Panamanian Golden Frog

Atelopus zeteki

A bright golden, poisonous frog that is Panama's symbol of good luck. It has not been seen in the wild since 2009 and survives in zoo breeding programs.

🐸 Frogs

Checking teacher reviews…

Teacher? Sign in to review this page →Report a mistake

About the Panamanian Golden Frog

Panamanian golden frogs come from a small area on the lower mountain slopes of central Panama, in forests between rainforest and cloud forest. They eat tiny insects and other invertebrates from the leaf litter. Their bright colors warn predators that they are poisonous, though they aren't harmful to people unless put in a mouth. No two frogs have exactly the same pattern.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Atelopus zeteki^[1]
Diet: Insectivore. Tiny insects and invertebrates such as springtails and worms.^[1]
Habitat: Forests between lowland rainforest and cloud forest, with clear streams.^[1]
Where it lives: A small area of central Panama.^[1]
Babies: Eggs laid in fast-flowing streams. Tadpoles cling to rocks.^[1]
Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List, assessed 2018). Not seen in the wild since 2009.^[1][2]

Fun facts

Panamanian golden frogs wave their hands and feet to communicate.^[1]
In Panama, the golden frog is a symbol of good luck and appears on lottery tickets.^[1]
Every golden frog has its own unique pattern.^[1]

Vocabulary

chytrid: A fungus that infects the skin of amphibians and can kill them.
semaphore: Sending signals by waving, like flags.
tadpole: A young frog that lives in water and breathes with gills.
cloud forest: A wet mountain forest that is often covered in low clouds or fog.
critically endangered: A conservation label meaning a species faces an extremely high risk of dying out in the wild.

See it in person

Zoo AtlantaAtlanta, Georgia · All AnimalsSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
San Francisco Zoo & GardensSan Francisco, California · AmphibiansSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
Oakland ZooOakland, California · Children's ZooSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Zoo Atlanta. “Panamanian Golden Frog.” https://zooatlanta.org/animal/panamanian-golden-frog/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Atelopus zeteki (Cerro Campana Stubfoot Toad).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/54563/54341110 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

More Frogs

Amazon Milk FrogTrachycephalus resinifictrixA bumpy gray-and-brown rainforest tree frog that oozes a milky, poisonous liquid when threatened.Green MantellaMantella viridisA small, bright yellow-green Madagascar frog whose colors warn predators that it may be poisonous.Madagascar Reed FrogHeterixalus madagascariensisA tiny pale blue frog with a black face stripe and orange feet that lives in drier areas of northeastern Madagascar.

Poison Dart FrogsFamily Dendrobatidae (about 220 species)A family of about 220 tiny, brightly colored rainforest frogs whose bold colors warn predators that their skin is poisonous.Red-Eyed Tree FrogAgalychnis callidryasA bright green Central American tree frog with big red eyes, blue sides and orange feet.Smoky Jungle FrogLeptodactylus pentadactylusA big South American frog up to seven inches long that puffs up and shrieks to scare predators.Starry Night Reed FrogHeterixalus alboguttatusA small Madagascar frog whose dark back is covered in yellow spots like a starry sky.Yosemite ToadAnaxyrus canorusA Sierra Nevada mountain toad that walks instead of hopping, with males and females that look very different.