Ardeche Mountains & Rhone 2

[Wolfram Schurig]

On a trip to Avignon we stopped at Alba le Romain (about 80km north of Avignon). There you can find the ruins of an old roman thatre. It was 10.30 in the morning an 33°C. I immediately could see many Podarcis sp. just wondering why they are still out on the "melting" stones. Coming closer I realized that it was not P. muralis. These lizards were smaller and more slender. To me they look like Podarcis liolepis although they should not occure so far in the east and also north of France. I think there has to be done still a lot of research in the radiation of former P. ispanicus in France. I also do not know if P. h. cebenensis is identical with those P. liolepis in soutern France. Just have a look:

Also: abundance of Pelophylax sp. The biggest was about 13cm so it could be (introduced) P. ridibundus?

Later in Avignon:

1) Palais du pape:

2)...visitor...

3)...and inhabitant...

Some more Pelophylax we found in the Ardeche River - Cirque de Bauzon. I caught some specimem and I couldn't figure out which one. Maybe kl. esculentus or perezi or other hybrids. Definitly no lessonae or ridibundus.

Finally I show you the mountains. They are dominated by dense woods, narrow canyons and creeks, and endless plateaus with the so called >sucs< - eroded volcanos. I found P. muralis merremius, Rana temoraria and S. salamandra terrestris - larvae.

IMG_3555-r_temporaria_kl.jpg (354.43 KiB) Viewed 5459 times

That was it from France!

Wolfram

[Peter Oefinger]

Hi Wolfram,
interesting documentation of the P. liolepis. Yes, the P.liolepis in southern France are identical with the former P. h. cebennensis (some call them P. liolepis cebennensis. But, as far as I know, there are still some questions about the subspecies within that species.)
Regards
Peter

[Ilian Velikov]

Nice trip,Wolfram...and great photos! Great Podarcis "gallery "!Thanks for posting!

[Wouter Beukema]

Nice photos again! For liolepis, please check a very recent (2009) article of Geniez & Deso on this subject, you can find it in Mario's database. Both P. l. cebbenensis and P. l. liolepis occur in France and are valid! Records so far to the east have only recently been discovered.

[Wolfram Schurig]

Thanxx a lot for the Podarcis information, Wouter!
Wolfram

[Jürgen Gebhart]

Also very nice shots, but where are the vipera pics????

[Wolfram Schurig]

...ouch! At least I had my gloves in the rucksack .....

wolfram

PS: I told you, Jürgen: I am snake-blind! Does ayone else here know this desease?

[Ilian Velikov]

Wolfram, don't worry, you're not the only one with this desease! I seem to miss every species of snake in every place where their density is highest!

[Peter Oefinger]

It's the same with me! My standard situation is: "ouups! - there has been a snake!"

[Wolfram Schurig]

So welcome in the club....is there any idea for a therapy of that desease???

wolfram