The golden toad once occupied a small area of 4 km2 of elfin
cloud forest on the Cordillera de Tilaran in northern Costa
Rica. This area is now known as the Monteverde Cloud Forest
Preserve (Pounds, 1996). The golden toad occupies a wet, montane
area of the forest in northern Costa Rica. The elevation of this
habitat ranges from 2000 -- 2100 meters (Jacobson, 1991). The
golden toad is an extreme example of a sexually dimorphic
amphibian. The males possess a very striking orange coloration.
The females are black with scarlet blotches edged in yellow. The
females range in length from 42 -- 56 mm while the males are 39
-- 48 mm. The striking physical differences between male and
female cannot be determined until adulthood. Juveniles tend to
be unsexable since they carry similar characteristics and body
size (Jacobson, 1991). The golden toad is an explosive breeder
during the months of April through June in which there is a
heavy rainy season. The toads gather in enormous numbers around
small, temporary pools and