Mantidactylus majori Boulenger 1896

Adults 41-47 mm. Head characteristically pointed. Tibiotarsal articulation reaches at least the eyes. Hand without webbing, foot extensively webbed: 1(0), 2i(0), 2e(0), 3i(0), 3e(0), 4i/e(0.5-1), 5(0). Dorsal skin smooth to slightly granular. Dorsum usually uniform brown, flanks with a white band. Ventrally uniformly whitish. Males with femoral glands and a slightly distensible single subgular vocal sac (Glaw and Vences 2007).Taken with permission from Glaw and Vences (2007) and Cadle and Raxworthy (2008).

Occurs in Andringitra (Iantara river; Sahavatoy river), Chaines Anosyennes, Ivohibe, Midongy, near Ifanadiana, Ranomafana (Ambatolahy forest, Maharira forest, Ranomena), Tsianovoha, and Vevembe (Glaw and Vences 2007) from sea level up to 1400 m asl (Cadle and Raxworthy 2008).

Habits: A common species in rainforest streams in south-eastern Madagascar. Quite aquatic, specimens can often be observed in the water during the day. Clutches of about 15 eggs are deposited on leaves overhanging the streams. At night, these clutches are guarded by the male who then sits on the eggs (Glaw and Vences 2007). Calls: A relatively fast series of about 10 short pulsed notes (Glaw and Vences 2007).

This species is listed as least concern because of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. Though it occurs in several protected areas, its forest habitat is receding due to subsistence agriculture, timber extraction, charcoal manufacture, and invasive spread of eucalyptus, livestock grazing and expanding human settlements (Cadle and Raxworthy 2008).

Mantidactylus majori is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, and swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss.