by Frank Deschandol 
All pictures © Frank Deschandol & Philippe Sabine
by Frank Deschandol
All pictures © Frank Deschandol & Philippe Sabine
From September 21st to October 23rd I travelled in all Spain, especially to find some species I missed during my last trips. My main goal was - as always - the different subspecies of Salamandra salamandra and also species of Iberolacerta.
For that reason and because my time was 'precious', I did not pay a lot of attention to some other species already photographed (The number of species seen could be better).
A global good result even if it was too late in the season for a few reptiles. Here is my chronological report : (sorry for rather small pictures but it was imposed by their number)
Map
Near Leucate (France)
On the way, I spent a night in the south-east of France, seeking Discoglossus pictus pictus. I was Lucky because after some rains, I could find that species just as plenty of Hyla meridionalis, Pelobates cultripes and a few Epidalea calamita.
Hyla meridionalis
other
Pelobates cultripes
other
other
other
Epidalea calamita
other
Discoglossus pictus pictus
other
other
other
other
Hogna radiata... and youngs !
Montseny (Spain)
Very dry here, so I couldn't find Calotriton arnoldi in the very small brook. I saw only one Salamandra salamandra terrestris and some young Podarcis muralis. I was unable to see any Alytes obstetricans almogavarii nor Podarcis liolepis.
Bufo bufo spinosus, young
Salamandra salamandra terrestris
Near Font-Romeu (France)
>1900 m. Difficult to find something in that place which however seemed great for herp. T° was low in the night (about 3°c). I found 4 young Lacerta agilis garzoni (no adult) and one Vipera aspis zinnikeri after a significant search. Also several Podarcis muralis.
Lacerta agilis garzoni, young
other
Podarcis muralis
Vipera aspis zinnikeri
same
Near Barrage de Soulcem (France)
Flop... Unsuccessful attempt to see Iberolacerta aurelioi in spite of a good weather, full blue sky and sun. Too late in the season (?). I find only Rana temporaria and a very young Zootoca vivipara louislantzi. So I canceled the next step for Iberolacerta aranica.
Rana temporaria
Zootoca vivipara louislantzi, very young
Cap de Long/Orédon (France)
Flop... Once again. Unsuccessful attempt to see Iberolacerta bonnali in spite of a good weather, full blue sky and sun. Too late in the season (?). No more Vipera aspis zinnikeri.
Near Bermeo (Spain)
I visited a nice coastal site with a lot of Podarcis pityusensis pityusensis (introduction site).
site
Podarcis pityusensis pityusensis
other
other
other
Near Burgos (Spain)
Flop... In a great area for the species, I seeked Vipera latastei latastei. Unfortunately, very strong winds and clouds were too much to see anything.
Picos de Europa (Spain)
Flop... I was there to see Iberolacerta monticola cantabrica. But in the mist and the cold, nothing was outside.
Near Cional (Spain)
Only Rana iberica and juveniles of Alytes obstetricans boscai were seen.
Rana iberica
Alytes obstetricans boscai
Northern Puebla de Sanabria (Spain)
At the Laguna de Los Peces, I looked for Iberolacerta galani. After 2 hours in the surroundings, nothing ; I was a little bit disappointed. When going back to the car, at last, I saw some juveniles and two adults, just close to the bank of the lake. Also Bufo bufo spinosus, Pelophylax perezi and a young active specimen of Coronella austriaca acutirostris. On the way a D.O.R. Timon lepidus lepidus.
Iberolacerta galani
same
same
other
juvenile
Coronella austriaca acutirostris, young
Cabeza Grande de Manzaneda (Spain)
Last attempt for Iberolacerta monticola cantabrica. After some troubles with the GPS software (Grrr, about 150 km of mountain roads for nothing...), I reach the spot late in the night. In the morning, one more time too much wind this day. I saw some Podarcis bocagei lower on the way.
