Harlequin Toads

Quick Facts

Name: Harlequin Toads

Diet: Small insects and other invertebrates

Behaviour: Most species are diurnal (active during the day) and all are solitary

Lifespan: Over 10 years in some species

Size: 2.5-6cm in length between species and they only weigh up to 10 grams or more in the largest species

Habitat/Range: Mid-to-high altitude streams in Central and South America from Costa Rica in the north to Bolivia in the South

Threats: Chytridiomycosis (a highly infectious disease), habitat loss, climate change, invasive species

Conservation Status: 70% of species are CRITICALLY endangered

Names & Nicknames: Harlequin toads, Harlequin frogs, Clown frogs, The jewels of the Neotropics

Size: Sometimes, the smallest species shine the brightest. That's certainly the case for these micro toads and their dazzling array of colours and patterns. The smallest harleys are about 2.5cm in length, or the size of a baby's thumb, and the largest species only get as big as an adult's thumb, at just over 6cm! Like many frogs and toads, the ladies get significantly larger than the gentlemen.

Communication: Harlequin toads, like many toads, chat with a range of vocal calls; however, compared to others, they aren’t the most efficient of croakers. They're much quieter than toads of similar sizes. They also don't have ears in the same way as other toads, yet they can still hear the high-frequency calls of fellow harlequins, though exactly how is a bit of a mystery! If it all gets a bit noisy, some species also communicate by waving at each other with their front limbs. Howdy neighbour.

Favourite Hangout: Warm weather with a big pool, they're living the dream. Also known as the ‘jewels of the Neotropics’ these sparkly toads are found in streams and rivers high up in Central and South America, ranging from Costa Rica in the North to Bolivia in the South. Almost half of the known species are found in Colombia, that's the real sweet spot.

Favourite Snack: Not too fussy; if it's small enough to eat and is a creepy crawly (insect or arthropod), then it’s getting gobbled.

Love Language: To some, they’re passionate lovers. To others, they may come across as a bit clingy. Some harlequin toads can spend weeks in amplexus (an amphibian cuddle puddle), where the male won’t eat and could lose up to 30% of their body weight whilst lovemaking!

If you see them: Spotting a toad the size of your thumb in a rainforest is a tricky one, especially given how small their populations are! Breeding season is when things get a bit more explicit. They'll come together in the creeks and streams for their date fest, but make sure to look and not touch, as aside from being highly endangered, these frogs pack a poisonous punch!

Red Flags: Chytridomycosis... now say that five times fast! In all seriousness, chytridiomycosis, or chytrid for sure, is a devastating disease pushing millions of toads, including our harlequin heroes, to the brink of extinction. In 2019, it was estimated that 90 amphibian species had gone extinct due to chytrid outbreaks, as it was coined ‘the most destructive pathogen ever’. As if that wasn't enough to worry about, climate change, habitat loss, and invasive species are all further pushing harlequin toads closer and closer to the edge.

Glow-up: Like most of their fellow toad species, Harlequin toads go through a remarkable transformation from egg to tadpole before gradually transforming into dazzling grown-ups. However, Harlequin tadpoles are slightly different than most, as they are often found in fast-flowing streams. Harlequin tadpoles have a specialised ‘belly sucker’ to attach themselves onto rocks so they don't get swept away – just like our little mauve mate, Purple frog.

Facts: Many species of Harlequin toad hold significant cultural importance to the people of the Neotropics. For example, the Panamanian Golden Toad (Atelopus zeteki) is the national animal of Panama, and can be found on lottery tickets, in artwork, and is celebrated every year on August 14th as Panamanian Golden Toad Day.

Who are they in the friendship group: Small, sparkly, but can be deadly.

How threatened are they: Almost 70% of all Harlequin Toad species are CRITICALLY endangered.