Atelopus varius, the Costa Rican variable harlequin toad or clown frog, is a small Neotropical true toad from the family Bufonidae.[2] Once ranging from Costa Rica to Panama, A. varius is now listed as critically endangered and has been reduced to a single remnant population near Quepos, Costa Rica (rediscovered in 2003), and has only relict populations in western Panama.[1] Recent variation in air temperature, precipitation, stream flow patterns, and the subsequent spread of a pathogenic chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) linked to global climate change have been the leading cause of decline for A. varius.[3][4]A. zeteki has been considered a subspecies of A. varius, but is now generally considered a separate species.[5][page needed]
The historic range of A. varius stretched from the Pacific and Atlantic slopes of the Cordilleras de Tilaran mountain range in Costa Rica into western Panama. Suitable habitat includes both pre-montane and lower-montane zones as well as some lowland sites along rocky streams in hilly areas (ranging from 6 to 2,000 metres or 20 to 6,562 feet in elevation).[6]
Habitat and ecologyedit
A. varius is a diurnal frog often found on rocks or in crevices along streams in humid lowland and montane forests.[7] It is primarily a terrestrial species, only entering the water during breeding season, relying on spray from streams for moisture.[8]
The Costa Rican variable harlequin frog is slow moving and often remains in the same area for long periods of time. The conspicuous or aposematic coloration of A. varius likely serves as a warning to potential predators of the toxicity of the frog's integument which contains tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin.[7] Its main food source is small arthropods that are most abundant during the dry season.[9] The only known predator of A. varius is a parasitic sarcophagid fly Notochaeta bufonivora which deposits its larvae on the surface of the frog's thigh. The larvae then proceed to burrow inside the frog and eat it from within.[10]
Conservation statusedit
In recent decades, A. varius has become increasingly rare throughout its geographic range. The first incidence of its disappearance was recorded after a census conducted between 1990 and 1992 near Monteverde, Costa Rica revealed zero individuals where its population had previously peaked at 751 adults.[7][8] By 1996, A. varius was believed to be extinct throughout Costa Rica,[citation needed] however, in a 2019 assessment, two subpopulations were discovered in the country.[1] In Panama, mass mortality has drastically reduced populations of A. varius in recent years and it was believed to be locally extinct,[11] however the species was recorded again in the 2019 assessment.[1]
Several theories related to changes in climatic patterns have been put forth to account for the rapid decline of A. varius. A trend toward rising temperatures across the tropics in the late 1980s and early 1990s has been implicated in the declines of multiple lizard and amphibian species including several Atelopus spp.[12] More recently, an observed global decline in amphibian species richness has been linked to an outbreak of the pathogenicchytrid fungusBatrachochytrium dendrobatidis.[4] This pathogen can be transmitted between individuals through shed skin cells and is known to infect keratinized body surfaces where it can impair cutaneous respiration and osmoregulation thus resulting in mortality.[4] Attempts to preserve A. varius include a recently initiated captive breeding program as well as continued efforts to protect vital forest habitat.[1] In March 2021, it was announced that the species had been successfully bred in captivity outside of Panama for the first time.[13]
^ abcdefIUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Atelopus varius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T54560A3016252. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T54560A3016252.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Crump, M.L. 1986. "Homing and site fidelity in a Neotropical frog, Atelopus varius (Bufonidae)." Copeia1986(4): 1007–1009. doi:10.2307/1445001 JSTOR 1445001
^Lips, K.R., Green, D.E. and Papendick, R. 2003. "Chytridiomycosis in wild frogs from southern Costa Rica." Journal of Herpetology37(1): 215–218. JSTOR 1565857
^ abcPounds, J.A., Bustamante, M.R., Coloma, L.A., Consuegra, J.A., Fogden, M.P.L., Foster, P.N., La Marca, E., Masters, K.L., Merino-Viteri, A., Puschendorf, R., Ron, S.R., Sánchez-Azofeifa, G.A., Still, C.J. and Young, B.E. 2006. "Widespread amphibian extinctions from epidemic disease driven by global warming." Nature439: 161–167. doi:10.1038/nature04246
