Common Name:
Golden Toad
Scientific Name:
Incilius periglenes, formerly Bufo periglenes
Wild Status:
Extinct
Habitat:
Cloud Forest
Country:
Costa Rica
Shelter:
Underground
Life Span:
Estimated 10 Years
Size:
3 inches approx
Cool Facts:
- Like many other toads, this species spent much of its life underground, waiting for the rain.
- Was found only in Costa Rica in what is called a "cloud forest" due to the constant, cloudy fog.
- Females were bigger than males and came in a variety of colors. Males were usually golden in color.
- Unlike cane toads, the golden toads did not have poison
- The last golden toad was seen in 1989. In 2004, it was considered extinct.
Details:
The golden toad is one of the many victims of global decline in amphibians. The causes are not well understood for amphibians or for the golden toad. Because golden toads laid many eggs in shallow pools, some speculate a drought harmed the toad population. Others believe it may be a combination of climate change, air pollution, and disease. As amphibian populations continue to decline, biologists look to the case of the golden toad as a sign of what could happen not just to toads, but any cold blooded creature sensitive to its surroundings.
Taxonomic Breakdown:
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Anura Family: Bufonidae Genus: Incilius Species: I. periglenes