firebellied

Firebellied is a common name used for several amphibians that share a conspicuous orange or red ventral surface, a warning signal to potential predators. The term is most often applied to two groups: firebellied toads of the genus Bombina and firebellied newts of the genus Cynops. Although not closely related, these species show convergent coloration and defensive strategies.

Firebellied toads (Bombina spp.) include Bombina bombina (European firebellied toad) and Bombina variegata. They are small to medium-sized toads with warty skin and a bright ventral coloration. They inhabit wetlands, ponds, and slow streams across Europe and western Asia, breeding in still water where eggs hatch into free-swimming tadpoles. The ventral color serves as a deterrent to predators, and the skin can release toxins when threatened.

Firebellied newts (Cynops spp.) include Cynops pyrrhogaster (Japanese firebellied newt) and Cynops orientalis (Chinese firebellied newt). They are slender salamanders with smooth skin and similarly vivid orange or red undersides. They occupy ponds, marshes, and forest wetlands in East Asia. In Cynops, skin secretions can contain tetrodotoxin in some species, providing a chemical defense. They spend part of the year on land but return to water to breed; eggs hatch into aquatic larvae.

Both groups are opportunistic predators feeding on small invertebrates. Reproduction is tied to aquatic habitats, with eggs laid in water and larvae undergoing metamorphosis. Habitat loss, pollution, and collection threaten certain species; several are protected in their range, and captive breeding occurs in zoos and among hobbyists under regulated conditions.