Field Report, April 15th to May 12th 2009 - France, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal

by Frank Deschandol

All pictures © Frank Deschandol & Philippe Sabine

The goal of this trip was primarily to meet several species or subspecies which I had never yet succeeded in seeing hitherto. I left from April 15th to May 12th.
I have to confess that I am somewhat disappointed of this voyage, having again missed some... wanted for a long time. It should be said that the fact of being alone really does not help, and that tiredness accumulating, I was less and less voluntary to raise the stones…
I generally sought all the day from 9:00 /10h00 until 19:00 /20h00, but sometimes until 3:00 for the Amphibians.
I also visited some known sites, which enabled me to make pictures of species already met at the time of my preceding tours.
My program being very (= too much!) ambitious, I spent only one or two days on the sites, which is obviously not really ideal for thorough research.

The first part of the voyage in the Pyrenees and the north of Spain was rather disappointing, the temperatures were very brisk and the reptiles very rare. The snakes were quite simply invisible. During almost all the trip besides, those were relatively difficult to see because far from active, and I saw no snake crushed on the roads except towards end, at the beginning of May. This month is probably much more interesting for the reptiles there, but not necessarily for amphibians…

Total km : > 11.000 km

Main visited sites :

Of course, I thank all these people for their help : Roger Beudet, Matt Wilson, Wouter Beukema, Martti Niskanen, Stéphane Vitzthum, Yves Brunelli, Ruben Martinez, Daniel Escoriza, Luis García-Cardenete, Gaëtan Guiller, Thomas Bader, Jan Van Der Voort and especially Pierre-Yves Vaucher for his great reception in Switzerland.

NEAR REDON (France) :

Short passage between Rennes and Nantes in search of « Triturus blasii », hybrid between Triturus marmoratus and Triturus cristatus. Other species seen : Podarcis muralis, Hyla arborea, Rana dalmatina, Lissotriton helveticus, Lissotriton vulgaris, Ichthyosaura alpestris alpestris, Triturus marmoratus, Triturus cristatus, Alytes obstetricans obstetricans, Bufo calamita, Bufo bufo bufo, Salamandra salamandra terrestris and some Pelophylax kl. esculentus.

Triturus blasii, hybrid Triturus marmoratus x Triturus cristatus, male

Triturus marmoratus

Alytes obstetricans obstetricans

Bufo calamita

PYRENEES (Spain) : T° : 7-8°c PM ; 2-3°c night

In a valley close to Jaca, I sought Vipera aspis zinnikeri without success. It should be said that time was hardly favorable because really too cold. Then, I looked for Rana pyrenaica, but unfortunately a thick layer of snow still partially recovered the mountain, I saw only a few Rana temporaria in temporary puddle pools.
On the other side of the valley, songs of Alytes obstetricans obstetricans in spite of the cold, as well as large tadpoles in a feeding trough, a few Lissotriton helveticus and larvae, and a Podarcis liolepis liolepis.

Rana temporaria, laying

Rana temporaria

Podarcis liolepis liolepis

Alytes obstetricans obstetricans

NORTHWESTERN SPAIN : T° : about 15°c day ; 2-4°c night

A prospecting in the area in order to find some ssp. of spanish newts. In a washing place, I succeeded in finding adults and larvae Ichthyosaura alpestris cyreni and Lissotriton helveticus alonsoi. Also a Pelophylax perezi, many tadpoles of Alytes obstetricans boscai.
By a rainy night, I found on the road :Salamandra salamandra bejarae x S. s. fastuosa, Bufo calamita, Bufo bufo spinosus and again Ichthyosaura alpestris cyreni. In and around a pond in the center of a small village : Triturus marmoratus, Hyla arborea molleri, Alytes obstetricans boscai and another Salamandra salamandra bejarae x S. s. fastuosa.
Some males Triturus marmoratus with an atrophied crest left already the pond. I was unable to find any female.
A little more to the West, in way, one Anguis fragilis.
Next, I reached a spot to find Salamandra s. bernardezi, the rainy weather enabled me to observe by night some nice and atypical Salamanders with a few Bufo bufo spinosus.
On the way towards Peneda-Gerês, north of Portugal, I explored a sector next to Cional where I found Podarcis hispanica, Lacerta schreiberi, a young Lissotriton boscai and larvae, also four Alytes obstetricans boscai under a stone. Alas no Discoglossus galganoi nor Salamandra s. gallaica in spite of my rather thorough research.

