AmphibiaWeb - Mantellidae
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(Translations may not be accurate.)

Mantellidae

275 species in 12 genera

Commonly Called Malagasy Poison Frogs


Mantella madagascariensis
Photo by Rob Schell
(Click for family gallery)

Mantellids are found only on the large island of Madagascar. The most famous members are of the genus Mantella, which have converged with members of the neotropical family Dendrobatidae in body plan, ecology, aposematic coloration, and in lipophilic skin alkaloids. Most mantellid species are terrestrial although there are also aquatic, arboreal (the genus Boophis resembles treefrogs of the subfamily Hylinae, family Hylidae), and semi-fossorial species. Body sizes range from 30 to 100 mm snout-vent length. Reproductive life histories vary from eggs deposited on vegetation with tadpoles that develop into streams, to terrestrial clutches whose tadpoles wash into streams, to land and arboreal direct developers. A strange mode of amplexus is found within Mantellinae, where the male places the ventral surface of his thighs on the head of the female and allows the sperm to travel down the back and onto the extruded clutch.

Mantellidae are sister taxon to Rhacophoridae.

Written by AmphibiaWeb

Notable Family Characteristics

  • Terrestrial or arboreal
  • Inhabits semiarid to wet tropical forests
  • Axillary amplexus
  • Reproductive behaviors are diverse
  • Eggs laid terrestrially or on vegetation and aquatic larvae are either dropped from overhanging egg deposition sites or washed into water bodies
  • Genus Mantella known for its toxic skin alkaloids and aposematic coloration
  • Distribution limited to Madagascar
Mantellidae Richness map

Cartography Credit: Zoe Yoo, UC Berkeley
Range maps sources: AmphibiaWeb, UC Berkeley, and IUCN RedList

Relevant Reference

Pough, F. H., R. M. Andrews, M. L. Crump, A. H. Savitzky, K. D. Wells, and M. C. Brandley. 2015. Herpetology. Fourth Edition. Massachusetts: Sinauer.

Vitt, L. J., and J. P. Caldwell. 2013. Herpetology. An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. Fourth Edition. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Subfamily Boophinae (80 species)

Genus Boophis (80 species)    [subfamily Boophinae]
Boophis asquithi no account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) albilabris account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) albipunctatus account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) andohahela account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) andrangoloaka no account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) andreonei account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) anjanaharibeensis account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) ankarafensis account no photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) ankaratra account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) arcanus account no photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) axelmeyeri account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) baetkei account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) blommersae account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) boehmei account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) boppa account no photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) bottae account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) brachychir account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) burgeri account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) elenae account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) englaenderi account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) entingae no account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) erythrodactylus account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) fayi account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) feonnyala account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) goudotii account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) haematopus account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) haingana no account no photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) jaegeri account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) laurenti account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) liami account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) lilianae account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) luciae account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) luteus account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) madagascariensis account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) majori account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) mandraka account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) marojezensis account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) masoala no account no photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) miadana no account no photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) microtympanum account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) miniatus account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) narinsi no account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) obscurus account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) occidentalis account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) periegetes account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) picturatus account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) piperatus no account no photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) popi account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) praedictus no account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) pyrrhus account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) quasiboehmei no account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) rappiodes account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) reticulatus account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) rhodoscelis account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) roseipalmatus no account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) rufioculis account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) sambirano account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) sandrae account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) schuboeae account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) septentrionalis account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) sibilans account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) solomaso account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) spinophis no account no photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) tampoka account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) tasymena account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) tsilomaro account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) ulftunni account no photos no sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) viridis account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) vittatus account photos sound/video
Boophis (Boophis) williamsi account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Sahona) calcaratus account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Sahona) doulioti account photos sound/video
Boophis (Sahona) guibei account photos sound/video
Boophis (Sahona) idae account photos sound/video
Boophis (Sahona) lichenoides account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Sahona) nauticus account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Sahona) opisthodon account photos sound/video
Boophis (Sahona) pauliani account photos no sound/video
Boophis (Sahona) tephraeomystax account photos sound/video
Boophis (Sahona) xerophilus account photos sound/video
Subfamily Laliostominae (7 species)

