This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (November 2015) |
Fire-bellied toads | |
---|---|
European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Amphibia |
Order: | Anura |
Family: | Bombinatoridae |
Genus: | Bombina Oken, 1816 |
Species | |
See text | |
Synonyms | |
List
|
The fire-bellied toads are a group of six species of small frogs (most species typically no longer than 1.6 in or 4.1 cm) belonging to the genus Bombina.
The name "fire-bellied" is derived from the brightly colored red- or yellow-and-black patterns on the toads' ventral regions, which act as aposematic coloration, a warning to predators of the toads' reputedly foul taste. The other parts of the toads' skins are green or dark brown. When confronted with a potential predator, these toads commonly engage in an unkenreflex, Unken- being the combining form of Unke, German for fire-bellied toad. In the unkenreflex, the toad arches its back, raising its front and back legs to display the aposematic coloration of its ventral side.