Unusual biotope

[jean-pierre]

I few year ago (20 years) I found a very unusual biotope for Speleomante Ambrosi strinatii in the south of france near the italian frontier.
This biotope was an old shelter of the last war (1939..1945) It was a place very dark, cold and damp.
It was very difficult for photos. First all these shelters are closed and forbidden (it's not a real a problem if you really want to enter).The biggest problem was the complete dark and very deep holes in the ground.
I was alone to take the photos then for light I had to hold a lamp between my tooth.

JP

 

[travis]

Great photos. Very interesting species and story.
Are the caves close enough that the speleomantes can travel from one cave to another or are they isolated small populations in each cave?
The Speleomantes have always fascinated me and there isn't very much on them out there. I hear they have very strict temperature requirements and are fragile. Have you ever tried to keep them in captivity?
Travis

 

[jean-pierre]

I think they don't make isolated populations because
they lives in lot of damp places between the shelters.
In the shelters like in caves you can find they on day but in all the others places
you had to wait for night to see them.
For me it's not rare animal (but localized), if you know where finding (damp place near streams)
By night you can easily see some one).
I don't try to keep some of them first because they are protected in france and I think it must be really difficult
to reproduce the good conditions in captivity (a stable temperature all the year) and i cant do that
on my home.
Sorry for the late answer but last week I was in hospital with healthy problems.


JP