Blue-legged mantella

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Blue-legged mantella
Mantella expectata07.jpg
Mantella expectata02.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Mantellidae
Genus: Mantella
Species:
M. expectata
Binomial name
Mantella expectata
Busse & Böhme, 1992

The blue-legged mantella (Mantella expectata) is a small species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to the Isalo National Park and areas south of it in Madagascar, a range it shares with the rainbow frog (Scaphiophryne gottlebei). [2] Both are locally common, but endangered due to habitat loss and over-collected for the pet trade. [3]

Contents

Habitat and behavior

The blue-legged mantella is diurnal and belongs to the M. betsileo species group. Its preferred habitats are sun-exposed such as temporary rocky streams and inside rocky canyons. Their reproduction season is from September to December. The eggs are either hung on the walls of canyons or laid under rocks. They are then flooded by water and complete their development in temporary pools. It is a quite short-lived species with a typical maximum age of 3 years. [3]

Appearance

The so-called "desert mantella", a likely undescribed species that is closely related to the blue-legged mantella Mantella expectata05.jpg
The so-called "desert mantella", a likely undescribed species that is closely related to the blue-legged mantella

The blue-legged mantella has a snout–to–vent length of 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in). It is quite distinctive with aposematic colours, a warning of the alkaloid toxins in its skin. [2] The back and top of the head are yellow, contrasted by blue legs, and black flanks and sides of the head. The underside is black with blue spots. There are individual and locality based variations, with some having darker and greyer legs or, in the far north of its range, a reddish lower back (contrasting with the yellow upper back and top of head). [4] Those with a red lower back and grey legs have sometimes been called the "blushing mantella" or "sunrise mantella". [5] [6] In the south of the species' range, individuals commonly have some brown to the legs, approaching the appearance of the brown mantella (M. betsileo), and some are genetically in between the two species, but their taxonomic position is still unresolved. [4] This intermediate population is sometimes referred to as M. cf. expectata, [4] whereas the so-called "desert mantella", a likely undescribed species from arid habitats in southernmost and western Madagascar that is closely related to the blue-legged mantella, sometimes has been referred to as M. aff. expectata. [5] [7] Sex in the blue-legged mantella can be determined by the size of the body (females averaging noticeably larger than males), a horseshoe-shaped blue spot located on the lower jaw in males, and by the vocal signals that are specifically emitted only by males. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mantellidae</span> Family of amphibians

The Mantellidae are a family of the order Anura. These frogs are endemic to the islands of Madagascar and Mayotte.

<i>Stumpffia</i> Genus of amphibians

Stumpffia is a genus of microhylid frogs that are endemic to Madagascar. They are mostly brown frogs that typically live among leaf litter. S. contumelia has a snout–vent length of about 8–9 mm (0.31–0.35 in), making it one of the world's smallest frogs, and several others in the genus are only slightly larger. The largest species is no more than 28 mm (1.1 in).

<i>Mantella</i> Genus of amphibians

Mantella are a prominent genus of aposematic frogs in the family Mantellidae, endemic to the island of Madagascar. Members of Mantella are diurnal and terrestrial, with bright aposematic coloration or cryptic markings.

<i>Scaphiophryne</i> Genus of frogs from Madagascar

Scaphiophryne is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. Some of the species are strikingly marked, while others are highly cryptic. They are rather plump and generally found on the ground. Several species in the genus are threatened because of habitat loss and overcollection for the international pet trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden mantella</span> Species of amphibian

The golden mantella is a small, terrestrial frog endemic to Madagascar. It has an extremely restricted distribution in three distinct areas centered on the town of Moramanga - Beparasy and Ambohibary Communes, Torotorofotsy Wetland northwest of Andasibe, and in the area of Ambakoana. Mantella aurantiaca is one of Madagascar's most threatened amphibian species due to its limited distribution in an area under tremendous anthropogenic pressure. It may also be threatened by over-collection for the pet trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isalo National Park</span> National park in Madagascar

Isalo National Park is a National Park in the Ihorombe Region of Madagascar, in the southwestern corner of the Province of Fianarantsoa. The closest town is Ranohira, and the closest cities are Toliara and Ihosy. It is a sandstone landscape that has been dissected by wind and water erosion into rocky outcrops, plateaus, extensive plains and up to 200 m (660 ft) deep canyons. There are permanent rivers and streams as well as many seasonal watercourses. Elevation varies between 510 and 1,268 m.

