The population of amphibians of Madagascar is made up exclusively of frogs. There are 311 named species of frogs on Madagascar, [1] but several hundred have been identified using DNA barcoding and remain to be formally described. [2] [3]
Native described species belong to four different families: Hyperoliidae (11 species), Mantellidae (212 species), Microhylidae (86 species) and Ranidae (1 species). Two further species are introduced: the ranid frog Hoplobatrachus tigrinus and the toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus. Almost all native species are endemic, with the exception of Ptychadena mascareniensis . 85 species are threatened with extinction, nine of which are considered by the IUCN as critically endangered. Their numbers are largely affected by major alterations of habitat due to deforestation and the expansion of paddy fields and villages, and to a lesser extent, by illegal international trade.
| Species | Status IUCN | |
| Hoplobatrachus tigerinus |  |  |
| Ptychadena mascareniensis | |  |
The Mantellidae are a family of the order Anura. These frogs are endemic to the islands of Madagascar and Mayotte.
Cophylinae is a subfamily of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. It has over 100 species in eight genera. Members of this subfamily range from minute to fairly large, and they are highly ecologically diverse. DNA barcode research has revealed a significant taxonomic gap in this subfamily, and an estimated 70+ candidate species were identified. Many of these have subsequently been described, as well as numerous new discoveries.
Anodonthyla is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. Molecular data suggest that it is the sister taxon to all other species in the subfamily Cophylinae.
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).
Mantellinae is a subfamily of frogs in the family Mantellidae. These frogs are native to Madagascar and Mayotte. The species vary in size from under 25 mm to over 100 mm. The subfamily is most famous for the genus Mantella, which contains species that superficially resemble poison dart frogs of the tropical Americas, and have converged on similar aposematic colouration and toxins. As of 2 May 2016, there are 128 described species in this subfamily, but several more are described each year.
Mantidactylus is a frog genus in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae. This genus is restricted to Madagascar. The genus is divided into several subgenera that form monophyletic genetic clusters and are ecologically similar.
Aglyptodactylus is a genus of frogs in the family Mantellidae. These frogs, sometimes known as the Madagascar jumping frogs, are endemic to Madagascar. Systematic revisions of the groups were published in 1998 and 2015. Six species are currently recognized.
Boophis is the only genus in the mantellid frog subfamily Boophinae. They are commonly known as bright-eyed or skeleton frogs. They show typical 'tree frog' traits, and are a good example of convergent evolution with morphologically similar species in the families Hylidae and Rhacophoridae, among others. This genus can only be found on Madagascar and Mayotte Island (Comoros).
Boehmantis is a genus of frogs in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae. It is monotypic, being represented by a single species, Boehmantis microtympanum. The genus is endemic to Madagascar.
Rhombophryne is a genus of microhylid frogs endemic to Madagascar. It is currently estimated to include more than 23 species, but only 20 of these are currently described. The common name 'diamond frog' has been proposed and used for members of this genus.
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.
Anodonthyla emilei is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Discovered in Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar in 2003, it has the most divergent call of all Anodonthyla species.
Rhombophryne serratopalpebrosa is a species of frog of the Madagascar endemic microhylid subfamily Cophylinae. Genetic evidence revealed that it is a species complex, in need of resolution. This work has made significant progress, and five related species have been described from this complex between 2014 and 2017. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Frank Rainer Glaw is a German herpetologist working at the Zoologische Staatssammlung München. Glaw studied biology in Cologne from 1987, where he completed his diploma. Thereafter, he attended the University of Bonn, from which he graduated in 1999, after completing his Ph.D. thesis titled Untersuchungen zur Bioakustik, Systematik, Artenvielfalt und Biogeographie madagassischer Anuren about the frogs of Madagascar, supervised by Professor Wolfgang Böhme.
Tsingymantis is a monotypic genus of frogs in the family Mantellidae. The sole species is Tsingymantis antitra.
Spinomantis fimbriatus is a species of frog in the Mantellid subfamily Mantellinae, endemic to Madagascar.
Spinomantis massi is a species of frog in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae. It is endemic to the humid forests of northwestern Madagascar.
Spinomantis microtis is a species of frog in the Mantellid subfamily Mantellinae, endemic to Madagascar.
Professor Miguel Vences is a German herpetologist and evolutionary biologist. Much of his research is focused on the reptiles and amphibians of Madagascar.
Andolalao Rakotoarison is a Malagasy herpetologist.
