Central Madagascar Frog

M 24-26 mm, F 27-33 mm. Tibiotarsal articulation reaches snout tip or beyond. Fifth toe longer than third toe. Femoral glands in males often small and not very prominent. Frenal stripe indistinct, fading under the eye and not continued until nostril. Ventrally often with a dark throat with a light median line. Dorsally often with a diamond-shaped marking (Glaw and Vences 2007).Taken with permission from Glaw and Vences (2007) and Nussbaum et. al (2008).

Species is located in Ambohitantely, Ambolokopatrika corridor, An’Ala, Andasibe, Andavaka, Andrangoloaka, Anjanaharibe, Antsahamanara (Tsaratanana), Antsahamanintsy, Besariaka, Ifanadiana, Ilampy, Lac Alaotra, Mahajeby, Mandraka, Marojejy, Niagarakely, Ranomafana, Tsararano, Vohiparara (Glaw and Vences 2007).It has been recorded at 600-1500 m asl, but probably also occurs lower than this range (Nussbaum et. al 2008).

Habits: A widespread species along rainforest streams at mid-altitudes throughout Madagascar, although it is less commonly found than M. melanopleura. Males call mostly during the day from concealed positions near the streams (up to 10 m distance), but sometimes also from up to 50 cm high in the vegetation. Single specimens were also found calling at night from 2 m above the ground in bushes. M. opiparis and M. melanopleura often form mixed choruses during the day. Boosts of calling activity are often emitted after longer silence, and these boosts can then run wave-like along the stream (Glaw and Vences 2007). Calls: Series of 23-35 short pulsed notes. Notes are longer and call series slower than in M. melanopleura (Glaw and Vences 2007).

This species is listed as least concern because of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. Though it occurs in many protected areas, its forest habitat is receding due to subsistence agriculture, timber extraction, charcoal manufacture, and invasive spread of eucalyptus, livestock grazing and expanding human settlements (Nussbaum et. al 2008).

Mantidactylus opiparis is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.