[Objective] The aim was to study on the feasibility to take Rana cancrivora, the only amphibian inhabiting mangrove, as indicator species for environment monitoring of mangrove. [Methods] Rana cancrivorae were collected in July and August of 2009 from two different microhabitats, including the pier and the core mangrove area of National Dongzhai Harbor Mangrove Reserve in Hainan Province. In addition, examination and analysis were conducted on activity of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT）, acetylcholine esterase （AChE）, and inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）, and content of malonaldehyde （MDA） in its liver and muscle. Furthermore, indices of hepar/body, kidney/body and spleen/body were measured to make a comprehensive evaluation on Rana cancrivora stress from environment and mangrove quality in different microhabitats. [Result] In mangrove habitat, indices of hepar/body, kidney/body and spleen/body of Rana cancrivora were all lower than that in pier and only index of kidney/body differed significantly （P0.05）; the four enzyme activities were all higher than that in pier and activities of SOD and CAT differed significantly （P0.05）. In addition, MDA content was lower than that in pier significantly （P0.05）. The result indicated that antioxidant enzyme activity of Rana cancrivora in mangrove habitat was higher than that in pier individually, lipid peroxidation and the stress were lower correspondingly. [Conclusion] Because of human intervention and travelling development, quality of pier habitat was lower than that in mangrove core area, and stress for Rana cancrivora by environment was smaller than that in pier, correspondingly. Therefore, Rana cancrivora can be the indicator species for environment monitoring of mangrove.
