Which critically endangered frog species is endemic to Panama and known for its bright yellow color?

The critically endangered yellow frog endemic to Panama is the Panamanian golden frog.

The species’ scientific name is Atelopus zeteki, and it is also called the Panamanian golden toad or Zetek’s golden frog. Its colors range from yellow-green to bright gold, sometimes with dark spots. It historically lived along mountain streams in the cloud forests of west-central Panama, including areas in Coclé and Panamá provinces.

The frog suffered a catastrophic decline from chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease that has devastated amphibians worldwide. It was last filmed in the wild in 2006, and the species may have disappeared from the wild by 2007. Conservation programs therefore maintain captive populations in Panama and at institutions in North America.

The Panamanian golden frog is often confused with golden poison frogs or other brightly colored poison dart frogs. Those are different species, and the Panamanian golden frog belongs to the genus Atelopus, not Phyllobates or Dendrobates.