Amphibians - Yellow-bellied toad

Yellow-bellied toad

The yellow pattern stretches to the tip and ventral surface of the fingers and toes - it is a reliable distinctive trait from the fire-bellied toad.

(photo: Judit Vörös)

The dorsal surface of the YELLOW-BELLIED TOAD is gray with acute, thorny tubercles. In contrast with the fire-bellied toads their ventral side has bright lemon or light yellow connected spots which spread also to the thumbs. During the breeding season the male has dark nuptial pads on the 1st and 2nd fingers and on the inner surface of its forearm. Their body is sturdier than that of the fire-bellied toad, and they have no vocal sac, therefore their calling signal is faint. The toads have mucousous granular skin glands, if their excretion contacts the mucous membrane of an agressors, it causes a burning, sharp sensation. The adult toads grow 40-60 mm, in the larval stage they are 31-54 mm. The distance between the tadpole’s eyes is twice as between their nostrils and young tadpoles lack the yellowish stripes of the fire-bellied toad.

Distibution map by our National Herpetological Mapping Program:

Fire-bellied toads in amplexus

Before breeding the males grab the females at the base of the thighs.

(photo: Judit Vörös)

Yellow-bellied toad male and fire-bellied toad female

The yellow or orange patches cover significantly larger area on the belly of the yellow-bellied toad (on the left).

(photo: Judot Vörös)

Male fire-bellied toad

It is often found in pothole and wheel-track puddles on cart roads.

(photo: Judit Vörös)

Defensive reflex

When unable to escape from danger both yellow and fire-bellied toads perform a characteristic reflex. They csase their backbone, letting show their conspicuously coloured ventral side, while excreting skin secretions.

(photo: Judit Vörös)