Herping Around Cologne

[Matthew King]

My name is Matthew King and I am from Athens, Georgia, USA. I have been fieldherping for many years all over the US. I am currently in Cologne Germany and was curious if any of the city parks or preserves contain any reptiles to see and photograph. I will be here until the 25th so if anyone can point me to some herps I could reciprocate in the USA. My main interest is snakes and I would love to see Vipera (which I would imagine is doubtful near the city), but I could settle for Natrix just to say I have seen a European snake.

Here are some photos from the USA.

Eastern Diamondback


Southern Hognose


Desert Massassauga


Pigmy Rattlesnake


Timber Rattlesnake




Thanks,
Matt King

[Jürgen Gebhart]

Hi Metthew, welcome!!!
Sorry, I have no idea about herps around Cologne. but,
great shot of the King (or Queen) of the north american rattlesnakes, I like the eastern Diamondback very much!! A very impressive rattlesnake!

[Matthew King]

Thanks. Here's another.



And another.




If anyone can help with Natrix or Vipera in Cologne?

Thanks,
Matt King

[Matthew King]

I should say that I'm staying in the Ramada in Hurth


Thanks,
Matt King

[Peter Oefinger]

Hi Matthew,
near Cologne you may find Anguis fragilis, Lacerta agilis, Zootoca vivipara. In the wider area (50 km) there is Natrix natrix and Coronella austriaca but I don't know exact locations. No Vipera.
Furthermore some frogs, toads and newts.
It is a very densely populated area and the few interesting habitats are strictly protected...

So: better go downtown and try the Kölsch (local beer)...

Regards
Peter

[Niklas Ban]

here is a website which shows where do you can find herps in NRW an around cologne http://www.herpetofauna-nrw.de/ . You have do get on "Verbreitung"

[Ulrich Schulte]

HI Matthew,

you could go to a forest called "Kottenforst" near Bonn, it is 30 minutes drive from Cologne. There you can find Natrix natrix, Anguis and a lot of fire slamanders.

Greetings, Ulli

[Mario Schweiger]

Hi Matthew,

there is an "old" booklet: Mittmann & Simon (1991): Die Amphibien und Reptilien im Raume Köln.
See map attached:

The authors give the following herps for the area:
Salamandra salamandra (in the east)
Triturus (Ichtyosaura) a. alpestris
Triturus c. cristaus
Lissotriton helveticus
Lissotriton vulgaris
Alytes obstetricans
Bufo bufo
Bufo calamita
Bufo viridis
Pelophylax sp.
Rana temporaris
Anguis fragilis
Lacerta agilis
Zootoca vivipara
Coronella austriaca
Natrix natrix

You see, quite many amphibian species, but only a few reptiles!

[Matthew King]

I appreciate the information, but regrettably I will probably not be afforded the time to do some herping. One of the Germans I am working with said he saw Anguis around his home in Bruhl, but very rarely. I should say he is not a herper at all and usually only saw dead on road specimens. I will try very hard to get some time to herp, but I don't know that I will get to. If any of you are ever in the southeastern USA let me know and I can take you to all 6 of the venomous species (though Micrurus fulvius is hard to find), pine snakes, southern hognoses, or whatever else you'd like. There are a few snakes from my home state I have yet to see alive (Farancia erytrogramma, Farancia abacura, Seminatrix pygaea, Regina alleni and Nerodia floridana). I haven't spent a lot of time looking for these aquatic species.

Thank you,
Matthew King

gacrotalus at gmail dot com

[Matthew King]

I would also like to say that seeing Coronella would be amazing. They remind me of america's Lamporopeltis calliegaster rhomobomaculata and L c occipitolineata. They are great snakes so I appreciate you letting me see your pictures of smooth snakes.

I will likely be in Lyon, France for work in September. Is that to late for Asp and Adders?

Thanks,
Matthew King