Oriental Fire-bellied Toad

Bombina orientalis

A small, warty green toad whose bright red-orange belly warns predators that its skin is toxic.

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About the Oriental Fire-bellied Toad

Oriental fire-bellied toads grow up to 2 inches long. Their warty backs are brown to bright green with dark spots, and their smooth bellies are red-orange to yellow with dark spots. They live in northeastern China, Korea and eastern Russia, in and near water. They can't stick out their tongues, so they leap forward and grab prey with their mouths.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Bombina orientalis^[1]
Size: Up to 2 inches long.^[1]
Lifespan: Often 12 to 15 years; up to 20 in human care.^[1]
Diet: Insects and other small animals; tadpoles eat algae and other bits.^[1]
Habitat: Slow streams and ponds in forests, meadows, river valleys and swampy brush.^[1]
Where it lives: Northeastern China, North and South Korea and eastern Russia.^[1]
Group life: Social; hibernates in small groups.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2019).^[2]

Fun facts

Fire-bellied toads can't stick out their tongues.^[1]
Males call by breathing in, not out.^[1]
Their call sounds like a tapped triangle.^[1]

Vocabulary

toxin: A poison made by a living thing.
warning coloration: Bright colors that tell predators an animal is dangerous to eat.
hibernate: To spend the winter in a deep, sleep-like state.
amphibian: A cold-blooded animal, such as a frog or salamander, that usually starts life in water and has moist skin.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Reptile Discovery CenterSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Oriental fire-bellied toad.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/oriental-fire-bellied-toad (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Bombina orientalis (Oriental Fire-bellied Toad).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/54449/63850146 (accessed 2026-10-08)