Podarcis bocagei
same
Near Muros (Spain)
Next, I drove on the coast to find Chalcides bedriagae pistaciae, on a good spot with a nice day ; very hot ! And nice place for herping, in a short time I could observe : Chalcides striatus (x15 !), several Timon lepidus lepidus (x3 big adults under the same stone !) Psammodromus algirus, Podarcis bocagei, Coronella austriaca acutirostris (x2) but sadly Chalcides b. pistaciae was not found (very hard in October).
Chalcides striatus
other
other
other
other
young
Podarcis bocagei
Coronella austriaca acutirostris
same
young
Timon lepidus, young
subadult
other subadult
a female
another female and a big male
trails in the sand (Timon lepidus)
Hyles euphorbiae L5
Peneda-Gerês (Portugal)
I checked once again the area for Vipera latastei latastei as I was unable to find it last May. Better this time with 2 nice snakes very close to each other. However, Vipera seoanei cantabrica was really impossible to find. In the same area I saw : Lacerta schreiberi (x12 juv. and adults), Psammodromus algirus, Podarcis bocagei, Podarcis hispanica, Timon lepidus, Anguis fragilis, Natrix natrix astreptophora, Malpolon monspessulanus (juv.), Chioglossa lusitanica longipes and Rana iberica.
young Malpolon monspessulanus, probably female
a large dry crepe of Bufo bufo spinosus
Anguis fragilis
Podarcis hispanica
Lacerta schreiberi, male
another male
young
Vipera latastei latastei
same
same
other
same
Near Buçaco (Portugal)
I was looking for Salamandra salamandra gallaica, which was very hard to find : as everywhere, too dry... But that night, I could locate some Triturus marmoratus, Chioglossa lusitanica lusitanica (> x30 !) and finally a gravid female of salamander, just near the water. Also Anguis fragilis and Rana iberica.
habitat of S. s. gallaica and Chioglossa l. lusitanica
Anguis fragilis
Triturus marmoratus
other
other
same
Rana iberica
other
Chioglossa lusitanica lusitanica
same
others
Salamandra salamandra gallaica
same
Serra da Estrela (Portugal)
The target here was Iberolacerta monticola monticola. A strong wind blew in the valley and hope was very low. In the morning all lizards were hidden, but I found the first adult specimen under the first stone ! In the afternoon, a few lizards were surprisingly outside.
Iberolacerta monticola monticola
same
same
same
other
same
young
subadult
juvenile
nice tail...
Peña de Francia (Spain)
No success about Iberolacerta martinezricai there. Strong wind and temperature < 0°c in the night didn't help. Only a Rana iberica in a stream.
Sierra de Gredos (Spain)
In the mountains, I saw one Lacerta schreiberi (juv.), and a lot of Iberolacerta cyreni castiliana. I reached the Laguna Grande once again to find some great Salamandra salamandra almanzoris. At 2 meters from the path, a Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) flied off, impassive and invisible all the day to the flood of hickers, very abundant that day. In the evening, very tired but motivated, I went back in the mountains, trying to find Bufo bufo gredosicola... After a long walk, twotoads were found near the water. On the way leading to my car, I heard wolfs' screams (Canis lupus) which gave a strange and surrealist nocturnal ambiance ! One more time, I failed to find Vipera latastei latastei there (typical wind, 17°c and sun).
Lower in the south, I visited a know site, where Wouter and Philip (see the field report : http://www.euroherp.com/Field/spain2.php ) could observe a big Pleurodeles waltl, captive in a well. I caught the large animal of size about 24.5 cm ; not so bad... Then, I released it in the Rio Tietar. At this place I found : Alytes cisternasii (calling), Pelophylax perezi, Natrix maura, Malpolon monspessulanus, x2 Rhinechis scalaris, Mauremys leprosa. Sadly, a short night drive brought x2 fresh D.O.R. Rhinechis scalaris, a Natrix maura and a bat (Pipistrellus sp.). One could hear an Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) all the night long...
Iberolacerta cyreni castiliana
same
other
subadult
young
same
Capra pyrenaica victoriae, male
Salamandra salamandra almanzoris
other
other
same
Bufo bufo gredosicola
same
same
other
same
Pelobates cultripes
other
Alytes cisternasii
other
big Pleurodeles waltl
Pelophylax perezi
Psammodromus algirus
Natrix maura
Malpolon monspessulanus, young female
same
same, belly
Rhinechis scalaris
same
bad night for snakes... on 3 km only.
