Green mantella

The green mantella is found in northern Madagascar and, despite its small range, exhibits slightly varying colour patterns. Depending on the composition of its diet, the poison produced by the frogs as a defence mechanism contains different substances (mainly alkaloids). 

There is no longer any genetic exchange taking place amongst the fragmented populations of the green mantella, with the result that genetic diversity is steadily declining. Outside Madagascar, the species is being bred on a small scale, which is slowly but surely leading to the establishment of a small reserve population intended to prevent the species from becoming extinct.

Fortunately, this species of frog seems to be adapting quickly to new habitats. For example, the green mantella has also been found in mango plantations and near irrigation systems in towns. This adaptability suggests a strategy that bodes well for the species’ survival despite drastic habitat loss.