Herping and hiking on Andros (Greece)
April 5th – 11th 2024
All pictures (c) of Jeroen Speybroeck & Gwen Declerck.
After our spring trip to Corfu in 2022 followed the 2023 spring filled with amphibian-related fieldwork in my own country. For 2024, I longed for another Greek week of springtime delight. As I had yet to see the Cycladian Green Lizard (
Lacerta citrovittata), split from Balkan Green Lizard (
Lacerta trilineata) not too long ago, Andros seemed the greener, lusher option. While easily reached from Athens, the lack of an airport serves the tranquility of this island very well. With multiple freshwater springs, this is one of the greener islands of Greece. This seems to translate into very high abundance of lizards and other wildlife. Andros also has a well-maintained hiking trail network. Altogether, the perfect getaway for Gwen en me.
sites of herpetofauna observations
April’s first half can still be cold and particularly windy. The wind sure was present, but the battle between sun and wind (possibly after a relatively warm winter) seemed to result in high activity among reptiles. I spend very little time actively searching for snakes. We just bumped into them while hiking, frequently finding them fully exposed and in plain sight. Finding without searching, what’s not to like?
One of the many beautiful hiking trails Andros has to offer
the extremely abundant Erhard’s Wall Lizard Podarcis erhardii
my first ever Cycladian Green Lizard Lacerta citrovittata
time for a swim
Chora
a stay with a view
Nose-horned Viper Vipera ammodytes
Nose-horned Viper Vipera ammodytes
Zerynthia polyxena
Caspian Whip Snake Dolichophis caspius - in situ
Nose-horned Viper Vipera ammodytes - in situ
Kotschy’s Gecko Mediodactylus kotschyi
of course she did
eggs of Common Toad Bufo bufo - not on many Greek islands
Nose-horned Viper Vipera ammodytes - in situ
Nose-horned Viper Vipera ammodytes - in situ
Nose-horned Viper Vipera ammodytes - in situ
Cycladian Green Lizard Lacerta citrovittata
Cycladian Green Lizard Lacerta citrovittata
Cycladian Green Lizard Lacerta citrovittata
Grass Snake Natrix natrix
Turkish Gecko Hemidactylus turcicus
Nose-horned Viper Vipera ammodytes
habitat of …
Leopard Snake Zamenis situla
Leopard Snake Zamenis situla
windy island…
Species list