Navacerrada (Spain)
Iberolacerta cyreni cyreni was easilly found, but under stones, cause the strong wind didn't allow the lizards to be outside. Also a single Podarcis muralis and a young Coronella austriaca austriaca.
Iberolacerta cyreni cyreni
same
same
subadult
Podarcis muralis
Coronella austriaca austriaca
Peñalara (Spain)
I wanted to find Salamandra salamandra almanzoris from that area. Unfortunately the direct access to the lagoon est forbidden and a guard oversaw all the day !! But I did find a salamander under the only one stone lifted. So I suppose they are rather abundant. Morphological characteristics of the animal are actually similar to those of Gredos.
you are warned...
Salamandra salamandra almanzoris
same
Embalse de Navalcan (Spain)
A short stop in the night with only again Pelobates cultripes, Podarcis hispanica (juv.), Timon lepidus and Tarentola mauritanica. However I made a wonderful watching of a Small-Spotted Genet (Genetta genetta) on a tree next to the road.
Tarentola mauritanica, young
Pelobates cultripes
Monfragüe (Spain)
I spent a few days in Monfragüe, searching Salamandra salamandra bejarae. The ground was unbelievably dry. I saw : Mauremys leprosa, Natrix maura (Juv.), Pelophylax perezi, Psammodromus algirus and a D.O.R. Hemorrhois hippocrepis (juv.). A phone call to the weather report informed me of strong rains to come directly on the region. But the next day, no rain at all, in spite of a lot of dark clouds. So I decided to leave to the south, but after about 80km on the highway, I met finally a true deluge. Then, I went back to Monfragüe waiting for the night... And what I discovered this night was the nightmare of herpers. Hundreds of amphibians crushed everywhere on roads : Pleurodeles waltl, Triturus pygmaeus, Pelobates cultripes, Bufo bufo spinosus, Pelophylax perezi, Bufo calamita and even Mauremys leprosa. I was really queasy, I had never seen in my life a such apocalyptic "spectacle". I rescued what I could but it was too much for a single man... With the rain, Alytes cisternasii started calling in a lot of places. But for inexplicable reasons, I found only one S. s. bejarae within 3 hours of research, I'm still wondering why... On a path, fresh tracks of the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) on the wet dirt, which took the same way... but five minutes ago ! Later in the night, I was face to face with an European Otter (Lutra lutra), eating a crayfish in a small water puddle pool. I finished my prospecting at 5.00 AM.
Hemorrhois hippocrepis
Pleurodeles waltl
other
same
juvenile
another juvenile
and another one
Alytes cisternasii
other
Bufo calamita
other
Pelobates cultripes
other
other
Triturus pygmaeus
other
other
other
other
other
other
a little part of my collect on the road. Of course, I released them in a safe area
Salamandra salamandra bejarae
same
Sierra Norte (Spain)
Too dry here, the rain had not touched that area, and I failed to find Salamandra salamandra morenica. Next to a river, some Discoglossus galganoi galganoi.
Discoglossus galganoi galganoi
other
other
other
young
Pipistrellus kuhli
Campofrio (Spain)
Only Natrix maura, plenty of young Hemidactylus turcicus and Hyla meridionalis.
Hemidactylus turcicus, young
other young
Coto Doñana (Spain)
Still no luck about Vipera latastei gaditana... I saw : a D.O.R. Malpolon monspessulanus, Tarentola mauritanica, Psammodromus algirus, Psammodromus hispanicus hispanicus, Acanthodactylus erythrurus (juv. only), Rhinechis scalaris (juv.), Alytes cisternasii (calling) and a nice Chamaeleo chamaeleon of big size (24 cm). Extremely difficult to find anywhere Podarcis carbonelli.
