2012. Review of Significant Trade - Cites

Mantella aurantiaca
Taxonomic note: Up until just over a decade ago, species in the genus Mantella were
distinguished largely subjectively on the basis of phenotypic variation, with different
authors recognizing different numbers of species (Schaefer et al., 2002). M. aurantiaca is
phenotypically and genetically distinct (e.g. Vences et al., 1999; Schaefer et al., 2002),
although M. milotympanum is closely related to M. aurantiaca and was not described as a
distinct species until 1996 (Randrianavelona et al., 2010b). Vences and Raxworthy (2008)
reported that “The taxonomy of this group is uncertain but the definition of
Mantella aurantiaca is clear and there seems to be little genetic subdivision within the
species”.
C. Country review
MADAGASCAR
Distribution in range State: Mantella aurantiaca is known to occur only in the humid forests
within the Moramanga District in eastern Madagascar (Randrianavelona et al., 2010a), where
its distribution is highly localised in three distinct clusters of sites (Figure 1). Surveys by
Bora et al. (2008) and Randrianavelona et al. (2010a) reported one cluster of 21 sites in the
Andranomena-Mangabe forest in the municipalities of Ambohibary, Beparasy and
Vodiriana to the south-west of Moramanga. Another cluster of sites was recorded in the
Torotorofotsy wetlands in the municipality of Andasibe (five sites) and the surrounding
forests in Analamay and Ambatovy in the municipality of Ambohibary (13 sites) to the
north-east of Moramanga (Bora et al., 2008; Randrianavelona et al., 2010a). Bora et al. (2008)
also recorded the species at two sites to the north-west of Moramanga in the Ambakoana
region in the municipality of Amboasary. These data indicate a total extent of occurrence of
1189 km 2 and an area of occupancy of 112 km 2 , or 626 km 2 and 89 km 2 , respectively, if the
outlying populations are not considered (Randrianavelona et al., 2010b). The discovery of
one population in the municipality of Vodiriana to the west of the Mangoro river, previously
thought to be a barrier to dispersal (Randrianavelona, 2009), opens the possibility that the
species may be present in new areas as yet unexplored by herpetologists
(Randrianavelona et al., 2010b).
The historical distribution of the species was much wider than its current distribution
(Figure 1, Randrianavelona et al., 2010b). There have been various unconfirmed reports of
the species occurring in localities outside the three regions described above (e.g.
Behra et al., 1995). Several of these records are thought to have been the result of confusion
of M. aurantiaca with the related species M. milotympanum (Vences et al., 1999). Other records
remain uncertain, including sites in Maromizaha, Ambavaniasy and the forest of
Vohidrazana (Behra et al., 1995), all of which were surveyed by Vieites et al. (2009) without
success; and a site near Ankaratra, Ambatolampy (Behra et al., 1995), considered unlikely
due to its altitude of over 1300m and the absence of humid forest
(Randrianavelona et al., 2010b).
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