Legendary Feneos. May 2019

Peloponnese is legendary among herpers because it boasts many reptile species, many of them endemic (Peloponnesian, Greek or Balkan). Almost wherever you go there are reptiles in abundance. There is a place in north Peloponnese where 7 Lacertid species have been observed in close proximity. This very special place is Feneos plateau, a place surrounded with mountains all around.

Feneos plateau in north Peloponnese. A herper's paradise

So off we went, for another time, to visit this paradise, and search for lizards and a very special snake, the rare (for Peloponnese) Coronella austriaca.

The first place we stopped was on the road to Feneos, where we spotted some Podarcis erhardii livadiacus. This is one of the westernmost places that we know of this species in Peloponnese.

Podarcis erhardii livadiacus. A beautiful male

Spring is in the air and male competition for the females is high. We didn't spend much time in a place and lizards were chasing each other in front of us.

Podarcis erhardii livadiacus. Males fighting viciously, biting each other on the head

At the same spot we also found Podarcis peloponnesiacus, Podarcis ionicus and Podarcis muralis. P. pelponnesiacus, P. ionicus and P. erhardii were both on the verge of the road at a very dry, stony place, really co-existing. P. muralis was just 50 metres away, near a brook.

Podarcis ionicus basking

Podarcis muralis on a plane tree, basking. This species preferred a moist and shady place, just 50 metres from the other three Podarcis species

Male Podarcis peloponnesiacus

Podarcis peloponnesiacus mating. These lizards were the commonest in the area, but we never get bored of them due to their beauty and character

Mike spotted this pattern-less Podarcis peloponnesiacus

After loitering for almost half the day in a dry and hot place with the lizards, we went into the fir forest to search for Coronella and escape from the heat. Unfortunately we didnt find any Coronella, just a small Hierophis gemonensis.

Elias and Manolis on the hunt

Small Pelophylax ridibundus

Hierophis gemonensis at a forest opening

And this lovely Anguis cephallonicus

In the coolness of the fir forest there were some Testudo hermanni feeding

Just like us evading the heat of the midday, many tortoises were feeding in the shady forest

The afternoon was not so productive, searching for Coronella did not uncover anything but a lovely Telescopus fallax

Telescopus fallax in the afternoon, at a quite high altitude, among the firs

Manolis, Elias and Mike with Telescopus

Mike and Elias photographing Podarcis peloponnesiasus in situ

A pair in love. Male and female Podarcis peloponnesiasus. Pairs tend to spend time together and bask together or in close proximity

Also observed but not photographed: Lacerta trilineata, Ablepharus kitaibelii, Algyroides moreoticus