When a male golden mantella frog is ready to breed, he makes a chirping call to entice the female. If another male follows with his own call, the two suitors often begin a wrestling match, each frog trying to flip the other onto its back. When the female appears, the "winner" moves toward her. The female lays several dozen eggs, which are then fertilized by the male.

 © John Netherton, Clyde Peeling's Reptiland

Golden Mantella Frog

Mantella aurantiaca

Class: Amphibia
 Family: Ranidae
 Size: Up to 1 inch
 Food: Insects
 Range: Madagascar
 Habitat: Tropical wet forest
 Life Cycle: The female lays 30 or more eggs beneath leaves, rocks, or loose moss. Tadpoles hatch after 7-12 days and metamorphose 2-3 months later.