October 26, 2009
Here is a report from my holiday in Lesbos (Lesvos) from 8th- 15th October. Although a very beautiful island the conditions were not in my favour, but nevertheless I hope you enjoy some of the photos. The report will also soon be posted on the European Field Herping Community (EFHC) www.euroherp.com
Matt
October 18, 2009
Here is a photo of me with a Caspian whip snake (Dolichophis caspius) which I caught just as I arrived at my hotel on Lesbos. This snake is one of the largest European species reaching a length of 250cm, although my specimen was quite alot smaller than this!
Unfortunately as I arrived on the island I soon became aware that the Autumn rains had not arrived, and according to the locals the last rain was the beginning of June! So the first five days were very hard going with not too many species found, however a thunderstorm on the 6th day allowed me to find some nice species on the final day off the trip, including a giant Ottoman viper (Montivipera xanthina) of around 120cm sat basking on an embankment as I was cycling along. More about that to come….
October 4, 2009
After several months of very little field work I am very excited about my trip to Lesvos this week! Unfortunately it seems that the Autumn rains have not yet arrived which means my task of finding the elusive Eastern Spadefoot toad (Pelobates syriacus) will be made even more difficult. Furthermore the lack of rain will make finding all other reptiles and amphibians generally harder, however I am hopeful that at some point this week rain will appear.
The area in which I am based is surrounded with rivers and marshes, which are the best searching grounds if the hot, dry summer has not yet completely come to an end. I am also hopeful I will still be able to catch up with Dwarf snakes (Eirenis modestus) and maybe even the Sand boa (Eryx jaculus)
You can read and see photographs from previous trips to Lesvos by my colleagues at the following links:
http://www.klooiplek.com/default.aspx?pid=41&sitelang=dutch
http://www.freanonherping.be/lesbosreis.htm
Wish me luck,
Matt
September 24, 2009
This week, with abit of spare time on my hands, I was hoping to survey my local Viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara) populations, specifically for hatchlings. However as is so often the case in the UK the weather rarely seems to be cooperative with my plans. Therefore the conditions were too bad, but underneath some bark I found this little common frog (Rana temporaria).
Common frog (Rana temporaria)
September 13, 2009
This weekend I visited some sites for reptiles and amphibians close to Sheffield as well as in the Peak District in Derbyshire. I was guided by Carl Corbidge who knows these parts well and and was very knowledgable in regard to finding herps and other wildlife.
On Saturday the weather was hot, about 21C and not a cloud in the sky. After Carl picked me up from Sheffield train station we immediately set out to an urban wetland area. Despite being surrounded by housing estates this area is quite rich in Grass snakes (Natrix natrix). Without too much searching we found 3 adult individuals on an overgrown embankment, one of which was caught as it fled into a patch of brambles. While searching for snakes we turned some debris and found an unexpected pair of Great crested newts (Triturus cristatus). It is important to remember that these wonderul amphibians are one of our fully protected species, so after discovering the newts we did not interfere, except taking a quick photo and replacing the cover back over them.
Grass snake (Natrix natrix helvetica)
Grass snake (Natrix natrix) feigning death
Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus)
After this first success Carl drove us to a site in the southern part of the Peak District which is good Slow-worm (Anguis fragilis) habitat. Although it was hot, we found 3 specimens beneath plastic sheets that Carl had put there on purpose, to help get a better idea of population densities of this very secretive reptile. Furthermore, we found a dead juvenile specimen at the side of a track.
Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)
Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)
Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)
Carl searching slow worm habitat
The final stop of the day was the Adder (Vipera berus) site I had visited earlier in the year. It was still hot and we couldn’t find any specimens, except a sloughed skin. As the weather cooled down a lady walking on the track ahead of us shouted there was a snake on the path, but by the time we got there it had vanished! After a final unsuccessful attempt at finding an adder, we spotted a few black, juvenile Viviparous lizards (Zootoca vivipara) and I was then surprised to find a Common toad (Bufo bufo) moving around in the heather.
