is on the board of the herp society with me and we were discussing raising young frogs.

Jason Juchems

Shockfrog · #6 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

It is believed that they are extinct in the wild.

I spoke to a friend of mine who came back from Panama just 2 or 3 months ago. They did find one A. zeteki and suspected there where probably more around. I've seen the pictures of this one specimen, and it looked perfectly healthy

Ed · #7 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 07:53 PM

How many tadpoles did they find and the fact that they found one does not mean that the population is viable.
Also how did he distinguish it from the A. varius that look the same?

Ed

Shockfrog · #8 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 08:19 PM

They found no tadpoles only one specimen. True, the population might not be viable. If there is a population at all! You just can't draw any conclusions based on finding one specimen.
I just wanted to mention that they found one, finding one MIGHT mean there are more around. Who knows! I think finding one individual is a good thing when many people think none are remaining in the wild. Anyway... the location has been forwarded to the people working on the conservation of this species.

As for the varius morph which has a similar pattern. I'm not sure how they have distinguished between the two.. to me the frog sure looked like zeteki and not like any varius morph that I've seen. From what I read their distribution does not overlap aswell...

tyler · #9 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 06:20 PM

I'm actually going to central Panama to stay with some relatives at the end of June. The hotel I am staying at (Decameron) actually has a tourist attraction to the Anton Valley (Crater Valley), which the golden frog is most indigineous to. I didnt have the chance to book it last year, but I will most definitely this coming summer! I highly doubt I will see any, but it's worth a shot. PLus, the wildlife is truely amazing there.

elscotto · #10 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 10:37 PM

Tyler-
Yes, the Atelopus are recently gone from El Valle (Anton). There are a few caged on display at a hotel there, but likely recently caught from another area. But, there is a small zoo in the town (El Valle de Anton) you might want to check out. If the amphibian display is completed, there should be some very cool frogs on display. The frog facility might not be quite ready yet. Other than the zoo, that area has been almost entirely wiped out by chytrid...