In Oktober I spent a week on the island of Cyprus with my family. Though primarily a family-holiday I cannot lie on a sunbed all day, knowing there are herps to be found in the area, which I know most of you will relate to So I got a rental car and explored the Greek side of the island with my girlfriend. I had never been to Cyprus before and while my family was planning the holiday location I made quite a few hints about Cyprus and what a great family holiday location it would be! Which paid off, because on Oktober 6th our plane touched down on Cyprus
My main goal was to find some (or all) of the endemics, which include Hierophis cypriensis, Pelophylax cypriensis, Phoenicolacerta troodica and the Cypriotic subspecies of the grass snake, Natrix natrix cypriaca. The grass snake is very close to extinction on the island, due to a history of pesticide use, habitat destruction and man-made alterations in creek and river flows. Of course, Macrovipera lebetina was also high on my wish-lise, as well as Eumeces schneiderii, which is the rarest skink on the island. Schreiber's fringe-fingered lizard, Acanthodactylus schreiberi, the rarest lizard on the island, was also a species to look out for.
As it was the end of the dry season, even in Oktober temperatures where still soaring towards mid 30's at the end of the morning already, which made exploring the island a hot and dusty adventure. Water was very limited, and most rivers and creeks were now dry riverbeds. Especially snakes proved to be very, very hard to find, during all times of the day, including while doing some nightcruising. I did not find a single trace of a viper, which is suposed to be widespread across the island.
Biggest highlight was finding a grass snake out foraging in a ditch in a further all but completely dried out habitat!
Cyprus is a great island, but next visit will have to be a lot earlier in the season
Total list, including DOR:
1 Laudakia stellio
2 Chamaeleo chamaeleon (DOR)
3 Cyrtopodion kotschyi
4 Hemidactylus turcicus
5 Acanthodactylus schreiberi
6 Ophisops elegans
7 Phoenicolacerta troodica
8 Ablepharus budaki
9 Chalcides ocellatus
10 Dolichophis jugularis
11 Malpolon insignitus (DOR)
12 Natrix natrix cypriaca
13 Pelophylax cypriensis
Some pictures below.
@ Mario: I think I blew up the server (again) yesterday while uploading pictures
And since it is newyears day now; all the best wishes!! May there be many more herp-related adventures in 2016!