Quiz number 2

[Kristian Munkholm]

@ Kristian

The metamorphosing anuran is not so bad!
May you give the appr. location?
Upper or lower quarter, left or right.

And there is one full developed amphibian species more on the image!

Mario

lower left

[Mario Schweiger]

OK, here is a cut out of the original image. a bit more than a quarter of the image, shown first.
There is - beside the two Lissotriton vularis - another full developed amphibian species (hard) to see. Click on image to see it fullsize!

cut out of first image

@ Kristian
Yes, there is a nearly finished metamorphosing Rana graeca tadpole!
Its Rana graeca, because this is the only anuran species, breeding there (in 2006, 2007 - own observations; 2009 observed by friends). Also the Rana gallertae are from Rana graeca - what else?

Mario

[Kristian Munkholm]

Rana graeca at the top of the picture above the newts

[Mario Schweiger]

It seems to very very hard.
So again, one hint more: its a Urodela species!

Ok, and here are these, allready found.

[Kristian Munkholm]

Well, there's something that could look like a tail protruding below the two males. It's hard to say for sure if it's just some sort of vegetative matter, though. If I am right, and it is a tail my guess would be female Lissotriton vulgaris.

What bothers me most is that the tail seems too small in comparison with the males and I think I should be able to see part of the front of the body as well. Nonetheless, I think that must be it!

[Mario Schweiger]

Kristian, you are right!
But you may see nearly the complete animal - a Lissotriton vulgaris female. So it has nearly the color as the ditch bottom, it camouflage with it!
Here are the approx. outlines, but you may see it easier on the first picture, when knowing where and on what to look on!

[Kristian Munkholm]

As always, once you see it, it is obvious.
How I could miss that right hind limb befuddles me now.

[Andreas Thorbeck]

There are at least two Triturus sp., aren`t there????