I am portuguese and the herpetofauna here is not as diverse as in the USA but we have some interesting reptiles and amphibians. In Portugal there are only 2 water snake species:
Natrix Natrix - Grass Snake
Natrix Maura - Viperine Water Snake
Here are pics of some Snakes I found and two Salamanders (Salamandra Salamandra and Pleurodeles Waltl):
Natrix Maura:
Natrix Natrix:
This was a small juvenile Snake
Salamandra SalamandraS:
Pleurodeles Waltl:
Thanks, please coment and add photos that you find interesting.
Portuguese Water Snakes (pics)
Moderator: Scott Waters
- Bryan Hamilton
- Posts: 1234
- Joined: June 10th, 2010, 9:49 pm
Re: Portuguese Water Snakes (pics)
Cool stuff. I've always wanted to see a Natrix natrix in the wild.
Re: Portuguese Water Snakes (pics)
Always great to see post from other countries. Don't see enough of Portugal here in the U.S., herps or otherwise. Seems like a beautiful country. I'd love to see more habitat and scenic pics ...as well as any more herps of course.
The Pleurodeles Waltl appears especially interesting. Anymore pics of that species?
The Pleurodeles Waltl appears especially interesting. Anymore pics of that species?
- Jeremiah_Easter
- Posts: 353
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 10:48 am
- Location: Seattle, WA
Re: Portuguese Water Snakes (pics)
yes please.The Pleurodeles Waltl appears especially interesting. Anymore pics of that species?
Re: Portuguese Water Snakes (pics)
Thaks for commenting the topic.
Here' another pic (did you know that Pleuroedeles Waltl is the ibggest Salamanderspecies in Europe?):
Here' another pic (did you know that Pleuroedeles Waltl is the ibggest Salamanderspecies in Europe?):
Re: Portuguese Water Snakes (pics)
Here are some pictures I tought youd like
(These were taken by my brother).
We found this Natrix Maura eating a trout in a small stream.The trout was still moving when the snake pulled it ito te bushes in the riverbank:
Another pic of that Natrix Natrix
And some more Natrix Mauras:
(These were taken by my brother).
We found this Natrix Maura eating a trout in a small stream.The trout was still moving when the snake pulled it ito te bushes in the riverbank:
Another pic of that Natrix Natrix
And some more Natrix Mauras:
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- Posts: 523
- Joined: June 11th, 2010, 9:09 pm
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Re: Portuguese Water Snakes (pics)
Excellent stuff Diogo,
I keep P.walti in captivity, and heard they get as big as the one in your hand, but wow! Amazing!
The snakes are super cool, the in situ feeding photos are my favorite. Some tips on photographing your caught specimens include letting them crawl on a nice rock or log while gently holding the tail out of camera view. You can also cover the snake with your hand or hat until it calms down and begins to feel a little more secure. Have your camera ready, and then slowly remove the cover.
I think you'll really be pleased with the results you get, and the snakes might be a little less stressed after the ordeal.
Have fun, and I look forward to more pictures from you. Portugal is in interesting place
Ian
I keep P.walti in captivity, and heard they get as big as the one in your hand, but wow! Amazing!
The snakes are super cool, the in situ feeding photos are my favorite. Some tips on photographing your caught specimens include letting them crawl on a nice rock or log while gently holding the tail out of camera view. You can also cover the snake with your hand or hat until it calms down and begins to feel a little more secure. Have your camera ready, and then slowly remove the cover.
I think you'll really be pleased with the results you get, and the snakes might be a little less stressed after the ordeal.
Have fun, and I look forward to more pictures from you. Portugal is in interesting place
Ian
Re: Portuguese Water Snakes (pics)
DiogoFF wrote:Thaks for commenting the topic.
Here' another pic (did you know that Pleuroedeles Waltl is the ibggest Salamanderspecies in Europe?):
love this shot showing the size of this monster. very cool! thanks for posting!
Re: Portuguese Water Snakes (pics)
Nice man. Not sure I recall seeing any posts from Portugal before.
- mrichardson
- Posts: 127
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Re: Portuguese Water Snakes (pics)
Nice post. I've only seen Pleuroedeles waltl in murky water (via flash light) so good to see some good close-up pictures. I look forward to more posts from your country.
- MichaelCravens
- Posts: 223
- Joined: July 3rd, 2010, 9:05 am
- Location: Phoenix, AZ
Re: Portuguese Water Snakes (pics)
Very neat snake, Thanks!
Michael
Michael
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- Posts: 118
- Joined: June 10th, 2010, 6:20 pm
- Location: Hazard,Ky
Re: Portuguese Water Snakes (pics)
That newt was so damned cool I did some research ( I have obsession with any amphibian over 9in long) and came across this bit of info on wikipedia.
NEWTS IN SPACEEEEEEEEEE, lol how awesome is that?Pleurodeles waltl has been studied in space on at least six missions. The first Iberian Ribbed Newts in space may have been in 1985 on board Bion 7.[3] The ten newts shared their journey with two Rhesus Macaques and ten rats, in an otherwise crewless Soviet Cosmos satellite. In 1992, Bion 10[4][5] also carried the newts on board, as did Bion 11[6] in 1996.
- Martti Niskanen
- Posts: 363
- Joined: June 11th, 2010, 11:19 am
- Location: Helsinki, Finland
Re: Portuguese Water Snakes (pics)
The feeding pictures are great. Whereabouts on Portugal have the photos been taken?
-Martti
-Martti
Re: Portuguese Water Snakes (pics)
Central inside Portugal, near "Pampilhosa da Serra". In river "Zêzere".
Google map it.
Google map it.
- Martti Niskanen
- Posts: 363
- Joined: June 11th, 2010, 11:19 am
- Location: Helsinki, Finland
Re: Portuguese Water Snakes (pics)
Thanks for the info. I may visit Portugal next year and will be after Salamandra. Going to the south to Serra de Monchique, though.
Cheers.
Martti
Cheers.
Martti