| European Fire-bellied Toad | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Suborder: | Archaeobatrachia |
| Family: | Bombinatoridae |
| Genus: | Bombina |
| Species: | B. bombina |
| Binomial name | |
| Bombina bombina (Linnaeus, 1761) |
|
The European Fire-bellied Toad Bombina bombina is a fire-bellied toad native to mainland Europe.
These toads are slightly toxic sometimes to humans. When they shed their skin, they bloat themselves and make a coughing sound, then start to tear the old skin off with their mouth, and eat it for nutrition, to reveal newer, brighter skin.
Fire-Bellied toads have a bright lime green dorsal traversed by black spots, and orange to bright red bellies with black bars and stripes. The skin is mildly bumpy, the eyes set high to suit a semi-aquatic life style, and also well webbed back feet. Color and body variations will be described for each of the other 3 species commonly sold as or mistaken for Oriental Fire-Bellied Toads. They are the largest of the bombina family.