Yellowish/striped tree frog in Marojejy, Madagascar

Found during a night tour near camp 2 in Marojejy, Madagascar. Species is yellowish with striped legs. Small detail is that it seems to have a scar near its eye. Underside:

comments (7)

John Sullivan

Lion

Looking through Glaw & Vences, I think this is Boophis axelmeyeri. The spines on the elbow and heel are a good field mark. A few other related species have those spines as well, but B. axelmeyeri seems to be the only one in Marojejy with them. Posted 9 years ago
1. John Sullivan
  
  Lion
  
  Another possibility is Boophis madagascariensis, though Glaw & Vences does not show that species north of the Masoala peninsula. The eyes look a little bit more like B. madagascariensis than B. axelmeyeri to me. Both species have the elbow and heel spines, and both are pictured with banded legs.
  Posted 9 years ago
2. 1. John Sullivan
    
    Lion
    
    Googling for "Marojejy Boophis" finds photos reportedly of B. madagascariensis from Marojejy, such as this one: http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-madagascar-tree-frog-boophis-madagascariensis-marojejy-national-park-27913832.html
    
    Of course they could be misidentified. But B. axelmeyeri is supposed to have a dark top crescent on its iris, which your photos do not show. So I lean towards B. madagascariensis even though Glaw & Vences doesn't show it that far north. Posted 9 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      Thank you so much for the extensive research, John. I'm going to go with your judgement, I trust it more than the average online photo. By the way, what do you think about the patch near the eye? Initially I thought it was a scar, but I now see it on a few frogs taken in the same area. Posted 9 years ago
    2. 1. John Sullivan
        
        Lion
        
        I don't see a scar, but maybe I'm looking at the wrong thing? I see the tympanum (external eardrum), with a curved, dark-bottomed ridge curving down above it. That kind of ridge is found on many types of frogs. Posted 9 years ago
      2. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Well that just shows my ignorance :) Posted 9 years ago
        
        John Sullivan
        
        Lion
        
        We like to use the phrase "learning opportunity". :) Posted 9 years ago

The Boophis madagascariensis

"Boophis madagascariensis" is a species of frog in the Mantellidae family. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, and heavily degraded former forest.

Info 7 0

Similar species: Frogs

Species identified by Ferdy Christant