Reptiles and Amphibians

Portugal Wildlife

Guide to the Reptiles & Amphibians of a Wildlife Reserve in Baixo Alentejo

All Photographs were taken by the website author on the reserve unless otherwise stated.

Species	IUCN Red List Status	Photographs	Photographs	Photographs
		Turtles & Terrapins
Iberian Pond Turtle Mauremys leprosa leprosa Cágado Mediterrânico	IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Dec 2004		Iberian Pond Turtles enjoying the Autumn sun. The smaller turtle stood on the back of a larger one, is a juvenile and still shows bright orange markings on its neck and legs. These colours will fade as the turtle ages.	Swimming. Showing tail rather clearly.
		Iberian Pond Turtle in Bulrush Pond.	Two Iberian Pond Turtles interacting.	Swimming amongst Pond Water-Crowfoot flowers.
		Two Iberian Pond Turtles interacting.	Juvenile. The yellow curlicues on the head and neck distinguish this Iberian Pond Turtle from the similar European pond terrapin.
		Young Turtle showing bright colouration on neck and legs.	Seven Iberian Pond Turtles basking in the January sunshine at Windmill Pond.

		The first Iberian Pond Turtle to arrive at Bulrush Pond.


		Lizards
Moorish Gecko Tarentola mauritanica Osga comum	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Nov 2014	This species only has claws on its third and fourth toes. It grows up to 9cm in body length (16cm including tail).	The Gecko has small Red Mites between the toes on its left front foot.	During the day the Gecko hides in the gap between the Column and the Garage wall.
		Moorish Gecko already active in February.		Crepuscular and nocturnal
		Adult Moorish Gecko with new-grown replacement tail.	Juvenile Moorish Gecko.	Moorish Gecko hiding in space between pillar and wall during the daytime.
		Juvenile.
Iberian Psammodromus Psammodromus manuelae Lagartixo do mato Formerly Psammodromus algirus	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008		Male.	This species of Psammodromus is only recently described. So common English and Portuguese names are not yet fully established.
		Iberian Psammodromus feeding on nectar of Bottlebrush.	Male showing orange-red head colouration.	Female on Bottlebriush flowers.
		Much larger than Western Psammodromus.

				Female.
Western Sand Racer or Western Psammodromus Psammodromus occidentalis Lagartixa do mato ibérica	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008 (This species not separated from Spanish Psammodromus by IUCN)	Male Western Sand Racer in breeding colours.
Formerly included in nearby species Psammodromus hispanicus which is now regarded as three separate species.		Quite a small lizard
		Amphisbaenians/Worm Lizards
Maria's Worm Lizard Blanus mariae Licranço de Maria	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008 - Based on Blanus cinereus - from which this species was recently split.

		Snakes
Horseshoe Whip Snake Hemorrhois hippocrepis Cobra de ferradura	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008	Approximately 1.6m in length.
		Non-venomous.		This indivdual was approximately 55cm in length.

Ladder Snake Rhinechis scalaris Cobra de escada	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008	Juvenile Ladder Snakes have a totally different look to adults. They have characteristic "H" shaped marks along the back, which look somewhat ladder-like, hence the name "ladder snake".		This species is non-venomous.
			Adult Ladder Snakes do not have the ladder markings on the back. Instead they have a black line running down the top of the body, one on each side.
Iberian False Smooth Snake Macroprotodon brevis Cobra de capuz	Near Threatened; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Dec 2008	Generally active at dusk or during the night.	Though this snake is venomous it has a small mouth and fangs at the back of the mouth and low toxicity venom. It has never been recorded envenomating a human.
Viperine Snake Natrix maura Cobra de água viperina	Least Concern; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Dec 2008		Juvenile hunting Eastern Mosquitofish.
		Viperine Snakes mating.	Viperine Snakes mating.	Viperine Snakes mating.
		Viperine Snake sunning itself while hunting Iberian Water Frogs.	Viperine Snake strikes at Eastern Mosquitofish.	Viperine Snake hunting Eastern Mosquitofish.
		Viperine Snake swimming in Windmill Pond.	Juvenile.
		Juvenile.	A mostly aquatic snake that feeds primarily on amphibians (and fish - but fish not yet recorded on the reserve).
			Juvenile.
		Viperine Snake swimming in Windmill Pond.	Under water, at bottom f Bulrush Pond.	Two Viperine Snakes intertwined.
			Viperine Snake swimming in Hide Pond.
		Viperine Snake in Bulrush Pond at night.
		Non-venomous.	Two Viperine Snakes at Hide Pond.
Western Montpellier Snake Malpolon monspessulanus Cobra rateira	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008	Very young Western Montpellier Snake in Bulrush Pond.	This species is a fast, visual predator that actively hunts its prey. When hunting it holds its head and forepart of its body off the ground.	Very young Western Montpellier Snake swimming across Bulrush Pond.
				Western Montpellier Snake drinking at Hide Pond.
		Male Western Montpellier Snake showing yellowish front part of body.
Snake		Snake Skin shed by unknown species of snake. Perhaps 90 cm in length.
		Newts & Salamanders
Sharp-Ribbed Newt Pleurodeles waltl Salamandra de costelas salientes	IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Dec 2008	Sharp-Ribbed Newt rescued from swimming pool and re-homed into Bulrush Pond. (Photo: Alan).
		Sharp-ribbed Newt. This species has an amazing defence mechanism. Along each flank is a row of orange spots. When picked up and threatened they poke their ribs through the spots, where they pick up some venom, so the sharp rib points inject poison into their potential attacker, prompting it to let the newt go.	Sharp-ribbed Newt just prior to being released into our pond.	Sharp-ribbed Newts can grow up to 30cm in length.
		Two Sharp-ribbed newts being relocated to my pond having been discovered in my borehole cistern during cleaning operations.	Two Sharp-ribbed Newts discovered on the reserve. This species is listed as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Very exciting news indeed. Very exciting to have the opportunity to provide a safe home for a near threatened amphibian. Hopefully they will stay in our pond and thrive.	Dead Sharp-Ribbed Newt at Windmill Pond.
		Dead Sharp-Ribbed Newt at Windmill Pond.
Iberian Newt Lissotriton boscai Tritão Ibérico		Not yet photographed on the reserve
		Toads & Frogs
Spiny Toad Bufo spinosus Sapo comum This species has only recently been split from the Common Toad - Bufo bufo	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008	Spiny Toads can be quite variable in colour.	The orange-red eye colour is characteristic.	Europe's largest species of Toad: The Spiny Toad can be as large as 18cm long. This specimen is a female and possibly a gravid female.
			Spiny Toads are nocturnal. This one was seen on the first rainy night in January.
		Spiny Toads in amplexus (mating). Note that the male, on top, is much smaller than the female. Photographed in daytime at Windmill Pond.	Spiny Toad spawn. These toad eggs were laid in a number of strings in a temporary rain puddle.

