Appearance: Their dorsal side is dark brown or black, while the ventral side (belly) is bright orange, red, or yellow, usually with black blotches. This coloring is an example of aposematism, a warning to predators.

Size: Adults typically measure 6–13 cm (about 2.5–5 inches) in length.

Skin Texture: Chinese fire-belly newts (C. orientalis) generally have smoother skin, whereas Japanese fire-belly newts (C. pyrrhogaster) have more granular, rougher skin.

Defensive Behavior: When threatened, they often display their brightly colored underbelly to predators, a behavior known as the “unken reflex”

Toxicity: Their skin excretes toxins (tetrodotoxins) that are harmful if ingested. They are not suitable for regular handling, especially if the handler has cuts.