Current status and natural history of the critically endangered Variable Harlequin Toad (Atelopus varius) in Costa Rica

Abstract

The Variable Harlequin Toad (Atelopus varius) has suffered extensive declines in Panama and Costa Rica.Of 169 previously documented populations, only seven are known to survive. Herein we review the status of the survivingpopulations of this species in Costa Rica, describing the results of random visits to five of the seven survivingpopulations during the last six years, novel information on the natural history of three of these, and the results of amonitoring program of one continuous year on one of them. We identify three distinct morphs that might be the onlysurvivors of what once was a wide array of phenotypic color patterns.