Goudot's Bright Eyed Frog

A large frog with a variable colouration; males 50-70 mm, females 75-87 mm, maximum length 100 mm. Colouration varies from being almost entirely blackish to yellowish with black spots. Venter yellowish or orange, with or without blackish spots. Iris copper, iris periphery turquoise. Skin on the back smooth in females, granular in males during the breeding season. Iris copper, iris periphery turquoise. Nostrils nearer to eye than to tip of snout. Tympanum distinct, about 1/2 - 2/3 of eye diameter. Tibiotarsal articulation reaches at least the nostrils, sometimes beyond the tip of the snout. Webbing of the hand 1(1), 2i/e(1), 3i(2), 3e(1.5), 4(1); webbing of the foot 1(0), 2i(1), 2e(0), 3i(1), 3e(0), 4i/e (1-1.5), 5 (0.5). Males with nuptial pads and a slightly distensible, single subgular vocal sac. Similar species: Boophis madagascariensis and B. brachychir have dermal flaps on the elbow and heel; the hands of B. opisthodon are not webbed, B. albilabris is often green with well developed webbing between the fingers.Taken with permission from Glaw and Vences (2007).

Ambatolampy, Ambohimitombo, Ambohitantely, Ambositra, Andasibe, Andrangoloaka, Andranomay forest, Angavokely, Anosibe, Antananarivo, Antratrabe, Antsampandrano, Beanjombona, Beforona, Betafo, Ibity, Itremo, Mandraka, Manjakatompo, Mantasoa, Moramanga, Niagarakely, Soamazaka, Tsiafajavona plateau, Tsinjoarivo, Vohisokina.Observed between 900-2,200m asl. This species lives in rainforests, fields, and disturbed stream sides near slow-moving and stagnant water, rice fields, and degraded sites (Nussbaum et al. 2008).

A poor climber, but sometimes found in trees. During day and night in, or near, stagnant or slow-moving water in both forests and ricefields. When touched, specimens may inflate themselves. Both males and females call during day and night. Axillary amplexus was observed in August, and inguinal amplexus has also been reported. Habits: Breeds in slow-moving and swampy stretches of sometimes very small streams. In rainforest or in deforested areas in the highlands with some gallery vegetation. Males call at night from hidden positions close to or in the water. Calls: Irregularly emitted moaning notes.Call (from Tsinjoarivo): The only Malagasy frog species for which female calls are reported. One analysed call of a male (recorded during amplexus) consisted of a series of 10 short "click"-notes, each lasting 20-30 ms, with a "click-rate" of about 30/s. Call was repeated at a rate of 60/min during about one minute. Dominant frequency ranged from 0.5 to 1 kHz. The female call is a low buzzing sound, repeated after intervals of about 7 s, with a duration about 500 ms and a frequency upto 1.5 kHz. One male emitted release calls when clasped.Eggs and tadpoles: Eggs were deposited in clumps of 30, attached to rocks and roots in water. Dissected females contained about 1000 eggs, 2 mm in diameter, coloured dark brown with cream. The brownish tadpoles live in slow-moving water and adjacent pools. Total length in stage 25: 31-61 mm; in stage 41: 73 mm. The mouth is small and directed ventrally. Eyes are directed dorsilaterally. At midlength of the tail, the caudal musculature represents about 1/4-3/10 of the total tail height. Tooth formula is 1/3+3//1+1/2 or 1/4+4//1+1/2. Metamorphosing juveniles can measure 30-32 mm from snout to vent. Their colour is brown or grey with irregular dark brown markings. The venter is yellowish, ventral hindlimb surface is orange. Limbs with distinct transverse bars. A triangular white spot is present both anteriorly and posteriorly of the tympanum.

Least Concern: wide distribution and tolerance of habitat modification. It occurs in many protected areas (Nussbaum et al. 2008).

Boophis goudotii (common name: Goudot's bright-eyed frog) is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar where it is widespread on the high plateau of central Madagascar. Records elsewhere are uncertain and many of them represent misidentifications. It is the only Malagasy frog where females are known to be vocal.