Page 70 - World of Animals - Issue #31

L
L
L OST FOREVER
L
OST FOREVER
OST FOREVER
Golden toad

Twenty years ago, this eye-catching amphibian was

breeding efficiently and lived in abundance throughout

its range; its sudden disappearance baffled experts
its range; its sudden disappearance baffl
ed experts

Warty skin
W arty skin
They had dry, warty
They had dry, warty
skin, which is what
skin, which is what
distinguished them
distinguished them
as toads.
as toads.
Small size
Small size
These tiny frogs
These tiny frogs
were only 46-
were only 46-
56mm (1.8-2.2in)
56mm (1.8-2.2in)
in length.
in length.
Costa Rica

Bright colouration
Males were orange with mottled
Males were orange with mottled
markings on their undersides,
markings on their undersides,
while females were dark green
while females were dark green
or black with bright red blotches.
or black with bright red blotches.
t
s

een
…
as
L
i
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r
s
,
e
d
an
s
i
s
t
t
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n
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w
onc
i
s
ap
d
The golden toad disappeared not long after it
T h e g o l d e n t o a d d i s a p p e a r e d n o t l o n g a f t e r i t disappeared at once, and scientists were Last seen…
d
a
t
p
ear
e
was found. Herpetologist Jay Savage chanced
puzzled as to what had caused this to happen.
was found. Herpetologist Jay Savage chanced puzzled as to what had caused this to happen. Date: 15 May 1989
Date: 15 May 1989
upon the little neon orange amphibian in
The sudden demise of the golden toad was
upon the little neon orange amphibian in The sudden demise of the golden toad was Location: Monteverde, Costa Rica
Location: Monteverde, Costa Rica
1964, when it startled him with its bright skin an awakening and scientists all over the world
1964, when it startled him with its bright skin
an awakening and scientists all over the world
began to research declining amphibian species,
and unique colouration. It was found to be an began to research declining amphibian species, The golden toad was formerly a common
and unique colouration. It was found to be an
d
a
s
a
w
n
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o
a
o
t
y
l
r
m
m
o
r
o
f
c
e
m
o
T
l
g
e
h
d
spawning a new branch of research.
endemic species, living nowhere else in the world spawning a new branch of research. species and although they were severely
endemic species, living nowhere else in the world
y
e
e
w
l
y
i
t
c
h
p
e
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e
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s
r
e
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v
s
l
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u
a
t
a
s
h
h
g
o
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but the tropical cloud forests of the Reserva The golden toad population crash has r restricted in range, no conservation plans
The golden toad population crash has
but the tropical cloud forests of the Reserva
t
a
n
d
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s
i
e
l
p
n
i
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o
a
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,
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r
v
a
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s
e
Biológica in Monteverde, Costa Rica. The males
subsequently been attributed to a deadly fungus
Biológica in Monteverde, Costa Rica. The males subsequently been attributed to a deadly fungus w e r e p u t i n p l a c e d u e t o i t s s u c c e s s .
were put in place due to its success.
greatly outnumbered females, so competition for called the chytrid fungus, arguably the biggest However, the last known sighting of the

mating was fierce, and breeding seasons were threat known to the world’s frog species. The golden toad was almost 20 years ago in 1989,
frantic and violent. The golden amphibian was virus causes chytidiomycosis, an infectious when only one male was spotted. Experts
especially abundant in its range and thousands of disease capable of wiping out populations, carried out extensive searches hoping to find

individuals were recorded. In 1987 it was reported spreading rapidly between frogs and causing additional frogs, but to no avail. Thorough
that they were breeding as expected; the golden devastation. In some species, the disease has a searches of the known habitat have so far
toad was everywhere. Yet suddenly, out of 100 per cent mortality rate. There is no cure, and failed to locate the species, but even today,
nowhere, almost the entire population vanished. scientists are still unsure how it is transmitted. there are still people who search in the © freevectormaps.com; Alan Batley
By 1988, after repeated visits to the frog’s forest Alongside the fungus it’s thought that the frog’s hope of finding the golden toad. Some even

habitat, only eight males and two females could limited habitat, global warming, and air pollution believe that when conditions are right these
be found. Thousands of frogs had seemingly also contributed to its catastrophic decline. beautifully bright amphibians will reappear.
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