The golden frog (Mantella aurantiaca) is a small
venomous frog which is light yellow, orange or red with some red coloration on
the upper surface of the hind legs. It is a associate of the Madagascan genus Mantella,
the members of which have evolved to be very similar in demonstration and
behaviour to the very distantly related venomous arrow frogs of South America
(family Dendrobatidae).
The golden frog has black eyes, although there may
occasionally be golden pigmentation in the upper piece of the iris. The legs
are short, and the tips of the fingers and toes bear distinct adhesive pads.
Males are typically smaller than females and have a more angular body shape.
The bellies of males are normally lighter in colour than those of females. Two
pale-coloured ducts that carry sperm and urine are often visible passing along
the belly. Males do not call as often as other species of mantella frogs; the
call is composed of a series of short remarks, each of which includes three
short clicks.
