European Fire-bellied Toad
⚡ Key Facts & Quick Answers (AEO Summary)
- Taxonomic Class: Amphibians (Amphibia)
- Dietary Niche: Insectivore (Water beetles, flies, worms, larvae)
- Max Speed: 3 km/h (1.9 mph)
- Adult Weight: 5 - 10 grams
- Typical Lifespan: 10 - 12 years
- Primary Habitat: Ponds, marshes, flooded meadows, quarry pools
- Native Region: Central and Eastern Europe
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern
📊 Physical & Biological Metrics
🧬 Scientific Taxonomy & Biological Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Amphibia |
| Order | Anura |
| Family | Bombinatoridae |
| Genus | Bombina |
| Species Binomial | Bombina bombina |
📖 1. Species Overview
The European Fire-bellied Toad is a small aquatic amphibian famous for its bright orange-red warning belly. When threatened, they arch their back to display their bright underside (unkenreflex).
🦿 2. Physical Appearance, Anatomy & Adaptations
Dark bumpy grey-green back skin, bright red or orange belly covered in black spots, and heart-shaped pupils.
🗺️ 3. Habitat, Geographic Distribution & Territorial Range
Semi-aquatic. They float on pond surfaces, making soft WHOOP-WHOOP calls.
🥩 4. Diet, Feeding Strategy & Hunting Tactics
Catch water insects and flies along pond margins.
🐣 5. Reproduction, Lifecycle & Social Hierarchy
Females lay small jelly clumps of 10-30 eggs attached to water weeds.
🛡️ 6. Conservation Status, Population Threats & Protection
Least Concern, though threatened locally by wetland drainage.
💡 Fascinating Facts & Trivia
- They have unique heart-shaped pupils in their eyes.
- When attacked, they flip onto their back to reveal their fiery red belly, warning predators of their toxic skin mucus.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Direct authoritative answers regarding the biology, feeding habits, and habitat of the European Fire-bellied Toad.
The European Fire-bellied Toad is scientifically classified as Bombina bombina. It belongs to the genus Bombina within the family Bombinatoridae, class Amphibia, and phylum Chordata.
In the wild, European Fire-bellied Toads inhabit Ponds, marshes, flooded meadows, quarry pools. Their native geographic range primarily spans Central and Eastern Europe.
The European Fire-bellied Toad is classified as a Insectivore. It feeds primarily on specialized nutrients suited to its ecological niche in Ponds, marshes, flooded meadows, quarry pools.
A European Fire-bellied Toad can achieve top speeds of 3 km/h (1.9 mph) and weighs approximately 5 - 10 grams. Its expected natural lifespan is 10 - 12 years.
The European Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina bombina) is currently designated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Cite this Article
FaunaWiki Zoological Database (2026). "European Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina bombina) Species Profile."
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