Amphibians · Anura · Bombinatoridae

Yellow-bellied Toad

Bombina variegata

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

When threatened it performs the striking unken reflex: it arches its back to show off its bright yellow and black belly as a warning that it is toxic.

Weight

2 g – 12 g

Size

2.8 cm – 5.6 cm

Lifespan

15 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Estimated population

No global figure: it remains abundant in southern and eastern Europe, but at the northern edge of its range many populations have died out. It is listed as threatened in several countries and is considered extinct in Belgium

MountainFreshwaterInsectivore Variable activity Solitary Amphibian Mountain Freshwater

45countries 49parks2same family

Fun facts

It performs the unken reflex, arching its body to show its yellow belly as a warning.
Its lifespan varies enormously by region, from 5 to more than 20 years.
It lives in temporary pools and mountain streams of central and eastern Europe.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (amphibian)
Habitat & environment: Temporary pools, mountain streams and unstable pioneer habitats of central and eastern Europe
Birth weight: Eggs laid in small clutches of about 15, stuck to water plants
Size at birth: A tadpole after hatching, completing metamorphosis in roughly a month
Sexual maturity: 1.5 years (both sexes)
Gestation / incubation: The egg develops over a few days before hatching
Litter / clutch size: 120 to 170 eggs a season, in small clutches of about 15
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 29 years in captivity

Sources consulted: World Species; Amphibia-Reptilia (growth longevity study); iNaturalist; genomics.senescence.info; PMC (fast-slow continuum longevity study); The Animal Facts (fire-bellied toad comparativo); Nature (breeding age historical study); Lifeamphicon.eu; Kuzmin et al. 2009, IUCN Red List: catalogada como Preocupación menor por seguir siendo abundante en el sur y el este de su área, pero con tendencia poblacional decreciente; está protegida por la Directiva Hábitats de la UE || IUCN Red List, evaluación de Bombina variegata; Directiva Hábitats 92/43/CEE || IUCN Red List, evaluación de Bombina variegata; datos de fenología reproductiva de la especie