Description
M 17.5 mm, F 28.1-30.7 mm (Glaw and Vences 2007). Flattened body, long pointed snout, small round eyes and pupils, tympanum not visible, small enlarged pads on fingers and toes, slightly enlarged toes, no webbing on hand, foot webbing nearly absent (Andreone et al. 2006). Relative finger length 1<2=4<3, relative toe length 1<2<5<3<4 (Glaw and Vences 2007). Female has smooth skin while male has rounded warts and tubercles on the dorsal surfaces of head, body, and limbs. Very similar in general appearance to P. palmata, but clearly differing by having only traces of webbing on the feet (Glaw and Vences 2007).

Similar species: Paradoxophyla palmata has fully webbed feet, in contrast to the minimally webbed feet of P. tiarano (Glaw and Vences 2007).

The tadpole of P. tiarano has a rounded body, with a flattened snout (subcircular in dorsal view, rounded in lateral view). The lower jaw projects upward, making the wide mouth visible in dorsal view. Eyes are dorsolateral, nares are dorsal. Dorsal fin originates at tail-body junction and reaches maximum height from 3/4 to 1/3 of the tail. Ventral fin originates at posteroventral terminus of body. Ventral spiracle with fringed border. Body is transparent and translucent, with the tail muscle and dorsal body wall light brownish shading to pinkish in color, and a whitish belly with dark intestines visible through the body walls.

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Madagascar

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

Only known from the type locality Menamalona (Masoala) (Glaw and Vences 2007) at 780 m asl in mature tropical moist rainforest (Stuart 2008). It may occur more widely on the Masoala Peninsula (Stuart 2008).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Habits: The three known specimens, as well as tadpoles assigned to this species, were all collected in a small pool (3 x 1.5 m and 1 m deep) near a rainforest stream. Tadpoles were found in mid-December, implying that reproduction took place in early December or late November. It may be an explosive breeder, as is the case for P. palmata. Adults are believed to be aquatic during the wet season (November to April). Tadpoles are suspension feeders (Andreone et al. 2006).

Trends and Threats
More information is needed on this species' extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, status and ecological requirements (Stuart 2008). It appears to require mature rainforest and high humidity level (Andreone et al. 2006). It is likely to occur within a protected area, the Masoala National Park, though this has not yet been confirmed (Stuart 2008). Habitat loss due to deforestation constitutes the main threat (Stuart 2008).

Possible reasons for amphibian decline

General habitat alteration and loss
Habitat modification from deforestation, or logging related activities

Comments
The specific epithet tiarano is pronounced "tee-how-row-noo" in Malagasy and derives from the Malagasy words "tia" (to love) and "rano" (water), referring to the aquatic habits of this species.

Taken with permission from Glaw and Vences (2007).

References

Andreone, F., Aprea, G., Odierna, G., and Vences, M. (2006). ''A new narrow-mouthed frog of the genus Paradoxophyla (Microhylidae: Scaphiophryninae) from Masoala rainforest, northeastern Madagascar.'' Acta Herpetologica, 1, 15-27.

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

Stuart, S. (2008). Paradoxophyla tiarano. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 08 April 2009.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2010 Paradoxophyla tiarano <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/6720> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Dec 23, 2024.

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

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