Biotopes in north Spain II

[rubén]

Picos de Europa National Park ( 700 m. of altitude / Asturias province ) : Terra typica of the nominated Triturus alpestris cyreni and Salamandra salamandra bernardezi. In the lake breeds also Triturus marmoratus, Triturus helveticus sequeirai and Alytes obstetricans. Photographs of winter and early spring.

 

[william]

great pics of the bernardazi, any pics of the marmoratus or helveticus?

 

[wouter]

Hi Ruben, great photo's! Are these the Ercina and Enol lakes? I've been there too, if found quite a lot of alpestris cyreni and Salamandra salamandra bernardezi there. Beautiful place.

 

[jeff]

That first pic of the Triturus alpestris cyreni is quite interesting. The juveniles have quite a resemblance to marmoratus, but with a different color scheme. Great pictures~

(Message edited by tmarmoratus on February 25, 2005)

 

[rubén]

Thanks to all. Yes , this is the Ercina lake in Covadonga. Unfortunately I don't have photos of any other animal in that moment.
The size of alpestris cyreni there is quite smaller than alpestris alpestris, but his colour and dorsal pattern is not particular, I think.
There are other places where alpestris cyreni looks really different, at higher altitude.

 

[pamela]

Beautiful, interesting, newts. BREATHTAKING scenery!

 

[rubén]

Hi Michael
I only found Podarcis muralis and Lacerta vivipara there, but I enquire and I'll tell you something

 

[rubén]

As I thought, in Picos de Europa National Park can be found other species:

- Podarcis muralis rasquinetti ( endemism )
- Podarcis hispanica
- Lacerta schreiberi ( endemism )
- Lacerta bilineata
- Lacerta lepida
- Lacerta vivipara
- Lacerta monticola

I remember as abundant there Lacerta vivipara, Lacerta schreiberi and Podarcis muralis, but I haven't photos :-(

 

[rubén]

Wow... Podarcis muralis in Cincinnati since 50 years ago! so they must be acclimated now.

 

[ralf]

For all you lacertid renegades out there. Here's a link to a site showing an outdoor enclosure for lacertids and providing some info about the pros and cons. Unfortunately in German.

http://www.lacerta.de/Themengebiete/Haltung_und_Zucht/Einheimische_Lacerten_im_Freilandterrarium.htm

Much too dry for my taste.

 

[edward]

The colony of Podarcis sicula that was in Philadelphia has apparently gone extinct. There was also a short term colony of Laverta vipara in Abington PA but that only lasted about 5 years.

Ed

 

[rubén]

These are two other places in the Cantabrian mountains where lives Salamandra salamandra fastuosa. Unfortunately I don't have photos of the animals.

 

[jean-pierre]

where is it exactly rubén ?


jp.

 

[matt]

Beautiful photographs, thanks for sharing.

 

[rubén]

Those photographs are from Cantabria province.

The first pic is the forest reserve of Montesclaros at early spring, near from the town of Reinosa.

The second view is the Saja Natural Park, near from Reinosa town also. In this park, locally, is abundant Mesotriton alpestris cyreni in the streams.

 

[jean-pierre]

Muchas gracias rubèn

jp

 

[mike]

Hi Ruben,

Those are some great photos!

Do you ever see Salamandra or Triturus out walking around on the surface during the day? I see Taricha and Notophthalmus doing that quite often, and I'd be interested in learning if your European salamandrids behave the same way.

Also, do you know if there are fish in any of those breeding sites?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[rubén]

Salamanders in Spain are mainly nocturnal creatures. Anyway the northern coast and his mountains have a weather completely different of the rest of the country. In raining days of late summer you can see, sometimes, fire salamanders and marbled newts walking around the lakes and crossing the roads.

About the fishes, it's a problem here. Few years ago fishermen and local politics have introduced in some mountain lakes Salmo salvelinus in the Eighties ( as happened also in some lakes of the Balkans ): This was a serious problem, for example on the lake of Ercina in Covadonga, and Mesotriton alpestris cyreni was specially affected for this. Fortunately the salmonids doesn't prospered and now the population of newts are growing again.

So... fishes and newts together? never again...