Painted Mantella

[deranged chipmunk]

Can you get a more clearer pic of her chin? Or her eye?


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[Pirarucu]

Can you get a more clearer pic of her chin? Or her eye?

I'd rather not disturb her any more. The chin has the horseshoe mark characteristic of madagascariensis, and no other markings. The iris is brown, not black, also indicating madagascariensis.

However someone elsewhere suggested that it is neither, and is actually a pulchra. The brown legs have me thinking he's right.

[TKexotics]

Based on the brown front legs we believe it's indeed Mantella pulchra, since as far as we know neither madagascariensis or baroni has these, however better pictures would help giving a more definitive id.

Regardless what species it is, it's an awesome frog.

[Pirarucu]

To give a brief update, due to the orange flashmarks on the legs it has been determined she is most likely M. madagascariensis. Although brown legs are uncommon in the species, I have been able to find a few examples that also had them.

[MantellaGuy]

Like I said on Facebook a short while ago, this does resemble Mantella madgascarensis. However, I think this may actually be a hybrid specimen, especially considering this is more than likely a WC individual anyway.

This could well be a Mantella pulchra x madagascarensis/baroni hybrid in my opinion... It is entirely possible and new colourations and confer species are found all the time out in Madagascar.

Without DNA and genetic testing, I don't think you'll know for sure! But I can definitely say that this is crtainly and most definitely not, Mantella pulchra (pictured below). It doesn't share any of the same colourations, especially on the front of the snout which your individual has markings on, except for the limbs that have a slight colouration.



I would be very dubious about putting this with other individuals, if this is indeed a hybrid specimen which it could be completely possible, then it could muck up potential bloodlines.

[Pirarucu]

Like I said on Facebook a short while ago, this does resemble Mantella madgascarensis. However, I think this may actually be a hybrid specimen, especially considering this is more than likely a WC individual anyway.

This could well be a Mantella pulchra x madagascarensis/baroni hybrid in my opinion... It is entirely possible and new colourations and confer species are found all the time out in Madagascar.

Without DNA and genetic testing, I don't think you'll know for sure! But I can definitely say that this is crtainly and most definitely not, Mantella pulchra (pictured below). It doesn't share any of the same colourations, especially on the front of the snout which your individual has markings on, except for the limbs that have a slight colouration.



I would be very dubious about putting this with other individuals, if this is indeed a hybrid specimen which it could be completely possible, then it could muck up potential bloodlines.

I asked whether it may be a hybrid on Facebook, but the point was largely ignored so I dropped it. Only problem is, so far as I'm aware M. pulchra is only sympatric with M. baroni, not M. madagascariensis. As this specimen shows no signs of being a baroni, if it is a hybrid it would be between pulchra and madagascariensis. Therefore it is either CBB and a hybrid or WC and a madagascariensis.

[MantellaGuy]

I asked whether it may be a hybrid on Facebook, but the point was largely ignored so I dropped it. Only problem is, so far as I'm aware M. pulchra is only sympatric with M. baroni, not M. madagascariensis. As this specimen shows no signs of being a baroni, if it is a hybrid it would be between pulchra and madagascariensis. Therefore it is either CBB and a hybrid or WC and a madagascariensis.

I thought I said something about it? I did edit my comment through my ipad Facebook :/ in all honesty, this individual would have been WC due to the size of it, unless the chap you purchased from had kept a good few years. Unless it is coming into its colours (which I highly doubt due to the odd colouration at this size), this more than likely cam from the latest import from Madagascar which took place approximately 2-3 months ago now. Now being a hybrid is entirely possible, I actually would put it right at the top of the list in all honesty, because all Mantella are more than capable to hybridise... You can see some really odd ones about aswell.
But in all honesty, you will never be able to find out unless you invested a bit of money into genetic identification, would be interesting to find out though!