fire-bellied toad

fire-bellied toad

 (Bombina), small amphibian (family Bombinatoridae) characterized by bright orange markings on the undersides of its grayish body and limbs. The common fire-bellied toad (B. bombina) is a pond dweller about 5 centimetres (2 inches) long. When disturbed it raises its forearms and arches its head and hind legs over its back. Resting on the lower part of its tautly curved abdomen, it freezes with the bright colours of its underside on display. This reaction to danger, the “unken reflex,” is thought to be a warning signal to indicate to potential predators that the skin of the frog is poisonous.

      The genus Bombina includes four other species, one European and three Asian. These also have brightly marked undersides. All breed in water. Tadpoles develop rapidly and often undergo metamorphosis in less than 45 days.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Fire-bellied toad — Taxobox name = Fire bellied toad image width = 250px image caption = European Fire bellied Toad ( Bombina bombina ) regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Amphibia ordo = Anura familia = Bombinatoridae genus = Bombina genus authority =… …   Wikipedia

  • fire-bellied toad — noun toad of central and eastern Europe having red or orange patches mixed with black on its underside • Syn: ↑Bombina bombina • Hypernyms: ↑frog, ↑toad, ↑toad frog, ↑anuran, ↑batrachian, ↑salientian …   Useful english dictionary

  • fire bellied toad — noun A small green or brown aquatic toad with orange belly and black spots …   Wiktionary

  • Oriental Fire-bellied Toad — Bombina orientalis Conservation status …   Wikipedia

  • European Fire-bellied Toad — Taxobox name = European Fire bellied Toad status = LC | status system = IUCN3.1 trend = down image width = 250px regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Amphibia ordo = Anura subordo = Archaeobatrachia familia = Bombinatoridae genus =… …   Wikipedia

  • fire-bellied toad — Bombina bombina …   Medical dictionary

  • Fire-bellied — may refer to:* European Fire bellied Toad, fire bellied toad native to mainland Europe * Fire bellied toad, group of eight species of small toads belonging to the genus Bombina …   Wikipedia

  • Yellow-bellied toad — Taxobox name = Yellow bellied toad status = LC | status system = IUCN3.1 trend = unknown image width = 250px regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Amphibia ordo = Anura subordo = Archaeobatrachia familia = Bombinatoridae genus = Bombina… …   Wikipedia

  • toad frog — noun any of various tailless stout bodied amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping; semiaquatic and terrestrial species • Syn: ↑frog, ↑toad, ↑anuran, ↑batrachian, ↑salientian • Derivationally related forms: ↑batrachian ( …   Useful english dictionary

  • Japanese Fire Belly Newt — fire bellied newts Conservation status Least Concern ( …   Wikipedia

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