Account
What the sources say about this taxon, as written.
Definition · 
Plazi
Definition. Within the R. testudo group, this species is sister to R. testudo based on molecular phylogenetic data (Fig. 2 ; Belluardo et al. 2022 ). It is characterised by the possession of the following unique suite of characters: (1) large body size, adult SVL 40–50 mm (see ‘ Variation’ below for discussion of these values); (2) head much wider than long ( HW / HL 1.88–2.05); (3) small eyes ( ED / HL 0.24–0.28); (4) short hindlimbs ( HIL / SVL 1.17–1.25); (5) large inner metatarsal tubercle ( IMTL / FOL 0.21–0.26); (6) pronounced outer metatarsal tubercle; (7) second finger rough equal in length to fourth; (8) third toe distinctly longer than fifth; (9) dorsal skin with scattered warts and ridges; (10) absence of chin barbels; (11) absence of pronounced superciliary spines; (12) absence of inguinal ocelli or spots; (13) absence of distinctive markings along the posterior thigh; (14) broad and slightly fortified skull, but without expansion of maxilla or posterior process of angulosplenial; and (15) clavicles absent; and (16) advertisement call (based on 15 analysed calls by one individual) tonal, with (17) call duration 161–209 ms, (18) inter-call interval 267–353 ms, and (19) dominant frequency 1588–1688 Hz. Rhombophryne matavy is furthermore distinguished from all other Rhombophryne species analysed by the following robust diagnostic nucleotide combination in the mitochondrial 16 S rRNA gene (positions relative to the full 16 S sequence of Anilany helenae MZ 751042 ): in 16 S 5 ’, ‘ T’ at site 474, ‘ T’ at site 475, and ‘ C’ at site 538; in 16 S 3 ’, ‘ A’ at site 1018, ‘ C’ at site 1072, and ‘ T’ at site 1078.
Call · Plazi
Call. The advertisement call of the holotype ( ZSM 1628/2008 ), recorded on 27 February 2008 at Forêt d’Ambre Special Reserve (air temperature unknown), consists of a tonal note of moderate duration emitted in regular call series containing 5 calls repeated at regular succession (n = 3; Fig. 17 ). Each call exhibits considerable amplitude modulation, with highest energy present at approximately the last third of the call’s duration. Slight upward frequency modulation is evident in each call, followed by a fast terminal drop in frequency. Numerical parameters of 15 analysed calls are as follows: call duration (= note duration) 161–209 ms (183 ± 14 ms); inter-call intervals within regular call series 267–353 ms (299 ± 22 ms); number of calls per call series 5 (5.0 ± 0.0); duration of regular call series 2091–2202 ms (2130 ± 48 ms); dominant frequency 1588–1688 Hz (1652 ± 16 Hz); prevalent bandwidth 750–6800 Hz; frequency bands recognizable at approximately 880, 2500, 3360, 4160, 5060, and 5840 Hz. Calls from the same recording have been described by D’Cruze et al. (2010 ) using a slightly different terminological scheme.
Natural history · Plazi
Natural history. Rhombophryne matavy is a fossorial species found in low-elevation humid forest; its ecology is poorly known, but presumably much like its sister species, R. testudo . Highest calling activity (in choruses) was noticed during and just after rain, and the specimens were collected at night, mostly up to 5 cm deep in the leaf litter, though one was found active on top of it ( D’Cruze et al. 2010 ). D’Cruze et al. (2010 ) noted a defensive behaviour involving the stretching of the limbs and arching the back, like R. testudo . They reported the faeces of one individual ( ZSM 1628/2008 ) to include the remains of several insects, including beetles.