Lissotriton helveticus alonsoi, female

Lissotriton helveticus alonsoi, male

Ichthyosaura alpestris cyreni, male

Ichthyosaura alpestris cyreni, female

Salamandra salamandra bejarae x S. s. fastuosa, female

Salamandra salamandra bejarae x S. s. fastuosa, reddish young

Bufo calamita

Triturus marmoratus, male

Hyla arborea molleri

Alytes obstetricans boscai

Bufo calamita

Anguis fragilis

Salamandra salamandra bernardezi

Podarcis hispanica

Lacerta schreiberi, male

Lissotriton boscai, juvenile

Alytes obstetricans boscai, a brave male with two different laying…

Alytes obstetricans boscai

Alytes obstetricans boscai, eggs

Alytes obstetricans boscai

PENEDA-GERES (Portugal) : T° : about 25°c day

Before arriving on the spot, I inspected a basin next to the road, where I found some a dozen of Triturus marmoratus and plenty of Lissotriton boscai. Arrived at Peneda-Gerês, very little thing in this place, one Rana iberica, one Bufo bufo spinosus, one Chioglossa lusitanica longipes and some Psammodromus algirus. A search for Vipera latastei lastastei in a good area did not give curiously any result, the weather being ideal. I found only 3 Anguis fragilis, Lacerta schreiberi, and Podarcis hispanica. I went to the north, Spanish side, in order to seek Vipera seoanei cantabrica. I found only one in spite of, once again, a favorable weather. I continued to seek there, while finding : Timon lepidus, again Alytes obstetricans boscai, Podarcis bocagei, Podarcis hispanica and Lacerta schreiberi.

Triturus marmoratus, male

Triturus marmoratus, female

Lissotriton boscai, male

Lissotriton boscai, female

Lissotriton boscai, male

Rana iberica

Chioglossa lusitanica

Timon lepidus

Alytes obstetricans boscai

Podarcis bocagei

Vipera seoanei cantabrica, melanistic

SIERRA DE GREDOS (Spain) : T° : 6°c night

I went thereafter in the Sierra de Gredos, initially in low valley very close to Rio Tiétar, a great place for herping. Hardly arrived, I found a large Rhinechis scalaris under a log. Unfortunately this one escaped before I finalize my photos ! I also met Psammodromus algirus, several Natrix maura, one Pelobates cultripes, Pelophylax perezi, both Hyla meridionalis and Hyla arborea molleri which live in the same habitat. Also Mauremys leprosa at this place.
In the night by seeking amphibians in the Rio, I had the great surprise suddenly to see emerging from water a splendid Otter (Lutra lutra) to a few meters of me. Dazzled by my torch, it did not see me, did not smell me, seeking fishes, the head under water... it approached some seconds very close to my boot, before dipping back and to disappear in the night ; I was really glad !
Elsewhere, in a feeding trough, plenty of Lissotriton boscai and larvae.
I was going then in the mountains to look for the famous Salamandra salamandra almanzoris.
In spite of snow everywhere, still very important at that time of the year, I was happy to find two Salamanders. In way some Iberolacerta cyreni castiliana, no more.
While going back from “La Plataforma”, I avoided a Coronella girondica immobile on the road. An attempt for Vipera latastei the following day in the morning did not give any result except Lacerta schreiberi, always omnipresent. But a strong wind blew that day.
On the road leading to Monfragüe, I found a Pelobates cultripes and a short stop at embalse de Navalcan, enabled me to observe two big Timon lepidus, Psammodromus algirus, Bufo calamita and Hyla meridionalis.

