Mantellidae

Family Mantellidae No fossil record; 8 presacral vertebrae; vertebral column procoelous; intercalary cartilages present; 3 tarsals; aquatic larvae; 3 genera, 61 species; adult size 2–12 cm (1–5 inches). Madagascar. Family Microhylidae Miocene to present; 8 presacral vertebrae; vertebrae procoelous or diplasiocoelous; intercalary cartilages usually absent;

…mantelline frogs of Madagascar (family Mantellidae) appear nearly identical to the dendrobatids; however, they are not closely related. The similarities between the two groups are attributed to convergent evolution. Also, both are comparable in terms of physical size, as mantellines range from 15 to 120 mm (0.6 inch to nearly…