ANIMAL: Oriental Fire-Bellied Toad Bombina orientalis Type of Animal: Frog Habitat: Streams, wetlands, ponds, pools, paddy fields, springs, ditches, puddles, lakes, bogs, marshes, mixed forest, mixed coniferous-broadleaf forest, coniferous forest, broadleaf forest, open meadows, river valleys, swampy bushland, swamps, high elevation deciduous forest, spruce forest, pine forest, leafy forest Location(s): Korea, NE China, SE Russia. Introduced population near Beijing. Appearance: Bright green w/ black mottling in dorsal region, complexion can darken to brown/black depending on background scenery, bright yellow to red (typically bright reddish-orange) ventral region mottled w/ dark brown to black, males smaller than females Food/Diet: Adults/toadlets eat insects, insect larvae, worms, mollusks, springtails, spiders, & guppies. Tadpoles eat detritus, algae, fungi, plants, & protozoans. Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding in zoos, aquariums, & herpetoculture Lifestyle: Groups of 6-60 toads, more males than females typically seen at breeding sites Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young: Tadpole Group: Knot Weight: Male: 1 oz Female: 2 oz Gestation: 3-10 days Life Span: 12-20 years Body Length: Male: 1.5 in Female: 2 in Young: 0.69 in Main predators are birds, fish, larger amphibians, snakes, foxes, cats, & lizards. Breeding seasons lasts from mid-May to July. Mating typically occurs at night w/ male grasping female just in front of hind limbs (amplexus). Males float on top of water w/ legs splayed, calling w/ sound similar to gentle tapping of musical triangle-“ting ting” sound lasting only 15 seconds. Females deposit 35-260 eggs either individually or in small clumps each season. Skin poisonous, being harmful if rubbed in eyes/mouth/on broken skin. Hands should always be washed before/after handling. Nonetheless, they’re very popular pets. Hatch out as tadpoles, w/ hind legs breaking through at 3 weeks old, & “arms” appearing a week later. At 5 weeks old, they metamorphose from tadpoles to toadlets, reaching maturity at 6 months old. When tadpole gills change to lungs, also grows feet & tail shrinks. Once it reaches toadlet stage, tail is gone. They hibernate from late September to mid-May-long hibernation due to cold climate. When in danger, they’ll arch back or even flip on back exposing brightly colored belly. Also called Chinese Fire-Bellied Toad, Bombina Toad, & Tuti Toad. Fun Fact(s): Frogs/toads don’t give people warts-warts caused by human papillomaviruses. Males work themselves into such a frenzy during breeding season, they’ll attach themselves to other male toads, other frog/toad species, newts, floating twigs, plants, fish, & even human fingers. Unlike many other frogs/toads, they can’t extend tongues. To feed, they leap forward & catch prey w/ mouths. Though called toads, they’re technically frogs & most closely related to Painted Frogs & Midwife Toads.