Rhinechis scalaris

Psammodromus algirus

Natrix maura

Pelobates cultripes

Pelophylax perezi

Hyla meridionalis

Mauremys leprosa

Iberolacerta cyreni castiliana

Salamandra salamandra almanzoris

Pelobates cultripes

Bufo calamita

Hyla meridionalis

MONFRAGUE (Spain) : T° : about 25°c day

In Monfragüe, I sought mainly Salamandra salamandra bejarae, but all was really too dry to find some. I however succeeded in locating larvae in a fountain.
Later, I moved a few hundreds of Bufo calamita tadpoles which were perishing in their almost dry water puddle pool. The other found species were : Bufo bufo spinosus, Pelophylax perezi, Blanus cinereus, Psammodromus algirus, Mauremys leprosa, Lissotriton boscai at several places, Timon lepidus, two Pleurodeles waltl in a small river, and only tadpoles of Alytes cisternasii. Unfortunately I did not find any adult. Same with Triturus pygmaeus, impossible to find neither in water nor on dry land. Also Psammodromus hispanicus hispanicus towards Cáceres, but always discreet and difficult to photograph.

huge female of Bufo bufo spinosus

Bufo bufo spinosus, reddish

Salamandra salamandra bejarae, larva

Pelophylax perezi

Mauremys leprosa, juvenile

Blanus cinereus

Pleurodeles waltl

NORTH OF SEVILLA (Spain) :

I went there especially to see Salamandra salamandra morenica. But there, all was very dry too. I saw only two very young salamanders hidden under stones. The adults were buried probably further in the ground. At the same place, I saw finally two Discoglossus galganoi.

Salamandra salamandra morenica

Discoglossus galganoi

DONANA (Spain) : T° : <10°c night ; 12-14°c day

Very windy when I was there, and it is probably the reason of the few animals discovered. And the day was very cloudy the last day. I saw with great difficulties 3 or 4 Podarcis carbonelli, very wild, extremely difficult to approach even at El Acebuche... So I made only one picture of that species. I missed unfortunately a big Malpolon monspessulanus, too fast for me.
I saw Tarentola mauritanica, plenty of Psammodromus algirus, Acanthodactylus erythrurus, and also a sub-adult of Chalcides bedriagae cobosi. I also looked for Vipera latastei gaditana in the dunes but without success for the third consecutive year ! Finally, near Huelva, I found two Chamaeleo chamaeleon.

Acanthodactylus erythrurus, female

Tarentola mauritanica

Podarcis carbonelli

Chalcides bedriagae cobosi, sub adult

Chamaeleo chamaeleon

Anacridium aegyptium

Further North, I explored the embalse de Campofrio, where I found Psammodromus algirus, Blanus cinereus, and several Chalcides bedriagae cobosi.

Blanus mariae

Psammodromus algirus, male

Chalcides bedriagae cobosi

Serapias parviflora

SERRA DE MONCHIQUE (Portugal) : T° : about 15°c PM

A little more than one day spent to locate potential area for Salamandra salamandra crespoi. Weather was very cloudy but not enough wet to be able to meet Salamanders. I just found two Blanus mariae (?) under the same stone and also a young Timon lepidus. Also Lacerta schreiberi, from which morphology seemed to be somewhat different from northern populations. In the night, a young Pelobates cultripes with still its vestige of tail… That's all.

Lacerta schreiberi, male

Timon lepidus

Pelobates cultripes

Serapias cordigera

The next visited site was La Sauceda. I hoped to find Salamandra salamandra longirostris. But no rain… so no Salamander. Forgetting my GPS in the car, I was unable to find an interesting laguna and I was too tired to make another hike after that. But I saw there several Podarcis vaucheri.

Podarcis vaucheri

LORCA (Spain) : T° : 13-20°c PM the first day, 25°c PM the next day ; clouds, sun, strong rainstorm

I went then in southeastern Spain, above all to find Testudo graeca. Sadly, I spent two days in that place, and strangely, I did not find any turtle.
Nevertheless, I found : Malpolon monspessulanus, Hemydactylus turcicus, Tarentola mauritanica, Blanus cinereus, Psammodromus algirus, Psammodromus hispanicus, Pelophylax perezi, Podarcis hispanica and I saw also Timon lepidus nevadensis… unfortunately for my fingers !!

