Mantidactylus melanopleura (Mocquard 1901)

M 30-40 mm, F 32-41 mm. Tibiotarsal articulation reaches beyond snout tip. Fifth toe longer than third toe. Femoral glands in males small and indistinct. Frenal stripe very distinct and reaching the nostril. Ventrally often with a dark throat with a thin light median line. Dorsally often with a diamond-shaped marking (Glaw and Vences 2007).Taken with permission from Glaw and Vences (2007) and Vences and Glaw (2008).

Widely distributed in eastern Madagascar (Vences and Glaw 2008). Ambatovaky, An’Ala, Andasibe, Andohahela, Andranomena, Anjozorobe, Bekazaha, Chaines Anosyennes, Ifanadiana, Ilampy, Isaka-Ivondro, Manantantely, Mantadia, Marojejy, Marovitsika, Midongy, Moramanga, Nahampoana, Ranomafana (Imaloka, Maharira forest, Ranomena, Vohiparara), near Ifanadiana, Sahembendrana, Tsararano, Vohidrazana, Zahamena (Glaw and Vences 2007). Found in rainforest and at forest edges at 200-900 m asl (Vences and Glaw 2008).

Habits: Juvenile and adult specimens are commonly encountered on the forest floor near streams. Males call during the day from the ground or from elevated positions up to 50 cm above the ground, such as tree holes (Glaw and Vences 2007). Breeds in brooks (Vences and Glaw 2008).Calls: Rapid series of 12-48 short pulsed notes. Notes are shorter and call series faster than in M. opiparis (Glaw and Vences 2007).

Abundant but decreasing. The main threat is habitat loss due to subsistence agriculture, logging, charcoal manufacture, invasion and spread of eucalyptus, grazing, and expanding human settlement. It does not tolerate heavy forest degradation. However, this species occurs within many protected areas (Vences and Glaw 2008).

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