Moorland covered with heath and bracken, habitat for Adder (Vipera berus)
Common toad (Bufo bufo)
Species found:
Common toad (Bufo bufo)
Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus)
Viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara)
Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)
Grass snake (Natrix natrix)
Adder (Vipera berus) slough
On Sunday, while looking for Adders on the Derbyshire moors, we were lucky enough to spot another very rare British species, the Water vole (Arvicola amphibius). In fact we were very surprised to find it feeding at the edge of a stream, and Carl was even able to get a good photo of it. Since 2008 Water voles have been made a fully protected species after 95% of the vole population has been lost in the last century in the UK.
Water vole (C) Carl Corbidge
September 3, 2009
The Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) is one of the rarest reptiles found in Britain, it is currently confined to the lowland heathlands of Dorset and Hampshire as well as sand dunes in the north west. However the new programme is aimed and re-establishing populations that have been lost over the last century in areas such as Surrey and several sites in Wales.
Here is a short video of some juveniles being released at a Surrey locality: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8235220.stm
August 27, 2009
As some of you may have noticed I have been adding some short reports with photography from my trips from 2008 and 2009. The most recent is a report concerning a trip with my Austrian colleagues to Andalusia in April 2008, you can view it here.
As for this year, I still have Lesvos in October to look forward to, and I am sure it will produce some great findings as I have heard so many exciting things about this place and its high abundance of snakes and other herps. In 2010 my aims are firmly set on amphibians, hopefully in the late winter/early spring I will re-visit S-W France to some well known ponds rich in species. Furthermore I may still find time for a weekend in Majorca, to search for its endangered midwife toad, although in theory this could still be a winter 2009 short trip. I’ll have to wait and see…
August 5, 2009
Here is a recent news broadcast by the BBC about the threats to the Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) at its most important nesting sites on Zakynthos, including an interview with my conservationist friend Yannis Vardakastanis:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8183308.stm
If you are searching for a more wildlife friendly holiday in the more untouched areas of Zakynthos visit Earth, Sea & Sky, Yannis’s organisation for eco friendly holidays and enviromental protection on the island.
July 30, 2009
As those of you who follow my blog will know, I have a trip to Greece planned for October where one of the main targets is the Eastern spadefoot toad (Pelobates syriacus). Therefore I thought it would be a good idea to give some information on what a spadefoot toad actually is, as well as its adaptations and general habits as they are no ordinary toad!
Firstly, spadefoots are one of the most primitive Anurans (or tailless amphibians i.e. frogs and toads) with species found almost worldwide in Europe, North Africa, Asia and North America. But it is the European and American species which are the best known, and in my opinion the most beautiful. The English name ‘spadefoot’ is a reference to the sharp spade or tubercle found on the hind feet which are used for digging into the ground. In Europe three different species occur, the Common spadefoot (Pelobates fuscus), Western spadefoot (Pelobates cultripes) and the Eastern spadefoot (Pelobates syriacus). Whereas the first species is found even in parts of cooler places such as Denmark and Estonia, the other two generally prefer the more arid areas of the Mediterranean. All spadefoot toads are strictly nocturnal although occasionally during the breeding season in early spring they can be seen on the surface during daylight hours, especially if the humidity is high. The main external characteristics that separates them from other toads are the vertical, cat like eye pupils and their skin which is more moist than most toads. Furthermore the tadpoles of these toads are really huge, and in some parts of its range are the favorite meal of many bird species living near fresh water.
