Ex situ management of five extant species of Atelopus in Ecuador - progress report

Published source details Coloma L.A. & Almeida-Reinoso D. (2012) Ex situ management of five extant species of Atelopus in Ecuador - progress report. Amphibian Ark Newsletter, 20, 9-12.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	*Captive breeding harlequin toads (Atelopus* species)** Action Link
	Amphibians: Use hormone treatment to induce sperm and egg release Action Link
	Use hormone treatment to induce sperm and egg release during captive breeding Action Link

Captive breeding harlequin toads (Atelopus species)

A small, replicated study in 2011–2012 of captive harlequin toads Atelopus in Ecuador (Coloma & Almeida-Reinoso 2012) found that although one clutch of eggs was produced by each species, maintaining healthy adults, successfully breeding and rearing juveniles was difficult. One of three breeding attempts for elegant stubfoot toad Atelopus elegans and the one attempt for Pebas stubfoot toad Atelopus spumarius and Atelopus spumarius-pulcher complex resulted in a clutch of eggs. However, most Atelopus spumarius embryos were dead within eight days. This was considered by the authors to be due to a drop in water temperature one night. Three tadpoles survived the first month and just one over four months. Nineteen Atelopus spumarius-pulcher complex toadlets survived over eight months (from 500 eggs). Causes of death were unknown. Twenty adult elegant stubfoot toads, eight Pebas stubfoot toads and 30 Atelopus spumarius-pulcher complex were wild caught. Breeding tanks were 60 x 35 x 30 cm with stones, plants and an open system of filtered water. One of three female elegant stubfoot toads and one Pebas stubfoot toad were stimulated with human chorionic gonadotrophin (0.05 ml).
Amphibians: Use hormone treatment to induce sperm and egg release
Use hormone treatment to induce sperm and egg release during captive breeding

A small, replicated, controlled study in 2011–2012 of captive harlequin toads Atelopus in Ecuador (Coloma & Almeida-Reinoso 2012) found that following treatment with human chorionic gonadotrophin, females produced eggs. The one female elegant stubfoot toad Atelopus elegans and one Pebas stubfoot toad Atelopus spumarius treated with hormones produced a clutch of eggs. However, most Pebas stubfoot toad embryos were dead within eight days. Two untreated elegant stubfoot toads did not produce eggs. Twenty adult elegant stubfoot toads and eight Pebas stubfoot toads were wild caught. Breeding tanks were 60 x 35 x 30 cm with stones, plants and an open system of filtered water. One of three female elegant stubfoot toads and one Pebas stubfoot toad were stimulated with human chorionic gonadotrophin (0.05 ml).