Plethodontohyla notosticta Mahanoro Digging Frog
Ranomafana National Park, Vatovavy region, MadagascarApril 27, 2007
Mahanoro Digging Frog (Plethodontohyla notosticta)
The narrow light dorsilateral line and the rather pointed snout identify this odd little frog as Plethodontohyla notosticta. However, all of the accounts and photos of this frog that I've found describe its back as brownish or reddish, whereas this one is clearly greenish. So either the color varies more than the accounts mention, or this is some other species, perhaps an undescribed closely related one.

Here is a list of all the reptiles and frogs I saw on this 2007 trip to Madagascar.

Masoala National Park, Toamasina province, MadagascarMay 1, 2007
Mahanoro Digging Frog (Plethodontohyla notosticta)
This frog breeds in water-filled tree-holes, with the male hanging around apparently to guard the eggs and tadpoles. We could just see the snout and front feet of this one in a hole about six feet above the ground in a large tree trunk. Fortunately, even this little bit of frog is enough to identify it as Plethodontohyla notosticta, due to the angular snout. And there are only a couple of known species that breed in these tree-holes, which helps narrow down the identification.
Akanin'ny Nofy, Atsinanana region, MadagascarApril 29, 2023
Mahanoro Digging Frog (Plethodontohyla notosticta) Mahanoro Digging Frog (Plethodontohyla notosticta)
These are clearly Plethodontohyla frogs, from various details of their shape. They are very differently colored than standard adults, indicating that they hadn't been frogs for very long.

Here is a list of all the reptiles and frogs I saw on this 2023 trip to Madagascar.

Akanin'ny Nofy, Atsinanana region, MadagascarApril 30, 2023
Mahanoro Digging Frog (Plethodontohyla notosticta)
This one has more of your standard Plethodontohyla notosticta appearance.
Akanin'ny Nofy, Atsinanana region, MadagascarMay 1, 2023
Mahanoro Digging Frog (Plethodontohyla notosticta)
This species breeds in tree holes, so perhaps that's what this frog was doing, or at least dreaming about doing.
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