Yellow-bellied toad

Bombina variegata
Red Data Book of Ukraine — vulnerableNatura 2000Hunting is prohibited
Yellow-bellied toad
Photo: Hwbund, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Yellow-bellied toad
Photo: S.R., CC BY, iNaturalist
Yellow-bellied toad
Photo: Tamás Kiss, CC BY, iNaturalist · photo: Албанія

About

The Yellow-bellied toad is a small amphibian of the mountain and foothill forests. In Ukraine, it inhabits the Carpathians and Transcarpathia, and it is also found in Poland, Slovakia, and Romania. It is most often found in puddles on forest roads, in ruts, ditches, shallow waters near streams, and in quarries — in water that warms up well in the sun.

The toad measures only 4–5 cm in length. Its back is gray-brown or olive, bumpy, and it can be easily overlooked in a muddy puddle. However, its belly and the soles of its feet are bright yellow or orange with bluish-black spots. Its pupils are heart-shaped.

When sensing a threat, the toad arches its body, raises its legs, and displays its bright belly — this is how it warns that it is inedible. Its skin secretes an irritating substance, so after contact, hands should be washed and eyes should not be touched.

Toads are active from spring to autumn. Males quietly 'croak' in puddles, while females lay eggs in small clumps on plants or the bottom. The main threat to them is the disappearance of temporary water bodies on roads and the drying up of puddles.

The Yellow-bellied toad is listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine as a vulnerable species.

Where in the Carpathians

fewermore1 342 records in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries
Ukraine · Romania · Poland · Slovakia · Hungary · Czechia
Mountain ranges
Pokuttia-Bukovina Carpathians, Gorgany, Maramureș Mountains, Krasna Polonyna, Watershed Ridge, Chornohora, Bieszczady, Rivna Polonyna, Vihorlat-Gutin Volcanic Ridge, Skole Beskids
Altitude belts
Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sightings

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Safety

The skin of the toad secretes an irritating substance. After contact, wash your hands and do not touch your eyes.

Protection and rules

Catching and holding toads is prohibited: the species is listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ

What kind of toad with a yellow belly is found in puddles in the Carpathians?

This is the Yellow-bellied toad — a small amphibian measuring 4–5 cm that lives in puddles of forest roads. It is listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Is the Yellow-bellied toad poisonous?

Its skin secretes an irritating substance. It is not deadly, but after contact, hands should be washed and eyes should not be touched.

Similar species

Common frogCommon frogRana temporariaThe highest-altitude frog of the Carpathians: found from valleys to polonynas and the first to wake up in spring.
Carpathian newtRed Data Book of UkraineCarpathian newtLissotriton montandoniAn endemic of the Carpathians: a small newt with an orange belly lives only in these mountains. A vulnerable species in the Red Book of Ukraine.
Fire salamanderRed Data Book of UkraineFire salamanderSalamandra salamandraThe black salamander with yellow spots emerges in the beech forests of the Carpathians after rain. It is a vulnerable species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Where to meet it