Western spadefoot toad (Pelobates cultripes) from S-W France (C) Daniel Phillips
The smaller Common spadefoot toad (Pelobates fuscus) from N-E France (C) Daniel Phillips
The toads 'spade' used for digging itself back home below ground (C) Daniel Phillips
Most spadefoots are a lowland species that occupy dry areas such as sand dunes, and cultivated land, but those from North Africa and North America can be found in deserts, such as Couch’s spadefoot toad (Scaphiopus couchii) from Arizona. It is this feature that fascinates me the most about these little toads, their adaptability to hostile environments where amphibians should not, in theory, be able to survive. I have been interested in spadefoots since I lived in S-E Spain, in a very barren region. Here the Western spadefoot toad (Pelobates cultripes) is scarce, and despite my efforts I could not find any adults, although frustratingly I could hear a male calling from beneath the surface of the water on one occasion but I could not locate it. My failure was due to the lack of rain, it only rains for about 2 weeks per year in this region and this is probably how long, on some occasions these toads are actually active. They awaken when the rains arrive and breed often in shallow rain ponds in areas such as farmland, the tadpoles develop very quickly so that before the ponds dry out they can reach metamorphosis. When the sun does reappear they use their ‘spades’ to dig back under the ground where they will remain until the next rains arrive. On some occasions these toads will have a year or two with no activity at all, if there is a sufficient lack of rainfall.
On the Greek island Lesvos, the Eastern spadefoot can be found as well as at some other locations on the Greek mainland. My German colleague Benny Trapp even thinks the toads present on Lesvos are considerably different to those on the mainland and could be a distinct subspecies of their own. Therefore it will be interesting to study them up close and see if it is possible to underline any obvious external differences in morphology. Unless some rain does arrive I may have to wait until the spring of 2010 before I can actually find some adults to examine.
Here is a short film produced by the Arizona Game and Fish Department of Couch’s spadefoot toad (Scaphiopus couchii) calling from its desert habitat
You can find additional photography of the European spadefoot toads on the links below:
http://www.euroherp.com/species/Pelobates_cultripes/
http://www.euroherp.com/species/Pelobates_fuscus/
http://www.euroherp.com/species/Pelobates_syriacus/
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=45&sid=24
For those of you who know a little Spanish, here is a short post by my colleague from Spain about two tadpoles of the Western spadefoot toad (Pelobates cultripes) that we collected to raise and release back at the site. This tiny pond was the only area where we could find any sign of the presence of spadefoots in the arid region, but unfortunately not many tadpoles were present at the time. Here is the link to the Murcia reptile and amphibian blog:
http://herpetosmurcia.blogspot.com/2008/06/crecimiento-renacuajos-sapo-de-espuelas.html
July 24, 2009
Ever since I first visited Corfu when I was 16 years old I have come across the type of reptile enthusiast or Herpetologist or whatever you want to call them who collect animals from the wild for no other purpose but to sell them. The first time I visited my favorite tortoise spot I found myself confronting a 30 year old man who had two tortoises in a cardboard box that he intended to take home with him. At the time, even at the age of 16 I felt an obligation to spell out to this individual the damage he is causing to one of the most beautiful areas of Corfu by taking the tortoises away from their natural homes. Needless to say on this occasion the man handed the animals back to me so I could release them. Seven years later I still meet such people, but thankfully not too often. Only this April in Crete was I informed of a man who had been collecting Leopard snakes (Zamenis situla) which has been a regular victim to the pet trade over the decades, perhaps a reason why on islands such as Corfu it is so scarce now.
In the news recently the following article turned up: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/8156846.stm I am very worried that by sharing my passion for these animals on websites such as my blog I am endangering such reptile further from these “reptile enthusiasts”. Corfu is really like a second home to me, I can even recognise individual tortoises year after year, and the knowledge that people are taking them for the pet trade is truely heart breaking. I am well aware that Corfu has been overcollected throughout the century, not just tortoises but snake species as well, and this maybe the reason why some of the most attractive species are so hard to find now.
It is a tough one, wanting to share experiences with people but at the same time not wanting to because of the risk of the wrong type of person reading them.
However, as I see each time I return to Corfu, many tortoises are thriving in some untouched areas, areas that only I and some trusted colleagues know about, so at least some will never end up in someones luggage.
Matt
One of my favorite reptiles: Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni)
