hear call (87.8K MP3 file)

	hear Fonozoo call
[call details here]

Description
A large brown treefrog with large dermal flaps on the elbow and heel; SVL generally 60-80 mm, one male 62 mm, one female 75 mm, one female from Marojezy 103 mm. Males are smaller than females. Beige to reddish brown with dark brown bands on the limbs, and sometimes a transverse dark brown line behind the eyes. Venter creamish. Skin on the back smooth in females, sometimes granular in males during the breeding season. Iris brown around the pupil with a whitish ring on the outer iris area. Posterior iris periphery whitish. Nostrils equidistant between eye and tip of snout. Tympanum distinct, about 1/2 - 2/3 of eye diameter. Tibiotarsal articulation reaches at least tip of snout. Webbing of the hand 1(1.5), 2i(1.5), 2e(1), 3i(2), 3e(0.5), 4(0.5); webbing of the foot 1(0), 2i(0.5), 2e(0), 3i(1), 3e(0), 4i/e(1), 5(0). Males with nuptial pads and a slightly distensible, single subgular vocal sac

Similar species: The only other large species with dermal flaps on the heels and elbows is Boophis brachychir. Juveniles can be mistaken with other species of the goudotii-group.

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Madagascar

	View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.
	View Bd and Bsal data (4 records).

Ambana, Ambatovaky, Ambohitantely, Ambositra, An’Ala, Andasibe, Andohahela, Andringitra (Iantara river, Sahavatoy river), Anjozorobe, Ankazobe, Ankeniheny, Betatao, Chaines Anosyennes, Fierenana, Foulpointe, Itremo, Ivohibe, Manantantely, Mandraka, Midongy, Moramanga, Pic St. Louis, Ranomandry, near Ifanadiana, Vevembe, Ranomafana (Ranomafanakely, Ranomena). Observed from sea level to 1,700 m asl. This species inhabits pristine and disturbed rainforest, and breeds in still or slow-flowing water (Nussbaum and Vallan 2008).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
During the day, occasionally found in leaf-axils of large plants, in bamboo treeholes or similar shelters about 1 m above the ground. Males call in the shallow water, or at the border, of pools and slow-moving brooks, generally on the ground or up to one meter high, hidden in the vegetation. Amplexus is axillary.

Call (from Ranomafana): A groaning call, composed of different note types: note type 1 lasts about 170 ms and can be followed by a series of clicks, note type 2. "Click-rate" is about 12/s and each click lasts about 20-30 ms, with intervals of about 50 ms. The analysed series was composed of 12 clicks and lasted 1 s. Dominant frequency was about 1 kHz. Similar calls were heard in Andasibe and Tolagnaro.

Eggs and tadpoles: Black single eggs were found in shallow, slow-moving water, in the shade. One female (SVL 75 mm) laid a total of 405 eggs. Egg diameter is about 3 mm, including jelly about 7 mm. The brownish tadpoles hatch after one week and live in slow-moving water, or sometimes in adjacent pools. Total length in stage 25: 15-45 mm; in stage 34-40: 45-60 mm. The mouth is small and directed ventrally. At midlength of the tail, the caudal musculature represents about 2/7 of the total tail height. Tooth formula, in general, is 1/4+4//1+1/2, but varies between 1/3+3//1+1/2 to 1/6+6//1+1/2.

Metamorphosing juveniles measure 13-24 mm from snout to vent. They are coloured light green with dark brown spots on the back, dark brown bands on the limbs and a transverse dark brown line behind the eyes. Tympanic fold and canthus bordered with a broad dark brown band, underneath this band the colour is milky white, with a dark brown longitudinal band under the eye. After three months, they resemble the adults.

Trends and Threats
Least Concern: wide distribution and tolerance of habitat modification. It occurs in many protected areas (Nussbaum and Vallan 2008).

Possible reasons for amphibian decline

General habitat alteration and loss
Habitat modification from deforestation, or logging related activities
Intensified agriculture or grazing
Urbanization
Habitat fragmentation

Comments
Taken with permission from Glaw and Vences (2007).

References

Glaw, F. and Vences, M. (1994). Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. M. Vences and F. Glaw Verlags GbR., Köln.

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

Nussbaum, R. and Vallan, D. (2008). Boophis madagascariensis. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 08 April 2009.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2009 Boophis madagascariensis <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/4348> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Nov 23, 2024.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 23 Nov 2024.

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