Tamarindo Update:

There were three separate breeding events reported by Miguel Canals, DNER at Tamarindo this year during two hurricanes and one tropical depression: August 28^th, October 28^th and December 12^th. Less than 200 toads were observed during each of the first two breeding events and only one pair was seen in December. A total of 114 egg masses were found (including 22 found at Aroma and Atolladora). Over the past 25 years, this is only the second time reproduction has been recorded three times within a year, and is the first time reproduction was observed during the month of December.  

El Tallonal Update:

In March, 250 northern crested toad tadpoles were reproduced at Fort Worth Zoo and released at El Tallonal in Arecibo. Fort Worth Zoo SSP partners, Diane Barber and Stacie Bucklin conducted a dispersal study using fluorescent powder as recently metamorphosed toadlets emerged and moved from the pond’s edge. Unfortunately, almost all of the toadlets metamorphosed without their front limbs or had spindly leg (it is suspected that the female that laid the eggs had Hypovitaminosis A, which may have caused poor development of the entire clutch). The few that were “normal” were almost instantly destroyed by fire ants after they left the water. Although the dispersal study was certainly less than successful, we were able to track marine toads using the powder up to five days after it rained and demonstrated the powder technique to recovery group partners. The powder and UV light were left in Puerto Rico and later used to successfully monitor toadlets in Gabia. SSP partners will return to El Tallonal in April 2008 to continue the monitoring project. Marine toad eradication and fire ant suppression will take place prior to the 2008 release by partners from DNER and Iniciativa Herpetologica, Inc. 

Gabia Update:

On 11 May 2007, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo sent 700 tadpoles to be released in a new pond in Gabia. This is the second release site in the south and the first release in the region. Juan Casanova and Miguel Canals (DNER) and Carlos Pacheco (FWS) monitored the toadlets as they left the site using fluorescent powder. In seven hours one toadlet traveled 14m and one toad found on October 28^th had traveled 400m and was 1½“ long. Two weeks after the toadlets metamorphosed, rather than migrating towards the karst refuge in the north as expected, they traveled south towards the river.  The next release at Gabia is scheduled for April 10^th in 2008. Before then, the FWS and DNER hope to complete construction of a breeding pond adjacent to the release site.

Manglillo Update:

The afternoon prior to the release of captive tadpoles on December 5^th, many newly metamorphosed (Approx. 7mm SVL) crested toadlets were discovered in leaf litter surrounding the release pond. This was extremely exciting to see, as it was the first time toadlets have been observed at the site from adults that were reintroduced as tadpoles. This is the third year crested toads have been observed at the site (other than toadlets released as tadpoles within the same year) and is further evidence of continued recruitment. Later that evening, tadpoles sent by SSP partners (Lowry Park: 1,000, Fort Worth Zoo: 150, Central Park: 750, and Miami Metro Zoo: 250) were released.