Wakea madinika

Wakea madinika
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Mantellidae
Subfamily:	Mantellinae
Genus:	Wakea Glaw & Vences, 2006
Species:	W. madinika
Binomial name
Wakea madinika (Vences, Andreone, Glaw & Mattioli, 2002)
Synonyms
Mantidactylus madinikaVences, Andreone, Glaw & Mattioli, 2002

Wakea madinika is a species of frogs in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Wakea. It is endemic to Madagascar.

Discovery

Wakea madinika reaches males 11–13 mm (0.43–0.51 in) snout-vent length and females 15–16 mm (0.59–0.63 in) length, is thereby the smallest species in the family Mantellidae ^[2]

Although the species was previously only known from a single location (a cacao plantation), during expeditions in 2016, 2019 and 2022 it was also identified from other sites. One site was located >100km from the type locality, in Ankarana Special Reserve; indicating that Wakea madinika should no longer be considered a micro-endemic. ^[3]

Taxonomy

This species was originally described as a member of the genus Mantidactylus , but was transferred to its own genus in 2006. ^[4]

References

1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2016). "Wakea madinika". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T57499A84173741. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T57499A84173741.en . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
2. New Dwarf Species of frogs from Northwestern Madagascar
3. Carné, A.; Vieites, D.R.; Ferrer, X.; Moreno, M.; Ponz-Segrelles, G.; Rahagalala, N.A.A.; Rakotomanga, S.E.; Ramón-Laca, A.; Ratsoavina, F.M.; van den Burg, M.P. (2025). "Microendemism in Madagascar: small ranges or sampling gaps? The case of the frog Wakea madinika". Salamandra. 61 (2): 160–170. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
4. Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2006). "Phylogeny and genus-level classification of mantellid frogs (Amphibia, Anura)". Organisms, Diversity & Evolution. 6 (2006): 236–253. doi: 10.1016/j.ode.2005.12.001 .