Guibemantis tornieri (Ahl 1928)

A medium-sized brownish treefrog; males 43-49 mm, females 48-49 mm. Dorsum normally uniformly light brown, sometimes with darker spots and a dark brown transverse band between the eyes. Temporal and loral region blackish. A white band on the upper lip. Flanks marbled brown and white. Hind legs with dark transversal bands and a narrow dark longitudinal line. Venter whitish with some dark spots, throat shining white in males. Skin more or less smooth. Nostrils nearer to tip of snout than to the eye. Tympanum distinct, about 2/5 of eye size. Tibiotarsal articulation reaches the eye. Lateral metatarsalia separated. Inner and outer metatarsal tubercles present. Hands nearly without webbing; webbing of the foot 1(0.5), 2i(1), 2e(0), 3i(1.5), 3e(1), 4i(2), 4e(1.5), 5(0). Fingers with well developed terminal disks. Femoral glands not visible. Males with a largely distensible, single subgular vocal sac, coloured bright white. [88,97]Similar species: M. depressiceps has slightly longer hindlimbs (tibiotarsal articultion reaches between eye and nostrils) and the webbing does not reach the disk of toe 5. It is also smaller, and differs by call. Boophis tephraeomystax and B. opisthodon have no narrow longitudinal line on the legs, and only an inner metatarsal tubercle.Taken with permission from Glaw and Vences (2007).

Ambatolahy forest, Andasibe, Andohahela, Nahampoana, Ranomafana, Sahembendrana. It occurs between 100-1,100m asl in rainforest and heavily disturbed secondary habitats (Vences and Cadle 2008).

Habits: During the day this species is often hidden in phytotelmic plants (Ravenala and Typhonodorum). Males emit their loud calls from the vegetation over ponds or swamps in or near rain forest. Eggs are deposited on leaves but also on tree trunks or rocks overhanging the water.Calls: A single note of 2-6 relatively slowly repeated pulses.Eggs and tadpoles (tadpoles from Foulpointe): Clutches consist of 40-100 greenish or brownish eggs and are deposited about 3-250 cm above stagnant water; clutch diameter is 4-5 cm, egg diameter is 2.3 mm. Often various clutches (of different developmental stages) are laid on the same leaf, overlapping each other, and in such cases the tadpoles of one clutch can move into the jelly of another clutch. After 7 days, tadpoles, 9.5-10.5 mm long, drop into the water. The brownish tadpoles can reach total length of 40 mm in stage 31-40. At midlength of tail, caudal musculature accounts for 1/3 of tail height. Eyes directed dorsilaterally. Tooth formula is 1/4+4//3 or 1/5+5/3. Larval development was completed after three months. Metamorphosed juveniles measure 13-14 mm. Breeding takes place in temporary and permanent pools (Vences and Cadle 2008).

It occurs in many protected areas (Vences and Cadle 2008).