Mantella baroni (often known by its common names, such as Baron's mantella, the variegated golden frog, or the Madagascar poison frog[2]) is a species of small poisonous frog in the family Mantellidae.
Like other species in Mantellidae, this taxon is endemic to Madagascar.[4] This family is estimated to have colonized the island of Madagascar 76–87 million years ago, evolving in insular seclusion, and adaptively radiating in geographic range and number of species on the island.[5] Mantellidae are phylogenetically related to Asiatic frogs, and therefore probably represent a dispersal event from Asia.[5]
This is one of approximately 220 frog species (including 15 in Mantella) endemic only to Madagascar.[6] It has a moderately-large elongated geographic range in East-Central Madagascar,[1] inland from the east coast, and spanning north to south, from Fierenana south to Andringitra.[7]
Although it has been classified as a Least Concern species by the IUCN as of 2016, due to its relatively wide distribution, population trends are technically unknown, and it may be threatened by several sources of habitat loss. These include anthropogenic encroachment from commercialization and industrialization, timber and logging operations, and agriculture. It appears in CITES Appendix II.[1]
Description
Though only 28–32 mm in length at maturity, this species is one of the largest in the 16-species genus,[8] dwarfed only by some individuals of Mantella viridis.[6] Related Mantella species typically range from 18–31 mm in morphology for adult individuals.[4]Mantella frogs generally exhibit sexual dimorphism, with the females (28–32 mm) of this species being slightly larger than the males (24–28 mm). This difference in size becomes prominent after approximately 10–12 months of age.
Dorsal view
Ventral view
Most individuals in this species display specific unique characteristics that distinguish them from other Mantella species, such as a "light rostral line above the eyes" and "tiger-like markings on the hind limbs" of "orange with irregular black stripes", as seen in the images above.[7][8] However, a wide variety of phenotypes exist, which manifest in front limb colors ranging from light greens to vibrant oranges and yellows, and are sometimes mistaken or imported into the international marketplace as Mantella cowanii.[8]
Moreover, the "front limbs and femurs are yellow to greenish in appearance, with this coloration continuing up the flanks into a large, rounded flank blotch",[7] which mirrors the commonplace appearance of the species Mantella madagascariensis, known as the painted mantella. These blotches "contrast with the black dorsum and striking orange and black legs" in both species,[6] making it difficult for distributors, vendors, herpetologists, breeders, collectors, and pet owners to acquire the correct species.[9] The easiest way to differentiate the two species is to note the "sky-blue, horseshoe-shaped marking"[6] present on the throat of the painted mantella, as well as the lack of "flashmarks on the lower hindlimbs"[7] on the Baron's mantella. Due to their similar appearance, the Baron's mantella is sometimes informally called a "painted mantella" as well, despite the painted mantella being a distinct species altogether.[6][9]
As seen in the pictures above, M. baroni demonstrates strong aposomatic features on their front limbs, hind limbs, and rostral line.[8][6][10] Similar aposomatic features – such as bright colorations, striking color differentials, and otherwise unconventional patterning – are common to all 16 species of Mantella, to varying levels of veracity (some species of Mantella have weaker toxicity and primarily use bright colors as a form of mimicry).[10] Despite resembling the similarly-small poison dart frogs of Latin America, which also communicate their toxicity to potential predators through aposematism, Mantella species like the Baron's mantella are only distant taxonomic relatives.[10][9] The existence of these similarities between these two families is an example of convergent evolution.[10]
Activity and reproduction
Male M. baroni emit "intense sequences of short, single-click notes during the day"[7] in order to assert their territory or attract females for mating. Females can lay up to 130 unpigmented eggs in a single clutch, and almost always do so near a source of water, into which the resulting tadpoles get washed by rainwater.[7]
Diet, predation, and toxicology
Mantella baroni is a very active forager and can consume a greater number of prey (consisting of large arthropods[7][10]) than any other Mantella species,[7] consisting of large arthropods. While most frog species are nocturnal, the Mantella baroni is a diurnal hunter.[7][10] Its diet consists mainly of ants,[7][10] while also consuming a number of other types of arthropods like beetles, spiders, and mites.
Ingesting mites allows them to secrete high pharmacologically-active alkaloid concentrations in their skin, making them toxic to predators, with their bright colors serving as a warning sign that ingestion could be dangerous and induce sickness.[9][7][10] The intensity of this alkaloid concentration can flux both temporally and geographically,[7] but careless human handling is always discouraged.[8] Human activity may influence the level of Mantella toxicity by polluting the environment, killing its sources of food and limiting an otherwise diversified diet, so remote populations may be more potent.[10]
Related Research Articles
The Mantellidae are a family of the order Anura. These frogs are endemic to the islands of Madagascar and Mayotte.
Laliostominae is a subfamily of frogs in the family Mantellidae. It contains two genera and a total of seven species. These frogs are native to Madagascar.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Aglyptodactylus securifer is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar, where it lives in forests.
Boophis feonnyala is a species of frogs in the family Mantellidae.
The green bright-eyed frog is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar.
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.
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.
Mantidactylus albofrenatus is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to eastern Madagascar near An'Ala and Andasibe. Common name eastern Madagascar frog has been proposed for it.
Blommersia blommersae is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to east-central Madagascar. Both the generic and specific names honour Rose Marie Antoinette Blommers-Schlösser, a Dutch herpetologist and entomologist who collected the type series. Common name Moramanga Madagascar frog has been proposed for it.
Mantidactylus charlotteae is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar and found in the eastern part of the country in the coastal rainforest belt between Marojejy in the north and possibly as far as Andohahela in the south.
Spinomantis is a frog genus in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae. This genus is restricted to Madagascar. At present it contains 13 species. They are arboreal or terrestrial frogs and occur in or along small streams. Most species are nocturnal.
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.
Spinomantis massi is a species of frog in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae. It is endemic to the humid forests of northwestern Madagascar.
1 2 Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2007). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar (3rd ed.). Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlags. ISBN978-3-929449-03-7. OCLC229384516.
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