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Classification

Species: European Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina bombina) Linnaeus, 1761
Species: Yellow-bellied Toad (Bombina variegata) Linnaeus, 1758
Species: Guangxi Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina fortinuptialis) Tian & Wu, 1978
Species: Giant Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina maxima) Boulenger, 1905
Species: Hubei Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina microdeladigitoria) Liu, Hu & Yang, 1960
Species: Oriental Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina orientalis) Boulenger, 1890

European Fire-bellied Toad
(Bombina bombina)

The European fire-bellied toad has the greatest distribution of the four species ranging from the Central Balkans eastward in a wide belt across central and eastern Asia. It is also the smallest species rarely attaining more than 4cm and seems to prefer somewhat cooler, more shaded environments than the other species. The grey-brown dorsum is covered with many tiny spiked tubercles giving a rough texture in between which are located hundreds of tiny pores. The head is more pointed than other species and overall this toad has a distinctly pear-shaped build.  As the common name suggests the underside is a fiery red colour interspersed with black or grey blotches.  

Yellow-bellied Toad
(Bombina variegata kolombatovici)

The yellow-bellied toad is an entirely European species which occurs as several geographically divided subspecies. Although a small toad it is slightly larger and more stockily built than Bombina bombina with the forearms in particular being quite muscular. This toad enjoys long periods of sun basking but is rarely if ever found far from water. The dorsum is usually very dark, almost black although it is able to alter its colour according to its surroundings.  The ventral coloration ranges from a vivid orange-yellow to a pale lemon depending on the subspecies and black, grey or dark blotches are either very evident or totally absent.

Giant fire-bellied toad
(Bombina maxima)

The Giant fire-bellied toad is the 'largest' Bombina but still rarely exceeds 6½cm. At first sight this Chinese species appears like a larger version of Bombina variegata but the belly is a deep carmine red and the dorsal tubercles tend to be more like the warts typical of Bufonid toads. It inhabits cool foothill ponds and slow-moving streams that are frequently surrounded by much vegetation.

Oriental Fire-bellied Toad
(Bombina orientalis)

The most colourful species is undoubtedly the Oriental fire-bellied toad with its grass green and black striated markings. This species inhabits the streams and ponds of warm, humid foothills throughout southern China, Thailand, Korea and other continental south-east Asian countries. Attaining a maximum size of 5½cm, the belly is a beautiful intense orange with a network of black blotches. This is the most stream-lined species and the dorsum is not as heavily warted as in other species.