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Dear all,

I want to show you some pictures about a short trip in the Eastern Carpathians region. The first stop was near to the locality of Subcetate (Harghita County), were a huge water reservoir exists. At the end of this water body an interestingly rich Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis agilis) population live. I don't know which is the real status of the Lacerta agilis argus - knows somebody? -, although these lizards shows a great variety of the erythronothus or rubra form - how you whish.

A first picture with the habitat.



A normal colored and patterned male.



A red-backed female.




A normal male again.



An interesting female almost without vertebral line.



An interesting male. Red-backed and imaculata in the same time.




Red-backed female.




Another female.





An interesting pattern on female.




A male with almost unbroken vertebral line.




The Viviparous or Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara) live in the same habitat.




Common Frog (Rana temporaria) and Common Toad (Bufo bufo eggs in the same pond.



A male Common Frog on the shore of the water reservoir.



More pictures about the habitat.





The result of a short stop in Tusnad. Common Toad.



Another habitat with red-backed Sand Lizards.




A male.





A normal male.




A normal female.





In the second day we managed to stop for a short time in Mestecanisul de la Reci (Covasna County) for several pictures with Moor Frogs (Rana arvalis) and the Pool Frog (Pelophylax lessonae.

The habitat.




But we started with a lizard again.




The only observed Moor Frog.






The Pool frogs were in their reproduction period.














Here you can listen some Pool frog songs made in another trip.





The only snake of the trip, the Grass Snake (Natrix natrix) and its prey, the European Tree Frog (Hyla arborea), released after he saw me.




That's all folks! Hope you enjoy!

Hello Tibor,

its hard to tell which subspecies these are.
I think they should be Lacerta agilis argus.
Lacerta a. chersonensis occurs south and east of the Karpathian mountains, but your locality seems to be on the west side of this mountain ridge (Google Earth).
But anyway.
I love this variation in color and markings, also in your waterfrogs.

Mario

yes, it is in former area of Lacerta agilis agilis. although as I now, genetically only Lacerta agilis agilis and Lacerta agilis chersonensis are recognised (of course, from this area). do you have any other information regarding to Lacerta agilis argus genetically status? thank you...

Lacerta agilis argus is pushed by the Lacerta agilis "pope" Wolfgang Bischoff. But I know, this subspecies is not accepted by most scientists.

Mario

Welcome to the forum,Tibor!

Great pics and impressive variation of the Sand Lizard! I also love the Moor Frog! Thanks for sharing! I hope we'll see more..... I know you're making great photos!

Thank you, Ilian. yes, it is nice to put your own picture here, thus you will see more... and more...

Great pics!!! The agilis pic`s a very intresting!!!!!

Hi Tibi, nice to see you posting in here. I told you this is the place to be. Some of the Sand lizards were drop dead gorgeous, so thanks for sharing them with us.

Veeeeery gelous about that neat Moor Frog. Maybe one day we`ll herp together in your neck of the woods.

Again, thanks for posting, and looking forward to your future posts.

Cheers!

Hi Tibor,
I think - regardless of the question if the "argus" is a subspecies or only a colour morphe - it describes the area of distribution of the red backed animals: These seem to occur in eastern Europe reaching the Eastern half of Germany in the west. In contrast to this, I have never seen red backed specimen in Western Germany, Netherlands or France.
Anyhow: really great pictures from a very interesting part of Europe! Although common and widespread, L. agilis for me is one of the most impressing reptiles in Europe!
Regards
Peter