Biotopes in central Spain - Sierra de Gredos

[rubén]

Temporary ponds in Ávila province, where lives and breeds Lissotriton boscai, Triturus pygmaeus, Pleurodeles waltl, Pelobates cultripes, etc...

Pelobates cultripes, most of them on the water:

At the evening, some Pleurodeles waltl were on the borders of the pond. One of them, was an huge female of 30 cm!

Pygmaeus females use to lay the eggs from february to april:

 

[ryan]

Wow that frogs eyes are overbaring! Great pics!

 

[rodrigo]

great pics! I´ve always enjoyed P.cultripes for the alien look hehe. Those pics of pygmaeus laying are amazing, how do you take such shots????

btw...how are your dobros??? I´d definitely love to see more pics of them

For my taste it´s the most photogenic newt.

 

[cameron]

You took some Amazing pictures! The I think Spadefoot toad? looks really cool too.

 

[rubén]

I forgot it...

Some shots of Lissotriton boscai laying eggs too. I took one male to appreciate the breeding pattern.

 

[alex]

Nice pictures Rubén, thanks for sharing

 

[jennifer]

I always love your photos, Ruben.

I am curious about the 30-cm Pleurodeles newt. (She is really beautiful!) Was this newt coming from a terrestrial environment and entering the water here to breed? I assume she could not live year-round in this pond. If she was terrestrial, where would a newt that big hide on land?? Would they inhabit animal holes, like tiger sals do?

 

[dane]

those are some awesome shots, they have definetly pumped me up for this year

 

[rubén]

Thanks to all...

Jennifer:

The question of what do they do these animals when the ponds disappears at summer (when the temperatures sometimes reach over 40ºc) was always a mystery for scientific community. Personally, I'm convinced that they are buried during the long summer, as they occurs frequently, partially sandy soils.

I don't think Pleurodeles looks for small holes like Tiger Salamander use to do. Nevertheless, Pleurodeles have small and sharpened claws at the end of his fingers, and surely use it to excavate all type of soils.

 

[rubén]

The 30 cm long female of Pleurodeles is the animal of the 7th photograph...

The life cycle of this species depends on the rainfalls, more than the temperatures: When the presence of water allows it, usually from october/november to may/june (although this is a very variable period according to the altitude) Pleurodeles remain on the ponds.

I will try to make some shots of the aestivation period for this and other species, in may/june. The animals are under the stones on the humid parts of the dry pond, and you can find a lot of them together (pleurodeles, pygmaeus, Lissotriton). When the pond is completely dry, some days later, the newts "disappear". My theory is that migration takes place at night (when they burying down)

 

[christian]

Very nice photo's, the waltl's look more colourfull as captive one's, very nice!

What kind of weather/climate is it in that area through the year?

 

[rubén]

The area of the photographs is a protected valley, surrounded by mountains. With a low altitude of 400/500 m., the climate is the typical mediterranean, with rainy/mild winters and long/very warm summers. Negative temperatures are very rare, however some days at summer reach over 40 ºc.