Golden mantella
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Mantella aurantiaca
Length
3
1
cminch
cm inch 

The golden mantella (Mantella aurantiaca ) 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.

Animal name origin

The species was described by the French herpetologist François Mocquard in 1900 on the basis of one a male individual 21.2 mm long. The type species was found in forests in the area between Beforana and Moramanga. The species name comes from the Latin aurantiacus meaning gold. There is a name for an unrecognized taxon M. a. rubra, which was recognized as a synonym for the golden mantel, comes from the Latin rubra, red.

Di

Diurnal

Ca

Carnivore

In

Insectivores

Is

Island endemic

Te

Terrestrial

Co

Congregatory

Po

Polygynandry

Po

Polygamy

Ve

Venomous

So

Social

No

Not a migrant

G

starts with

Appearance

The golden mantella is a uniformly yellow, orange, or red frog measuring 20–26 mm. The inner leg displays red flash marks. The tympanum is visible, but small. Brightly colored skin warns predators that the frog is poisonous. It is thought that the brilliant colors exhibited by the golden mantella are an example of aposematism, warning predators of the poisonous nature of the frog.

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Countries
Biogeographical realms
Golden mantella habitat map

Climate zones

Golden mantella habitat map
Golden mantella

Habits and Lifestyle

The golden mantella is highly seasonal in its behaviour and remains largely inactive during the winter months of May–October. When the rains arrive and the temperature warms, frogs emerge from hiding and use small lentic wetlands for breeding. Males often call from concealed positions near a water source. The call is a rather pleasant, repeated click. The frogs do not seem to engage in typical amplexus but rather the male only moves himself over the female's back in virtual amplexus. Eggs are laid on land in moist leaf litter near water and when rains arrive the tadpoles are washed from land into water.

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The golden mantella has a diet of small invertebrates. In the wild, this mainly consists of mites, ants, flies, and collembolans. The frogs derive their skin toxins from their diet. These toxins include pumiliotoxin, allopumiliotoxin, homopumiliotoxin alkaloids, pyrrolizidines, indolizidines and quinolizidines. Although poisonous, the snake Thamnosophis lateralis and a skink of the genus Zonosaurus have been observed preying upon this species at Torotorofotsy Wetland.

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Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
BABY CARRYING
12 to 30

Population

References

1. Golden mantella Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_mantella
2. Golden mantella on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/12776/508612

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