UNKENREFLEX YELLOW BELLIED TOAD

BOMBINA VARIEGATA

The unken reflex is a passive defense posture adopted by toads, frogs and salamanders. When threatened by predators, they twist their bodies, or arch their backs and limbs to expose brightly-colored aposematic skin. The normally-concealed red, yellow, white and black patterns on the underbelly, inner surfaces of the limbs or underside of the tail serve as a visual warning to predators. To reinforce the warning, unken reflex is sometimes accompanied by toxic and malodorous secretions from glands in the skin. This is the case with the Rough-skinned Newt, who releases the toxin tetrodotoxin while engaging in the unkenreflex. Wikipedia.