AmphibiaWeb - Heterixalus madagascariensis
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(Translations may not be accurate.)

Heterixalus madagascariensis (Duméril & Bibron, 1841)
family: Hyperoliidae
genus: Heterixalus

© 2016 Andreas Nöllert (1 of 28)

  hear call (161.3K MP3 file)

  hear Fonozoo call

[call details here]

Conservation Status (definitions)
IUCN Red List Status Account Least Concern (LC)
CITES No CITES Listing
National Status None
Regional Status None
Access Conservation Needs Assessment Report .

   

 

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.
View Bd and Bsal data (2 records).

Description
Males can reach 35 mm and females 40 mm in snout vent length. However, all following data refer to smaller specimens; calls and natural history of large specimens are not known. The back is uniformly colored, often white when exposed to sunlight, sometimes yellow. A dark band is present between nostril and eye. The venter is whitish. Thighs, ventral surface of limbs, hands and feet are orange.

Similar species: Heterixalus boettgeri differs by the more greenish dorsum; H. tricolor is similar in coloration, but the call is different. H. "variabilis" differs by call and coloration. H. punctatus has small black spots on the back and a different call.

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Madagascar

 

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.
View Bd and Bsal data (2 records).
Ambila-Lemaitso, Andrakata, Antalaha, Fenoarivo, Fizoana, Ivoloina, Mahavelona, Manompana, Maroantsetra, Nosy Boraha, Sambava, Tampolo (Fenoarivo), Toamasina. It occurs between sea level and 800m asl along rainforest edges and in dry forested areas, littoral forest on sand, deforested areas, croplands and villages and urban areas (Nussbaum et al. 2008).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
The frogs are very common in dunes, savanna-like areas and deforested habitats of the east coast. Breeding seems to occur in temporary and permanent still water throughout the year (Nussbaum, R., Vences, M., and Glaw, F. 2008). Calling males were heard during February, March, July, August and October. In the evening, they sit in the vegetation above, or at the edge of, shallow ponds and swamps. During the day, they hide near pools, disappearing under water when disturbed. Females rest on leaves, and in leaf axils, of Typhonodorum, Pandanus, and other plants.

The call consists mainly of two unharmonious note types. Type 1 lasts up to 2000 ms. The second type is shorter (about 50 ms) and arranged in series of many notes, with an interval between notes of 50 ms and a note repetition rate of about 9/s. These series are often preceded by a note of type 1. The frequency ranges from 2 to 5.5 kHz. Calls from Toamasina ranged from 3 to 4 kHz (note type 1) and from 2 to 4 kHz (note type 2). The recording is relatively bad, but the note repetition rate can be estimated as 10-11/s.

Eggs, tadpoles in all stages, and metamorphosing juveniles were found in July. Total lengths range from 11-12 mm (stage 25) to 33-45 mm (stage 38-40). The caudal musculature, at mid length of the tail, represents about 1/4 of the total tail height. Tooth formula is 1//1+1/2 or 1//3. Metamorphosing juveniles have body lengths between 12 and 15 mm. Up to a size of 18 mm, dorsilateral bands are present in juveniles.

Trends and Threats
It occurs in Parc National de Masoala, and perhaps in other protected areas (Nussbaum et al. 2008).

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., Vences, M., and Glaw, F. (2008). Heterixalus madagascariensis. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 01 April 2009.



Originally submitted by: Miguel Vences and Frank Glaw (first posted 2002-02-08)
Edited by: Henry Zhu (2010-07-18)

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2010 Heterixalus madagascariensis <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/491> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Mar 18, 2024.



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Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 18 Mar 2024.

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