Trails

Volova village – Mount Rotylo – Volova villageModerateOne-dayMarkedVolova village loopvia Mount RotyloElevation profile775–1 441 m13.2 kmascent 712 m≈ 4.5 h walkingVolova village – Vesnarka polonynaModerateOne-dayMarkedVolova village Vesnarka polonynaElevation profile743–1 472 m8.9 kmascent 742 m≈ 3.5 h walkingKosmach village – Mount RotyloModerateOne-dayKosmach village Mount RotyloElevation profile787–1 483 m9.6 kmascent 750 m≈ 4 h walkingTo Mount PozheratulEasyOne-dayMarkedTo Mount PozheratulElevation profile787–1 376 m3 kmascent 3 m≈ 45 min walkingTo Mount PozheratulEasyOne-dayMarkedTo Mount PozheratulElevation profile788–1 447 m6.2 kmascent 720 m≈ 3 h walkingKosmach village – Mount Hrehit – Kosmach villageHardTwo-dayMarkedKosmach village loopvia Mount HrehitElevation profile584–1 470 m22 kmascent 936 m≈ 7.5 h walking
Kosmach village, via Mount Rotylo, Mount Hrehit and Mount Bila Kobyla to Bukovets villageHardMulti-dayKosmach village to Bukovets villagevia Mount Rotylo, Mount Hrehit +1Elevation profile615–1 474 m40.2 kmascent 2 290 mShybene village, via Mount Stih, Mount Reheska and Mount Kopylash to Shybene villageHardMulti-dayShybene village loopvia Mount Stih, Mount Reheska +1Elevation profile847–1 571 m32.2 kmascent 897 m≈ 10 h walkingMount Kinashka – Lekechi villageEasyOne-dayMarkedMount Kinashka Lekechi villageElevation profile521–1 043 m9.5 kmascent 4 m≈ 2.5 h walkingTo Mount StrymbaModerateOne-dayMarkedTo Mount StrymbaElevation profile637–1 719 m5.5 kmascent 1 082 m≈ 3.5 h walkingNature trail «To the Guardians of Nedeia»EasyOne-dayMarkedNature trail «To the Guardians of Nedeia»Elevation profile576–841 m5.4 kmascent 436 m≈ 2 h walkingKorchyn village – Hurkalo WaterfallEasyOne-dayMarkedKorchyn village Hurkalo WaterfallElevation profile399–519 m6.2 kmascent 138 m≈ 2 h walking

Waters and waterfalls

Skruntar waterfallWaterfallSkruntar waterfallZakernychneSkruntar is a waterfall in the Ukrainian Carpathians, on the northern edge of the Gorgany massif.Gurkalo waterfallWaterfallGurkalo waterfallKorchynGurkal, located on the Velyka Richka River, has a very eloquent name! You can't argue with it, especially when the...Krushelnytskyi waterfallWaterfallKrushelnytskyi waterfallKrushelnytsiaThe real decoration of the mighty Carpathian Mountains is its numerous picturesque waterfalls.Tereblia RiverRiverTereblia RiverKolochavaThe Tereblia begins in the Inner Gorgany, where the Roztoka and Sloboda streams meet, and flows through Synevyrska...Siret RiverRiverSiret RiverBerehometThe Siret is a major Danube tributary 682 km long, but only its first 123 km lie in Ukraine.Cascading waterfall "Suceava Hook"WaterfallCascading waterfall "Suceava Hook"Dolishnii ShepitThe cascade of waterfalls "Suceava Hook" is a unique natural monument of the Chernivtsi region.
Opir RiverRiverOpir RiverSkoleThe Opir is a 58-km mountain river of the Skole Beskids. It rises on the eastern slope of Mount Velykyi Yavirnyk,...Chorna Tysa RiverRiverChorna Tysa RiverYasinyaThe Chorna Tysa is a mountain river in eastern Zakarpattia. It rises on the northern spurs of the Svydovets massif...Bukovinian (Smugar) waterfallsWaterfallBukovinian (Smugar) waterfallsRoztokyA picturesque chain of waterfalls, up to two kilometers long, stretches along the Smuhariv River in Bukovyna, in the...Lake Lebedyn (Sheshory)LakeLake Lebedyn (Sheshory)SheshoryLake Lebedyn (Lebedine) is located at an altitude of 650 m amidst beech forests and has been a protected area since...Dead Lake (Sheshory)LakeDead Lake (Sheshory)SheshoryNot far from the Rosokhata valley, on the neighboring Karmatura ridge, there is the Dead Lake.Bila Tysa RiverRiverBila Tysa RiverBohdanThe Bila Tysa rises on the south-western slopes of Chornohora, where the Stohovets and Balzatul streams meet, and...

Mountain ranges: Pokuttia-Bukovina Carpathians, Gorgany, Maramureș Mountains, Krasna Polonyna, Watershed Ridge, Chornohora, Bieszczady, Rivna Polonyna, Vihorlat-Gutin Volcanic Ridge, Skole Beskids, Polonynian Ridge, Hryniava Mountains, Chyvchyn Mountains, Borzhava

Trails and peaks near which naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude and habitat. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Sources

GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Distribution data: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY records), iNaturalist; names and identifiers: Wikidata (CC0). Text: Karpaty.rocks, checked 09.11.2026.