Scaphiophryne gottlebei

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Rainbow burrowing frog
Scaphiophryne gottlebei02.jpg
Scaphiophryne gottlebei11.jpg
Two variants; the exact colour hue and pattern varies in this species
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Microhylidae
Subfamily: Scaphiophryninae
Genus: Scaphiophryne
Species:
S. gottlebei
Binomial name
Scaphiophryne gottlebei
Busse and Böhme  [ de ], 1992

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 (now illegal). [1]

Contents

Description

The Malagasy rainbow frog is a small, roundish, brightly coloured species with a distinctive white, orange–red, green and black pattern on the back, each area of which is clearly delineated. The skin on the back is very smooth, but that of the grey belly is a little bit rough. The snout is rounded, the eyes are prominent but the tympani are inconspicuous. The limbs are short and robust and the digits of the hand have large tips and the hind feet are webbed. Adapted for both underground and climbing lifestyles, the Malagasy rainbow frog has horny tubercles on the underside of the hind feet to help with burrowing, and claws on the forefeet for clinging to vertical canyon walls. With a snout–vent length of 2.6 to 4 cm (1.0–1.6 in), females average larger and reach a larger maximum size than males which measure 2 to 3.4 cm (0.8–1.3 in). [2] [3]

Distribution and habitat

This frog often spends time in holes or crevices in rocks Scaphiophryne gottlebei06.jpg
This frog often spends time in holes or crevices in rocks

The Malagasy rainbow frog is endemic to the Isalo Massif at an altitude of 700–1,000 m (2,300–3,300 ft) in the central part of southern Madagascar, including the Isalo National Park and areas south of it. [1] [4] Its primary habitat is narrow canyons where the conditions tend to be cool for the tropics, relatively dark (resulting in little or no vegetation) and very humid. [5] The typical temperature in its habitat is 19–22 °C (66–72 °F), [5] but overall varies from about 13 to 35 °C (55–95 °F). [6] It shares its range with another colourful and endangered frog, the blue-legged mantella (Mantella expectata), which occurs in the same habitat but prefers more open, sun-exposed areas. [4] [5] The Malagasy rainbow frog digs into the sandy areas bordering the streams or spends its time in small holes or crevices in the rock walls. At night it may climb on the rock walls, reaching several meters high. [2] [3] Although rare outside its primary canyon habitat, [5] it can also be found in open rocky areas, mostly in dry forest. [1]

Behaviour

Tadpole with head in the sand, a typical position when feeding on detritus Scaphiophryne gottlebei10.jpg
Tadpole with head in the sand, a typical position when feeding on detritus

The Malagasy rainbow frog is an explosive breeder (meaning that the breeding season is short and begins suddenly) that breeds in groups in November–December just after the first heavy rainfall in the early rainy season. A group often consists of a few tens of individuals and usually more males than females. [3] [6] Males call from rock walls or the surface of temporary pools and it is in these that the eggs are laid, which already hatch into tadpoles after about three days. [3] The tadpoles have a stout oval body with flattened underside. They appear black in the daytime but turn brownish-grey at night. In the wild they are detritivores and filter feeders, although captives have been reared from Gosner stage 25 to near metamorphosis on fish food. They have the unusual habit of spending the day with their heads submerged in the sediment of the bottom, feeding on detritus, and their tails projecting at an angle. During the night the tadpoles swim around, apparently filter feeding particles from the open water. [5] Many tadpoles are swept away by torrents during the rainy season and may complete their metamorphosis elsewhere. [2] Recently metamorphosed young frogs are about half to one-third the size of adults, but otherwise similar. [5] In addition to inactive dispersal of the tadpoles by water currents, adults may actively disperse, especially during cold weather. [6] The species is quite short-lived, typically only reaching an age of 2 years. [7]

Conservation status

The IUCN lists the Malagasy rainbow frog as "Endangered"; it was formerly (from 2004 to 2008) "Critically Endangered", but this was reduced when it was found to be more widespread than previously thought and locally common. Although it is common in some areas, it has a restricted range and its population is believed to be decreasing. The major threats are habitat loss and over-collection for the pet trade. Primary threats to the habitat are wood extraction, fire, overgrazing by livestock, mining and possibly disturbance by tourists. [1] As recent as the 2000s (decade), thousands were captured every year for the pet trade. [1] [8] When added to CITES Appendix II, an export quota was introduced. By 2014, it had been lowered to 0 (zero), making export of wild-caught individuals illegal. [1] There are indications that the snake Leioheterodon modestus possibly is an important natural predator of this frog. [9]

Related Research Articles

Microhylidae Family of amphibians

The Microhylidae, commonly known as narrow-mouthed frogs, are a geographically widespread family of frogs. The 683 species are in 63 genera and 11 subfamilies, which is the largest number of genera of any frog family.

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.

Isalo National Park

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>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.

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.

Madagascan mantella 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.

Green mantella 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.

<i>Dyscophus antongilii</i> Species of frog

Dyscophus antongilii, the Madagascar tomato frog, is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae.

<i>Rhombophryne</i> Genus of amphibians

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.

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

Scaphiophryne marmorata is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is commonly known as the green burrowing frog and the marbled rain frog. It is endemic to Madagascar. It is classified as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN as it is threatened by habitat loss.

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

Boophis ankarafensis also known as Ankarafa skeleton frog is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar's northwestern coast where it is only known from Ankarafa Forest, a forest fragment in the Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park.

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

Rhombophryne botabota is a medium-sized species of frogs of the Madagascar endemic microhylid subfamily Cophylinae. It is found in the montane rainforests of northern Madagascar. It was described in 2016 from seven specimens.

Mantidactylus radaka is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. It was described in 2020 by an international team of scientists, who differentiated it from M. guttulatus and M. grandidieri via molecular data from wild and museum specimens.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2016). "Scaphiophryne gottlebei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T57998A84182454. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T57998A84182454.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Franco Andreone; Vincenzo Mercurio; Frank Glaw; Miguel Vences; Xi Zhai (2010-07-19). "Scaphiophryne gottlebei ". AmphibiaWeb. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Rosa, G.M.; V. Mercurio; A. Crottini; F. Andreone (2011). "Explosion into the canyon: an insight into the breeding aggregation of Scaphiophryne gottlebei Busse & Böhme, 1992". North-Western Journal of Zoology. 7 (2): 329–333.
  4. 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.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mercurio, V.; F. Andreone (2006). "The tadpoles of Scaphiophryne gottlebei (Microhylidae: Scaphiophryninae) and Mantella expectata (Mantellidae: Mantellinae) from Isalo Massif, south-central Madagascar". Alytes. 23 (3–4): 81–95.
  6. 1 2 3 Andreone, F.; P.E. Bergò; V. Mercurio; G.M. Rosa (2013). "Spatial ecology of Scaphiophryne gottlebei in the canyons of the Isalo Massif, Madagascar". Herpetologica. 69 (1): 11–21. doi:10.1655/HERPETOLOGICA-D-12-00005. S2CID   86617480.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ Behler, John L.; Deborah A. Behler (2005). Frogs: A Chorus of Colors . New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. p.  121. ISBN   1-4027-2814-X.
  9. ↑ Rosa, G.M.; V. Mercurio; A. Crottini; F. Andreone (2010). "Predation of the snake Leioheterodon modestus (Günther, 1863) upon the rainbow frog Scaphiophryne gottlebei Busse & Böhme, 1992 at Isalo, southern Madagascar". Herpetology Notes. 3: 259–261.
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