Genus Aglyptodactylus (6 species)    [subfamily Laliostominae]
Aglyptodactylus australis no account photos no sound/video
Aglyptodactylus chorus account photos no sound/video
Aglyptodactylus inguinalis no account photos no sound/video
Aglyptodactylus laticeps account photos sound/video
Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis account photos sound/video
Aglyptodactylus securifer account photos sound/video

Genus Laliostoma (1 species)    [subfamily Laliostominae]
Laliostoma labrosum account photos sound/video
Subfamily Mantellinae (188 species)

Genus Blommersia (14 species)    [subfamily Mantellinae]
Blommersia angolafa account photos no sound/video
Blommersia bara no account photos no sound/video
Blommersia blommersae account photos sound/video
Blommersia dejongi no account photos no sound/video
Blommersia domerguei account photos sound/video
Blommersia dupreezi no account no photos no sound/video
Blommersia galani no account no photos no sound/video
Blommersia grandisonae account photos sound/video
Blommersia kely account photos sound/video
Blommersia nataliae no account no photos no sound/video
Blommersia sarotra account photos sound/video
Blommersia transmarina account photos no sound/video
Blommersia variabilis no account photos no sound/video
Blommersia wittei account photos sound/video

Genus Boehmantis (1 species)    [subfamily Mantellinae]
Boehmantis microtympanum account photos no sound/video

Genus Gephyromantis (58 species)    [subfamily Mantellinae]
Gephyromantis cornucopia no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis feomborona no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis kintana no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis klemmeri account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis kremenae no account photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis mafifeo no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis mitsinjo no account photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis pedronoi no account photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis sergei no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Asperomantis) ambohitra account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Asperomantis) angano no account photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Asperomantis) asper account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Asperomantis) ceratophrys no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Asperomantis) spiniferus account photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Asperomantis) tahotra no account photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) cornutus account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) granulatus account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) grosjeani no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) leucomaculatus account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) luteus account photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) moseri account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) plicifer account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) redimitus account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) salegy account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) saturnini no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) schilfi account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) sculpturatus account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) tandroka account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) tohatra no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) tschenki account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Duboimantis) zavona account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Gephyromantis) blanci account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Gephyromantis) boulengeri account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Gephyromantis) decaryi account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Gephyromantis) eiselti account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Gephyromantis) enki account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Gephyromantis) hintelmannae no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Gephyromantis) leucocephalus account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Gephyromantis) mafy no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Gephyromantis) runewsweeki account no photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Gephyromantis) thelenae account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Gephyromantis) verrucosus no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Laurentomantis) fiharimpe no account photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Laurentomantis) horridus account photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Laurentomantis) malagasius account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Laurentomantis) marokoroko no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Laurentomantis) matsilo no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Laurentomantis) oelkrugi no account photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Laurentomantis) portonae no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Laurentomantis) ranjomavo no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Laurentomantis) striatus account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Phylacomantis) atsingy no account photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Phylacomantis) corvus account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Phylacomantis) pseudoasper account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Vatomantis) lomorina no account no photos no sound/video
Gephyromantis (Vatomantis) rivicola account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Vatomantis) silvanus account photos sound/video
Gephyromantis (Vatomantis) webbi account photos sound/video

Genus Guibemantis (25 species)    [subfamily Mantellinae]
Guibemantis albomaculatus no account photos no sound/video
Guibemantis diphonus no account photos no sound/video
Guibemantis woosteri no account photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Guibemantis) depressiceps account photos sound/video
Guibemantis (Guibemantis) kathrinae account photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Guibemantis) timidus account photos sound/video
Guibemantis (Guibemantis) tornieri account photos sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) albolineatus account photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) ambakoana no account no photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) annulatus account photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) bicalcaratus account photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) flavobrunneus account photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) fotsitenda no account no photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) liber account photos sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) methueni no account photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) milingilingy no account photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) pulcher account photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) pulcherrimus no account no photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) punctatus account photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) razandry no account no photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) razoky no account no photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) rianasoa no account no photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) tasifotsy account no photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) vakoa no account no photos no sound/video
Guibemantis (Pandanusicola) wattersoni account photos no sound/video

