Description: Mantella baroni is an attractive species, exhibiting contrasting colors of black, orange, and yellow or green. They can easily be confused with M. madagascariensis and also some populations of M. pulchra, both of which have a similar pattern. See Correctly Identifying Mantella baroni and Mantella madagascariensis for more information. A large and slender mantella, adult frogs can grow to 30 mm (1.2 inches). Females are generally bigger than males and more robust in appearance. Females also lack the ability to call. Frogs from populations in the southern most part of M. baroni’s distribution (in forest on the eastern side of the Andringtra Mountains) have variable amounts of green or yellow on the dorsum. Although they appear different from M. baroni, genetically they seem to be the same species.

Red List Conservation Status: Least Concern

Distribution and Habitat: Mantella baroni is widely distributed throughout the forests of east-central Madagascar. Many populations are found within the borders of protected areas. Males can be found calling loudly during the day, exposed near the sides of streams and surrounding forests.

Captive Care Notes: Frequently imported, but often mislabeled as M. madagascariensis, M. baroni is said to live well in captivity. Sadly, captive-bred frogs are seldom available. Because of their wide distribution, frogs from different populations may experience different temperatures. This makes it difficult to determine an ideal temperature range to keep captive frogs within when it’s not known where they were collected. Housing does not need to be complex, but it might be worth the effort to create an area of moving water within the terrarium because of their association with moving water in the wild. During cooler months of the year, this water area could be allowed to dry completely, simulating similar conditions to what many wild M. baroni experience.

References

Rabemananjara, F. C. E., Y. Chiari, O. Ravoahangimalala Ramilijaona & M. Vences. 2007. Evidence for recent gene flow between north-eastern and south-eastern Madagascar from a phylogeography of the Mantella cowani group. – Frontiers in Zoology 4: article 1. 

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.