Yellow-belied Toad

The Yellow-belied Toad (Bombina variegata) belongs to the family of fire frogs (Bombinatoridae), from the order of grassless amphibians (Anura). The Yellow-belied Toad grows up to 5 [cm], and the body is covered with warts (tubercles). It features a yellow or orange colored belly interspersed with large black spots. The pupil of the eye is triangular or heart-shaped. The Yellow-belied Toad usually feeds on terrestrial arthropods, but also on aquatic invertebrates. Depending on the altitude, the wintering period begins in September or early October and lasts until March or May. Reproduction begins 5 ÷ 10 days after entering the water and lasts until August. It lays the eggs in groups of 50 ÷ 100 or more.   The species Bombina variegata is found in Central and Southern Europe (excluding the Iberian Peninsula) and east of the Carpathians in Ukraine, while the subspecies Bombina variegata scabra is a Balkan endemic. Groups of yellow moth are commonly found in shallow, mostly occasionally exposed to the sun. In NP Ezerani this frog is found by the lake and in the occasional ponds and ponds. Yellow-belied Toad is listed in Annexes II and IV of the Habitat Directive and Annex II of the Bern Convention, while in R.N. Macedonia has the status of protected wild species.