Common Name: Yellow Mantella, East Golden Mantella, Eastern Mantella
Scientific Name: Mantella crocea
Family: Mantellidae – Mantella family
Location: Madagascar
Size: 0.69 – 0.94 inches (17 – 24 mm)
The Yellow Mantella lives in swamps surrounded by forests in north eastern Madagascar. They are active during the day, thanks to their bright colors that warn predators that they are poisonous. While being called the Yellow Mantella, they vary in color from brown, yellow, gold, and green.
The Yellow Mantella breeds during the rainy season. The male frogs call out to attract the female frogs. Once the female frog arrives, the male frog grasps her from behind in amplexus. Then, the female frog lays her eggs on land and the male frog fertilizes them. The female frog lays on average 64 eggs. Researchers counted masses between 47 – 75 eggs. After mating, both parents leave and provide no parental care for their offspring. Eventually, the eggs get washed into a water body nearby where the eggs hatch and tadpoles come out.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assesses the Yellow Mantella as Vulnerable to Extinction. This is due to their small range that is under pressure from a lot of threats. The forests are being destroyed to make room for farms and towns as well as to supply timber and charcoal. Additionally, invasive eucalyptus is changing the ecosystem.