<i>Scaphiophryne gottlebei</i> Species of amphibian

Scaphiophryne gottlebei, commonly known as the Malagasy rainbow frog, ornate hopper, rainbow burrowing frog, red rain frog or Gottlebe's narrow-mouthed frog, is one of the most highly decorated frogs from Madagascar. The primary threats to this endangered species are habitat loss and capture for the pet trade.

<i>Boophis occidentalis</i> Species of frog

Boophis occidentalis is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, rivers, pastureland, urban areas, and heavily degraded former forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Mantella baroni</i> Species of amphibian (frog)

Mantella baroni is a species of small poisonous frog in the family Mantellidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown mantella</span> Species of frog

The brown mantella is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, rivers, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forest, ponds, and canals and ditches. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climbing mantella</span> Species of frog

The climbing mantella is a species of diurnal poison frog of the genus Mantella that resides in the subtropical regions of northeast Madagascar. Although it spends a significant amount of time in trees or bamboo forests, this frog species is not fully terrestrial and actively seeks areas with a water source.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madagascan mantella</span> Species of frog

Mantella madagascariensis, common names Malagasy painted mantella, Madagascan mantella, Madagascar golden frog, Malagasy mantella and painted mantella, is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green mantella</span> Species of frog

The green mantella is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, and heavily degraded former forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. The commercial trade in these species requires tight regulation in order not to threaten it.

Mantidactylus ambohimitombi is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Anilany</i> Genus of amphibians

Anilany helenae is a species of frog in the microyhlid subfamily Cophylinae. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Anilany, and is endemic to central Madagascar.

<i>Gephyromantis</i> Genus of amphibians

Gephyromantis is a frog genus in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae. This genus is restricted to Madagascar. At present it contains 45 species divided into six subgenera.

<i>Blommersia angolafa</i> Species of amphibian

Blommersia angolafa is a species of frogs in the family Mantellidae. This recently described species is endemic to eastern Madagascar. The specific epithet is derived from the term “angolafa” or “angolafo”, which is the Malagasy vernacular name used by the Betsimisaraka people for the Dypsis palm species, whose leaves and prophylls are the habitat for this frog.

<i>Spinomantis brunae</i> Species of amphibian

Spinomantis brunae is a species of frogs in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar and known from the Anosy Mountains in southeastern Madagascar.

<i>Paroedura guibeae</i> Species of lizard

Paroedura guibeae, Guibé's ground gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species was formerly synonymized with Paroedura bastardi, but a study in 2021 found that it represents a separate species within the species complex. It is endemic to Madagascar.

<i>Paroedura rennerae</i> Species of lizard

Paroedura rennerae is a species of lizards in the family of the Gekkonidae. Members of this species were formerly assigned to Paroedura bastardi, but a study in 2021 found that they represent a separate species within the species complex. It is endemic to Madagascar, where it occurs in a variety of habitats.

References

  1. ↑ IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2017). "Mantella expectata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T57443A84166737. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T57443A84166737.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Crottini, C.; Y. Chiari; V. Mercurio; A. Meyer; M. Vences; F. Andreone (2008). "Into the canyons: The phylogeography of the Malagasy frogs Mantella expectata and Scaphiophryne gottlebei in the arid Isalo Massif, and its significance for conservation (Amphibia: Mantellidae and Microhylidae)". Organisms Diversity & Evolution. 8 (5): 368–377. doi: 10.1016/j.ode.2008.08.001 .
  3. 1 2 3 Guarino, Fabio M; Tessa, Giulia; Mercurio, Vincenzo; Andreone, Franco (December 2010). "Rapid sexual maturity and short life span in the blue-legged frog and the rainbow frog from the arid Isalo Massif, southern-central Madagascar". Zoology. 113 (6): 378–84. doi:10.1016/j.zool.2010.08.003. PMID   21051209.
  4. 1 2 3 Cocca, W.; et al. (2018). "The herpetofauna (Amphibia, Crocodylia, Squamata, Testudines) of the Isalo Massif, Southwest Madagascar: combining morphological, molecular and museum data". Salamandra. 54 (3): 178–200.
  5. 1 2 Edmonds, D. (2006). "Mantella expectata". Mantella — Poison frogs of Madagascar. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  6. ↑ Edmonds, D. (2006). "Mantella sp. Blushing mantella". Mantella — Poison frogs of Madagascar. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  7. ↑ Mercurio, V.; G. Aprea; C. Crottini; F. Mattioli; J.E. Randrianirina; T.J. Razafindrabe; F. Andreone (2008). "The amphibians of Isalo Massif, southern-central Madagascar: High frog diversity in an apparently hostile dry habitat". Monografie del Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino. XLV: 143–196.


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