Description
The largest Anodonthyla. 32-34 mm. Tympanum distinct, 2/3 of eye diameter. Tibiotarsal articulation reaches the forelimb insertion. Toe 3 as long as toe 5. Skin smooth or granular. Colouration variable, uniformly greyish or grey with a variable extent of black markings and vermiculations of variable size. Ventrally whitish, sometimes with black spots (Glaw and Vences 2007).

Similar species: The only terrestrial Anodonthyla (Glaw and Vences 2007).

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Madagascar

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

Species is found in Andringitra (type locality) (various localities on this massif), and Andohahela (needs confirmation) (Glaw and Vences 2007). It occurs at 2000-2658m asl (Vences and Raxworthy 2008).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Habits: Easily found in the Andringitra Massif, above the tree line, under small stones, especially if these are positioned on larger rocks. Locally abundant but with a very restricted overall distribution area. Hides in crevices, under stones or moss. Eggs in the capillary wet zone of rock cavities, guarded by the male (Glaw and Vences 2007). Tadpoles are of the non-feeding type and similar to those of Anodonthyla boulengeri. They measure 19 mm in total length, tail length is 13 mm (Glaw and Vences 1994).

Trends and Threats
Species is listed as vulnerable because it is known from only a single location. Its habitat is largely immune to destruction; even fires are unlikely to have a significant effect on this species. It might possibly be susceptible to climatic changes, since it is confined to mountain tops (Vences and Raxworthy 2008).

It occurs in Parc National d'Andringitra. Close monitoring of the population status of this species is needed because it is known from only a single protected area (Vences and Raxworthy 2008).

Possible reasons for amphibian decline

Climate change, increased UVB or increased sensitivity to it, etc.

Comments
Taken with permission from Glaw and Vences (1994, 2007) and Vences and Raxworthy (2008).

References

Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (1994). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. Vences & Glaw Verlag, Bonn.

Glaw, F., and Vences, M. (2007). Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. Third Edition. Vences and Glaw Verlag, Köln.

Vences, M. and Raxworthy, C. (2008). Anodonthyla montana. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 01 May 2009.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2010 Anodonthyla montana <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/2327> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Nov 2, 2024.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 2 Nov 2024.

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