At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The variable harlequin frog is a brightly coloured toad (a harlequin toad) of Central America. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Its vivid colours, which vary between populations, warn of skin toxins.
Range & habitat
Forests and streams of Costa Rica and Panama.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- The amphibian fungal disease chytridiomycosis
- Habitat loss
- Climate change
Why it matters
A jewel-coloured harlequin toad hit hard by amphibian disease, the variable harlequin frog is emblematic of the Central American amphibian crisis.
Sources
Sources for Variable Harlequin Frog
- IUCN Red List — look up Variable Harlequin Frog (authoritative status)
- AmphibiaWeb (UC Berkeley)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called the variable harlequin frog?
Its bright warning colours vary widely between populations — different combinations of black with orange, red, yellow, or green — hence 'variable'.
Why is the variable harlequin frog Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite the amphibian fungal disease chytridiomycosis above all, along with habitat loss and climate change. See the IUCN Red List.
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