The Reptiles & Amphibians of Greece's Pindus Mountains

Summary

After flying to Athens, we begin this 8-day holiday in the southern part of the stunning Pindus Mountain range. The region features wonderful scenery, traditional villages, crystal-clear rivers and picturesque valleys, and it is here that we will search for one of Europe’s rarest vertebrates, the Greek Meadow Viper (Vipera graeca) – listed as Endangered by The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and seen by extremely few naturalists. Alpine Newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris veluchiensis), European Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra), Yellow-bellied Toad (Bombina variegata) and Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca) are just some of the other special herpetofauna we search for in this beautiful mountainous region.

The second part of our holiday visits Strofylia National Park, located in the north-west of the Peloponnese peninsula of Greece. This protected area – known for its unique coastal ecosystems, stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife – is characterised by its rare coastal pine forest, known as Strofylia, which thrives in the sandy soils and coastal dunes. The sandy soils also support the rare Balkan Spadefoot Toad (Pelobates balcanicus chloea), a subspecies endemic to the Peloponnese and known globally from only two populations. The wetlands and lagoons within the park attract a diverse array of waterfowl and the forests themselves provide valuable feeding grounds for many passerines, both resident and migrating. Previous Naturetrek groups have encountered such delights as Nose-Horned Viper (Vipera ammodytes meridionalis), Worm Snake (Xerotyphlops vermicularis), European Tree Frog (Hyla arborea), Ladybird Spider, Mediterranean Checkered Scorpion, Golden Jackal, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Eagle Owl, and many others. On one of our days on the Peloponnese we’ll make an excursion south to discover African Chameleon (Chamaeleo africanus), an introduced but endangered species that, within Europe, can only be found here.