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Mantella

About: Mantella is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 92 publications have been published within this topic receiving 2575 citations.


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Journal ArticleDOI
07 Jun 2007-Zootaxa
TL;DR: A phylogenetic analysis of samples from multiple localities of all species in these two groups, based on sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, shows the existence of several well-distinct clades in what is currently considered to be Mantella betsileo and a large genetic distance of M. manery to all other species.
Abstract: Malagasy poison frogs of the genus Mantella with its 16 species are currently sub-divided into 5 major groups. Of these, the Mantella betsileo group is traditionally understood as containing four species, Mantella betsileo, M. expectata, M. viridis and M. manery, while the M. laevigata group is considered to be monospecific. A phylogenetic analysis of samples from multiple localities of all species in these two groups, based on sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, shows the existence of several well-distinct clades in what is currently considered to be Mantella betsileo: (1) central-western populations from Kirindy, Isalo, and near Antsirabe close to the Betsileo region, to which the name M. betsileo is to be applied, (2) populations of the north-east and north-west, which are closely related to M. viridis and to which the name M. ebenaui is to be applied, and (3) a clade from southernmost Madagascar and from the Tsingy de Bemaraha, which is sister to M. expectata and furthermore includes important intra-clade variation, therefore probably representing one or two undescribed species. Our data also support a large genetic distance of M. manery to all other species and its probable sister-group relationship to the sympatric M. laevigata; M. manery is consequently transferred from the M. betsileo group to the M. laevigata group.

16 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: The data suggest that not all poison frogs exhibit a continuous and active preference for feeding on ants and mites, but instead some may consume high proportions of ants due to a high abundance of ants in their environment.
Abstract: We studied the diet of a population of free-ranging Mantella aurantiaca, an alkaloid-containing poison frog from Madagascar. As in other poison frogs, this species is thought to sequester alkaloids from arthropod prey. Among prey, mites and ants are known to regularly contain alkaloids and mites appear to be a major source of dietary alkaloids in poison frogs. We predicted that mites and ants would constitute the most important prey item for these frogs. Prey inventories were obtained during the rainy season by stomach flushing 23 adult male and 42 adult female frogs from one population. Males had smaller body sizes than females and ate smaller prey items, but males and females displayed no differences in the number of prey items consumed. The numerical proportion of ants in most specimens was surprisingly low (11% in males and 15% in females), while mites were slightly more frequent (34% in males and 18% in females). Other prey items consumed in large proportions were flies and collembolans. Comparing the total of 5492 arthropod prey items with 1867 arthropods sampled from the frogs' leaf litter habitat, the proportion of prey classes did not significantly differ among the samples, indicating a low degree of prey electivity in this population. Our data suggest that not all poison frogs exhibit a continuous and active preference for feeding on ants and mites, but instead some may consume high proportions of ants due to a high abundance of ants in their environment.

15 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
22 Jan 2019-Zootaxa
TL;DR: The new genus Madapolystoma is unique among all known polystomes in that it apparently has no free-swimming ciliated larvae but instead is characterized by advanced intra-uterine development with larvae developing hamuli and even suckers while still in utero.
Abstract: Madapolystoma n. g. (Monogenea, Polystomatidae), is proposed for a new genus of polystomatid from the urinary bladder of the Malagasy poison frogs of the genus Mantella (family Mantellidae), with the description of one new species. This is the second anuran polystome to be described from Madagascar. The parasites are small with a maximum body length of less than 3 mm. The two gut caeca have a few diverticulae but no prehaptoral anastomoses and are confluent posteriorly. The haptor bears six well-developed suckers and one pair of hamuli. A single small ovary lies in mid-body while the single follicular testis lies posteriorly in the body. Vaginae are present. The new genus is unique among all known polystomes in that it apparently has no free-swimming ciliated larvae but instead is characterized by advanced intra-uterine development with larvae developing hamuli and even suckers while still in utero . Based on molecular phylogenetic data, the closest relative of Madapolystoma is the genus Eupolystoma from Africa. Madagascar has a very diverse anuran fauna with a 100% level of endemicity at the species level, and more Madapolystoma species from other mantellid hosts await description.

14 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: Most of the species found on the high plateau of Madagascar are typical of eastern rainforests, but evidence from the studied sites confirms that the original zoological assemblages from thehigh plateau have undergone a marked decline.
Abstract: We present data on the herpetofauna from the high plateau of Madagascar, based upon recent survey work and analysis of the literature. We visited several sites during a field survey of the critically endangered harlequin mantella, Mantella cowani Boulenger 1882, in the Antoetra and Antratrabe regions. The habitats of the high lands are currently quite altered and only a few spots present a certain degree of forest coverage. At these sites, we discovered several taxa that were little known thus far, not yet recorded for central Madagascar, or possibly still undescribed. M. cowani was found at four sites, although with differences in abundance. Other remarkable species are the frogs Boophis ankaratra Andreone 1993, B. elenae Andreone 1993, and B. rhodoscelis Boulenger 1882, as well as the possibly new species Boophis sp. 2 (aff. boehmei Glaw & Vences 1992), B. sp. 1 (aff. ankaratra), and Gephyromantis sp. (cf. plicifer Boulenger 1882). A further search for M. cowani was also done in the Ambatodadama area (near Antsirabe), where it was formerly known, based upon specimens housed in the Paris Museum. We did not confirm this species at this site, but we found Mantella betsileo (Grandidier 1872): this is the first recent record for this species from a highaltitude locality in central Madagascar, indicating that its type locality (“Pays Betsileo”) is not erroneous, as formerly believed. Most of the species found on the high plateau are typical of eastern rainforests, but evidence from the studied sites confirms that the original zoological assemblages from the high plateau have undergone a marked decline. The giant snake Acrantophis dumerili Jan 1860 was found at Antoetra and near Antsirabe, representing important range extensions. At Antoetra, we also found Pseudoxyrhopus imerinae (Gunther 1890), which is the third known locality for this species. In the collection of the Turin museum, we found a further specimen of this rare snake, collected at Andrangoloaka at the end of the 19th century.

14 citations


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Performance
Metrics
No. of papers in the topic in previous years
YearPapers
20214
20201
20197
20184
20171
20163