Mantellidae

The Mantellidae are a family of the order Anura. These frogs are endemic to the islands of Madagascar and Mayotte.[1][2]

Mantellidae
Variegated golden frog
(Mantella baroni)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Clade: Ranoidea
Family: Mantellidae
Laurent, 1946
Subfamilies

Boophinae
Laliostominae
Mantellinae

Distribution of Mantellidae (in black)

Systematics

The family Mantellidae is composed of three extremely ecologically diverse groups of frogs, divided into three subfamilies: the Mantellinae Laurent, 1946 are typically terrestrial or semi-aquatic frogs; the Laliostominae Vences & Glaw, 2001 are terrestrial, typically fairly large-sized frogs; and the Boophinae Vences & Glaw, 2001 are arboreal tree frogs.

Apart from the genera assigned to the three subfamilies, the placement of Tsingymantis Glaw, Hoegg & Vences, 2006 is still uncertain.[1][2]

As of the 3rd of May 2016, 212 species are recognized in this family.[3] DNA barcoding research has shown however that more than 100 distinct genetic lineages remain taxonomically undescribed.

Evolution and island biogeography

The Mantellidae are Madagascar's most diverse frog family.[2] It has been shown that there is a negative correlation between body size and species diversity in this family, which is probably related to the lower dispersal potential of smaller animals.[4][5] This family is estimated to have colonized the island of Madagascar 76–87 million years ago.[6] They are phylogenetically nested within Asian frogs, and therefore probably represent a dispersal event from Asia.[6]

Two undescribed species of mantellid frogs are currently resident on the island of Mayotte, off Madagascar's west coast. These species belong to two genera that are otherwise exclusively endemic to Madagascar: are genetically distinct from all mainland species, and awaiting formal description.[2]

Reproduction

Reproductive modes in the Mantellidae are highly varied. Eggs can be laid in or out of water, on the ground or on leaves, depending on genus and species.[2] Guibemantis frogs of the subgenus Pandanusicola lay their eggs either in phytotelms or over slow-flowing water.[2] Some species of Gephyromantis have direct development or nidicolous tadpoles.[2] Members of the subfamilies Boophinae and Laliostominae have amplexus, but mantelline frogs do not.[2] Parental care is known from a few species (e.g. Mantidactylus argenteus).[2] Sexual size dimorphism is present in most species, with females being larger than males, but there are exceptions (e.g. Boophis albilabris), where males are larger than females, possibly as a result of males fighting for access to females.[2][7]

In captivity

Some members of this family are popular in the exotic pet trade for their bright colours (e.g. Mantella and Boophis).

References
  1. Frost, Darrel R. (2013). "Mantellidae Laurent, 1946". Amphibian Species of the World 5.6, an Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  2. Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2007). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar (3rd ed.). Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlags. ISBN 978-3929449037.
  3. "Amphibiaweb". Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  4. Wollenberg, Katharina C.; Vieites, David R.; Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2011). "Speciation in little: the role of range and body size in the diversification of Malagasy mantellid frogs". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 11: 217. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-11-217. PMC 3199771. PMID 21777445.
  5. Pabijan, Maciej; Wollenberg, Katharina; Vences, Miguel (2012). "Small body size increases the regional differentiation of populations of tropical mantellid frogs (Anura: Mantellidae)". Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 25 (2012): 2310–2324. doi:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2012.02613.x. PMID 22998688.
  6. Crottini, Angelica; Madsen, Ole; Poux, Celine; Strauß, Axel; Vieites, David R.; Vences, Miguel (2012). "Vertebrate time-tree elucidates the biogeographic pattern of a major biotic change around the K–T boundary in Madagascar". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 109 (14): 5358–5363. doi:10.1073/pnas.1112487109. PMC 3325728. PMID 22431616.
  7. Andreone, Franco (2002). "Boophis albilabris (NCN). Defensive behavior". Herpetological Review. 33 (4): 299–300.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.