Malpolon monspesulanus

Psammodromus hispanicus edwarsianus

Blanus cinereus

Hemydactylus turcicus

Timon lepidus nevadensis, male, total size 53 cm

Timon lepidus nevadensis, male

A short video of the « beast » (about 11 Mo, you need the last Quicktime or iTunes or VLC...) :

http://www.deschandol-sabine.com/film/nevad.m4v

Chrysis sp.

SIERRA DE CAZORLA (Spain) :

Only one day here to find Alytes dickhilleni and to try to find Algyroides marchi, two endemic species of the Sierra. Already knowing the site to be gone there in 2007, I was going right to an old swimming pool (without water) next to a road. I found once again two Alytes inside. On the other hand, I did not find Algyroides, seeking too little; it should be said that it was the Weekend of May 1st and that the tourists flowed of everywhere. I left quickly the area without regret.

Alytes dickhilleni

Blanus cinereus

ALTO TAJO AND SURROUNDING (Spain) : T° : 22-23°c PM ; 3°c night

On the road leading to the park of Alto Tajo Natural Park (east of Madrid), I found a nice Natrix natrix astreptophora and some Podarcis liolepis liolepis (?). Arrived in the park at the end of the afternoon, I prospected and found again one Podarcis liolepis liolepis and several Alytes obtetricans pertinax. But, as usual, no Vipera latastei latastei there, very frustrating ! My known spot for Discoglossus jeanneae, was completely messed up : an extremely strong water flows, so I didn't find that species.
The following day, in a small valley apart from the park : Timon lepidus, Psammodromus algirus, Bufo bufo spinosus, several Natrix maura, Pelophylax perezi, Alytes obtetricans pertinax with eggs. At Zaida lagoon about 5°c by night, I observed and heard hundreds of Bufo calamita and also Pelodytes punctatus. The next day with Timon lepidus, Natrix maura and five Chalcides bedriagae bedriagae.

Podarcis liolepis liolepis (?)

Natrix natrix astreptophora, always hard to make good pictures with Natrix !

Natrix natrix astreptophora

Alytes obstetricans pertinax

Podarcis liolepis liolepis

Timon lepidus, female

Natrix maura

Psammodromus algirus

Timon lepidus, male

Alytes obstetricans pertinax

Chalcides bedriagae bedriagae

Natrix maura

Bufo calamita

Pelodytes punctatus

PYRENEES (Spain-France) :

I again visited the Pyrenees with the idea to find Rana pyrenaica finally, hoping that all snow had melted 3 weeks after my first coming. Unfortunately the access road was barred and I had to make a great detour to arrive on the spot. However impossible to find this frog, with the snow melts, the torrents had an important flow and a turbide water. I didn't even succeed in locating only one Calotriton asper. Only some Podarcis muralis next to a torrent.

Frustrated, I decided to make a fast jump in Iraty not far from there. Before arriving, I made some pictures of Bufo bufo spinosus, a lot of, on a small road. A few were already crushed…
The next morning, I sought actively Vipera seoanei seoanei, perfect weather, sun with 22-23°c… but no luck, I didn't see any snake. But most of the thorny bushes where the snakes hid had been probably ripped off last year, that didn't help.
Still no luck about Rana pyrenaica, so I gave up,amen………… Some Zootoca vivipara louislantzi were nevertheless present.
The following day, not so far from Iraty, on the way, I went through on a slope at the edge of a road, which finally appeared very profitable : Lacerta bilineata, two Natrix natrix helvetica together under the same log : a large and very aggressive female and a smaller male. Crushed on the road : Anguis fragilis and an amazing black Natrix natrix helvetica…
I was going to the pass of La Pierre St Martin in order to try to get pictures of melanic Podarcis muralis, which I had located a few years ago. But I found only standard forms, snow was still quite present and the rare non snow-covered walls were relatively rare.

