Digging Frog

Holotype 29 mm, other specimens from Marojejy much larger (up to 52 mm). Skin on the back granular. At least three dermal tubercles above the eye. Tympanum distinct, about 3/4 of eye diameter. Tibiotarsal articulation reaches the eye. Finger 2 shorter than finger 4. Colouration variable, specimens from Marojejy were light brown with black spots dorsally and with a reticulated pattern of dark brown and whitish ventrally (throat darker) (Glaw and Vences 2007). Similar species: R. coronata is smaller and has shorter hindlimbs (Glaw and Vences 2007).Variation: It is possible that several species are subsumed under this name. Specimens from Anjanaharibe resemble the holotype, but other specimens collected at the type locality Marojejy are larger and more granular, and have a substantial genetic differentiation (Glaw and Vences 2007).Taken with permission from Glaw and Vences (2007) and Raxworthy and Andreone (2008).

Occurs in Ambolokopatrika, Anjanaharibe, Marojejy (Glaw and Vences 2007) at 900-2100m asl (Raxworthy and Andreone 2008).

Habits: It is a species of middle- to high-elevation rainforest, and has not so far been recorded from degraded areas. Its breeding biology is unknown, though it is likely to take place by larval development out of water, possibly underground, or in leaf axils, or tree holes (Raxworthy and Andreone 2008).

This species is listed as vulnerable because of its extent of occurrence is less than 20,000 km2, its distribution is severely fragmented, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its forest habitat in northern Madagascar (Raxworthy and Andreone 2008). Its forest habitat is receding due to subsistence agriculture (including livestock grazing), timber extraction, charcoal manufacture, the spread of invasive eucalyptus, and expanding human settlements. It occurs in the Réserve Naturelle Intégrale du Tsaratanana, Parc National de Marojejy, and Réserve Spéciale d’Anjanaharibe-Sud (Raxworthy and Andreone 2008).