Mantella nigricans

This mantella lives near streams in northeastern Madagascar's forests and is only occasionally kept by specialists. The form shown has a green head fading into a brown back, dark sides and green limb-base patches; other populations are darker. A humid terrarium with leaf shelters, shallow clean water and appropriately small insects supports captive care. It lays eggs and has aquatic tadpoles. Its variable markings resemble other mantellas, so origin and scientific identity matter as well as color.