The most familiar of the genus, Mantella aurantiaca has introduced many people to mantella frogs. They are uniformly bright orange or red in color. Captive-bred frogs do not seem to exhibit the red flashmarks present on those in the wild. They’ve been recorded as growing to 31 mm (1.2 inches) in length, although most individuals stay smaller. Males are more slender in appearance and generally do not grow to as large as females. Adult male frogs also call. In addition to their smaller size and vocal ability, male M. aurantiaca can be distinguished from females by the presence of femoral pores on the underside of their thighs. These are white and rough-looking in appearance.

M. aurantiaca inhabits high altitude forests surrounding Torotorofotsy marsh in east-central Madagascar. Two additional populations are found to the southwest of those near Torotorofotsy. Within these forests, Pandanus screw pines serve as calling spots for males, who defend their territory by calling from the leaves of these plants.

Wild-caught M. aurantiaca were common in the North American pet trade until 2004. During this year, all exports were put on hold and remain so currently. Fortunately, M. aurantiaca has proven to be one of the easiest species of Mantella to breed in captivity, and captive-bred frogs are often available to hobbyists.

Being both bold and hardy, M. aurantiaca is an excellent species for those interested in keeping mantella frogs for the first time. Males often put on a show for the keeper, bouncing back and forth throughout the terrarium, wrestling each other over territory. Care is fairly straightforward, with M. aurantiaca greedily eating most commonly available feeders, and living well in simple, hygienic setups, as well as more elaborate natural terrariums. They are sensitive to warm temperatures and, like other species of Mantella found at higher altitudes, will often succumb to heat stress when exposed to temperatures of 25°C-27°C (77°F-81°F) or above.

Mantella aurantiaca Photo Gallery

Mantella aurantiaca Habitat

Please submit additional photographs to devin@amphibiancare.com

References

Vences, M., F. Glaw & W. Böhme (1999): A review of the genus Mantella (Anura, Ranidae, Mantellinae): taxonomy, distribution and conservation of Malagasy poison frogs. – Alytes 17 (1-2): 3-72.