Fire-bellied Toad

Bombina orientalis

The Fire-bellied Toad is a small, colorful frog that loves to hop around near water. Its bright belly warns predators to stay away!

Habitat: Wetlands and ponds

Appearance

The Fire-bellied Toad has a striking bright green top with dark spots and a rough, warty skin. Its most unique feature is its vibrant red-orange and black mottled underside, which flashes as a warning.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAmphibiaOrderAnuraFamilyBombinatoridaeGenusBombina

Fire-bellied Toad

Interesting facts

Males have a soft, bell-like call, not a typical croak!

Their sticky tongue can snatch insects faster than a blink!

These toads can breathe through their skin underwater!

They 'play dead' by flipping over to show their warning colors!

Special abilities

Fire-bellied Toads can flip over to flash their bright red belly because it warns predators that they are toxic.

Fire-bellied Toads have glands in their skin that release a mild toxin, which helps protect them from being eaten.

Fire-bellied Toads can stay submerged for long periods, which helps them hide from danger.

Measurements & details

Length: 4-6 cm
Weight: 0.005-0.015 kg
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Top Speed: 0.5 km/h
Clutch Size: 50-200
Metamorphosis: 42-70 days

Diet & Feeding

They mostly eat small insects and worms, hunting them both on land and in the water.

Age differences: Tadpoles eat algae and detritus; adults primarily eat insects and small invertebrates.

Primary Foods

Insects
Worms
Slugs
Snails
Small crustaceans

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

A common snake predator in some ranges.

eaten by

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Wading birds often prey on amphibians.

hunts

Red Wood Ant

Formica rufa

Toads ambush ants as part of their diet.

hunts

Common Earthworm

Lumbricus terrestris

Toads forage for earthworms in damp soil.

Traits

Wildlife

Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Longevous

This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.