6- Mantella viridis - The Green Mantella :
Pintak & Böhme, 1988
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Green Mantella (Mantella viridis) is a species of frog in the Mantellidae family. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, and heavily degraded former forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. The commercial trade in these species requireds tight regulation in order not to threaten it.
Green Mantella
Conservation status :
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification :
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Mantellidae
Genus:Mantella
Species:M. viridis
Binomial name :
Mantella viridis
Pintak & Böhme, 1988
Description :
The green mantella is a small frog. Males are 22−25 mm, females 25−30 mm. The species is common in the pet trade as a vivarium species. Some of the frogs appear more yellow in color. Its face is black with a white band around the top lip. The underside of the frog is black with blue speckles. The female species is predominantly larger with a more square snout. They are critically endangered because of the loss of habitat and over-collection for pet trade.
Habitat :
Green mantella live in extreme northern Madagascar and thrive in dry lowland forest at elevations between 50 and 300 meters above sea level.
Diet
They eat small insects like ants and fruit flies. They also eat soft fruit. Green mantella require water, as most frogs do, but do not get it by drinking. Their permeable skin allows them to absorb the water.[1]
For the external links , refrences click here to read the full wikipedia article
Video :
Mantella viridis froglets feeding
Care articles :
1- Green Mantella - Mantella viridis
courtesy to : www.joshsfrogs.com/green-mantella-captive-bred-mantella-viridis-for-sale.html
Defining Characteristics: Great beginner Frog | Bright Green Coloration develops as Mantella ages | Bold | Easy to Keep | Moderate Trilling Call | Small | Can be kept in groups | Challenging to Breed
Name: Mantella viridis is commonly called the green mantella in the hobby. Occasionally, Mantella viridis is referred to as the lime mantella or the green golden frog. In the past, green mantellas have been imported and sold under various other common names, apparently created by wholesalers, which are no longer in use.
Recommended Vivarium Size: Housing green mantellas can be very simple. A 10 gallon aquarium can house a couple individuals, while an Exo Terra Glass Terrarium with a footprint of 18x18 or larger could house 4-6 Green mantellas. Green mantellas seem to be completely passive towards each other for the most part (outside the breeding season), and do great in groups. A screen top with daily mistings will maintain the perfect balance of ventilation and humidity. Substrate recommendations vary considerably, but long fiber sphagnum moss works well for Josh’s Frogs. Alternatively, you can set up a vivarium using Josh’s Frogs naturalistic vivarium substrates, similar to keeping dart frogs. Provide items for your green mantellas to hide under, such as a cork bark flat or leaf litter. Your Mantella viridis will spend much of the time hiding under such objects. A shallow water bowl should be provided, as well. Green mantellas are not particularly arboreal, but they will appreciate a small bit of vivarium wood or live terrarium plants to climb on. Lighting is for any live plants provided, and not required by green mantellas. There is no evidence that Mantella viridis benefit from UVB lighting, but a low level UV bulb, such as a 2.0 UVB bulb, may be beneficial. Based on observations of green mantellas being active during the day in the wild in partiall sunlight, a low level UVB source would probably be a good idea.
Temperature: Mantella viridis ideally are kept at about room temperature, in the low to mid 70s. Unlike many other mantellas, green mantellas stress easily in hot temperatures over 80F. Avoid warmer temperatures at all cost.
Humidity: Green mantellas can handle a wide range of humidity levels, but prefer a humidity level of 60-70%. Routine spraying and a full screen top will aid in providing proper humidity levels. Be sure to provide a shallow water dish so that your green mantellas will not dry out in lower humidity. During the breeding season, green mantellas can experience humidty levels of 80% without issue.
Size: Adult green mantellas are not very large, and there is a small size different between males and females. An adult male may reach about 1 inch, but most will be closer to 3/4 of an inch. A large female will be a bit larger and much bulkier (or 'pear shaped') than a male, and may measure up to 1.25”. All of the Mantella viridis froglets Josh's Frogs sells are well started juveniles, and measure approximately .5 - .75” long.
