Golden toad (Incilius periglenes) — a photograph of the now-extinct species.
Image: Charles H. Smith vergrößert von Aglarech, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- EX · Extinct
- Animal group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Population trend
- Trend unknown
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The golden toad was a tiny, brilliant orange toad of Costa Rica's Monteverde cloud forest. It is assessed as Extinct, last seen in 1989.
Its sudden disappearance became a symbol of the global amphibian crisis.
Range & habitat
Formerly the cloud forest of Monteverde, Costa Rica.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Climate-linked drying of its breeding pools
- Disease
- An extremely small range
Why it matters
Vanishing within a few years from a protected cloud forest, the golden toad is an emblem of the amphibian extinction crisis and of climate and disease pressures on wildlife.
Gallery
Golden toads (Incilius periglenes), now extinct.
Image: Bufo_periglenes1.jpg: Charles H. Smith vergrößert von Aglarech derivative work Purpy Puppl, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Golden Toad
- IUCN Red List — look up Golden Toad (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the golden toad so famous?
What caused the golden toad's extinction?
Last updated: