Reptiles and Amphibians of Spain

Spain is home to a rich diversity of reptile and amphibian species, with over 70 species of reptiles and 30 species of amphibians recorded. Some of the most iconic reptiles found in Spain include the Iberian viper, the ocellated lizard, and the Hermann’s tortoise. Spain is also home to a number of endemic species, such as the Montseny brook newt and the Spanish painted frog. The country’s varied landscapes, which range from mountains and forests to wetlands and coastal areas, provide habitats for a wide range of reptile and amphibian species. However, many of these species are threatened due to habitat loss and climate change. Overall, Spain’s reptile and amphibian diversity is a reflection of the country’s rich natural heritage and highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect these species.

Large Psammodromus – Psammodromus algirus – Lagartija Colilarga

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Large Psammodromus - Psammodromus algirus – Lagartija colilarga-2
  • English: Large Psammodromus
  • Scientific: Psammodromus algirus (Linnaeus 1758)
  • Castilian: Lagartija Colilarga
  • Catalan: Sargantaner gros
  • Portuguese: Lagartixa-do-mato
  • Family: Lacertidae
  • Distribution: Iberia (excluding the northern Atlantic coastal stretch.) Algeria, France, Gibraltar, Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Tunisia

The Large Psammodromus – Psammodromus algirus – Lagartija Colilarga can have a body length of up to 9cm with a slender tail that is two or three times longer. Its back is a soft brown with two pale yellow or off white stripes running down each flank. The back legs up to the beginning of the tail are a soft orange colour, all of this helps them to blend well with fallen leaves and soil shades under bushes which is where they are normally seen. This can be in forests, woods or more open scrubland but generally not far from shrubs that they can hunt through and use as shelter.

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Natterjack toad – Epidalia (Bufo) calamita – Sapo corredor

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Natterjack toad - Epidalia (Bufo) calamita - Sapo corredor
  • Family: Bufonidae
  • English: Natterjack Toad
  • Scientific: Epidalia (Bufo) calamita
  • Spanish: Sapo corredor
  • Basque: Apo lasterkaria
  • Catalan: Gripau corredor, gripau
  • Galician: Sapo corriqueiro
  • Portuguese: Sapo-corredor
  • Distribution Iberia: Found throughout all Portugal and much of Spain, including the Pyrenees but excluding the northern Atlantic region and the dry central interior, though present in the south.
  • Further distribution: UK mainland and Ireland, France through Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and southern Swedish coastal regions to Poland, Belarus, Ukraine and the Baltic states, and also in Northwest Africa and west Asia. In the UK and Eire the species is restricted in its distribution and considered endangered. In Ireland, found only on the Dingle Peninsula, and distribution in the UK is almost restricted to coastal areas.

The Natterjack toad – Epidalia (Bufo) calamita – Sapo corredor is a species of Bufo, a large genus of so-called “true toads” traditionally found worldwide, although some authorities have now separated the Old World species from the New.

Description

Epidalia (Bufo) calamita is a medium-sized toad with a total maximum length of about 9-10cm in Iberia. (Elsewhere in Europe the species is smaller, males measuring 8cm and females 10cm). The head is wider than long, with a short rounded snout, and the area between the eyes is flat. The tympanum, measuring about half the diameter of the eye, is usually not visible, and if it is, only the front part can be seen.

Natterjack toad - Epidalia (Bufo) calamita - Sapo corredor
Natterjack toad – Epidalia (Bufo) calamita – Sapo corredor with a faint yellow dorsal stripe

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Triumph Over Invasive Species: Bullfrog Successfully Eradicated from Ebro Delta Region

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Triumph Over Invasive Species: Bullfrog Successfully Eradicated from Ebro Delta Region

In a remarkable turn of events, the once-menacing bullfrog population in the Ebro delta natural park has been successfully eradicated. This victory against an invasive species marks a significant achievement in conservation efforts and safeguarding local ecosystems. Previously, the presence of bullfrog tadpoles had triggered concerns among experts about the potential harm they could inflict … Read more

Invasive species – The red eared terrapin

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An invasive species, the red-eared terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans), also known as the red-eared slider, red-eared slider turtle
  • Spanish: Galápago de Florida, Tortuga de orejas rojas
  • Scientific: Trachemys scripta elegans
  • English: Red eared terrapin

An invasive species, the red-eared terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans), also known as the red-eared slider, red-eared slider turtle, red-eared turtle, slider turtle, and water slider turtle, is a semiaquatic terrapin belonging to the family Emydidae.

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