Podarcis carbonelli
same
Chamaelo chamaeleon
young
other acrobatic young
Alytes cisternasii
other male
other male
Rhinechis scalaris, young
same
Scarabaeus cicatricosus, very common
Ischnura graellsii
Serra de Monchique (Portugal)
At a first spot, I succeeded in finding one Salamandra salamandra crespoi. Thereafter, I found two smaller salamanders at another place, under stones near a brook. Later a male of Lacerta schreiberi and a D.O.R. subadult of Malpolon monspessulanus.
habitat of S. s. crespoi
Salamandra salamandra crespoi
same
other
same
young
Lacerta schreiberi, male
Bordeira (Portugal)
Very nice coastal landscape but very few reptiles were outside except Psammodromus hispanicus hispanicus in quantity...
landscape
Psammodromus hispanicus hispanicus
same
other
same
other
big larva of Myrmeleontidae
Buthus ibericus, where is the male ?!!
Charaxes jasius, male
Huelva/Doñana (Spain)
I met Juan Pablo which showed me some nice Vipera latastei gaditana. They came from a breeding to strengthen the local population. I was very glad, being unable to find one by myself. So I insert these pics on purpose, and I need to go back someday to find that snake in the wild ! Other species seen : Chalcides bedriagae cobosi (sand dunes morphotype), Hemidactylus turcicus, Tarentola mauritanica, Psammodromus algirus, Hemorrhois hippocrepis (young), Blanus mariae, Macroprotodon brevis, Rhinechis scalaris, Malpolon monspessulanus, Pelophylax perezi and a D.O.R Pelobates cultripes.
beach near Mazagon
Chalcides bedriagae cobosi
Psammodromus hispanicus hispanicus
Vipera latastei gaditana, male
female
same
another male
same
... me in action ; photo : Juan Pablo GV
Macroprotodon brevis
Blanus mariae
Hemidactylus turcicus
other
Hemorrhois hippocrepis, young
Pelophylax perezi
Uca tangeri, male
Los Alcornocales (Spain)
I was very lucky to find quickly after a walk, a very nice Salamandra salamandra longirostris, a gravid female. I saw later that it was the same specimen found by Wouter and Philip in 2007 ! ( http://www.euroherp.com/Field/andalucia2.php ). Further investigation gave another one, juvenile. Also Podarcis vaucheri (juv. & subad. only), Pelophylax perezi, Discoglossus galganoi jeanneae (juv.) and 2 very young D.O.R. Malpolon monspessulanus. The wanted Pelodytes ibericus stayed impossible to find.
Salamandra salamandra longirostris
same
same
young
Macrothele calpetana
Las Sierras de Cazorla/Segura (Spain)
I spent only one day there, seeking Algyroides marchi, but without luck. I found : Discoglossus galganoi (jeanneae ?), Alytes dickhilleni (adults and youngs) Podarcis hispanica, Timon lepidus (juv.), a D.O.R. Rhinechis scalaris and a D.O.R. Hemorrhois hippocrepis. Next, a short unsuccessful stop at Puebla de Don Fadrique.
Timon lepidus, young
D.O.R. Rhinechis scalaris, young
D.O.R. Hemorrhois hippocrepis, young
Alytes dickhilleni
young
another young
Discoglossus galganoi jeanneae
Podarcis hispanica
Near Lorca (Spain)
After about 6 hours in the field, only a young Testudo graeca was located, coming along with a young Podarcis hispanica (Juv.), Acanthodactylus erythrurus (Juv.) and several Psammodromus hispanicus edwarsianus. In an old swimming pool without water, 3 unfortunate and skinny Bufo calamita were captive. At the exact place where I found a big Timon lepidus nevadensis in May, I got surprise to find a hunter - a little bit confused - hidden in the bush... so no more herp in the area. Anyway the site was overrun by flies which were especially dead boring !
Psammodromus hispanicus edwarsianus
other
Podarcis hispanica, juvenile with a fluo tail
Testudo graeca, young
same
Bufo calamita very rickety
other
Argiope lobata, female
It should be the end of the trip but, once again, by the weather report, I knew that rains and storms were shortly awaited in Andalusia... so...
