Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Fabulous
frogs of
Panama

Come meet some of Panama’s amazing and endangered frogs at our newest exhibit

June 14, 2017

Punta Culebra Nature Center, Panama

As part of the Smithsonian’s program to save frogs from an extinction-causing disease, the Punta Culebra Nature Center offers an exclusive glimpse at some of the amphibians we and our partner institutions are trying to save.

The world’s amphibians are facing unprecedented threats from habitat loss, climate change and a deadly fungal disease. The good news is scientists across the globe are studying these frogs and learning how to keep them alive — and are having considerable success.

One highlight is the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, which has captive breeding programs for numerous Panamanian frogs — including the iconic golden frog, Atelopus zeteki — which are now largely gone from the wild.

The Fabulous Frogs of Panama exhibit at Punta Culebra Nature Center.

A leaflitter toad, Rhinella alata, at the Fabulous Frogs of Panama at STRI’s Punta Culebra Nature Center. Photo: Brian Gratwicke/Smithsonian

A blue morph of a strawberry poison dart frog, Oophaga pumilio, at the Fabulous Frogs of Panama at STRI’s Punta Culebra Nature Center. Photo: Brian Gratwicke/Smithsonian

A brown and orange morph of a strawberry poison dart frog, Oophaga pumilio, at the Fabulous Frogs of Panama at STRI’s Punta Culebra Nature Center. Photo: Brian Gratwicke/Smithsonian

A visitor looks at frogs in a large hexagon-shaped tank at the Fabulous Frogs of Panama at STRI’s Punta Culebra Nature Center. Photo: Brian Gratwicke/Smithsonian

Visitors look at frogs in a large hexagon-shaped tank at the Fabulous Frogs of Panama at STRI’s Punta Culebra Nature Center. Photo: Brian Gratwicke/Smithsonian

A glass frog, Cochranella granulosa, at the Fabulous Frogs of Panama at STRI’s Punta Culebra Nature Center. Photo: Brian Gratwicke/Smithsonian

Reproductions of the pre-Hispanic golden art objects known as huacas, which are based on frogs, at the Fabulous Frogs of Panama at STRI’s Punta Culebra Nature Center. Photo: Brian Gratwicke/Smithsonian

While the PARC project’s amphibian rescue pods are closed to the public (to maintain the frogs’ biosecurity) a number of these species are on display in an amazing exhibition at STRI’s Punta Culebra Nature Center.

The exhibit is open … come visit!

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