Next time you’re in trouble, flash your belly to intimidate foes! Don’t laugh: It works for the fire-bellied toad (Bombina orientalis). This amphibian, which can live up to 20 years, is found throughout parts of Asia. Its vivid coloring is a warning sign to hungry foes about the toxins in its skin. When threatened, the fire-bellied toad arches its back, exposing the edges of its vibrant belly. This signature defensive move is called the unkenreflex. If that doesn’t work, it can flip onto its back to fully expose its underside. Predators who ignore this warning might end up with a mouthful of milky toxins secreted from the pores in this toad’s skin.

Photo: pintail, CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist
#frogs #amphibians #toad #nature #amazinganimals
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