Hidden breeding behaviour in a still undescribed giant Mantidactylus frog from Betampona Strict Nature Reserve, eastern Madagascar

Madagascar’s amphibian fauna is characterised by remarkable species diversity and a high level of endemism, alongside relatively limited diversity at family and subfamily levels (Andreone et al., 2021; Antonelli et al., 2022). With over 430 described species and a significant number of candidate species awaiting formal taxonomic assessment and description (Carné and Vieites, 2024), this large island is a critical hub for amphibian biodiversity conservation (Luedtke et al., 2023). However, the associated taxonomic uncertainty, often referred to as the “Linnean shortfall” (Lomolino, 2004), poses a significant challenge to conservation planning, as emphasised in Madagascar’s two Sahonagasy Action Plans for amphibian conservation (Andreone and Randriamahazo, 2008; Andreone et al., 2016; Rakotoarison et al., 2022) [...]