Genus Mantella (16 species)    [subfamily Mantellinae]
Mantella aurantiaca account photos sound/video
Mantella baroni account photos sound/video
Mantella bernhardi account photos sound/video
Mantella betsileo account photos no sound/video
Mantella cowanii account photos sound/video
Mantella crocea account photos sound/video
Mantella ebenaui account photos sound/video
Mantella expectata account photos sound/video
Mantella haraldmeieri account photos sound/video
Mantella laevigata account photos sound/video
Mantella madagascariensis account photos no sound/video
Mantella manery account photos no sound/video
Mantella milotympanum account photos sound/video
Mantella nigricans account photos sound/video
Mantella pulchra account photos sound/video
Mantella viridis account photos sound/video

Genus Mantidactylus (58 species)    [subfamily Mantellinae]
Mantidactylus inaudax no account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus schulzi no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) alutus account photos sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) ambohimitombi account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) augustini no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) bellyi account photos sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) betsileanus account photos sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) biporus account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) bletzae no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) bourgati account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) brevirostris no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) curtus account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) eulenbergeri no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) fergusoni no account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) georgei no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) glosi no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) grubenmanni no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) gudrunae no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) incognitus no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) jahnarum no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) jonasi no account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) katae no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) kortei no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) madecassus account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) mahery no account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) manerana no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) marintsoai no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) noralottae account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) pauliani account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) riparius no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) steinfartzi no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) stelliger no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) tricinctus account photos sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) tripunctatus no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) ulcerosus account photos sound/video
Mantidactylus (Chonomantis) aerumnalis account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Chonomantis) albofrenatus account photos sound/video
Mantidactylus (Chonomantis) brevipalmatus account photos sound/video
Mantidactylus (Chonomantis) charlotteae account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Chonomantis) delormei account photos sound/video
Mantidactylus (Chonomantis) melanopleura account photos sound/video
Mantidactylus (Chonomantis) opiparis account photos sound/video
Mantidactylus (Chonomantis) paidroa no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Chonomantis) zipperi account photos sound/video
Mantidactylus (Hoplobatrachus) atsimo no account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Hoplobatrachus) petakorona no account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Hylobatrachus) cowanii account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Hylobatrachus) lugubris account photos sound/video
Mantidactylus (Maitsomantis) argenteus account photos sound/video
Mantidactylus (Mantidactylus) grandidieri account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Mantidactylus) guttulatus account photos sound/video
Mantidactylus (Mantidactylus) radaka account no photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Ochthomantis) ambony no account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Ochthomantis) ambreensis account photos sound/video
Mantidactylus (Ochthomantis) femoralis account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Ochthomantis) majori account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Ochthomantis) mocquardi account photos no sound/video
Mantidactylus (Ochthomantis) zolitschka account photos no sound/video

Genus Spinomantis (14 species)    [subfamily Mantellinae]
Spinomantis aglavei account photos sound/video
Spinomantis beckei no account no photos no sound/video
Spinomantis bertini account photos sound/video
Spinomantis brunae account photos no sound/video
Spinomantis elegans account photos no sound/video
Spinomantis fimbriatus account photos sound/video
Spinomantis guibei account photos sound/video
Spinomantis massi account photos sound/video
Spinomantis microtis account photos no sound/video
Spinomantis mirus no account no photos no sound/video
Spinomantis nussbaumi no account no photos no sound/video
Spinomantis peraccae account photos sound/video
Spinomantis phantasticus account photos sound/video
Spinomantis tavaratra no account photos no sound/video

Genus Tsingymantis (1 species)    [subfamily Mantellinae]
Tsingymantis antitra account photos no sound/video

Genus Wakea (1 species)    [subfamily Mantellinae]
Wakea madinika account photos no sound/video


Citation: AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Available: https://amphibiaweb.org/. (Accessed:

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