Species Fact Profile: Oriental Fire-Bellied Toad (Bombina orientalis)

                                                   Oriental Fire-Bellied Toad

                                           Bombina orientalis (Boulenger, 1890)

Range:  Eastern Asia (northeastern China, Korea, southeastern Russia, possibly Japan)

Habitat: Coniferous and Deciduous Forest Wetlands

Diet: Insects, Mollusks, Worms, Algae, Fungi

Social Grouping: Occur at high population densities in favorable habitat, but asocial

Reproduction: Breed in late spring, through summer.  Males court females by calling in shallow water to attract females, fertilizes eggs as the female lays eggs as she swims, with the male clinging to her back.  Up to 250 eggs, split among several clutches, laid on submerged plants in shallow water.  Hatch as tadpoles after 3-10 days, complete metamorphosis and leave the water at about 5 months

Lifespan: 30 Years

      Conservation Status: IUCN Least Concern

• Body length 3.5-8 centimeters long, weight 25-55 grams.  Females are larger than males, but males have thicker forearms; during the mating season, males also develop nuptial pads on their first and second fingers.
• Dorsal color varies from brownish-gray to bright green, often with some dark spotting; dorsal skin has many pronounced tubercles,.  Ventral surface is bright red or yellow (the "fire belly"), also with black spotting
• Unlike many frogs and toads, cannot extent their tongue to catch prey, so instead jump on it
• Skin contains a toxin, bombesin.  While primarily relying on the camouflage of their dorsal surface to hide from predators, if they are seen they will flip over and arch their backs (position called unkenreflex) to show off their red bellies, warning predators' of their poison.  Some species of snake can eat the toad with no ill effect.  Toxin is generally not very harmful to humans, but can be introduced through mucus members after handling.
• Hibernate from late September through late April or early May, sometimes alone, sometimes in small groups.  Hibernate inside fallen trees, stone piles, or in the leaf litter, but sometimes in water
• Commonly kept as a pet, as well as a research specimen, among the best-studied of amphibians
• Very resilient to habitat disturbance, and can even be found breeding in heavily polluted water.  Despite this, and their popularity as pets, they have not become invasive