^Savage, J.M. 2002. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. ISBN0-226-73537-0
^Savage, J.M. 1972. "The harlequin frogs, genus Atelopus, of Costa Rica and western Panama." Herpetologica28(2): 77–94. JSTOR 3891084
^ abcCrump, M.L. and Pounds, J.A. 1985. "Lethal Parasitism of an Aposematic Anuran (Atelopus varius) by Notochaeta bufonivora (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)." Journal of Parasitology71(5), 588–591. doi:10.2307/3281428 JSTOR 3281428
^ abPounds, J.A. and Crump, M.L. 1994. "Amphibian declines and climate disturbance: The case of the golden toad and the harlequin frog." Conservation Biology8(1): 72–85. JSTOR 2386722
^Crump, M.L. 1988. "Aggression in harlequin frogs: male-male competition and a possible conflict of interest between the sexes." Animal Behaviour36(4): 1064–1077. doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(88)80066-6
^Pounds, J.A. and Crump, M.L. 1987. "Harlequin Frogs Along a Tropical Montane Stream: Aggregation and the Risk of Predation by Frog-Eating Flies." Biotropica19(4): 306–309. doi:10.2307/2388627 JSTOR 2388627
^Lips, K.R. 1999. "Mass mortality and population declines of anurans at an upland site in western Panama." Conservation Biology13(1): 117–125. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.1999.97185.x
^Pounds, J.A., Fogden, M.P.L. and Campbell, J.H. 1999. "Biological response to climate change on a tropical mountain." Nature398(6728): 611–615. doi:10.1038/19297
^"Toad breeding success is world first". manchester.ac.uk. The University of Manchester. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
External linksedit
Wikispecies has information related to Atelopus varius.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Atelopus varius.
atelopus, varius, costa, rican, variable, harlequin, toad, clown, frog, small, neotropical, true, toad, from, family, bufonidae, once, ranging, from, costa, rica, panama, varius, listed, critically, endangered, been, reduced, single, remnant, population, near,. Atelopus varius the Costa Rican variable harlequin toad or clown frog is a small Neotropical true toad from the family Bufonidae 2 Once ranging from Costa Rica to Panama A varius is now listed as critically endangered and has been reduced to a single remnant population near Quepos Costa Rica rediscovered in 2003 and has only relict populations in western Panama 1 Recent variation in air temperature precipitation stream flow patterns and the subsequent spread of a pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis linked to global climate change have been the leading cause of decline for A varius 3 4 A zeteki has been considered a subspecies of A varius but is now generally considered a separate species 5 page needed Costa Rican variable harlequin toad Conservation status Critically Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Bufonidae Genus Atelopus Species A varius Binomial name Atelopus varius Lichtenstein and Martens 1856 Synonyms 1 Synonymy Atelopus bibronii Boulenger 1894Atelopus loomisi Taylor 1955Hylaemorphus bibronii Schmidt 1857Hylaemorphus dumerilii Schmidt 1857Hylaemorphus pluto Schmidt 1858Hylaemorphus plutonius Jan 1857Phrynidium bibronii Schmidt 1857 Phrynidium varium Lichtenstein amp Martens 1856Phryniscus bibronii Schmidt 1857 Phryniscus dumerilii Brocchi 1882Phryniscus varius Lichtenstein amp Martens 1856 Contents 1 Geographic range 2 Habitat and ecology 3 Conservation status 4 References 5 External linksGeographic range editThe historic range of A varius stretched from the Pacific and Atlantic slopes of the Cordilleras de Tilaran mountain range in Costa Rica into western Panama Suitable habitat includes both pre montane and lower montane zones as well as some lowland sites along rocky streams in hilly areas ranging from 6 to 2 000 metres or 20 to 6 562 feet in elevation 6 Habitat and ecology editA varius is a diurnal frog often found on rocks or in crevices along streams in humid lowland and montane forests 7 It is primarily a terrestrial species only entering the water during breeding season relying on spray from streams for moisture 8 The Costa Rican variable harlequin frog is slow moving and often remains in the same area for long periods of time The conspicuous or aposematic coloration of A varius likely serves as a warning to potential predators of the toxicity of the frog s integument which contains tetrodotoxin a potent neurotoxin 7 Its main food source is small arthropods that are most abundant during the dry season 9 The only known predator of A varius is a parasitic sarcophagid fly Notochaeta bufonivora which deposits its