Herpetological trip to Corsica (France)
August 18th-25th 2018
Unless specified otherwise, all pictures (c) of Jeroen Speybroeck.
Corsica has always been one of my favourite European destinations, as you can tell from my 2009 and 2011 trip reports. My fourth trip was to be a solo endeavor and it was great once more.
overview of prospected sites
Flying in to Ajaccio, I started going inland to an area which is a stronghold for some of the endemic Corsican amphibian species. I knew summer was going to be all or nothing for my main target species, the Corsican Fire Salamander
Salamandra corsica. Luckily, this year the island saw the highest rainfall amount of the last 100 years, after four years of extreme drought. And yes, indeed, after a short strawl along a nice mountain brook, a 45 minute thunderstorm started. As soon as it ended and the late afternoon sun lit up the woods once more, I was able to count several tens of salamanders coming outside to enjoy the humidity. Sturdier and with more irregular patterns than the
S. salamandra terrestris I am used to at home, seeing them again so early into the trip was more than I had dared to hope for.
habitat of Corsican Fire Salamander, Corsican Brook Newt, Corsican Painted Frog, Tyrrhenian Rock Lizard and Tyrrhenian Wall Lizard
Corsican Fire Salamander Salamandra corsica
Corsican Fire Salamander Salamandra corsica
Corsican Fire Salamander Salamandra corsica
Corsican Fire Salamander Salamandra corsica
Corsican Fire Salamander Salamandra corsica
Corsican Fire Salamander Salamandra corsica
Corsican Fire Salamander Salamandra corsica
Corsican Fire Salamander Salamandra corsica
Corsican Fire Salamander Salamandra corsica
Corsican Fire Salamander Salamandra corsica
salamander habitat
salamander searcher habitat
someone ought to tell the French that potatoes aren’t vegetables ;)
After dark, I explored two sites in the woods. Remarkably, salamander numbers were clearly much lower now. Yet, the first Corsican Painted Frog
Discoglossus montalentii and Corsican Brook Newt
Euproctus montanus made their appearance. Like during my previous trips, it took again a while to get the hang of
Discoglossus identification, but in the end I even felt fairly comfortable in identifying juveniles.
Corsican Fire Salamander Salamandra corsica
a fairly dull coloured Corsican Painted Frog Discoglossus montalentii
a first Corsican Brook Newt Euproctus montanus
The next day, I drove downhill and north of Corte to meet with Robin Duborget, a Corsican herp enthusiast. We explored a lowland brook and the surrounding maquis. Apart from the ubiquitous Tyrrhenian Wall Lizard
Podarcis tiliguerta, Pool Frog
Pelophylax lessonae and some baby Tyrrhenian Painted Frog
Discoglossus sardus, we found four Hermann’s Tortoises
Testudo hermanni and a fleeing Western Whip Snake
Hierophis viridiflavus. The anticipated Barred Grass Snake
Natrix helvetica was not to be found.
off herping with Robin
double tortoise flip
Hermann’s Tortoise Testudo hermanni
After the short encounter with Robin, I went down the curvy road to the lovely seaside town of Porto. Along the way, I stopped at various brooks, finding more Corsican Painted Frog and Corsican Brook Newt and also a first Tyrrhenian Rock Lizard
Archaeolacerta bedriagae, always a delight to sneak up to during photography.
first Tyrrhenian Rock Lizard Archaeolacerta bedriagae
the famous red rocks of Porto
here’s a good spot for anyone who fancies a crappy pizza and some bland tiramisu
After dark, I went to explore a rocky outcrop that looked promising and was able to find a first European Leaf-toed Gecko
Euleptes europaea.
sunset with half a moon and half a car
European Leaf-toed Gecko Euleptes europaea
European Leaf-toed Gecko Euleptes europaea
In the maquis, also a Green Toad
Bufotes viridis had decided to enjoy the recent moisture. This would turn out to be the only toad of the trip.
Green Toad Bufotes viridis
I wasn’t going to go to sleep just yet, so I checked out a lovely river hinted by GJ to me. He found some good looking Corsican Painted Frogs there, and so did I. I tried to find some Tyrrhenian Tree Frogs
Hyla sarda, but their helpful calls which were all over the place in spring, were now hardly ever to be heard in summer.
