|
Alps
The Alps are home to the most Urodel species in France, 9 in total. Thanks to the Alps huge size, many species can only be found there as it is the most western point of a species distribution (Vipera ursinii, Salamandra atra, Salamandra lanzai, Speleomantes strinatii).
Snakes |
|
Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca)
Key feature: a dark line running through the eyes from the neck
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Southern smooth snake (Coronella girondica)
Key feature: black and light chequered belly, a dark line running through the eyes from the neck
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Western whip snake (Hierophis viridiflavus)
Key feature: black with yellow spots on the body
|
© Laurence Saunois
juvenile - © Daniel Phillips
|
Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus)
Key feature: uniform coloured, usually with light spots
|
© Jan van der Voort
juvenile - © Paolo Mazzei
|
Viperine snake (Natrix maura)
Key feature: zig zag dorsal pattern
|
© Daniel Phillips
|
Grass snake (Natrix natrix)
Key feature: yellow collar
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Asp viper (Vipera aspis)
Key feature: slightly upturned snout
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Adder / Common viper (Vipera berus)
Key feature: zig zag dorsal pattern
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Orsini's viper (Vipera ursinii)
Key feature: small size, zig zag dorsal pattern
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Lizards |
|
Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)
Key feature: a snake like appearence, no limbs
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)
Key feature: a bulky body and head
|
male - © Jan van der Voort
female - © Jan van der Voort
|
Western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata)
Key feature: lime green as adults, males usually have blue under their throats
|
© Jan van der Voort
juvenile - © Jan van der Voort
|
Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Key feature: small fragile, very common lizard
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara)
Key feature: a lined type pattern
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Chelonia |
|
European Pond Terrapin (Emys orbicularis)
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Red-eared terrapin (Trachemys scripta)
|
© Jeroen Speybroeck
|
Anurans |
|
Common Midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans)
Key feature: males carry eggs on hind limbs from spring until late summer
|
male - © Jan van der Voort
|
Yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata)
Key feature: their belly is vividly marked with yellow blotches
|
© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort
|
Parsley frog (Pelodytes punctatus)
Key feature: they are light green speckled with darker green
|
© Daniel Phillips
|
Common toad (Bufo bufo)
Key feature: they have a very warty dry skin, their eyes are red
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita)
Key feature: they have a light well defined line running down the middle of the back
|
© Daniel Phillips
|
Common tree frog (Hyla arborea)
Key feature: they have very smooth skin and have finger pads allowing them to stick and climb, they have a dark line on the flanks
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Edible frog (Pelophylax kl. esculentus)
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Pool frog (Pelophylax lessonae)
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus)
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Graf's hybrid frog (Pelophylax kl. grafi)
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Iberian water frog (Pelophylax perezi)
|
© Daniel Phillips
|
Agile frog (Rana dalmatina)
Key feature: they have a pointed snout
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Common frog (Rana temporaria)
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Urodels |
|
Fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra)
Key feature: they are black with vivid yellow markings
|
© Bert Blok
|
Palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus)
|
© Daniel Phillips
|
Alpine newt (Mesotriton alpestris)
Key feature: they have an orange belly and black spots on a white strip on the bottom of the flanks
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus)
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
Marbled newt (Triturus marmoratus)
Key feature: see body pattern
|
© Jan van der Voort
|
|
|