Natterjack Toad Epidalea calamita Sapo corredor	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Dec 2008	Natterjack Toad - A nocturnal species, photographed at night. They grow up to 10cm in length.	Seen at the end of November when Natterjacks start to breed after the rains have begun.	Natterjacks living in Southern Iberia often do not have the dorsal stripe common to more Northerly Natterjacks.


Iberian Tree Frog Hyla molleri Rã arborícola ibérico This species has only recently been split from the Common Tree Frog - Hyla arborea.	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Dec 2008 IUCN Red List includes this species with European Tree Frog.

Iberian Water Frog Pelophylax perezi Rã verde	IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008	Iberian Water Frogs Mating (Amplexus). The male is much smaller than the female.	Iberian Water Frog calling.	Iberian Water Frog calling.
		Probably an Iberian Water Frog Tadpole.	Iberian Water Frog - this tiny froglet has just emerged from the tadpole stage in Bulrush Pond.	Tadpole soon to be transformed into a Froglet. Probably an Iberian Water Frog.
			Froglet that still has its tail. The tail will soon be 'absorbed' so it will become a proper froglet.	Tadpole swimming with hind legs folded against tail.
		Tadpole clearly showing hind legs.	At night. Note webbing on hind foot.	Tadpoles (at night) - most likely of Iberian Water Frog.
				Iberian Water Frog - Eardrum is clearly visible.
			Iberian Water Frog vocalising. The sound waves are 'visible' in the water.


		Baby Iberian Water Frog sitting in shallow water of the Spring that produces some of the water for the Windmill Pond.
				Iberian Water Frog at night.

The chart below shows the IUCN Red list categories. The further towards the right hand side, the more serious are the threats to a particular species.

Reptile Species List :

1	Iberian Pond Turtle	Mauremys leprosa leprosa	Cágado Mediterrânico	Vulnerable; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Dec 2004
2	Moorish Gecko	Tarentola mauritanica	Osga comum	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Nov 2014
3	Iberian Psammodromus	Psammodromus manuelae or P algirus	Lagartixo do mato	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008
4	Western Sand Racer or Western Psammodromus	Psammodromus occidentalis	Lagartixa do mato ibérica	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008
5	Maria's Worm Lizard	Blanus mariae	Licranço de Maria	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008
6	Horseshoe Whip Snake	Hemorrhois hippocrepis	Cobra de ferradura	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008
7	Ladder Snake	Rhinechis scalaris	Cobra de escada	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008
8	Iberian False Smooth Snake	Macroprotodon brevis	Cobra de capuz	Near Threatened; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Dec 2008
9	Viperine Snake	Natrix maura	Cobra de água viperina	Least Concern; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Dec 2008
10	Western Montpellier Snake	Malpolon monspessulanus	Cobra rateira	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008

Amphibian Species List :

1	Sharp-ribbed Newt	Pleurodeles waltl	Salamandra de costelas salientes	Near Threatened; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Dec 2008
2	Iberian Newt	Lissotriton boscai	Tritão Ibérico	Least Concern; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Dec 2021
3	Spiny Toad	Bufo spinosus	Sapo comum	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008
4	Natterjack Toad	Epidalea calamita	Sapo corredor	Least Concern; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Dec 2008
5	Iberian Tree Frog	Hyla molleri	Rã arborícola ibérico	Least Concern; Population Trend Decreasing; Last Assessed Dec 2008
6	Iberian Water Frog	Pelophylax perezi	Rã verde	Least Concern; Population Trend Stable; Last Assessed Dec 2008