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Reptiles and Amphibians
The Aesculapian snake (Elaphe longissima) is an agile and lively snake with a slender and elegant body, a narrow head, round pupil, and flat, smooth scales. Adults have a yellow-gray or gray-green livery with yellowish undersides, while juveniles are gray or olive-colored. The male is larger than the female and can reach a length of 200 cm. COMPLETE FACT SHEET >>
CERVONE (Elaphe quatuorlineata)
TREE FROG (Hyla arborea)
GREEN FROG (Rana clamitas)
The yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) is a small amphibian with a flattened body that rarely exceeds 5 cm in length, averaging 4 cm. Its back is warty and gray or brown in color, but its main characteristic is found in its belly, which is glossy black or deep blue mottled with bright yellow, sometimes orange. The snout is rounded, the eyes are protruding and have unique heart-shaped pupils.
The bright coloration of the belly serves to immediately identify it as a poisonous species to potential predators. In fact, if the toad is touched or feels threatened, and escape is not possible, it immediately assumes a strange defensive posture, covering its eyes with its front limbs, arching its back, and turning its hind limbs upward to show its colors. As soon as it takes this position, through the action of glands spread over its skin, it begins to secrete a whitish, irritating, and highly toxic liquid that drives away aggressors. When the danger has passed, it returns to its normal position.
It hibernates in holes in the ground covered with mud and reappears towards the end of April.
The yellow-bellied toad does not have a vocal sac like frogs and therefore its croak is low and its call sounds like a faint sound of distant bells. COMPLETE FACT SHEET >>
HERMANN'S TORTOISE (Testudo hermanni)
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