|Scientific Name:||Mantella aurantiaca|
|Species Authority:||Mocquard, 1900|
|Taxonomic Notes:||There are populations of "golden" mantellas that might belong to other species. The taxonomy of this group is uncertain but the definition of Mantella aurantiaca is clear and there seems to be little genetic subdivision within the species (M. Vences pers. comm.).|
|Red List Category & Criteria:||Critically Endangered B2ab(iii,v) ver 3.1|
|Assessor(s):||Vences, M. & Raxworthy, C.J.|
|Reviewer(s):||Stuart, S.N., Chanson, J.S. & Cox, N.A.|
Listed as Critically Endangered because its Area of Occupancy is probably less than 10km2, its distribution is severely fragmented, and the extent of its forest habitat in east-central Madagascar is declining, and the number of mature individuals might also be declining through over-exploitation.
|Range Description:||This species has a very restricted distribution in east-central Madagascar, centred on the Torotorofotsy area (c. 7km north-west of Andasibe) and the Andromena Forest at the Samarirana River. Several other small forest fragments north and south of Moramanga are populated by the species as well. Its recorded altitudinal range is 920-960 m asl.|
|Range Map:||Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.|
|Population:||It is extremely localized, being very abundant in tiny areas, often of just a few hectares.|
|Habitat and Ecology:||It is a terrestrial species of primary and secondary rainforest only, and usually found in damp, swampy areas, often associated with screw pine (Pandanus) forest. The eggs are laid on the ground, and the larvae are flushed by rain into swamps, temporary ponds, and flooded forest, where they develop further.|
|Major Threat(s):||It is restricted to a fragment of forest surrounded by degraded land, and the remaining forest is under threat from subsistence agriculture, timber extraction, fires, and expanding human settlements. Recent surveys indicate that the habitat is being degraded in all the areas where the species occurs, and in 2001 a significant amount of the remaining suitable habitat at Torotorofotsy was affected by fire (although three years later the species was still common in the affected areas). However, the remaining habitat for the species is now severely fragmented. It is also possible that over-collecting for commercial and private purposes is a threat, but so far such harvesting has not had a visible effect on its populations.|
Limits on exportation of animals have been imposed, and the trade has been greatly reduced. Plans to implement a controlled, sustainable trade through a trade quota should be encouraged, and would help ensure the survival of its habitat, as well as probably being more effective than complete trade bans. This species is being maintained in captivity by about 35 zoos and other institutions and is being bred in captivity by public institutions and many private individuals. It does not occur in protected areas, but it is found near to the Réserve Spéciale d'Analamazaotra. The species was recently recorded from a cluster of unprotected forest localities to the south of Moramanga. These forests are under severe pressure and should be considered as conservation priorities for protection (Andreone et al. 2008).
It is listed on CITES Appendix II.
Andreone, F. and Luiselli, L.M. 2003. Conservation priorities and potential threats influencing the hyper-diverse amphibians amphibians of Madagascar. Italian Journal of Zoology: 53-63.
Andreone, F., Cadle, J.E., Cox, N., Glaw, F., Nussbaum, R.A., Raxworthy, C.J., Stuart, S.N., Vallan, D. and Vences, M. 2005. A species review of amphibian extinction risks in Madagascar: results from the Global Amphibian Assessment. Conservation Biology: 1790-1802.
Andreone, F., Cox, N., Glaw, F., Rabibisoa, N.A.C., Randriamahazo, H., Randrianasolo, H., Raxworthy, C.J., Stuart, S., Vallan, D. and Vences, M. 2008. Update of the Global Amphibian Assessment for Malagasy amphibians in light of new species discoveries, taxonomic changes, and new field information. In: Andreone, F. (ed.), A Conservation Strategy for the Amphibians of Madagascar., Monografie del Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino, 419-436.
Andreone, F., Mercurio, V. and Mattioli, F. 2006. Between environmental degradation and international pet trade: conservation strategies for the threatened amphibians of Madagascar. Natura – Soc. it. Sci. nat. Museo civ. Stor. Nat. Milano, (Milano, Italy) 95(2): 81-96.
