All About Fire-Bellied Toads
A colorful belly, a flat body, and sad croaking sounds – discover everything that makes fire-bellied toads so special!
What Are Fire-Bellied Toads?
Fire-bellied toads are small frogs known for their vividly colored bellies – often bright orange or yellow with numerous black spots. They display this when they feel threatened to scare off predators. The call of an fire-bellied toad resembles a long, mournful croak, sounding like a soft, hollow "uh... uh...". They inhabit shallow ponds, puddles, or damp meadows. Fire-bellied toads are excellent swimmers and can effectively hide in mud or leaves due to their camouflage.
Main Characteristics of Fire-Bellied Toads
- There are 10 species of fire-bellied toads.
- Five of them are found in Europe, while the other five are located in China.
- In Germany, the red-bellied toad and the yellow-bellied toad can be found.
- They are listed on the Red List of endangered species.
- Fire-bellied toads are quite small. Most of them only reach a length of 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm).
- The largest fire-bellied toad is the large-webbed bell toad. It measures 3 inches (7.5 cm) in body length.
- Unlike other toads, they have a distinctly flat body.
- Their top side is darkly spotted and serves as camouflage.
- The belly is brightly colored and serves to deter enemies.
- The Unkenreflex is a term that refers to the defensive posture they adopt, where they lie on their backs, display their brightly colored bellies, and play dead. Unke is the German word for fire-bellied toad.
- In young animals, the belly is not yet colored; it is white.
- Fire-bellied toads secrete a fluid that irritates the skin and eyes.
- They can produce enough fluid to cover its entire body surface – it appears like a white foam.
- Due to their skin-irritating fluid and bright colors, toads are also known as fire toads.
- Despite this, they have many enemies: grass snakes, dice snakes, white storks, crows, and magpies.
- Fire-bellied toads are usually active at night, but sometimes they can also be active during the day.
- They are adapted to life both on land and in water.
- Fire-bellied toads are carnivores. They feed on mosquito larvae, beetles, ants, spiders, and small invertebrates.
- They cannot stick out their tongues; instead, they snap at their prey with their strong jaws.
- Their pupils of toads are either triangular or heart-shaped.
- The call of a toad sounds like a long, sorrowful wail.
- In Germany, it was once said that someone "unks" when they say something negative ("Unke" is the German word for fire-bellied toad).
Top 3 Features of Fire-Bellied Toads
1. Brown Back, Colorful Belly
All fire-bellied toads have a nondescript brown back that serves as camouflage, making them nearly invisible in the mud. Their belly is bright red or yellow. When a predator approaches, they flip onto their backs, display their brightly colored belly, and play dead. This defensive posture is known as the "Unkenreflex" ("Unke" is the German word for fire-bellied toads).
2. Flat as a Pancake
Ok, fire-bellied toads might not be as flat as pancakes, but they are definitely flatter than frogs or toads. This body shape helps them hide in shallow water.
3. Unken Saliva
Fire-bellied toads secrete a fluid that irritates the skin and eyes. They can produce enough saliva to cover their entire body surface, which appears as a white foam. Due to their saliva and bright colors, they are also referred to as fire toads. Nevertheless, fire-bellied toads have many enemies: grass snakes, dice snakes, white storks, crows, and magpies.
