Massif centrale

A mountainous area in the middle of France, many cooler dwelling species find living here perfect even if this 'island' of cool climate has become separated from the northern part of France where the species in question can also be found.

Snakes

Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca)

Key feature: a dark line running through the eyes from the neck

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort


Southern smooth snake (Coronella girondica)

Key feature: black and light chequered belly, a dark line running through the eyes from the neck

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

Western whip snake (Hierophis viridiflavus)

Key feature: black with yellow spots on the body

© Laurence Saunois
© Laurence Saunois

© Daniel Phillips
juvenile - © Daniel Phillips


Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus)

Key feature: uniform coloured, usually with light spots

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

© Paolo Mazzei
juvenile - © Paolo Mazzei


Viperine snake (Natrix maura)

Key feature: zig zag dorsal pattern

© Daniel Phillips
© Daniel Phillips

Grass snake (Natrix natrix)

Key feature: yellow collar

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

Asp viper (Vipera aspis)

Key feature: slightly upturned snout

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

Adder / Common viper (Vipera berus)

Key feature: zig zag dorsal pattern

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort


Lizards  

Slow worm (Anguis fragilis)

Key feature: a snake like appearence, no limbs

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)

Key feature: a bulky body and head

© Jan van der Voort
male - © Jan van der Voort

© Jan van der Voort
female - © Jan van der Voort


Western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata)

Key feature: lime green as adults, males usually have blue under their throats

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

© Jan van der Voort
juvenile - © Jan van der Voort


Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Key feature: small fragile, very common lizard

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

Viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara)

Key feature: a lined type pattern

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort
Chelonia

European Pond Terrapin (Emys orbicularis)

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

Red-eared terrapin (Trachemys scripta)

© Jeroen Speybroeck
© Jeroen Speybroeck

Anurans  

Common Midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans)

Key feature: males carry eggs on hind limbs from spring until late summer

© Jan van der Voort
male - © Jan van der Voort

Yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata)

Key feature: their belly is vividly marked with yellow blotches

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort


Parsley frog (Pelodytes punctatus)

Key feature: they are light green speckled with darker green

© Daniel Phillips
© Daniel Phillips

Common toad (Bufo bufo)

Key feature: they have a very warty dry skin, their eyes are red

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

Natterjack toad (Bufo calamita)

Key feature: they have a light well defined line running down the middle of the back

© Daniel Phillips
© Daniel Phillips

Common Tree frog (Hyla arborea)

Key feature: they have very smooth skin and have finger pads allowing them to stick and climb, they have a dark line on the flanks

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

Edible frog (Pelophylax kl. esculentus)

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

Pool frog (Pelophylax lessonae)

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

Marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus)

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

Graf's hybrid frog (Pelophylax kl. grafi)

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

Iberian water frog (Pelophylax perezi)

© Daniel Phillips
© Daniel Phillips

Agile frog (Rana dalmatina)

Key feature: they have a pointed snout

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

Common frog (Rana temporaria)

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort
Urodels

Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra)

Key feature: they are black with vivid yellow markings

© Bert Blok
© Bert Blok

Palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus)

© Daniel Phillips
© Daniel Phillips

Alpine newt (Mesotriton alpestris)

Key feature: they have an orange belly and black spots on a white strip on the bottom of the flanks

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus)

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

Marbled newt (Triturus marmoratus)

Key feature: see body pattern

© Jan van der Voort
© Jan van der Voort

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