volatielen

volatielen (Latin: Volatielenus patulus) is a poorly known amphibian species that has been reported from a handful of cloud‑forest sites in southeastern Madagascar. The species first appeared in the literature in 1987 when a single adult specimen was collected near the Iliny River and subsequently described by herpetologist Dr. C. M. Vargas as a new genus within the family Pipidae. Because only two specimens have ever been recorded, the taxonomic status of volatielen remains uncertain, and it has not yet been incorporated into the Amphibian Species of the World database.

Morphologically, the available specimens indicate a flat, limbless body, measuring roughly 15–18 cm in length, with a triangular head and a slight dorsolateral keel. The skin is smooth and greenish‑brown on the dorsal surface, with pale yellow stripes that might serve as a form of disruptive camouflage. The species lacks eyelids and possesses a horizontally‑situated tongue, traits that are characteristic of the Pipidae. It also exhibits a unique phyllodes‑like expansion on the dorsal lip that is thought to facilitate respiration in saturated environments. The most distinctive feature is an elongated, comb‑like arrangement of keratinized spines on the posterior dorsal region, which has led to speculation that volatielen could engage in brief aerial leaps— a hypothesis that has yet to be confirmed.

The habitat of volatielen is thought to be the high‑altitude, mist‑laden forests of the Ankaratra Mountains, where the amphibian may exploit a niche within mossy rock crevices and slow streams. No data exist on its diet or reproductive biology, although related pipid species typically feed on small aquatic invertebrates and lay eggs in stagnant pools. No formal assessment has been made by the IUCN, but its extremely limited known range and the ongoing deforestation in its potential habitat zone suggest that it could be vulnerable. Further field surveys are needed to determine the species' true distribution, population status, and ecological requirements.