by Alex Correa

Atelopus cruciger- also known as the ‘Veragua stubfoot toad’ or the ‘Rancho Grande harlequin frog’– is a species belonging to the Bufonidae family living in South America. It is native to Venezuela and is known from the central Venezuelan Coastal Range.

The Veragua stubfoot toad is a small, slender toad. It has a lime green colored body, covered in black or brown markings. An ‘X’ pattern typically forms behind the frog’s head made up of these markings. It has small wart-like ridges going down the side of its body. The underside of the toad is a tan color, excluding the feet, which are a much darker brown color. The fingers of the toad are unlike many other species of toad, as they are not heavily webbed. 

This species is myrmecophilous, meaning it primarily consumes ants and other small insects. 

Not much is known about the behavior of these toads, as they were suspected to be extinct up until 2003, when a small population of them was found. 

The main threat to these toads is chytridiomycosis, a type of disease contracted from a fungus known as ‘Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis’. This species is considered to be critically endangered at this time, and it is unknown how many are left.