Age: There is not any good data surrounding the average lifespan of green mantellas, but wild caught animals have lived in captivity for over 5 years. All Green Mantellas for sale at Josh's Frogs are well started juveniles, and are 2-3 months old. Keep in mind, at this age froglets will have very different color and patterns than they will as adults.
Feeding: Green mantellas are microphagus, meaning that they consume small food items. Mantella viridis do quite well on easily procured prey items in captivity. At Josh’s Frogs, we feed our adult green mantellas primarily hydei fruit flies, as well as springtails, isopods, extra small phoenix worms, and 1/8 inch crickets. Young green mantellas start life feeding on baby springtails. At the size Josh’s Frogs sells captive bred Mantella viridis, they are eating melanogaster fruit flies and 1/8" crickets. All prey items should be dusted with a quality vitamin/mineral supplement.
Sexing: Sexing adult green mantellas can be fairly straightforward once they're older, but can be difficult on younger animals. Once the mantellas are about 10-12 months old, they display obvious sexual dimorphism. Females are about 1/5 times larger then males, and much more rotund. Males are smaller, more slender, and typically call when kept in a wet or more humid environment. Reportedly, male green mantellas tend to be more skittish than females. A green mantella’s call resembles that of a canary, and is very melodious.
Color/Pattern: Adult green mantellas are primarily green, sometimes with a bit of yellow. 2 color phases seem to occur - it is possible these are 2 separate populations in the wild, and possibly will be classified as different species or subspecies in the future. At Josh's Frogs, we work with the bright green/teal variety. Most individuals have a black partial facemask, and a black/dark brown belly with blue/white blotches. A trademark of the species is a horseshoe shaped bit of color on the throat area, which traces the lower jaw. Younger green mantellas can range from yellow to brown to almost red, with a darker X pattern on their back. Juvenile Mantella viridis will achieve adult coloration at 8-12 months of age.
Social Behavior: Green mantellas are generally well behaved in groups, but adult females can fight with each other during breeding season. Keeping a group in a large enough vivarium with plenty of visual barriers tends to negate this behavior. Overall, Mantella viridis is a great group frog.
Breeding: Breeding Green Mantellas can be a bit challenging. In our experience, patience is key, as is a decent sized group that is female heavy. At Josh's Frogs, we managed to produce several healthy clutches with a group of 1.5 (1 male, 5 females). Cycling is important. We reduced mistings by half to allow the mantella habitat to dry out a bit, ensuring clean water was always available to the animals in a shallow water dish during this time. Feeding was reduced by about half as well. This artificial dry season was maintained for 3-4 months, followed by a 6 month return to daily misting and heavy feeding. Within a few days of more frequent mistings, the male could be heard calling. Less than 2 weeks into the artificial rainy season, an egg clutch of approximately 40 eggs was discovered under a piece of cork, buried about 1" into the long fiber sphagnum moss substrate. 2-3 of the females in the group produced eggs, and we were able to get about 10 clutches this season. Eggs are removed and kept on damp sphagnum until they hatch and small, white/gray tadpoles are seen squirming through the egg jelly. Water is then added to the container, flooding the egg clutch and allowing the tadpoles to swin free. After a few days, the tadpoles are removed with a turkey baster and placed in an aged 20H aquarium with undergravel and sponge filters. At 74F, green mantella tadpoles will eagerly consume a wide variety of foods, from brine shrimp flake to Repashy Savory Stew. After 6-8 weeks, they will develop limbs and begin to leave the water. Newly morphed green mantellas will quickly consume springtails and grow very fast.
Natural Range: Mantella viridis is limited to a very small area in the northern tip of Madagascar. In the wild, it can be found in very limited localities in dry forest, generally around gently flowing streams with plenty of cover along the banks. With the natural range of green mantellas so limited, habitat destruction is quickly reducing their numbers in the wild.
