Range:

This toad is only found on the plains of Eastern Asia.

Habitat:

Ponds, rice paddies, lake shores.

Characteristics:

Despite the remarkably vivid coloring of its underbelly, the fire-bellied toad merges perfectly with its surroundings; its dull brown to bright green back renders it almost invisible against the muddy margins of the pools and ponds where it lives. The back is also usually dotted with glossy black spots. The under parts are red or orange-red. This toad also has a tiny rounded head with large eyes that have heart-shaped pupils.

 

Behavior:

When a fire-bellied toad senses danger it throws itself onto its back and arches its body exposing the brilliant warning spots on its belly. This toad has a plaintive, melodious croak that sounds like the clinking of a small bell. It is a solid-tempered amphibian that doesn't move about much during the day except to hunt for food. It is aquatic throughout the spring and summer; it buries itself in soft earth for the winter and emerges for the first signs of warm weather in the spring.

Reproduction:

The female lays approximately 40-70 eggs. Incubation lasts 8 days. A fully grown tadpole is generally 1 1/5-2 inches in length.