Madagascar Digging Frog

M 45 mm, F 47 mm. Tympanum distinct, about 1/2 of eye diameter. Rather long legs: tibiotarsal articulation reaches the eye or the nostril. Finger 2 slightly shorter than finger 4. Skin on the back smooth. Back brownish or beige with dark brown markings. Temporal region black, upper lip beige. Hindlimbs with brown bands. Upper side of the thighs and inguinal region with a characteristic colouration: blackish with distinct large white circular markings (Glaw and Vences 2007). Similar species: R. alluaudi has shorter hindlimbs (Glaw and Vences 2007).Taken with permission from Glaw and Vences (2007) and Nussbaum et. al (2008).

Occurs in Ambolokopatrika, Anjanaharibe, Montagne d’ Ambre, Tsaratanana (Antsahamanara campsite) (Glaw and Vences 2007) at 300-1,000m asl (Nussbaum et. al 2008).

Habits: Apparently less hidden than most other Rhombophryne and Plethodontohyla species. In the rainy season, several adult specimens were found active on the forest floor during the day. Diurnal colubrid snakes (Liopholidophis) appear to be important predators of this species (Glaw and Vences 2007).

Species is listed as least concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a degree of habitat modification, 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 many protected areas, a major threat is a receding forest habitat due to subsistence agriculture, timber extraction, charcoal manufacture, and invasive spread of eucalyptus, livestock grazing and expanding human settlements (Nussbaum et. al 2008).

Rhombophryne laevipes is a frog of the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to Madagascar and known from localities in northern, eastern, southeastern, and mid-western parts of the island. It might be a species complex, with the "true" R. laevipes restricted to northern Madagascar.

Rhombophryne laevipes occurs in rainforests, including degraded ones. It is a burrowing species. Although rare, it is widespread and tolerates some habitat modification, hence the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) does not consider it threatened.