iguanamouth:

hello have you ever, just been, really bothering a small amphibian all over, and they decide they have had enough of it 

the unken reflex is a defensive posture that a handful of salamanders, toads and frogs do when they feel threatened, and it involves curling right up and showing off their bright underbellies ( which usually, BUT NOT ALWAYS, means the animal in question is POISONOUS and you shouldnt eat this thing !!! dont eat this !!!!! )

the above three are rough skinned newts and a california newt, but the reflex itself is named after the fire-belled toads ( whose genus is unke in german ) where it shows up a little differently 

(note the covered eyes ! )

while displaying, the animal in question gulps down a bunch of air, makes themselves as still as possible, and also releases toxins from their skin if they got em – but not all amphibians with the unken reflex have poison, and some of the poison ones dont have bright underbellies, and some dont curl up all the way while theyre doing it – its a mixed bag of postures. thats how it is sometimes

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