Herpetological trip to South Portugal - April 2005

translated by Michael Duda

Day 6 - 22nd of April 2006

On the search for Lataste´s viper

During all these days we kept on asking Udo about Lataste´s viper, the most rare reptile of the Algarve. Approximately one specimen is found each year, but most of them driven over dead on the road. Most of the observations are made in the limestone mountains of the western Algarve, from the coasts of Carrapateira to the Serra de Espinhaco de Cao - an incredible big area, where only a few records are known. Of course it was our aim, to find at least one specimen of this rare animal - if possible, a living one! So we went on to an untouched valley near Paraiso, where a group of German tourists could once observe one specimen. Also one of the last Spanish lynx has been seen in this valley. Perhaps a small population of the only native European cat could survive in this valley.

Starting from Carrapateira we went on to Paraiso searching along ponds and pools for some grass snakes- Natrix natrix ab - but without success. Although Udo told us, that it was a quite common snake, we could not even see one specimen during our 10- days trip. Some 100 meters above the valley became totally dry; we could see some Algerian sand lizards and sub adult Eyed lizards along the former river side. We were turning every stone that we could see looking for hidden amphibians. After all our big afford led to success; as Gerald found an Iberian midwife toad - Alytes cisternasii. The animal was going to dig deeper down the sand; the mating season of all amphibians was much more shorter than in normal years. Unfortunately we could not watch the interesting procedure of brooding care - the males carry the eggs wrapped around their legs until the tadpoles hatch. Perhaps this should be a reason to return once again

The only amphibian, that we still could find mating, was the Common toad Bufo bufo. We could find mating couples and single males at some creeks, on some places also spawn and tadpoles, most of all in still water zones and rest water of dry rivers. Perhaps the common toads of southern Portugal developed a new strategy for successful reproduction. This species, which occurs in most parts of Europe as an explosive breeder at permanent ponds and lakes, seems to be restricted on rivers and creeks in southern Portugal. They also never occur in big groups during mating season like the ones from middle Europe. The appearance of the Portuguese common toads is quite variable, many animals looked like the ones from middle Europe. They are also not restricted to specific habitats, we could also find some specimen in the dune sand, were we had expected natterjacks or Iberian spade foots. Like in middle Europe they seem to be the most adaptable amphibian.

At the evening we returned to a place, which we had already visited at the first day. We thought, that we could find the southern smooth snake or Latastes viper there, but without success! Instead of this we could catch a House rat - Rattus rattus. In opposite to other populations of this mammal, the Portuguese house rats try to avoid the presence of humans. We also crossed the way of a herd of cows, which were escorted by buff-backed herons. These herons can be often seen together with cattle, they live on the parasites of the cows. We also had been attacked by extreme big ticks, but in the most cases we could get them off before they started to suck our blood.

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Pictures of amphibians & reptiles Gallery

day7: The eastern Algarve and the lower Guadiana

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