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

Heterixalus variabilis (Ahl, 1930)
family: Hyperoliidae
genus: Heterixalus

© 2008 Miguel Vences and Frank Glaw (1 of 3)

  hear call (157.2K MP3 file)

[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.

Description
A large species of Heterixalus with variable coloration and obvious sexual color dimorphism; males are 26-31 mm and females are 25-33 mm in total length. Males are without conspicuous coloration: the back is uniformly colored, or with indistinct dark markings, or with two light dorsilateral bands. Females are beige to bright yellow, with large distinct black markings, which sometimes fuse, leaving only three longitudinal yellow bands. The venter is whitish. Thighs, ventral surface of limbs, hands and feet are orange.

Similar species: Because of the colouration variability of H. "variabilis", it can be confused with many other species of Heterixalus. However, because of the apparently restricted distribution area (Sambirano region), confusion is only likely with H. tricolor, which differs in coloration.

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Madagascar

 

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.
Ambanja, Ambilobe, Benavony, Nosy Faly (TL). It occurs below 200m asl in open areas, agricultural land, urban areas, swamps, and rice paddies (Nussbaum et al. 2008).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Calls: Typically one long and one short note, often followed by a second such series. The typical call can be described as "eeep-ep--eeep-ep". Two unharmonious note types are present: first type lasts 90-110 ms: second type is shorter, ca. 30 ms. Intervals after note type 1 are about 100 ms and notes are arranged in groups, usually as "1-2-1-2". Other combinations are "1-2" and "1-2-1-2-1-2", rarely "1-2-2". Frequency ranges from 3 to 4 kHz. Collected males sometimes used a third type of note (duration about 1000 ms), a large unharmonious sound, often followed by one or two short clicks. This note resembles note type 1 of H. madagascariensis, and possibly has a territorial function. Calling males were found during the evening and night, in swamps and rice fields without substantial tree cover, together with Boophis tephraeomystax, Ptychadena mascareniensis, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, and Mantidactylus wittei.

Breeding occurs in permanent and temporary still waters (Nussbaum et al. 2008).

Trends and Threats
It is not known from any protected areas (Nussbaum et al. 2008).

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

References

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 variabilis. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 21 April 2009.



Originally submitted by: Miguel Vences and Frank Glaw (first posted 2002-02-04)
Edited by: Henry Zhu (2010-07-18)

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2010 Heterixalus variabilis <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/495> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Mar 19, 2024.



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Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 19 Mar 2024.

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