Yellow-bellied Toad
Bombina variegata
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-bellied_toad
Overview
The yellow-bellied toad belongs to the order Anura, the archaeobatrachial family Bombinatoridae, and the genus of fire-bellied toads. The toad is distributed mainly across western Europe as well as a handful of countries in eastern Europe. While the population of the toad is steadily decreasing over time, its numbers are not critical enough to be considered threatened or extinct.
Conservation efforts in Germany are taking place to remedy the declining population before it is too late.
The Yellow-bellied Toad faces severe population declines across its range due to widespread habitat destruction and degradation of its specialized breeding sites. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and pollution have eliminated many of the small, temporary water bodies essential for reproduction, while climate change threatens to further reduce suitable habitat availability.
Habitat
Inhabits hilly and mountainous regions with temporary and permanent small water bodies including puddles, ditches, quarry pools, and shallow ponds, typically in open woodlands, grasslands, and agricultural areas up to 2000m elevation. Requires both aquatic breeding sites and terrestrial refugia such as rock crevices, stone walls, and loose soil for overwintering.
Other threatened species in Bombinatoridae
Threatened in Albania
Frequently asked questions
Why is Yellow-bellied Toad classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Yellow-bellied Toad live?
What are the main threats to Yellow-bellied Toad?
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