MADAGASCAN POISONOUS FROGS

Mantella baroni

Family: Mantellidae Genus: Mantella Species: baroni Common Names Painted Mantella Countries Madagascar
	Species Distribution Map

Taxonomy and Biology

Adult length: 22mm

Description

Dorsal surface colour is black with a well defined, yellowish rostral stripe ( no labial stripe ). Flanks are black with a large yellowish green blotch that extends onto the arm and a large green inguinal blotch which extends onto the posterior flanks and continuous with a large green blotch covering most of the upper thigh. Lower thigh, foot and toes are orange with irregular black bands and markings. Arms are yellowish to greenish with hand and fingers are orange and black. Ventral surface colour of body arms and legs are black with a few large yellowish to greenish markings. Throat is mainly black, sometimes uniform, but most often with a single yellowish to greenish spot.

Habitat

Tropical rainforest at low elevations and extending into moist montane forest at elevations up to about 1200 metres.

Habits

Diurnal and terrestrial frog.

Prey

Feeds mainly on ants and termites.

Poison Activity

Poison Type: Histrionicotoxins, Pumiliotoxins, Decahydroquinolines, Pyrrolizidines, Indolizidines, Quinolizidines, Pyrrolizidine Oximes