Одним из интереснейших земноводных, которое sometimes found in the role of a pet, is a small frog - red-bellied toad. It received its name for the tuberous skin on the red abdomen with dark spots, reminiscent of solidifying volcanic streams. There is a popular belief that the toad dwells near the fire-breathing mountains (terrestrial vents). Unka, kumka - and so are also called these frogs for the characteristic sounds that make males during the breeding season.
The size of the frog usually does not exceed 6 cm.In this case, females are somewhat larger than males. Peculiar appearance, which is different red-bellied toad. The description of the unusual coloring of these amphibians deserves special attention. The top of the frog is gray or almost black, covered with dark green spots. On a red or orange abdomen there are spots of bluish-black color with a multitude of white dots. Bright red color on the area does not exceed the dark. On the lower surface of the legs there are many small red spots. This color frog warns other animals that hunting it is dangerous and can lead to poisoning. It is known that the skin of a toad is capable of releasing the toxic substance frinolitsin. It covers the frog's entire body at the moment of danger, protecting it from enemies.
The membranes are only on the hind legs.Toads, and on the front are missing. Another distinctive feature of this amazing frog are pupils. They have an unusual triangular shape, reminiscent of hearts.
This species of frogs is most common inCentral Europe (to Germany and Austria) and in Eastern Europe - to the Urals, including the Kirov region, Udmurtia and Bashkiria. The north-western border of the distribution of the toad passes from the south of Denmark and Sweden, and the south - along the north-west of Turkey, Krasnodar Territory and Stavropol.
Red-bellied toad prefers to settle inshallow, well-heated standing water. It can often be found in small lakes, ponds, marshes and ditches with a muddy bottom, especially where there is a lot of duckweed and riparian vegetation. Occasionally, this frog can be found in the semi-flowing creeks of small rivulets. It can move from one reservoir to another, making movements over land up to 700 meters.
Red-bellied toad frog - mostlyaquatic animal. It is active at air temperature from 10 to 30⁰С. Almost all the warm season of the year is spent in the reservoir, and in October – November it goes for wintering, which it usually spends on land. Rodents' holes serve as a refuge, as well as sand pits along the banks of reservoirs; sometimes the wintering place of a toad is found under residential buildings and in cellars. Hibernation usually lasts 150 days - until March or April. 2 weeks after its termination, the period of reproduction begins in the frogs.
Under natural conditions, red-bellied toad(there is a photo of a frog in this article) eats small invertebrates and insects - worms, dragonflies, beetles, etc. The diet in many respects depends on the habitat. Thus, in the Volga region and in Kazakhstan, various beetles dominate in it, in the Voronezh region - earthworms, and in the Caucasus the main food is diptera larvae. Cannibalism is sometimes found among frogs of this species, when large individuals eat small ones.
When keeping a toad in a terrarium oraquarium, it can be fed with bloodworms, mealworms, pipe maker, crickets, small daphnia, as well as special food sold in pet stores. The diet of domestic frogs must necessarily include vitamin and mineral supplements. Young animals are fed daily, and it is enough for adults to give food once every two days.
Red-bellied toad becomes sexually maturean individual only in the second, and sometimes even in the fourth year of life. The breeding season is very extended in time and lasts all summer. In shallow areas of the reservoir, where there is no flow, the female lays eggs at night, which is attached to the stems of plants and algae. The average for the season the number of deferred eggs is 300 pieces.
After about 10 days,tadpoles. They have a length of 3 to 5 mm and a wide caudal fin, with which they can move quite a considerable distance. Turning them into a frog takes about 3 months.
The toad feels great in the hometerrarium If in the natural environment frogs rarely live long, then in captivity their life expectancy is 10–15 years, or even longer. To put the toad in one terrarium with other amphibians in any case is impossible, since their poison will be destructive for neighbors. It is important to comply with certain requirements that experts impose on the content of these animals:
With good care, such a frog as a red-bellied toad can live long enough in the house.
These frogs behave quite unusually.Language toad has some features of the structure. Because of this, hunting for insects, she does not throw him forward, as other frogs do, but jumps on prey, opening her mouth wide.
At the sight of a predator, the toad flips onto its back, revealing its orange belly. This is a signal that she is poisonous and better stay away from her.
During the mating season, the males settle at the depth of the reservoir and begin to pound the water with their full force with their paws, showing their rivals that the territory is occupied.
Biologists are closely watching these amphibians, because they are quite rare and are listed in the Red Book.
