Madagascan mantella

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Madagascan mantella
Mantella madagascariensis01.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Mantellidae
Genus: Mantella
Species:
M. madagascariensis
Binomial name
Mantella madagascariensis
(Grandidier, 1872)
Synonyms
  • Dendrobates madagascariensis Grandidier, 1872
  • Mantella loppei Roux, 1935

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.

Contents

Distribution

This species is endemic to Madagascar. It is present in the East-central Madagascar in upland locations from near Niagarakely south to Ranomafana, at an elevation of 700–1,050 metres (2,300–3,440 ft) above sea level. [2] It is threatened by habitat loss and it may be threatened by commercial collection.

Habitat

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, and rivers. [3]

Description

Mantella madagascariensis can reach a body length of 21–22 millimetres (0.83–0.87 in) in males, of 24–25 millimetres (0.94–0.98 in) in females. These tiny but stout frogs are rather variable in color and markings, as they are irregularly streaked in black and yellow. Usually they have a blackish body, but the dorsum is commonly black. A green or yellowish rostral stripe is running along the head. Femur and humerus are usually yellow to green, while tibia, tarsus and foot are reddish-orange, with blackish patches. Blotches of yellow-green color extends to flanks close to the forelimbs. [4] [5]

Some authors consider Mantella madagascariensis a complex of cryptic species. [6]

This species is closely related to Mantella pulchra and very similar to Mantella baroni . [4] [1]

Distribution map Mantella madagascariensis map-fr.svg
Distribution map

Biology

Little is known about the biology of the species. These frogs are terrestrial and are active on the ground during the day. They prefer forest and forest edge, especially along streams. Breeding occurs in streams. Females lay eggs on land, but the larvae develop in water streams. [3] Like all Mantella species, these frogs has several toxic alkaloids in its skin. [7]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

Mantellidae Family of amphibians

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

Cophylinae Subfamily of amphibians

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.

<i>Mantella</i> Genus of amphibians

Mantella are a prominent genus of aposematic frogs in the family Mantellidae, endemic to the island of Madagascar. The members of the genus are diurnal and terrestrial in behaviour, exhibiting bright colouration or cryptic markings which are species specific.

<i>Aglyptodactylus</i> Genus of amphibians

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.

<i>Scaphiophryne</i>

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.

Golden mantella 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.

<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>Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis</i> Species of frog

Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae known commonly as the Madagascar jumping frog. It is endemic to Madagascar, where it has a wide distribution across the eastern side of the island. A. madagascariensis is a complex of various species which occur in different elevational ranges and different areas of Eastern Madagascar.

<i>Aglyptodactylus securifer</i> Species of frog

Aglyptodactylus securifer is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar, where it lives in forests.

<i>Boophis</i> Genus of amphibians

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).

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

Boophis madagascariensis is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, 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.

Blue-legged mantella Species of amphibian

The blue-legged mantella 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. Both are locally common, but endangered due to habitat loss and over-collected for the pet trade.

Boophis baetkei is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to northern Madagascar and only known from its type locality on the eastern edge of the Fôret d'Ambre Special Reserve in the Antsiranana Province. It is an arboreal species that was found in a heavily disturbed transitional forest. It is threatened by severe habitat loss occurring in the area of its type locality.

<i>Plethodontohyla alluaudi</i> Species of amphibian

Plethodontohyla alluaudi is a frog belonging to the Madagascar-endemic subfamily Cophylinae of the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to southeastern Madagascar. It is a terrestrial and fossorial frog that occurs in rainforest, including littoral forest. Despite being locally abundant, it is a difficult frog to find.

<i>Mantella ebenaui</i> Species of frog

Mantella ebenaui is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to northern Madagascar with one of the largest ranges of any Mantella. Its natural habitats are rainforest and dry forests. Mantella ebenaui lay their eggs on land near the water. These eggs hatch into larvae which develop in small ponds before reaching maturity.

<i>Rhombophryne serratopalpebrosa</i> Species of amphibian

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.

<i>Spinomantis massi</i> Species of frog

Spinomantis massi is a species of frog in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae. It is endemic to the humid forests of northwestern Madagascar.

Boophis haingana is an endangered species of skeleton frog endemic to southeastern Madagascar. It is characterized by its advertisement call, which has shorter note durations and faster note repetitions compared to other frogs in its genus. It is pale green in color and translucent at certain parts of the body, such as the dorsal and ventral skin.

References

  1. 1 2 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2017). "Mantella madagascariensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T57446A84167257. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T57446A84167257.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. Frost, D.R. 2015 Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6 - American Museum of Natural History
  3. 1 2 Andreone, F. & Glaw, F. 2004. Mantella madagascariensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  4. 1 2 Amphibia Web, University of California
  5. Devin Edmonds (2006). Mantella - Poison Frogs of Madagascar
  6. Chiari, Y., M. Vences, D. R. Vieites, F. C. E. Rabemananjara, P. Bora, O. R. Ravoahangimalala, and A. Meyer. 2004. New evidence for parallel evolution of colour patterns in Malagasy poison frogs (Mantella). Molecular Ecology 13: 376303774
  7. Marta Andriantsiferana et al. (2005). ”New Lipophilic Alkaloids from Mantella frogs collected in Madagascar”. NAPRECA (Natural Product Research Network for Eastern and Central Africa)