Corsican Painted Frog Discoglossus montalentii
Corsican Painted Frog Discoglossus montalentii
Corsican Painted Frog Discoglossus montalentii
The next day, I drove a bit north to the Fango river valley. I tried a spot for Pygmy Algyroides
Algyroides fitzingeri without any luck. As during most of the subsequent days, I explored a lot of brooks and other waterbodies, trying to find Barred Grass Snake, but this would end up being the one Corsican herp species I would not spot during this trip.
Tyrrhenian Wall Lizard Podarcis tiliguerta
Charaxes jasius
While the grass snake didn’t cooperate, I checked out a dam that Jan had visited about 20 years ago and was happy to spot at least eight European Pond Terrapins
Emys orbicularis here.
terrapin habitat
European Pond Terrapin Emys orbicularis
European Pond Terrapin Emys orbicularis
the terrapin didn’t want to take a photo, so I had to do it myself
Ceriagrion tenellum
I then explored a mountain brook close to the Col de Vergio, finding some of the usual suspects – Corsican Brook Newt, larvae of Corsican Fire Salamander and both Tyrrhenian Rock and Wall Lizard.
Corsican Brook Newt Euproctus montanus
Tyrrhenian Rock Lizard Archaeolacerta bedriagae
After dark, a filthy lowland brook where I had hoped to find some adult Tyrrhenian Painted Frog finally provided a first, dark-coloured Tyrrhenian Tree Frog.
Tyrrhenian Tree Frog Hyla sarda
Next, another successful leaf-toed gecko attempt, and to end the day, some Moorish Gecko in Porto.
European Leaf-toed Gecko Euleptes europaea with a lot of mites
Moorish Gecko Tarentola mauritanica
Time to move south and into the mountains again, towards de Col de Bavella en the l’Ospédale forest. The wall lizards seem better looking in this area to my taste.
Tyrrhenian Wall Lizard Podarcis tiliguerta
At the Col, also a few rock lizards and another very enjoyable photography session.
rock lizard habitat
Tyrrhenian Rock Lizard Archaeolacerta bedriagae
Tyrrhenian Rock Lizard Archaeolacerta bedriagae
Tyrrhenian Rock Lizard Archaeolacerta bedriagae
Tyrrhenian Rock Lizard Archaeolacerta bedriagae
Tyrrhenian Rock Lizard Archaeolacerta bedriagae
Flipping a couple of hundreds of stones in brooks and along their edges, finally I found an adult Tyrrhenian Painted Frog, which may very well be the prettiest individual of this species I have ever found.
shallow rift area, habitat of Pool Frog, Tyrrhenian Painted Frog and Green Toad
great brook habitat…
… and plenty of it
Tyrrhenian Painted Frog Discoglossus sardus
Argynnis paphia
yes, they are still there
larva of fire salamander
now that’s better!
and here’s where the French excel
never enough rocks!
Some further exploring delivered once more Pool Frog, Tyrrhenian Painted Frog metamorphs, Corsican Painted Frog, Corsican Brook Newt and larvae of Corsican Fire Salamander. The same species popped up after dark.
Corsican Painted Frog Discoglossus montalentii
Pool Frog Pelophylax lessonae
Corsican Brook Newt Euproctus montanus
a chair with holes
After the last mountain leg of the trip, I moved all the way south towards the surroundings of Bonifacio. Some more exploring of all different types of streams with nice views and species, including some fast and furious Western Whip Snakes, but no grass snake…
Hermann’s Tortoise Testudo hermanni
South of Bonifacio, I wanted to see Pygmy Algyroides. I had seen plenty of this species on Sardinia, but never on Corsica. Eventhough it was already in the afternoon and pretty hot, I was able to spot the species and also the to be expected Italian Wall Lizard
Podarcis siculus which largely replaces the Tyrrhenian Wall Lizard in this area. Another whip snake got away as well. A low-lying room in a ruin held water and Tyrrhenian Painted Frog metamorphs.
