Mesotriton alpestris cyreni in the cantabrian coast

[rubén]

This is a particular variety of alpestris cyreni. It was amazing to find this species at the sea level, on drinking troughs just in front of the sea. The newts were quite small and delicate, with a nice marbled pattern.

 

[olaf]

Hi Ruben,
that`s interesting! The winter should be quite mild in this area - so I guess they are active during the whole winter?
Olaf

 

[rubén]

Hi Olaf ( and welcome )

I have not studied well these rare and located populations... but yes, you are right. There is a terrestrial phase during the summer, but not hibernation, cause the winter is mild and rainy.

 

[rodrigo]

Don´t you just love Cantabria???
There´s this drinking pile in my village where you can always find some L.helveticus. I loved going there when i was a kid and count them, males and females, each year. You can always find some salamandra larvae in the seasson. The weird thing is that i never saw any alpestris or marmoratus there....

anyway....great pics