Madagascar’s third highest mountain range, the Ankaratra Massif, has received increased attention from herpetologists and conservationists in recent years, notably due to the presence of two endemic and highly threatened Anuran species- Boophis williamsi (Guibé 1974) and Mantidactylus pauliani Guibé 1974 (Rahantalisoa et al. 2011). These frogs are confined to only a few fast-flowing streams within grasslands and relict montane rain forest, mainly around a single site that continues to be further degraded through anthropogenic activities.

In addition to these two Ankaratra endemics, the area supports an additional 13 species of amphibians, including the large frog Boophis goudotii Tschudi 1838 (Vences et al. 2002). This species is distributed broadly throughout the Central Highlands, inhabiting both forested areas and more degraded habitat and grasslands (Glaw and Vences 2007). Its natural history has been studied and it has been recorded feeding on large insects by Arnoult and Razarihelisoa (1966). Remains of frogs have also been found in the stomach contents of dissected specimens (Glaw and Vences 1997).

Several new conservation and research activities have recently been enacted at Ankaratra for B. williamsi as

part of the Sahonagasy Action Plan, the national strategy for amphibian conservation in Madagascar (Andreone and Randriamahazo 2008; Rabemananjara et al. 2012). This is in response to the species’ extremely restricted distribution and IUCN Red List status as Critically Endangered. Still, details on the species’ behaviour and ecology, including natural predators, remain largely unknown. In this short note, we document an apparent attempt of B. goudotii to feed upon B. williamsi, resulting in the death of both individuals.

On the 6 December, 2013 at approximately 11:00 AM, one of us (S. H. Ndriantsoa) located a recently deceased female B. goudotii wedged between rocks underwater within a stream at a site locally known as Tsimiaramianadahy (S19°19.998; E047°15.750, 2381 m a.s.l.) Upon further inspection, legs of another frog were noticed hanging out of its mouth (Figure 1). A necropsy was performed by T. Rakotonanahary revealing the predated frog species as B. williamsi, identified by its unique orange and brown coloration still present on parts of the limbs (Figure 2). Although we were unable to determine cause of death, because of the position of the animals underwater we suspect the B. goudotii died from being trapped beneath rocks for an extended period of time while trying to consume the B. williamsi rather than for reasons related to the frog’s own possible defences. There was no indication that the B. goudotii chocked on the prey.

It is also notable to point out the elevation at which this occurred (2381 m a.s.l.), as previously B. goudotii has been known mainly from below 2200 m a.s.l. We therefore report a new elevation record for this species, confirming the adaptable nature of B. goudotii and its ability to inhabit even the highest mountain habitats in Madagascar.

This is the first documented case of predation upon the highly threatened B. williamsi. Understanding its

Herpetology Notes, volume 7: 343-345 (2014) (published online on 26 May 2014)

Predation of the Critically Endangered Boophis williamsi by Boophis goudotii at Ankaratra Massif, Madagascar

Serge Herilala Ndriantsoa1, Tsanta Rakotonanahary2, Jeff Dawson3 and Devin Edmonds4

1 Département de Biologie Animale, Université d’Antananarivo, BP 906, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar

2 Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust - Madagascar Programme, Lot II Y 49 J Ampasanimalo, Antananarivo (101) BP 8511, Madagascar

3 Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augrès Manor, La Profonde Rue, Trinity, Jersey JE3 5BP, Channel Islands

4Association Mitsinjo, Lot 104 A Andasibe Gare, Andasibe (514), Madagascar, devin@amphibiancare.com (corresponding author)

Serge Herilala Ndriantsoa et al.344

role in the wider ecology of Ankaratra is crucial to enacting meaningful conservation measures in the future. Although a single predation event does not allow

us to conclude whether B. williamsi makes up a regular dietary component for B. goudotii at this site, further studies on these species natural history at Ankaratra will yield more information about their potential interactions and ecological relationship to one another.

Acknowledgements. We would like to acknowledge the local authorities in Ambatolampy for allowing us permission to conduct work at Ankaratra. We are also grateful for support in the field from Ingahifara, Evariste and Jean-Jaques of V.O.I. Malaimisaraka, as well as to Faly Rabemananjara and NGO Vondron’Ivon’ny Fampandrosoana (VIF) for arranging materials and logistics for the mission.

References

Andreone, F., Randriamahazo, H., 2008. Sahonagasy Action plan. Conservation programs for the amphibians of Madagascar. Bogota, Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Conservation International and IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group: 1-96.

Arnoult, J., Razarihelisoa, M. (1966): Contribution a l’Étude des Batraciens de Madagascar: Écologie et forms larvaires de

Figure 1. The Boophis goudotii removed from the stream with the legs of another frog still visible in its mouth.

Figure 2. The remains of Boophis williamsi found in the mouth of B. goudotii, identified by the unique coloration of this species still present on the limbs.

Rhacophorus goudoti (Tschudi). Bulletin du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle 38(2): 111-117.

Glaw, F., Vences, M. (1997): Neue ergebnisse zur Boophis goudoti-gruppe aus Madagaskar: bioakustik, fortpflanzungsstrategien und beschreibung von Boophis rufioculis sp. nov. Salamandra 32: 225–242.

Glaw, F., Vences, M. (2007): A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. 3rd Edition. Vences & Glaw Verlag, Cologne, 496pp.

Rabemananjara, F., Randriamahazo, H., Rahantamalala, J., Rahantalisoa, H., Rakotoarisoa, J.M., Rabibisoa, N.H.C., Andreone, F. (2012): The conservation effort for two Critically Endangered amphibian species of the Ankaratra Massif, Boophis williamsi and Mantidactylus pauliani. FrogLog 103: 29-31.

Rahantalisoa, H., Rakotomalala, M., Rabemananjara, F.C.E., Rahantamalala, J., Rabibisoa, N. (2011): Ankaratra Massif: Highland focal amphibian site for conservation. Froglog 97: 36-37.

Vences, M., Andreone, F., Glaw, F., Raminosoa, N., Randrianirina, J.E., Vieites, D.R. (2002): Amphibians and reptiles of the Ankaratra Massif: reproductive diversity, biogeography and conservation of montane fauna in Madagascar. Italian Journal of Zoology 69: 263-284.

Predation of the Critically Endangered Boophis williamsi by Boophis goudotii 345

Accepted by Zoltán Nagy; Managing Editor: Christoph Liedtke