Podarcis muralis

Bufo bufo spinosus

Zootoca vivipara louislantzi

Natrix natrix helvetica, female…

Natrix natrix helvetica, … and the male

Podarcis muralis

Lacerta bilineata, male

Lacerta bilineata, small female

Lacerta bilineata, female

D.O.R. Natrix natrix helvetica, melanic

MONT VENTOUX (France) :

I made a short at Mont Ventoux while going up towards north, but without Vipera ursinii, I sought too little in the end of afternoon and the next morning an extremely strong wind blew. Then, I profited to seek some scorpions. I saw however Lacerta bilineata, Podarcis muralis, Bufo bufo spinosus and I heard in Malaucène songs of Pelophylax ridibundus and Hyla meridionalis.

Euscorpius flavicaudis

Euscorpius concinnus

SWITZERLAND :

A few days in Switzerland searching Natrix tessellata next to the Lac Léman. I located immediately a large female on a bank, but the rocks being slipping… I however succeeded in a few moments later finding another adult and at least 7 very young snakes, all more or less in water.
A visit close to Bex for Salamandra atra did not give any result : once again the snow was present at this time and recovered almost all the place.
Near Geneva, I could see all these species : Lacerta agilis agilis, Vipera aspis aspis, Podarcis muralis, Lacerta bilineata, Hierophis viridiflavus, Emys orbicularis orbicularis, Zamenis longissimus, Pelophylax ridibundus, Triturus carnifex, Alytes obstetricans obstetricans, Ichthyosaura alpestris alpestris.

Natrix tessellata

Natrix tessellata, young

Vipera aspis aspis

Zamenis longissimus

Hierophis viridiflavus

Pelophylax ridibundus

Triturus carnifex

Alytes obstetricans obstetricans

NEAR PONTARLIER (France) :

Last visited site, I went in a place where it is possible to observe melanic Vipera berus. After one hour, in spite of an unfavourable time (very windy) I found a nice specimen and also a Rana dalmatina. I left to Le Havre the same day.

Vipera berus, melanistic

Reptiles (33) :

Chamaeleo chamaeleon
Blanus cinereus
Blanus mariae
Acanthodactylus erythrurus
Tarentola mauritanica
Hemydactylus turcicus
Podarcis bocagei
Podarcis hispanica
Podarcis muralis
Podarcis liolepis liolepis
Podarcis vaucheri
Podarcis carbonelli
Iberolacerta cyreni castiliana
Lacerta bilineata
Lacerta schreiberi
Lacerta agilis agilis
Psammodromus algirus
Psammodromus hispanicus hispanicus
Psammodromus hispanicus edwarsianus
Zootoca vivipara louislantzi
Timon lepidus lepidus
Timon lepidus nevadensis
Anguis fragilis
Chalcides bedriagae bedriagae
Chalcides bedriagae cobosi
Rhinechis scalaris
Zamenis longissimus
Natrix maura
Natrix natrix helvetica
Natrix natrix astreptophora
Natrix tessellata
Hierophis viridiflavus
Malpolon monspessulanus
Vipera seoanei cantabrica
Vipera aspis aspis
Vipera berus
Mauremys leprosa
Emys orbicularis orbicularis

Amphibians (23) :

Triturus carnifex
Triturus blasii
Triturus cristatus
Triturus marmoratus
Lissotriton helveticus helveticus
Lissotriton helveticus alonsoi
Lissotriton boscai
Ichthyosaura alpestris alpestris
Ichthyosaura alpestris cyreni
Hyla arborea arborea
Hyla arborea molleri
Hyla meridionalis
Alytes obstetricans obstetricans
Alytes obstetricans boscai
Alytes obstetricans pertinax
Alytes dickhilleni
Bufo calamita
Bufo bufo bufo
Bufo bufo spinosus
Discoglossus galganoi galganoi
Pelobates cultripes
Pelodytes punctatus
Pleurodeles waltl
Salamandra salamandra terrestris
Salamandra salamandra morenica
Salamandra salamandra bejarae (only larvae)
Salamandra salamandra almanzoris
Salamandra salamandra bernardezi
Salamandra salamandra bejarae x Salamandra salamandra fastuosa
Chioglossa lusitanica longipes
Pelophylax kl. esculentus
Pelophylax ridibundus
Rana temporaria
Rana iberica
Rana dalmatina
Pelophylax perezi

Total = 57 sp.