Some summer herps

[Julius Zidorn]

Hi,

some nice herping days with friends and family, with quite nice findings. A weekend in W-Germany (Eifel), two days (and nights) in the area "im Solling", a few days in S-Germany and also some searchings near my place in Hamburg.
I managed to find my first Smoothie, and also a little salamander that can only be Fire Salamander. Have the juvenile ones already their typical colour ?
Well, surprisingly not too hot for herps, I found an Adder at 4pm (34 °C)
Enjoy,
Julius

[Alexandre Roux]

The only juveniles I've seen already had the typical color... Very strange salamander you found there !

[Thomas Reich]

Thank you for the pictures.

It's a pity to see the adult fire salamander in such a bad condition. That lower jaw doesn't look healthy.

The animal in the first picture looks like Speleomantes to me.... Where did you find it?

[Laura Bok]

Thank you Julius, nice finds and pictures!

I also find that first juvenile very interesting. I would say it is definitely no firesalamander, and agree with Thomas that it very much looks like Speleomantes - look at the prominent Canthus rostralis, the rounded toes and the missing yellow markings at the base of the legs. I am also very curious where you found it!

Cheers,
Laura

[Alexandre Roux]

The animal in the first picture looks like Speleomantes to me.... Where did you find it?

I agree !
This is all the more strange that there is no Speleomantes in Germany to my knowledge...

[Julius Zidorn]

Hi,


yes, speleomantes was my first thought, too, but in this area only Fire Salamander occurs.
I found the animal under a cliff in the area "im Solling", SW-Niedersachsen, Germany.
In a circle of 20 metres I also found the adult semi-blind Salamandra plus two more, together with Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, Lissotriton helveticus and Ichthyosaura.
Nice place, and you think you are in a jungle

Cheers,
Julius

[Julius Zidorn]

After looking through the other pictures and some Sardinia trip reports, it must be Speleomantes.
Strange story...
Here are all the other pictures, maybe this helps.

I cannot tell you if there´s a bigger population, I made three short searches here and found only this single one.

[Alexandre Roux]

No way, this is Speleomantes !
What a strange thing there, you may have discovered new location ??? (introduced for sure?)

[Julius Zidorn]

I do not think that the animal is introduced.

What should I do now in your opinion?
I will stay part of the next years "im Solling" and for sure I will search again for salamanders

[Julius Zidorn]

Last pic of Speleomantes I´ve found