By Plato Stefanopoulos
Important clarification: this trip report is a direct continuation of Tenacious E in The Snake of Destiny – Herper in Wonderland part 1. Reading the first part is not required to understand this one as there are no major callbacks, but we’d still appreciate it very much if you took the time to check it out.
DAY 3
Due to already being completely satisfied with how the Peloponnese trip had turned out, I figured that for the final day, I should wake up with no alarm. I woke up around 11 AM, packed my stuff, checked out of my room and figured I should switch things up a bit and drop the cruising for a bit of good ol’ fashioned habitat hiking before I left, with the goal being to do half of the way back home in daytime. My main goals were Malpolon, Hierophis and Vipera, but alas, the 5+ hour hike in perfect habitat and conditions was completely snakeless. Nevertheless, I did manage to turn up a few stuff here and there, including something long awaited, my first ever caudate!!
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| Adult Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermannii), one of several |
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| Adult male Emys orbicularis hellenica, found in a vernal pool along with a female (not pictured) |
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| A young marsh frog (Pelophylax sp.), found in the same vernal pool as the turtles |
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| A microscopic young-of-the-year Balkan green lizard |
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| My lifer Greek smooth newt (Lissotriton graecus), as flipped under a piece of foam. My first ever caudate – a very special moment |
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| Greek smooth newt (Lissotriton graecus) |
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| an adult European copper skink (Ablepharus kitaibelii), one of about 70-or-so seen throughout the entire hike |
The hike did feel refreshing, but after the extreme success that road cruising had brought the previous days, I figured that before I left, I should do two passes on a road with pretty much guaranteed snakes. Essentially, I would go up the road once, make a U-turn, and then turn to go home. Little did I know that would mean the difference it did.
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| Ideal roadcruising speed |
As I was about to turn to enter the road I would be cruising, I immediately had to stop for a tiny dice snake. I snapped a quick in situ shot, picked it up and escorted it off the road towards the direction it was heading.
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| Alive on Road |
I figured I should turn around early since it was already getting pretty late, but I decided I should turn around at my usual spot instead. I’m glad I made that decision. I literally drove less than 20 extra meters, and I saw this long thin thing stretched out in the middle of the road. It kind of looked like a stick at first, but I quickly realized it was actually a snake. I figured it was just going to be another dice snake. I pulled over, got out and saw pattern and was like “WTF is a grass snake doing crossing at a time like this?” Then, as I got closer, it finally hit me – SITULA!!!!!!!!!! The snake dashed, but I easily caught it, getting bitten dozens of times in the process, something unusual for the species (it did not hurt). I proceeded to yell the forbidden s-word out loud in absolute awe of this animal. I was in absolute disbelief at the fact that I had actually pulled it off. This was a special find for several reasons – it was my lifer, a beautiful individual, and it was allegedly the first individual found at that area, even though it has been herped extensively for many years. It was a decent sized adult too, about 80 centimeters. I really pulled the rabbit out of the hat with this one. I quickly got to the side of the road where it was heading and set it up for photos before letting it go.
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| An extra nice young adult marginated tortoise I found on my way to release the s-word |
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| a decent view at my lifer Zamenis situla. This adult is pretty average-looking, with moderate contrast and a greyish background coloration |
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| Another look at the snake. Notice how the contrast of the pattern is most intense on the head and neck area and it slowly fades and becomes less defined down the body. |
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| The most striking part of the snake, the head-neck area. |
I was in a very good mood for once on my way home. The s-word was not a snake I was even remotely considering at that point due to my constant failure to find it due to its unpredictable activity patterns and highly secretive nature, so it was very relieving to have finally crossed this from my most wanted list. Was this my best trip? Definitely. But we never know what the future may hold!!!
Species seen (including part 1):
European tree-frog (Hyla arborea)
Greek algyroides (Algyroides moreoticus)
Four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata)
Dice snake (Natrix tessellata)
Balkan green lizard (Lacerta trilineata)
European glass lizard (Pseudopus apodus) (DOR)
Green toad (Bufotes viridis)
European copper skink (Ablepharus kitaibelii)
Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermannii)
Ionian wall lizard (Podarcis ionicus)
Balkan frog (Pelophylax kurtmuelleri)
Epirus water frog (Pelophylax epeiroticus)
Cat snake (Telescopus fallax) (DOR)
Marginated tortoise (Testudo marginata)
Balkan whip snake (Hierophis gemonensis) (DOR)
Hellenic pond terrapin (Emys orbicularis hellenica)
Greek smooth newt (Lissotriton graecus)
Leopard snake (Zamenis situla)