Central Coast Stubfoot Toad vs Clown Frog

Atelopus franciscus compared with Atelopus varius

Key Differences

  • Central Coast Stubfoot Toad is Least Concern while Clown Frog is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Central Coast Stubfoot Toad Clown Frog
Kingdom same Animalia (животные) Animalia (животные)
Phylum same Chordata (хордовые) Chordata (хордовые)
Class same Amphibia (земноводные) Amphibia (земноводные)
Order same Anura (бесхвостые земноводные) Anura (бесхвостые земноводные)
Family same Bufonidae Bufonidae
Genus same Atelopus Atelopus
Species Atelopus franciscus Atelopus varius

Evolutionary Relationship

Central Coast Stubfoot Toad and Clown Frog share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Atelopus.

Conservation Status

Central Coast Stubfoot Toad

LC — Least Concern

Clown Frog

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Central Coast Stubfoot Toad Clown Frog
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

Central Coast Stubfoot Toad

Habitat

Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Clown Frog

Habitat

Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Central Coast Stubfoot Toad

The Central Coast Stubfoot Toad (Atelopus franciscus) is a species in the genus Atelopus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Clown Frog

The clown frog (Atelopus varius), also known as the harlequin frog or variable harlequin toad, is a small, vibrantly colored true toad in the family Bufonidae native to the premontane and montane rainforests of Costa Rica and Panama. Adults display bold black-and-yellow or black-and-orange aposematic patterns that warn predators of their skin toxins. Males typically measure 27–39 mm in snout-vent length and females slightly larger. The species inhabits fast-flowing streams in humid highland forests at elevations generally between 200 and 1,800 m, where breeding occurs in riparian zones. Atelopus varius was once common throughout its range but has suffered catastrophic population declines since the 1980s, primarily due to the chytrid fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which has driven mass mortality events in amphibians globally. Additional threats include habitat loss from deforestation and agricultural expansion. The species is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Conservation programs involving captive breeding and disease-resistant population management are underway in Costa Rica and Panama in collaboration with international zoos.

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