History in the Hobby: Green mantellas have been available as wild caught animals since the early 1990s, but captive bred animals remain rare. Unfortunately, most imports were doomed in captivity due to primative importation and shipping methods, as well as a lack of general knowledge surrounding their care. This species is no longer exported in large numbers from Madagascar legally for the pet trade, as it has been classified as endangered.
2- Green Mantella - Mantella viridis :
courtesy to : mantella.amphibiancare.com/species/mantella_viridis.
Description: A large and robust mantella, Mantella viridis can reach 30 mm (1.2 inches). They are mostly green, although some individuals appear more yellow to brown in color. A black mask wraps around the face. Below it is a white stripe. In terms of pattern, some can appear similar to M. crocea, but are easily told apart from their larger size, more robust body structure, white frenal stripe, and lack of flashmarks on the legs. Frogs that appear intermediate between M. viridis and M. ebenaui may be naturally occurring hybrids.
* Frogs with a similar structure and pattern to M. viridis, but with reddish coloration instead of green, have been found at Ankarana and other areas, but their taxonomic status remains unclear.
Red List Conservation Status: Endangered
Distribution and Habitat: M. viridis is restricted to extreme northern Madagascar, and is most well-known from Montagne des Français near Antsiranana. They inhabit dry lowland forest, especially around streambeds.
Captive Care Notes: Although M. viridis has a fairly restricted distribution, wild-caught frogs are still exported and are periodically available in the North American pet trade. They are also bred occasionally in captivity, with captive-bred frogs being available from time to time. M. viridis make excellent captives because of their attractive appearance and large size. Being one of the biggest mantellas, they love to feed on large food items such as crickets and wax worms, although they’ll also hunt down small Drosophila melanogaster for a snack. They can be somewhat shy, although after heavy mistings and during warmer parts of the year males are outgoing and will call in the open. A temperature range from 18°C to 26°C (64°F to 79°F) works well, with the lowest temperatures occurring during a simulated dry season or at night, and those on the warmer side taking place during the days of a simulated rainy season.
References
Andreone, Franco, V. Mercurio, F Mattioli, and T J. Razafindrabe. 2005. "Good News for Three Critically Endangered and Traded Frogs From Madagascar." FROGLOG 72.
Rabemananjara, F. C. E., A. Crottini, Y. Chiari, F. Andreone, F. Glaw, R. Duguet, P. Bora, O. Ravoahangimalala Ramilijaona & M. Vences. 2007. Molecular systematics of Malagasy poison frogs in the Mantella betsileo and M. laevigata species groups. Zootaxa 1501: 31-44.
Vences, M., F. Glaw & W. Böhme. 1999. A review of the genus Mantella (Anura, Ranidae, Mantellinae): taxonomy, distribution and conservation of Malagasy poison frogs. Alytes 17 (1-2): 3-72.
Other websites :
- www.iucnredlist.org/details/57451/0
- amphibiaweb.org/species/4569
- price : www.joshsfrogs.com/green-mantella-captive-bred-mantella-viridis-for-sale
- Price : www.dutchrana.nl/en/shop/frogs/mantellas/mantella-viridis-2/
Madagascar Dart frogs
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Anomaloglossinae
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Aromobatinae
South America Dart Frogs - Species
Dendrobatidae :
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Madagascar Dart frogs :
Mantella : Introduction .. Further reading , Videos and as a pet
Species :
1- Mantella aurantiaca - golden mantella : Part 1 .. Part 2
2- Mantella baroni : Part 1 .. Part 2
3- Mantella laevigata : Part 1 .. Part 2
5- Mantella pulchra : Part 1 .. Part 2
7- Mantella Other species : PART ONE .. PART TWO
Madagascar Dart frogs :
Mantella : Introduction .. Further reading , Videos and as a pet
Species :
1- Mantella aurantiaca - golden mantella : Part 1 .. Part 2
2- Mantella baroni : Part 1 .. Part 2
3- Mantella laevigata : Part 1 .. Part 2
5- Mantella pulchra : Part 1 .. Part 2
7- Mantella Other species : PART ONE .. PART TWO