Meet Jorge Guerrel manager of the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Center and Dr. Gina DellaTogna STRI research associate and executive director of the Amphibian Survival Alliance who has been leading assisted reproduction research efforts around the world.
The Enchanting Tungara Frog Call: A Soundtrack to Latin American Nights
From the humid lowlands of Mexico to the tropical forests of Colombia, one sound unites the nocturnal chorus of Latin America: the distinctive tungara frog call. These small amphibians, scientifically known as Engystomops pustulosus, create one of nature’s most recognizable and beloved soundscapes across Central and South America.
The Magic of Tungara Frog Sounds
The tungara frog call is unmistakable—a sharp “tunk” followed by a descending whine that sounds almost electronic. Males gather near temporary pools, ponds, and puddles after rainfall, creating symphonies that can be heard for miles. Their vocalizations serve a crucial purpose: attracting females during breeding season, which typically coincides with the rainy months.
Cultural Connection Across Generations
For millions of people across Latin America, tungara frog sounds represent more than just amphibian biology—they’re the soundtrack to childhood memories, rainy evenings, and the rhythm of tropical life. Grandparents in rural villages often tell stories timed to the evening chorus, while children learn to identify the approach of rain by the intensity of the frogs’ calls.
Natural History and Habitat
Tungara frogs are remarkably adaptable, thriving in both pristine rainforests and human-modified landscapes. They prefer shallow, temporary water sources for breeding, making them common around homes, farms, and urban areas. This adaptability has helped preserve their populations even as development spreads across their range.
These resilient amphibians typically measure just 2-3 centimeters long, with bumpy, warty skin that helps them blend into leaf litter during daylight hours. Their calls intensify during peak rainy season, creating the iconic soundscape that has become synonymous with tropical nights from Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula to Colombia’s Pacific coast.
The tungara frog’s voice continues to connect communities across Latin America, proving that sometimes the smallest creatures create the most enduring memories.
Scientists Use Climate Data to Map, Predict Amphibian Chytrid Disease
The chytrid fungus disease is responsible for global amphibian population declines, such as the endangered limosa harlequin frog shown above. (Brian Gratwicke/Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)
Researchers may have a new tool in the fight to protect neotropical frogs from extinction, thanks to climate data. In a recently published study in the journal Diversity and Distributions, researchers from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) created a high-resolution map of Panama showing how a deadly amphibian disease moved across Panama over a 13-year period. But the data also provides insight into where the disease is the most dangerous and shows regions that may be havens for reintroduced, captive-bred frogs.
Since its first scientific description in 2000, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a fungus that causes the deadly amphibian chytrid disease, has devastated amphibian populations in Central and South America. Believed to have originated in Asia, chytrid has since spread to many parts of the world, and the disease is responsible for wiping out nine frog species in Panama alone.
Like other fungi, chytrid requires a cool, wet environment to thrive. In chytrid-friendly conditions, disease outbreaks can decimate frog populations. But scientists have found that the fungus cannot thrive when the temperature is too high or the air is too dry. While the disease has spread throughout mainland Panama, the team wondered if the climate parameters might create an opportunity to find pockets where chytrid was less likely to kill.
By pairing satellite data with 13 years’ worth of atmospheric modeling, researchers created an ultra-high-resolution, daily temperature and humidity map for the nation. They paired this with a second dataset of over 4,900 disease samples taken from 314 sites across Panama. The second dataset tracked the amount of fungus present on each frog, known as the fungal load, over 13 years. When overlaid, the two data sets provided a clear picture of when and where the chytrid disease was the most intense. Higher elevations consistently remained more hospitable to the fungus, but rainy seasons brought chytrid-friendly conditions to the lowlands and led to waves of outbreaks.
“By compiling the hard-earned data from many amphibian researchers, we have been able to draw an unprecedented, detailed picture of the intensity of Bd in Panama through time and space,” said Carrie Lewis, doctoral student at George Mason University’s Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science, who led the study. “My hope is that we can use this detailed information to inform conservation actions in a more refined way.”
Although chytrid disease has devastated amphibian populations, the presence of the chytrid fungus alone is not a death sentence. Recognizing this, the research team built three models: one showing fungal presence; a second at “medium intensity,” which researchers consider an indicator of a serious infection; and a third at “high intensity,” which researchers associated with significant disease outbreaks. Researchers found that by examining the weather conditions 15 days prior to sampling, they could predict the presence and intensity of the chytrid fungus.
By mapping out the path and intensity of chytrid, it became clear that the disease thrives in mountainous regions, which tend to remain cooler and more humid than lowland areas. With this knowledge, researchers may be able to identify climatic refuges—areas less suitable for the chytrid disease where frogs may have a fighting chance against the fungus.
