Scientific name: Mantella aurantiaca
Distribution: A small area of eastern Madagascar
Habitats: Primary and secondary rainforest
Similar species: The Madagascan mantella Mantella madagascariensis
Description: The Golden mantella is a tiny species of frog, adults reaching a maximum length of 2.5cm.
Habits and ecology: This small frog is active during the daytime in either primary or secondary rainforest where it lives on the forest floor, often amongst bamboo. The female Golden mantella lays her eggs on the ground and once the tadpoles develop they are flushed away to areas of small standing water, such as temporary ponds and even flooded areas of the rainforest floor.
Conservation: The Golden mantella is Critically Endangered due to deforestation of the areas in which it lives in Madagascar. It occurs only in very small areas, where it can be relatively common, however these areas do not exceed more than a few hectares. The Manchester Museum has these Critically Endangered frogs on display to highlight their conservation needs and supports the captive breeding of the species by Bristol Zoo.
Perhaps you might like to help us highlight conservation and support our work by Sponsoring a Golden Mantella Frog
