found to be sequestered by certain insects. It has also been observed that Mantella retain alkaloids in their skin for years in captivity. This, combined with analyses of stomach contents and diet, suggests that members of Mantella obtain at least some of their alkaloids from arthropod prey. Distribution Mantella are endemic to the island of Madagascar and its smaller coastal islands ("Nosy" in Malagasy). They inhabit a wide variety of different habitat types including primary rainforests, secondary rainforests, swamps, bamboo forests, semi-arid streambeds, slow moving forest streams, seasonal streams, montane grassland savannah, and wet canyons. Some members of the genus such as Ebenau's mantella (Mantella ebenaui), the brown mantella (Mantella betsileo), and Cowan's mantella (Mantella cowanii) are highly adaptable and have been reported in a wide variety of habitats. On the island of Nosy Boraha (Sainte Marie), M. ebenaui have been found living in garbage dumps, feeding on flies. Similar behavior has been reported in western Madagascar, with M. betsileo inhabiting rubbish piles behind human dwellings. Locality variations There are several populations of Mantella species that exhibit unusual coloration, some of which are intermediates between species living in sympatry. For example, there are populations of yellow mantella (Mantella crocea) and black-eared mantella (Mantella milotympanum) found in Fierenana, Andriabe, Ambohitantely Reserve and Savakoanina that have green, red and yellow colourations. This often makes it difficult to distinguish between the two species. Populations of Baron's mantella (Mantella baroni) have also been reported at Pic d'Ivohibe Reserve, being almost entirely green in coloration with black patches and spotting, and lacking their distinctive orange and irregular black crossbands. These specimens are referred to as Mantella aff. baroni. Malagasy mantella (Mantella madagascariensis), a species similar in appearance to M. baroni, is also notably variable among different localities. Niagarakely is one such locality within the Anosibe An'ala District of the Alaotra-Mangoro Region. Here, M. madagascariensis exhibit highly broken yellow/green and mottled black dorsal coloration. Species There are currently 16 species of Mantella, with five recognized species groups. Most species are easily identifiable by their color patterns, although there are a number of locality variations with an uncertain taxonomic status. Threats Several species in the genus are threatened because of habitat loss (due to subsistence agriculture, timber extraction and charcoal production, fires, draining of wetlands, the spread of invasive eucalyptus, and expanding human settlements), mining, hybridization and over-collection for the international pet trade. As a result of