The Harlequin Frog, Atelopus varius is listed as a ‘Critically Endangered’ species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Speciesä. It is found in protected areas in Panama and Costa Rica, and can often be seen sitting on rocks or logs around streams or hiding in rock crevices relying on the spray from small fast-flowing streams for moisture. At night it sleeps in crevices or on large leaves in low vegetation near streams. Even within the same population, the colour of this species can greatly vary. Most individuals are black with yellow markings but lime green, orange and red are also fairly common.
In the 1970s, the Harlequin Frog was collected in the thousands as part of the international pet trade. But more recently, the major threat to the Harlequin Frog has been the spread of chytrid fungus. This devastating fungus appears to have been dramatically accelerated by climate change, as the rise in air temperature and precipitation optimizes chytrid vitality. Additionally, the Harlequin Frog is being threatened by newly introduced trout within its range, habitat alteration due to the destruction of natural forests, and the potentially detrimental effects of inbreeding.
Measures are being taken to remove a number of Harlequin Frogs from their threatened habitats to a new location to ensure its future survival. In addition, a captive-breeding program has also been initiated. Whilst recent testing indicates that the remaining populations of Harlequin Frogs are free of chytrid infection, monitoring is carried out twice a year to ensure that future transmission is avoided.
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