Mantellidae

Mantella ( Mantella aurantiaca )

Madagascar frogs ( Mantellidae ) constitute a family of anurans. The best-known representative is the uniformly orange-colored Mantella after sometimes even the whole family, or at least the genus Mantella is named. Madagascar frogs are endemic to Madagascar and the small northern neighboring island of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean off and make the most of the amphibian fauna of Madagascar - the other species on the island are mainly to the Engmaulfröschen ( Microhylidae ) and the reed frogs ( Hyperoliidae ).

Features

These are mostly small to medium-sized anurans with a head-body length of 1.5 to 5 centimeters. Some species are significantly larger, Mantidactylus guttulatus for example, reaches a head-body length of 10 to 12 inches.

The lively and sometimes extremely colorful animals produce effective skin toxins, so-called lipophilic alkaloids. This evolutionary development can as well as the anatomical blueprint, the ecology and the intense staining are considered biological convergence to the poison dart frogs of Latin America.

Way of life

The species of the genus Mantella usually live diurnal mainly on the ground of moist to boggy mountain forests, but also near the coast. The other member of the family more outwardly resemble tree frogs and climb as well as these with the help of adhesive discs on the limbs in the vegetation.

Madagascar frogs, at least the genus Mantella, operate one of the few Anura internal fertilization (see also: Tail frogs). Then you were first called attention, as was observed solitary females with the filing from subsequently further entwickelndem spawning. The males give the Amplexus her cum on the back of the females from where the semen running down the cloaca and is absorbed there. The eggs are deposited on land on the ground or on plants as a small nest in the vicinity of water, so that the hatched tadpoles wriggling can reach the water in which they carry out their further development to metamorphosis. In some species, but also a direct development within the egg takes place. Here, then slip finished young frogs from eggs.

Taxonomy

After earlier the subfamily coat Linae to the genuine frogs ( Ranidae ) and other representatives were asked to helm frogs ( Rhacophoridae ), a separate family Mantellidae is now formed, to be in the distinguished according to the system of three subfamilies, twelve genera and about 170 species illustrated here. Currently, in addition, numerous new species are still being discovered and described.

Subfamily Vences & Glaw Boophinae, 2001

  • Genus Boophis Tschudi, 1838

Subfamily Vences & Glaw Laliostominae, 2001

  • Genus Aglyptodactylus Boulenger, 1919
  • Genus Laliostoma Glaw, Vences & Böhme, 1998

Subfamily coat Linae Laurent, 1946

  • Genus Blommersia Dubois, 1992
  • Genus Boehm Glaw & Vences Antis, 2006
  • Genus Gephyromantis Methuen, 1920
  • Genus Guibemantis Dubois, 1992
  • Genus Mantella Boulenger, 1882 - Madagascar Colorful Frogs
  • Genus Mantidactylus Boulenger, 1895
  • Genus Spinomantis Dubois, 1992
  • Genus Tsingymantis Glaw, Vences & Hoegg, 2006
  • Glaw & Vences genus Wakea, 2006

Endangering

Various kinds of Madagascar frogs are severely threatened by ongoing habitat destruction ( deforestation, draining of wetlands ), especially since they often settle only very small areas. Despite strict protection provisions - in CITES Convention, for example, all species of the genus Mantella are listed in the Annex II - apply some species as a popular terrarium pets.

Lissamphibia Anatomy
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