Golden frog

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.

The tadpoles of the golden frog do not have external gills, and the eyes are positioned on the top of the head. Young frog lets are olive green in color with dark marks on the back and the hind limbs quality dark bands.

Golden frog biology

The golden frog is active during the day and lives in groups usually consisting of twice as many males as females. It is an insectivorous species, feeding on termites, fruit flies, ants and a massive range of other insects.

Breeding tends to start after the first heavy rains of the year, and when there is bounty of food. Male golden frogs attract females with their call. The male will then quickly move himself to the female’s back, without assumption her (virtual or cephalic am plexus). The females do not lay their eggs in water, but in moist leaf litter, moss or under bark and rocks next to a water source. Each clutch contains 20 - 60 colorless eggs, each one measuring up to 2 mm in length; they are fertilized by the male immediately after laying. Two weeks presently the tadpoles hatch out and they either twist into water or are are washed into small pools by grave rain. It takes approximately 70 days for the tadpoles to transform into froglets which measure 11 mm in length. The typical yellow-red bloom is acquired only after some weeks . Sexual maturity in the golden frog is reached 12 to 14 months later, and the standard life span is eight years.

Golden frog range

The golden frog is endemic to central-eastern Madagascar, where it occurs in a highly restricted area at elevations over 900m.

Golden frog threats

The golden frog is very trendy in the pet-trade and over-collection of individuals is still accepted out at some areas. Although at current there are no signs of diminution of inhabitants size due to this take off, it must be carefully monitored in the potential to declare the survivorship of the species. Furthermore, major deforestation, predation by introduced group, and infringement by humans are all posing pressure to the golden frog.

Golden frog conservation

All mantella frogs are listed on Appendix II of the meeting on intercontinental Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which controls intercontinental trade in these species. The golden frog is bred in captivity in a number of zoos and other reproduction conveniences, including the Detroit Zoological Institute’s National Amphibian Conservation Centre, which breeds hundreds each year for use in breeding programmes in other institutions. The provision of captive-bred individuals to zoos reduces the stress on natural populations caused by collection. confined breeding programmed may also provide a genetic reservoir of a species to maintain it should the inhabitants undergo a extreme decline or even become extinct; they also provide sources of animals for reintroduction to the natural and allow study to be carried out. Although captive breeding is an important facet of any conservation programmed, protection of the left behind wild populations and the habitat on which they depend is of great importance.