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RAUK - Archived Forum - Found this today - S.W. France

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Found this today - S.W. France:

Author	Message
wynkin Member Joined: 11 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by wynkin	Posted: 11 Sep 2004 I live in S.W. France near Perigueux. I found this lizard this morning we have lots of smaller lizards that live in holes in the walls of the house and in burrows in the lawn but this is the first we have seen like this. It was in a building and moves very slowly and is about 6inches long. The light coloured stuff on it is dust. We have also seen 5 snakes all very different colours, orange, bright green and stripey brown/green. We tend to leave them alone and have not got very good pics of them. There are lots of the more common lizards and recently many young are about from an inch long. At lunchtime the other day in the garden I sat very still a lizard climbed up a chair jumped onto the table walked around the table took a look at everyone that climbed up my arm around my back and climbed back to the ground. I have looked about on the web but cannot find a lizard that looks like this. Help appreciated. Regards Wynkin administrator38241.5146643519

GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF	Posted: 11 Sep 2004 Hi Wynkin, This isn't a lizard but a newt in the terrestrial stage. Species is Marbled newt, Triturus marmoratus There are some pictures of this species at: http://www.herp.it/ click on 'Salamandridae' on the opening page and you should find this species listed towards the bottom of menu on the left. You'll also find pictures of other European reptiles and amphibians at http://www.herp.it/ let us know what else you identify! Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant

wynkin Member Joined: 11 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 10 View other posts by wynkin	Posted: 11 Sep 2004 Thanks for your reply. There is a pond only 20 feet from our house. The newt was in a house that is being done up and hasn't been lived in for about a hundred years. What do the small lizards eat - have not seen one eating. Have seen the larger ones chasing bugs and when it is very hot they go into the leaves below the trees in the shade. This is where we have found some of the snakes. Unfortunately for no good reason my wife has a great fear of snakes. I have one picture of one of the snakes but hes hiding in the wall of our barn and I didn't want to disturb it. We have lots of lizards, perhaps because our house was used as a holiday home and only used a few weeks a year. Picture of snake in wall on the way... Regards Wynkin

GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF	Posted: 11 Sep 2004 Well I think I can just see a grass snake Natrix natrix, though I would welcome other forum members opinions! This is a harmless snake also found in the UK. Little lizards eat little bugs, basicly if it moves and fits in their mouths it's food ;0) Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant

Dan Kane Senior Member Joined: 30 Dec 2005 No. of posts: 201 View other posts by Dan Kane	Posted: 30 Dec 2005 I think it's a Grass Snake because of the olive-green colouration and the presence of dark bars extending upwards on the flanks. Dan www.randacumbria.moonfruit.com

djp_phillips Senior Member Joined: 09 Jan 2006 No. of posts: 180 View other posts by djp_phillips	Posted: 28 Jan 2006 nice marbled newt, please contribut this photo to my site Reptiles & Amphibians of France: www.herpfrance.com European Field Herping Community: www.euroherp.com

- Found this today - S.W. France

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