larvae on the surface of the frog s thigh The larvae then proceed to burrow inside the frog and eat it from within 10 Conservation status editIn recent decades A varius has become increasingly rare throughout its geographic range The first incidence of its disappearance was recorded after a census conducted between 1990 and 1992 near Monteverde Costa Rica revealed zero individuals where its population had previously peaked at 751 adults 7 8 By 1996 A varius was believed to be extinct throughout Costa Rica citation needed however in a 2019 assessment two subpopulations were discovered in the country 1 In Panama mass mortality has drastically reduced populations of A varius in recent years and it was believed to be locally extinct 11 however the species was recorded again in the 2019 assessment 1 Several theories related to changes in climatic patterns have been put forth to account for the rapid decline of A varius A trend toward rising temperatures across the tropics in the late 1980s and early 1990s has been implicated in the declines of multiple lizard and amphibian species including several Atelopus spp 12 More recently an observed global decline in amphibian species richness has been linked to an outbreak of the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis 4 This pathogen can be transmitted between individuals through shed skin cells and is known to infect keratinized body surfaces where it can impair cutaneous respiration and osmoregulation thus resulting in mortality 4 Attempts to preserve A varius include a recently initiated captive breeding program as well as continued efforts to protect vital forest habitat 1 In March 2021 it was announced that the species had been successfully bred in captivity outside of Panama for the first time 13 References edit nbsp Costa Rica portal nbsp Animals portal nbsp Ecology portal a b c d e f IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2020 Atelopus varius IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020 e T54560A3016252 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2020 3 RLTS T54560A3016252 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Crump M L 1986 Homing and site fidelity in a Neotropical frog Atelopus varius Bufonidae Copeia 1986 4 1007 1009 doi 10 2307 1445001 JSTOR 1445001 Lips K R Green D E and Papendick R 2003 Chytridiomycosis in wild frogs from southern Costa Rica Journal of Herpetology 37 1 215 218 JSTOR 1565857 a b c Pounds J A Bustamante M R Coloma L A Consuegra J A Fogden M P L Foster P N La Marca E Masters K L Merino Viteri A Puschendorf R Ron S R Sanchez Azofeifa G A Still C J and Young B E 2006 Widespread amphibian extinctions from epidemic disease driven by global warming Nature 439 161 167 doi 10 1038 nature04246 Savage J M 2002 The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica University of Chicago Press Chicago ISBN 0 226 73537 0 Savage J M 1972 The harlequin frogs genus Atelopus of Costa Rica and western Panama Herpetologica 28 2 77 94 JSTOR 3891084 a b c Crump M L and Pounds J A 1985 Lethal Parasitism of an Aposematic Anuran Atelopus varius by Notochaeta bufonivora Diptera Sarcophagidae Journal of Parasitology 71 5 588 591 doi 10 2307 3281428 JSTOR 3281428 a b Pounds J A and Crump M L 1994 Amphibian declines and climate disturbance The case of the golden toad and the harlequin frog Conservation Biology 8 1 72 85 JSTOR 2386722 Crump M L 1988 Aggression in harlequin frogs male male competition and a possible conflict of interest between the sexes Animal Behaviour 36 4 1064 1077 doi 10 1016 S0003 3472 88 80066 6 Pounds J A and Crump M L 1987 Harlequin Frogs Along a Tropical Montane Stream Aggregation and the Risk of Predation by Frog Eating Flies Biotropica 19 4 306 309 doi 10 2307 2388627 JSTOR 2388627 Lips K R 1999 Mass mortality and population declines of anurans at an upland site in western Panama Conservation Biology 13 1 117 125 doi 10 1046 j 1523 1739 1999 97185 x Pounds J A Fogden M P L and Campbell J H 1999 Biological response to climate change on a tropical mountain Nature 398 6728 611 615 doi 10 1038 19297 Toad breeding success is world first manchester ac uk The University of Manchester 3 March 2021 Retrieved 14 March 2021 External links edit nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Atelopus varius nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Atelopus varius Atelopus varius at the Encyclopedia of Life nbsp IUCN Red List of All Threatened Species The Rainmaker Project Atelopus com Fighting to survive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Atelopus varius amp oldid 1194095316, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
