Lefkada Island (Greece)

My family and I are going to have a two week vacancy this summer on levkada island (northern greece).
Can any of our members please give me hints if and where one can find reptiles there? Just want to take some pictures in the field, but I am absolutely unexperienced in herp trips.
I know levkada a bit because I was four times there in the 80s/90s for windsurfing. Of course we have our car with us.
Thanks in advance,
Guenter

Hi Guenter,
a friend of mine has been in greece a few weaks ago. He was on milos, but i guess you can apply general informations about "good spots".
Search for places in the area that seems to be suitable for reptiles, where they have sun spots, the oportunity to hide away and find prey. If you see many insects there should be some spiders and lizards too.
If you are on a meadow, for example, have look at edges in the soil, lined with bushes or rocks. Stonewalls with many columns are often inhabited by lizards.
Often it's not even necessary to go far into the "wilderness". Start your search slightly off the beaten track, in quiet areas around the cities or villages.
Searching in the "cooler" morning hours is also advisable, lots of reptiles come out to get their operating temperature. Furthermore they aren't as quick as later when they are totally heated.

I whish you the best for your trip and looking forward to some outstandig pictures

regards
Markus

Hello,

you can shoot if you are lucky the above species. Try early the morning, or late afternoon when not too hot because they hide.
If you shout something very good, and you want to share the photo, I would be glad to archieve it to the collection of herpetofauna.gr.


Vertebrata/Amphibian (Cuadata/Urodela and Anura)
--------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=211&sid=209
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=212&sid=209
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=215&sid=213
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=230&sid=219

Vertebrata/Squamata/Reptilia
------------------------------------

Turtles:
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=58&sid=56
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=63&sid=59
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=69&sid=67

Legless lizards:
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=233&sid=86
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=91&sid=86

Lizards:
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=100&sid=96
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=106&sid=103
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=128&sid=103

Snakes
-----------

Boa:
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=141&sid=139

Colubridae:
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=148&sid=142
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=153&sid=142
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=153&sid=142
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=171&sid=142 (rear-fang)
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=168&sid=142
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=169&sid=142
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=163&sid=142 (rear-fang)
http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php?module=cats&page=read&id=173&sid=143


The island has no Viperidae family (Macrovipera, Montivipera, or Vipera) to shoot. 2 rear fanged snakes only.


All above, are protected under
Bern Convention,
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992,
President of the Hellenic Republic Decree no. 67,
Official Government Gazette 23/A/30-1-81, and CITES.


Enjoy,
Kostantinos.[u][u]

Thanks a lot Kosta, or better: evcharisto sas

Hello Guenter,
you have a PM!

Quote :

All above, are protected under
Bern Convention,
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992,
President of the Hellenic Republic Decree no. 67,
Official Government Gazette 23/A/30-1-81, and CITES.

I agree with the sand boa and the turtles/tortoises (does Trachemys scripta really have a protection status?) , but but the rest of the taxa are not under CITES-protection, as far as i know.
Correct me if i'm wrong.
regards
Peter

I won't catch any snake of course - for me it is just a photographical thing.
But I agree to Peter's point of view.

Hello all,

I hope the best relax there.

Yours

--------------------

Dear Administrator,

yes unfortunately Scripta elegans is under protection and I dont know why.

The whole story began, before many years, when individuals used to buy them from pet shops and when they became boring the water turtle, they release them to freshwater lowlands.

There is no apology for release a non native specie. The result was that, red eye sliders to grow rapidly, eating other amphibian and freshwater turtle eggs. Now, RES numbers are outnumbered and native species are endangered.

This is the story for RES.

Unfortunately other species are endangered because of fire, biulding construction which has destroyed many of their habitats and collection of specimens which is out of control. We have a community with reptiles there and a above link of herpetofauna which realy already done a great work on changing minds of reptile and amphibian collectors, but we need a lot of work to build a philosophy not to collect WC animals. And of course, people must understand that the right way to start with, is to buy an animal, not to jail one.

Thanks for activation,
Kostas.

kostas and others.here res are not protected by law.

are thought to be invasive species and part of greek herpetofauna and native species but are not protected by law.peter you are right they are not protected under cites.

mr guenter would be very nice for me to join you in lefkada herping.

sas efcharisto!!!!!

Gia sas Mario!

I'd be pleased if You would!
When I was younger I've spent many holidays on this very island and always loved it. My wife and me were windsurfing addicts then. Now, 15 years later, we thought it would be a nice idea to visit the island (and some friends there) again. It always was a fantastic island with friendly people for us.
We will stay at the appartments of Sofoklis Katiforis (Villa Captain Fotis in Ponti Vassiliki) from July 29th to August 12th.

Kind regards,
Guenter