Amphibians · Anura · Bombinatoridae

Oriental Fire-bellied Toad

Bombina orientalis

Least Concern

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

It performs the unken reflex: when threatened it arches its body backwards to show off its bright red or orange belly, a warning that its skin carries defensive toxins that smell of leeks.

Size

3.8 cm – 5.1 cm

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestFreshwaterOmnivore Diurnal Solitary Amphibian Temperate forest Freshwater

6countries 18parks2same family

Fun facts

It shows off its brightly coloured belly as a warning — the unken reflex — when threatened.
Its skin carries defensive toxins with a distinctive smell of leeks.
It lays its eggs in small clusters of 3 to 45 on water plants.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (amphibian)
Habitat & environment: Mixed coniferous and broadleaf woodland near ponds, lakes and slow streams in north-eastern Asia
Birth weight: Tiny on hatching as a tadpole
Size at birth: A small tadpole feeding on algae and detritus after hatching
Sexual maturity: 1-2 years
Gestation / incubation: 3-10 days of egg development before hatching; metamorphosis complete after some 2 months
Litter / clutch size: 38 to 257 eggs per clutch, laid in small groups of 3-45
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 30 years in captivity

Sources consulted: National Geographic; Animal Diversity Web; Critter Science; USGS Species Profile; Reptiles Magazine; The Animal Facts; SeaWorld/Busch Gardens; Wikipedia