Our three Herpetology workshops in April-May 2025 finished with an impressive list of 29 species of reptiles and amphibians. We started in the mid April and finished mid May (the best period for them).
The list included:
- Buresh crested newt (Triturus ivanbureschi)
- Yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata)
- Eastern spadefoot toad (Pelobates balcanicus)
- Common toad (Bufo bufo)
- Green toad (Bufotes viridis)
- Common tree frog (Hyla arborea)
- Greek stream frog (Rana graeca)
- Marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus)
- Spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca)
- Herman’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni)
- European pond terrapin (Emys orbicularis)
- Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)
- Yellow-bellied slider (Trachemys scripta scripta)
- Balkan pond terrapin (Mauremys rivulata)
- Kotschy’s gecko (Mediodactilus kotschyi)
- Balkan green lizard (Lacerta trilineata)
- Eastern green lizard (Lacerta viridis)
- Erhard’s Wall Lizard (Podarcis erhardii)
- Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)
- Four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata)
- Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus)
- Leopard snake (Zamenis situla)
- Grass snake (Natrix natrix)
- Dice snake (Natrix tessellata)
- Cat snake (Telescopus fallax)
- Eastern Montpellier snake (Malpolon insignitus)
- Nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes montandoni)
Most of them were very cooperative to posing in front of our cameras. So we had opportunity to enjoy this creatures in their natural habitat. This year also we had the privilege to see birth of baby salamanders near a small river. Unforgettable!
We spent fantastic time into the richest of herpetofauna part in SW Bulgaria. In the morning the Sun was shining over the high peaks of Pirin mountain….such a nice way to woke up. Enjoy the coffee break and listening the birds singing. Late evenings we were fascinated by the chorus of the frogs singing in the wetlands. …and do some scientific researches during that joy. Some of the researches were already published. Some others are still in preparation.
If you would like to join us, you won’t regret for sure!
I have no patience to hear, feel and experience this again in spring 2026!