... Back to Huelva and Sierra Norte !! (Spain)
Two days later, only 12°c in the afternoon, with winds and rainstorm ; that sounded great for amphibians !
a very bad good day in Andalucia !!
I drove by night to find : Hyla meridionalis, Pelophylax perezi, Alytes cisternasii, Bufo bufo spinosus, Pelobates cultripes, Pleurodeles waltl, x2 Salamandra salamandra morenica (also x2 D.O.R.) and a highly unexpected Pelodytes ibericus !
Salamandra salamandra morenica
same
same
gravid female
same
no comment...
On the way to Sierra Norte, a lot of D.O.R. and alive amphibians of : Pelobates cultripes, Bufo calamita, Alytes cisternasii, Bufo bufo spinosus, Salamandra salamandra morenica (x8 alive and x2 D.O.R. ; densities are always low), and Pleurodeles waltl. Of the latter, I removed from the road a big "lucky" adult with "only" a broken mandible...
Unfortunately, no time to reach Los Alconorcales :o((
... such a shame...
... so nice Bufo calamita...
Bufo calamita alive ! male
female
Pelobates cultripes
a redish young Bufo bufo spinosus
Alytes cisternasii
other
young
Pelodytes ibericus
same
Discoglossus galganoi galganoi
Salamandra salamandra morenica
other
other
other
other
other
other
young
... and back to Gredos !! (Spain)
The next day, I left to France, but in the evening, I planned a short stop in the east part of Gredos for Salamandra salamandra bejarae, in a place where I spotted some larvae a few years ago. Still under the rain, I found quickly 7 big salamanders, very similar, on a small path. A nice end !
Salamandra salamandra bejarae
other
same
other
other
other
same
I thank : Matthieu Berroneau, Wouter Beukema, Luis G. Cardenete, Stéphane Vitzthum, Jeroen Speybroeck, Gabriel Martinez, Daniel Escoriza, Matt Wilson, Pierre-Yves Vaucher and especially Juan Pablo Gonzalez de la Vega.
Reptiles (34)
Chamaeleo chamaeleon
Blanus mariae
Acanthodactylus erythrurus
Tarentola mauritanica
Hemidactylus turcicus
Podarcis bocagei
Podarcis hispanica
Podarcis muralis
Podarcis pityusensis pityusensis
Podarcis vaucheri
Podarcis carbonelli
Iberolacerta cyreni cyreni
Iberolacerta cyreni castiliana
Iberolacerta galani
Iberolacerta monticola monticola
Lacerta schreiberi
Lacerta agilis garzoni
Psammodromus algirus
Psammodromus hispanicus hispanicus
Psammodromus hispanicus edwarsianus
Zootoca vivipara louislantzi
Timon lepidus lepidus
Anguis fragilis
Chalcides bedriagae cobosi
Chalcides striatus
Coronella austriaca austriaca
Coronella austriaca acutirostris
Rhinechis scalaris
Natrix maura
Natrix natrix astreptophora
Malpolon monspessulanus
Macroprotodon brevis
Hemorrhois hippocrepis
Vipera aspis zinnikeri
Vipera latastei latastei
Mauremys leprosa
Testudo graeca
Amphibians (18)
Triturus marmoratus
Triturus pygmaeus
Hyla meridionalis
Alytes obstetricans boscai
Alytes dickhilleni
Alytes cisternasii
Bufo calamita
Bufo bufo spinosus
Bufo bufo gredosicola
Discoglossus pictus
Discoglossus galganoi galganoi
Discoglossus galganoi jeanneae
Pelobates cultripes
Pelodytes ibericus
Pleurodeles waltl
Salamandra salamandra hispanica terrestris
Salamandra salamandra morenica
Salamandra salamandra bejarae
Salamandra salamandra almanzoris
Salamandra salamandra gallaica
Salamandra salamandra crespoi
Salamandra salamandra longirostris
Chioglossa lusitanica lusitanica
Chioglossa lusitanica longipes
Rana temporaria
Rana iberica
Pelophylax perezi
Total = 52 sp.