Reptiles and amphibians in Slovenia
Guided “fieldherping” tours by Paul Veenvliet, herpetologist lisenced guide
In Slovenia, searching for reptiles – fieldherping – can be divided in the doable, the challenging and the fantastic. I am a herpetologist myself, and thoroughly enjoy each opportunity to go out in search for frogs, salamanders, lizards and snakes. But, to start with the challenging: I have to admit that reptile densities are not high in Slovenia. This means that it is necessary to go to the right places, to be there at the right time, in the right season, and to be lucky. So how does it go?
I usually plan reptile tours to include as many doable species as possible, while we also have a chance for challenging species on the way. I tend to make kilometres driving from one location to the next. Sometimes I decide after a few minutes that today the feel is not good and we have a better chance elsewhere. At other places I decide to stay long and systematically search the best habitats, for instance forest edges or piles of rocks. So, what is there to see?
Doable species: Lizards tend to be very doable. These include the central and Mediterranean subspecies of wall lizard, Italian wall lizard, Karst lizard, Dalmatian algyroides, green lizard and the egg-laying subspecies of viviparous lizard. Also doable are green frogs, yellow-bellied toads and Italian agile frogs. For all these species it is a matter of driving from habitat to habitat, search a little and “tick them off”.
Challenging species: Finding snakes is challenging in Slovenia with one or two exceptions: grass snakes are a matter of spending enough time in optimal habitat. So are dice snakes, but they occur highly local. Whip snakes (carbonarius) are locally common, but here the challenge is to see one before he sees you: they are very alert and very, very fast. Vipers (in my region both berus and ammodytes) are in principle doable, but here I hesitate to go to the habitats, because poaching is still an issue.
Seasonal and weather dependent: Salamanders and newts are not difficult in spring, especially on rainy days. However, most reptile enthusiasts come in midsummer and then it is a whole different matter. I can take you to places where I see them myself, but can’t promise more than that. In my region in Notranjska both fire and Alpine salamander occur, as do three species of newt (Mediterranean smooth, Alpine and Italian crested). Even the common grass frog and agile frogs can become challenging to find in mid-summer!
Have to be lucky: Several species occur widespread but in low densities, of live such a hidden lifestyle that seeing them becomes pretty much a matter of luck. These include slow worm and smooth snake (both common but inconspicuous) and aesculapian snake (not rare in part of the country, just not very visible). European pond turtle is very rare nowadays, but individuals can be predictably present. If I happen to have seen one recently, it becomes doable on my tours.
- And the Olm? The almost mythological cave salamander is actually easy to find, but for this you have to go to it’s underground habitat. I recommend going to the Planina cave and trying to book the 4 hour tour (available only on appointment and then only when the water level is not too high). This is a species that I cannot easily show you myself.
Isn’t there more? Yes, there is, but for that we have to go to other parts of Slovenia, which basically means driving many more kilometres. Four-lined snake occurs in just one spot at the coast. At the opposite end of the country, sand lizard, spadefood toad and red-bellied toad, as well as moor frog are Pannonian species that are missing in the Karst.
Pricing:
Customized tours are competitively priced between €120 and €250, depending on the number of participants and destinations. This pricing structure accounts for fuel costs related to transportation and will often include me pre-visiting sites to evaluate our chances for succes a few days prior to your excursion.
If you’re interested in booking a customized tour or have specific requests in mind, please contact me! Together, we can create a memorable outdoor experience that celebrates the beauty and biodiversity of Slovenia’s natural landscape, and yes, we can tick of a bunch of reptiles on the way.
Contact me for booking biologist.paul@gmail.com or tel ++386 41 902 110
The Italian agile frog, Rana latastei, is an endemic species in the Po-plane in Northern Italy that is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. Surprisingly, some of its best preserved populations are in Slovenia, on the adge of its distribution. It is a delicate-looking brown frog, which is best recognised by the colour on the underside of its head.
The viviparous lizard is a widespread species in Eurasia. However, in Slovenia there is an unique form, that is by many regarded as a separate species: Zootoca carniolica. It does not look very different, but it has a distinct reproduction mode: instead of being ovo-viviparous, it is laying eggs. I guess only die-hard reptile lovers will appreciate this distinction …
The Alpine salamander, Salamandra atra, is a specialized species with its main distribution in the Alps. In Slovenia, it also has a population on mount Snežnik, for which we long thought that it is geographically isolated. However, in the last decades we found it in the Dinaric forest as well, sometimes at a low altitude of 600-800 m asl. In these places, it can be challenging to find it, as well as highly weather dependent.
