Spinomantis tavaratra explained

Spinomantis tavaratra is a species of frogs in the mantellid subfamily Mantellinae. It is endemic to the humid forests of northwestern Madagascar.

Taxonomy

This species was described in the genus Spinomantis by Cramer, Rabibisoa, and Raxworthy in 2008.^[1] The species is named tavaratra is a Malagasy word for "the north", referencing the provenance of this species in northern Madagascar.

Description

Adult males measure 30.5mm36mm in snout–vent length (SVL); females measure 31.6mm33.2mm. The species is also characterised by simple dermal spines of less than 1mm length on the posterior margin of the tarsus.

Habitat and ecology

Its natural habitats are primary forest near streams at elevations of 650m–1300mm (2,130feet–4,300feetm) above sea level, in Marojejy National Park but also on the Sorata massif. It is an arboreal species that breeds in streams.

Notes and References

1. Cramer. Abigail F.. Rabibisoa. Nirhy H.C.. Raxworthy. Christopher J.. Descriptions of two new Spinomantis frogs from Madagascar (Amphibia: Mantellidae), and new morphological data for S. brunae and S. massorum . American Museum Novitates . 2008 . 3618 . 1 . 1–22 . 10.1206/594.1. 2246/5924.