Atelopus varius
Silhouette: Michael Scroggie, from original photograph by Gary M. Stolz, USFWS (original photograph in public domain). · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Atelopus varius, the Costa Rican variable harlequin toad or clown frog, is a small Neotropical true toad from the family Bufonidae. Once ranging from Costa Rica to Panama, A. varius is now listed as critically endangered and has been reduced to a single remnant population near Quepos, Costa Rica (rediscovered in 2003), and has only relict populations in western Panama. Recent variation in air temperature, precipitation, stream flow patterns, and the subsequent spread of a pathogenic chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) linked to global climate change have been the leading cause of decline for A. varius. A. zeteki has been considered a subspecies of A. varius, but is now generally considered a separate species.
The historic range of A. varius stretched from the Pacific and Atlantic slopes of the Cordilleras de Tilaran mountain range in Costa Rica into western Panama. Suitable habitat includes both pre-montane and lower-montane zones as well as some lowland sites along rocky streams in hilly areas (ranging from 6 to 2,000 metres or 20 to 6,562 feet in elevation).
A. varius is a diurnal frog often found on rocks or in crevices... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Amistad International Park (Panama) | 🇵🇦 Panama |
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Nashville Zoo at Grassmere | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Parque Municipal Summit | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 5 | El Nispero Zoo | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 6 | Sea Life Manchester | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Harlequin Frog sighting in La Amistad International Park (Panama) on a given day, based on 22 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 32nd most-seen of the 32 amphibians we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February–March, September and December
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Harlequin Frog in La Amistad International Park (Panama) on a given day, against under 5% in January, April–August and October–November, the lowest months.
Between 6 and 9 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Variable Harlequin Frog sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.
Only La Amistad International Park (Panama), in our data
La Amistad International Park (Panama) is the only park on Wallace's Line with enough records to rate Variable Harlequin Frog sightings: under 5% of wildlife watchers there report one on a given day.
Same family: Bufonidae
The closest relatives of the Variable Harlequin Frog that you can see in La Amistad International Park (Panama) (family Bufonidae, True Toads) are Giant Marine Toad (about 20%), Green Climbing Toad (about 10%) and Leaf Litter Toad (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Variable Harlequin Frog is recorded against all the amphibians logged in La Amistad International Park (Panama) (22 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
