Your wildlife photography guide.
Explore the golden mantella in detail, study its behavior, prepare your shots.
Where to observe and photograph the golden mantella in the wild
Learn where and when to spot the golden mantella in the wild, how to identify the species based on distinctive features, and what natural environments it inhabits. The WildlifePhotographer app offers tailored photography tips that reflect the golden mantella’s behavior, helping you capture better wildlife images. Explore the full species profile for key information including description, habitat, active periods, and approach techniques.
Golden mantella
Scientific name: Mantella aurantiaca
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
Family: MANTELLIDAE
Group: Amphibians
Sensitivity to human approach: Very shy
Minimum approach distance: 2 m
Reproduction period: February to May
Incubation: 10–14 jours
Births: February to May
Habitat:
Humid rainforest leaf litter and swamp edges
Activity period :
Primarily active during the day, with peak activity in the morning and late afternoon.
Identification and description:
The golden mantella is a tiny frog (19–24 mm) with bright orange, toxic skin, living in leaf litter of eastern Madagascar’s rainforests. It feeds on small invertebrates and calls briefly after early wet-season rains to attract mates.
Recommended lens:
Macro – adjust based on distance, desired framing (portrait or habitat), and approach conditions.
Photography tips:
Set up at ground level after rain in the leaf litter, remain still and shoot with shallow depth of field to isolate the colorful frog against the wet background.
From knowledge to field practice
A species profile helps you understand an animal. In the field, the challenge is often different. Remembering your own observations.
The WildlifePhotographer app allows you to:
• record your personal observations
• note locations, dates, and behaviors
• revisit your field references over time
• build a private and long-term field logbook
The app does not provide observation locations.
It helps you organize what you actually observe, with respect for wildlife.