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Golden mantella

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Kingdom
  
Order
  
Anura

Family
  
Scientific name
  
Mantella aurantiaca

Rank
  
Species

Phylum
  
Chordata

Suborder
  
Neobatrachia

Subfamily
  
Mantellinae

Higher classification
  
Mantella

Golden mantella Mantella Frog

Similar
  
Mantella, Frog, Amphibians, Mantellidae, Madagascan mantella

How to care for golden mantella


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.

Contents

Golden mantella Photographs of mantellid frogs Family Mantellidae

Description

Golden mantella Golden mantella frog

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.

Ecology and behavior

Golden mantella CalPhotos

The golden mantella is highly seasonal in its behavior 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 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.

Golden mantella httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

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.

In captivity

Golden mantella Golden Mantella FROG BLOG MANCHESTER

The golden mantella is occasionally seen in the pet trade and kept in captivity by exotic animal collectors and zoological institutions. They are popular due to their diurnal activity and attractive coloration.

Golden mantella golden mantella frog Oregon Zoo

References

Golden mantella Wikipedia


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