Blommers-Schlösser, R.M.A. 1979. Biosystematics of the Malagasy frogs. I. Mantellinae (Ranidae). Beaufortia: 1-77.
Blommers-Schlösser, R.M.A. and Blanc, C.P. 1991. Amphibiens (première partie). Fauna de Madagascar: 1-379.
Chiari, Y., Vences, M., Vieites, D.R., Rabemananjara, F., Bora, P., Ramilijaona Ravoahangimalala, O. and Meyer, A. 2004. New evidence for parallel evolution of colour patterns in Malagasy poison frogs (Mantella). Molecular Ecology 13: 3763-3774.
Daly, J.W., Andriamaharavo, N.R., Andriantsiferana, M. amd Myers, C W. 1996. Madagascan poison frogs (Mantella) and their skin alkaloids. American Museum Novitates: 1-34.
Glaw, F. and Vences, M. 1994. A Fieldguide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. Second Edition. Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn.
Glaw, F. and Vences, M. 2007. A Fieldguide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. Third Edition. Vences & Glaw Verlag, Cologne.
Glaw, F., Vences, M. and Schmidt, K. 2000. Nachzucht, Juvenilfärbung und Oophagie von Mantella laevigata im Vergleich zu anderen Arten der Gattung (Amphibia: Ranidae). Salamandra: 1-24.
Guibé, J. 1978. Les batraciens de Madagascar. Bonner Zoologische Monographien: 1-140.
IUCN. 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 5 October 2008).
Jovanovic, O., Rabemananjara, F., Ramilijaona, O., Andreone, F., Glaw, F. and Vnces, M. 2006. Frogs of Madagascar, Genus Mantella. Pocket Identification Guide. Conservation International. Tropical Pocket Guide Series., Washington DC.
Mattioli F., Gili C. and Andreone F. 2006. Economics of captive breeding applied to the conservation of selected amphibian and reptile species from Madagascar. In: F. Andreone (ed.), Dalla tutela ambientale e faunistica allo sviluppo sostenibile: esperienze di ricerca e gestione participative in Africa e in Madagascar. Atti della giornata di studio Milano 29 giugno 2005., pp. 67-80.. Natura Soc. it. Sci. nat. Museo civ. Stor. Nat. Milano.
Raxworthy, C.J. and Nussbaum, R.A. 1996. Montane amphibian and reptile communities in Madagascar. Conservation Biology: 750-756.
Raxworthy, C.J. and Nussbaum, R.A. 2000. Extinction and extinction vulnerability of amphibians and reptiles in Madagascar. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation: 15-23.
Staniszewski, M. 2001. Mantellas. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main.
Vences, M. 1996. Untersuchungen zur Phylogenie der madigassischen Anurangattung Mantella unter Integration biochemischer und morphologischer Merkmale. Ph.D. Thesis, Vences, Köln, Germany.
Vences, M., Chiari, Y., Raharivololoniaina, L. and Meyer, A. 2003. High mitochondrial diversity within and among populations of Malagasy poison frogs. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution: 295-307.
Vences, M., Glaw, F. and Böhme, W. 1999. A review of the genus Mantella (Anura, Ranidae, Mantellinae): taxonomy, distribution and conservation of the Malagasy poison frogs. Alytes: 3-72.
Vences, M., Glaw, F., Mausfeld, P. and Böhme, W. 1998. Comparative osteology of Malagasy poison frogs of the genus Mantella (Amphibia: Reptilia: Mantellidae). Bonner Zoologische Beiträege: 205-215.
Zimmermann, H. 1992. Nachzucht und Schutz von Mantella crocea, Mantella viridis und vom madagassischen Goldfroschchen Mantella aurantiaca. Zeitschrift des Kolner Zoo: 165-171.
Zimmermann, H. and Hetz, S. 1992. Vorlaufige Bestandsaufnahme und Kartierung des gefahrdeten Goldfroschchen, Mantella aurantiaca, im tropischen Regenwald Ost-Madagaskars. Herpetofauna: 33-34.
|Citation:||Vences, M. & Raxworthy, C.J. 2008. Mantella aurantiaca. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 02 March 2015.|
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