“The ability to identify places where frogs might be able to survive chytrid is critical for two reasons,” said Brian Gratwicke, NZCBI biologist and senior author of the study. “One, it allows us to look for frogs in those areas who might have developed resistance to the fungus. Two, those same areas might be sites where we can return captive-bred frogs into the wild. Both aspects could be significant turning points in the fight against the chytrid disease.”
Since 2009, the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project based in Gamboa, Panama, has bred 12 species of frogs, all of which are facing extinction. After years of successful breeding, there are now enough animals to begin rewilding efforts. As researchers work toward reintroduction trials for imperiled Panamanian species, these prediction models will be crucial to determining when and where trials should take place.
This collaboration between 18 coauthors was partially supported with funding from the National Science Foundation, the German Science Foundation and the Bezos Earth Fund through the Tropical Amphibian Research Initiative.
Captive Breeding
Modern zoos and aquariums around the world specialize in captive breeding endangered species, they care for living collections of animals and help safeguard against their extinction. Our own project is a partnership between the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Zoo New England and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. This explainer video captures some of what zoos and aquariums around the world have been doing to breed endangered species.
Bezos Earth Fund, Smithsonian Institution and the Amphibian Survival Alliance Join Forces to Save Endangered Frogs in Latin America
In recent decades, habitat loss, environmental change, and a deadly chytrid fungus has decimated amphibian species around the world. Thanks to a new $2 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and the Smithsonian National Zoological Park Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), in partnership with the Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA), launched a transformative five-year project spanning Panamá, Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia: The Tropical Amphibian Resilience Initiative (TARI). This initiative represents an unprecedented opportunity to address amphibian conservation across Latin America.
“This is an unprecedented opportunity for amphibian conservation,” stated ASA’s Executive Director Gina Della Togna. “For the first time, we are launching a coordinated international effort to halt amphibian extinctions in the Neotropics, a region that harbors 48% of the world’s amphibian biodiversity. It’s a powerful testament to what collaboration and joining forces can achieve for endangered species, and a sobering reminder of how much help amphibians need.”
The grant empowers collaborations among international partners, including the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, a conservation partnership between the Smithsonian, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and Zoo New England. The coalition is building safety-net populations of frog species at risk of extinction from the deadly fungus.
The Amphibian Survival Alliance, the world’s largest global partnership dedicated to the conservation of amphibians and their habitats, rallies collaborators from high amphibian biodiversity landscapes, including Parque Explora (Colombia), FUDECI (Venezuela), and Centro Jambatu de Investigación y Conservación de Anfibios (Ecuador), to deliver regional impact and coordinate on-the-ground conservation actions in key amphibian biodiversity hotspots.
The Bezos donation catalyzes conservation by targeting landscapes with the highest amphibian biodiversity on Earth. This initiative will serve as a model for regional collaboration and knowledge-sharing, ensuring a lasting impact on amphibian populations and their habitats.
“Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrates on the planet, yet they receive far less attention than other at-risk species,” said Dr. Cristián Samper, Managing Director and Leader for Nature Solutions at the Bezos Earth Fund. “This partnership between the Bezos Earth Fund and the Smithsonian is about turning the tide, combining cutting-edge science with urgent action to save these species from extinction. By investing in regional collaboration, we are laying the foundation for amphibian conservation that will have a lasting impact.”
The international team of scientists are pioneering new methods to recover amphibian populations affected by fungal diseases and other major threats, rewild native frogs raised in captivity, and identify habitats critical for amphibian conservation.
The project strengthens captive breeding programs for 25 of the region’s most endangered species, with a goal of boosting captive populations by 15% over five years. It also expands conservation expertise across Latin America, offering training workshops in small-population management and launching a regional Amphibian Biobank to safeguard the genetic diversity of at least 25 critically endangered frog species.
As part of decision-making and community engagement, the project contributes to updating National Amphibian Action Plans for the four countries, aligning them with international biodiversity targets and action plans; and engages over 1,000 students annually through outreach programs and public seminars to raise awareness about amphibians.
“I am deeply grateful to the Bezos Earth Fund for their trust in this partnership and their commitment to conserving the most threatened group of vertebrates on the planet. I am equally thankful to our incredible partners, whose expertise and dedication have made this ambitious initiative possible,” added Della Togna.
This collaboration paves the way for a sustainable future for amphibians and their ecosystems by combining the scientific rigor and institutional strength of STRI with the expertise and regional leadership of ASA. Together, this partnership demonstrates the power of global collaboration in addressing urgent biodiversity challenges and ensuring Life on a Sustainable Planet.
