Blue-legged mantella

The blue-legged mantella is easily recognized by its distinctive colouring: It has blue legs, a yellow back and black flanks. This striking coloration probably serves as a warning signal for potential predators and seems to indicate its toxicity. It acquires its toxicity through food intake, in particular by eating ants and termites, which contain alkaloids. These substances enable the frog to produce poisonous skin secretions which, although not fatal to humans, are nevertheless unpleasantly irritating to the skin.
Blue-legged mantellas are diurnal and lead a solitary life, except during mating season. During this time, the males make special calls to attract females. The breeding season falls in the rainy season from October to December, with one female producing around 70 eggs per year. The fertilized eggs are laid on the ground and the larvae develop in swamps or in slow-flowing, temporary streams.
These frogs are endemic to Isalo National Park in Madagascar. They are endangered, mainly due to the loss of their habitat as a result of deforestation. They are also often kept illegally as pets.

Distribution