Why Is The Fire Bellied Toad Best Avoided?

The fire bellied toad looks quite harmless from above – it has dull grey brown or dull green skin that acts as good camouflage to keep them safe as they sit among the plants in ponds or streams.

If they are threatened by a potential predator, they then reveal their true colours; they rear up and expose their underbelly which is a striking yellow or red colour, a bit like fire leaping up at the attacker. This warns the enemy that something bad will happen if they do not back off. In extreme cases, the toad will flip over completely and even reveal the brightly coloured pads at the bottom of its feet.

If the predator continues and tries to take a bite of the fire bellied toad it is rewarded with a mouth full of toxic foaming fluid that is secreted in large quantities on the toads skin. This causes burning and irritation in the mouth of the attacker.

Despite this great defence, fire bellied toads often make a meal for a snake, who apparently don't mind the burning.

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