Bombinatoridae

Bombinatoridae Temporal range: Pliocene–Recent PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
File:Bombina variegata1.jpg
Bombina variegata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Subclass:	Lissamphibia
Superorder:	Batrachia
Order:	Anura
Suborder:	Archaeobatrachia
Family:	Bombinatoridae
Genera
Barbourula Bombina
File:Bombinatoridae map.PNG
Distribution of Bombinatoridae (in black)

The Bombinatoridae are often referred to as fire-bellied toads because of their brightly colored ventral sides, which show they are highly toxic. This family includes two genera, Barbourula and Bombina, both of which have flattened bodies.

Bombina species are warty, aquatic toads about 7 cm (2.8 in) in length, and most noted for their bright bellies. They often display the unken reflex when disturbed; the animal will arch its back and limbs to expose the bright belly, and may turn over on its back. This acts as a warning to predators. The vocal behavior of some Bombina sp. is unusual in that the call is produced during inhalation rather than exhalation as in other frogs. They lay pigmented eggs in ponds.

Barbourula species occur in the Philippine Islands and Borneo, while Bombina species are found throughout Eurasia. They are slightly less colored than Bombina, and possess webbed fingers in addition to webbed toes. Characteristics of tadpoles of Barbourula are unknown.

Barbourula was considered to be situated intermediate between Discoglossus and Bombina, but closer to the latter, and was therefore also added to the Bombinatoridae when that family was split from the Discoglossidae.

Fossil Bombina specimens are known from the Pliocene to the Pleistocene; there are no known fossils of Barbourula.

Species

Family BOMBINATORIDAE

• Genus Barbourula
  • B. busuangensis - Philippine flat-headed frog or Busuanga jungle toad
  • B. kalimantanensis - Bornean flat-headed frog or Kalimantan jungle toad
• Genus Bombina
  • B. bombina (Linnaeus, 1761) – European fire-bellied toad
  • B. lichuanensis Ye and Fei, 1993 – Lichuan bell toad
  • B. fortinuptialis Tian & Wu, 1978 – large-spined bell toad or Guangxi firebelly toad
  • B. microdeladigitora Liu, Hu & Yang, 1960 – Hubei firebelly toad, considered a synonym of B. maxima
  • B. maxima (Boulenger, 1905) – Yunnan firebelly toad
  • B. orientalis (Boulenger, 1890) – Oriental fire-bellied toad
  • B. pachypus (Bonaparte, 1838) – Apennine yellow-bellied toad
  • B. variegata (Linnaeus, 1758) – yellow-bellied toad