In July, we would like to highlight a truly colorful species – the fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina). In Latvia, this species is primarily threatened by the overgrowth of ponds, which reduces the number of suitable breeding sites and habitats.

The fire-bellied toad is small in size, typically reaching only 5-6 cm in length. Its back can vary in shades of brown or olive-gray, often adorned with darker spots. The belly is bluish-black with bright red or orange patches, which is where the species gets its common Latvian name. The pupils of its eyes are heart-shaped. If you encounter this rare species in the wild, be cautious, as its skin secretes a toxic substance.

Fire-bellied toads begin breeding at two years of age, with the majority of the breeding population consisting of individuals 4-5 years old. The maximum lifespan of the species in the wild is just 6 years for males and 7 years for females, although in captivity, the recorded maximum lifespan is around 20 years.

Research conducted during the LIFE FOR SPECIES project has classified the species as vulnerable in Latvia (VU).

The breeding season for fire-bellied toads is extended and lasts from May to June, although male vocalizations can be heard until autumn. The entire active period is spent in bodies of water, mainly ponds, and gravel or peat quarries. For spawning, they choose water bodies with stable water levels, avoiding ponds with sandy shores and preferring those with clayey soils.

During the breeding season, the male fire-bellied toad can be distinguished from the female by the dark brown nuptial pads on the inner forelimbs. The total number of eggs is small (~300), laid in clusters on underwater vegetation. The tadpoles hatch after 4-10 days and are characterized by a high tail fin with a reticulated structure. Fire-bellied toad tadpoles tend to stay in overgrown areas of the water layer, with metamorphosis occurring in the second half of August. The length of young toads after metamorphosis is around 1-1.5 cm. They feed on small aquatic creatures (mosquito larvae, etc.) and invertebrates from the shore (spiders, flies, insect larvae). The species most often hibernates on land.