Females call too: first observation of a courtship call emitted by a female of Spinomantis aglavei (Mantellidae, Anura) in the Maromizaha rainforest (Madagascar)

Female acoustic behaviour in anurans remains poorly documented, with evidence lacking for several families. Within Mantellidae, a clade comprising 304 species endemic to Madagascar and Mayotte, female vocalisations have never been reported. Here, we describe the first documented in situ acoustic interaction between a male and a female of Spinomantis aglavei (Mantellidae) in the Maromizaha rainforest, Madagascar. We recorded a female emitting croak-like vocalisations during a close interaction with a calling male, which we interpret as courtship calls based on the observed context. Female's notes differed significantly in both temporal and spectral parameters from those of the focal male and of other 36 conspecific males recorded in the absence of vocalising females. This study provides the first evidence of female calling in Mantellidae, opening new perspectives on the biological significance of complex acoustic communication within this clade.