Bonifacio as seen from lizard habitat
Italian Wall Lizard Podarcis siculus ready to leap
Italian Wall Lizard Podarcis siculus
Pygmy Algyroides Algyroides fitzingeri
gecko, algyroides and amphibian habitat
special amphibian habitat
young Tyrrhenian Painted Frog Discoglossus sardus
tiny lizard with massive touristic potential
After dark, I revisited a campground where I had seen Turkish Gecko
Hemidactylus turcicus before. The species was still there, together with Moorish Gecko.
compare with 2009 report ;)
Turkish Gecko Hemidactylus turcicus
Moorish Gecko Tarentola mauritanica
Back to the ruins south of Bonifacio, I was able to find many European Leaf-toed Geckoes. At one spot, also a few Turkish Geckoes and a single Moorish Gecko, allowing me to score a gecko species hattrick within one square meter. In the in-house ruin pond, also a more colourful Tyrrhenian Tree Frog.
European Leaf-toed Gecko Euleptes europaea
European Leaf-toed Gecko Euleptes europaea
some like graffiti - European Leaf-toed Gecko Euleptes europaea
Tyrrhenian Tree Frog Hyla sarda
I spent the two final nights near Propriano. The first morning, I met with Robin again to look for a lowland population of Tyrrhenian Rock Lizard but no such luck.
again not the best of luck, Robin ;)
no grass snake here either
what’s underneath?
?
Hermann’s Tortoise Testudo hermanni
Tyrrhenian sunset
The rest of the trip I spent scrutinising every available pond, puddle, marsh, brook and river. No grass snake this time around… A single lowland brook held my final Corsican Brook Newt and again also Corsican Painted Frog and larvae of Corsican Fire Salamander. Nocturnal searches delivered another adult Tyrrhenian Painted Frog, Pool Frog, Moorish Gecko and a final much appreciated leaf-toed gecko photo session.
Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis
Tyrrhenian Painted Frog Discoglossus sardus
Tyrrhenian Painted Frog Discoglossus sardus
European Leaf-toed Gecko Euleptes europaea
European Leaf-toed Gecko Euleptes europaea
The next morning, it was back home. I have said it before, and I will say it again – I’ll be back.
Species list
1. Corsican Fire Salamander
Salamandra corsica– several tens on the first day and larvae at several additional spots
2. Corsican Brook Newt
Euproctus montanus – in nearly every prospected brook
3. Tyrrhenian Painted Frog
Discoglossus sardus – two adults and numerous babies
4. Corsican Painted Frog
Discoglossus montalentii – about 10-15 adults, many juveniles and tadpoles
5. Green Toad
Bufotes viridis – just a single female
6. Tyrrhenian Tree Frog
Hyla sarda – only two plus one heard calling; quite in contrast to spring
7. Pool Frog
Pelophylax lessonae – ubiquitous
8. European Pond Terrapin
Emys orbicularis – at least eight at one site
9. Hermann’s Tortoise
Testudo hermanni – six individuals across three different sites
10. Moorish Gecko
Tarentola mauritanica – locally highly abundant
11. Turkish Gecko
Hemidactylus turcicus – seen only in south and southwest, about five individuals
12. European Leaf-toed Gecko
Euleptes europaea - at five different sites
13. Pygmy Algyroides
Algyroides fitzingeri – only a couple mid-day animals south of Bonifacio
14. Tyrrhenian Rock Lizard
Archaeolacerta bedriagae – not as much as during previous trips: five to ten individuals
15. Tyrrhenian Wall Lizard
Podarcis tiliguerta – everywhere
16. Italian Wall Lizard
Podarcis siculus – highly abundant in the south; not spotted this time at Fango river mouth
17. Western Whip Snake
Hierophis viridiflavus – less than a handful of speedy racers
Epilogue
Did I mention I didn’t find any grass snakes? Too bad, but the overall result was very good, especially in terms of my two main favourites (Corsican Fire Salamander and European Leaf-toed Gecko). Everyone in search of some peace of mind and great amphibians should wade through Corsican mountain brooks. Every single day.
