23 Days Exploring Central Madagascar for the Genus

Mantella

Objective

• Locate and photograph seven species of Mantella– M. aurantiaca– M. baroni– M. bernhardi– M. cowani– M. crocea– M. madagascariensis– M. milotympanum

Madagascar

• 4th Largest island in the world

• About the size of Texas

• Located off of the east coast of Africa

The Plan

Taxi-brousse

Andasibe

Mantella aurantiaca

Mantella aurantiaca

• Four known populations• Two near Andasibe in forests

bordering Torotorofotsy marsh• Pandanus sp. screw pines

serve as calling spots for males

• Calling males also located among leaf litter

Pandanus Screw Pines

Torotorofotsy

Orange vs. Red• Within Torotorofotsy population #1, red and orange frogs coexist• Captive-bred frogs in the hobby are lighter in color than those in

the population visited• Diet-related? • Origin of captive frogs from different population?

Mantadia National ParkMantella baroni

Mantella baroni• Wide-spread distribution throughout east-central Madagascar• Four populations located during the trip• All individuals found were very close to fast-moving streams

Vohimana ReserveMantella pulchra

• Informed by biologist that M. pulchra could be found 15 km east of Andasibe, in Vohimana Reserve

Hitchhiking in Madagascar – morning vs. afternoon

Mantella pulchra• Very wet, soggy, saturated soil• Thick leaf litter serves as cover• Reclusive frog in the wild as well as captivity

Vohimana ReserveMantidactylus sp.

Variable M. cf. milotympanum

• Varying amounts of black on flanks and face

• Some frogs resemble M. crocea

• Others appear like

M. milotympanum

Logging• Habitat of M. cf. milotympanum under pressure from selective logging• Many frogs located among a pile of wood shavings• Deforested field across of stream still had frogs, far less were heard though

In Search of Green M. cf. milotympanum• Farmer’s father said that they occurred along the same

stream that variable M. cf. milotympanum lived alongside, but around 30 km further east

Yellow/Green M. cf. milotympanum

• Accidentally stumbled upon population halfway to known green mantellas

• Appeared to be restricted to small transitional zone of ferns and small shrubs

• Unusual blue marbling• Only individual located like it

• Population threatened by agricultural development

Back to Tana (the capitol)• Left Andasibe-area without having found M. crocea• Time was running out• Next stop: Antoetra for M. cowani

Antoetra

• No M. cowani located• Not the right habitat

• M. baroni abundant along rocky stream

• Only amphibian found

• Only other herp found: Furcifer lateralis

• Found in degraded savanah-like fields

Difficulties of Herping Near Antoetra• No forest = few herps• Culturally-knowledgeable guides• Difficult to be a foreigner in this area

Last Stop: Ranomafana National Park

Ranomafana

Today’s Malagasy Lesson• rano = water• mafana = hot• Ranomafana = hot water

• Natural hot springs

• Attract tourists

• Very popular park

Mantella baroni

Mantella bernhardi• Most distantly related mantella• Unique trill-like call• Very limited distribution

Mantella bernhardi

• Only one individual found

• Several others calling nearby

• Difficult to locate because of dark coloration

Night Hike - Boophis

Boophis sp.

Boophis rappiodes

Boophis

Boophis madagascariensis

Boophis luteus

Last Mantellas of the Trip• Guide informed me of one last Mantella population• M. baroni and M. madagascariensis

• Mantella baroni and Mantella madagascariensis appear similar dorsally

• But can reliably be told apart by comparing their ventral side

Mantella baroni

Mantella madagascariensis

- Spot or no marking on throat- Red on limbs extends only partway

- Horseshoe-shaped marking on throat - Red on limbs extends through thigh

Mantella baroni Mantella madagascariensis

• Following Ranomafana National Park, I returned to Antananarivo and flew home

• Arrived back in Madison, Wisconsin on January 19th

• Plan to return to Madagascar in December of this year• There is an immense amount to be learned from and

understood about Madagascar and its amphibians