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THEME 1 : Origin of the herpetofauna.               

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THEME 1 : Origin of the herpetofauna.               

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Fossil reptiles from Greece

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THEME 1:             Taxonomy  of a fossil turtle sp. 

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THEME 1:             Taxonomy  of a fossil turtle sp. 

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Kingdom: | Animalia
Phylum: | Chordata
Class: | Reptilia
Order: | Testudines
Suborder: | Cryptodira
Family: | Testudinidae
Genus: | Testudo

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  THEME 2 : Diversity of the herpetofauna                                                Some  more reptiles and amphibians that are found in Samothrace  island 

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  THEME 2 : Diversity of the herpetofauna                                                Some  more reptiles and amphibians that are found in Samothrace  island 

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Testudp graeca
Family: Testudinidae Scientific Name: Testudo graeca Greek name: Ελληνική χελώνα, Chelona English name: Spur-Thighed Tortoise IUCN: Vulnerable, VUA1cd (1996) Berne Convention: Appendix II State of protection:
- Species description
A Mediterranean species that has a limited distribution in the southern Balkans, European Turkey, Sicily and southern Italy, southern Spain, northern Africa, Asia Minor up to Persia. In Greece it has a limited distribution concerning the other terrestrial turtle species,testudo hermanni. As the all species of land turtles, the species is threatened by illegal pet trade and by road kills.

Family: Gekkonidae Scientific Name: Hemidactylus turcicus Greek name: Σαμιαμίδι, Samiamidi English name: Mediterranean House Gecko IUCN:- Berne Convention: Appendix II State of protection:
- Species description Mediterranean House Gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus is one of the four European species of gecko. They are nocturnal and insectivorous, rarely exceeding six inches in length, and have large, lidless eyes and yellow- or tan-colored skin with black spots, often with stripes on the tail. Their bellies or undersides are somewhat translucent. Though technically an invasive species, due to their habits and small size they rarely threaten populations of native animals. Voracious predators on moths and small roaches, they are attracted to outside lights in search of them. Unlike other lizards, they emit a distinctive, high-pitched call somewhat like a squeak or the chirp of a bird, possibly expressing a territorial message.

Family: Gekkonidae Scientific Name: Cyrtodactylus kotschyi Greek name: Κυρτοδάχτυλος, Kirtodahtilos English name: Kotchy's gecko IUCN:- Berne Convention: Appendix II State of protection: Endemic subspecies in Greece

Family: Lacertidae Scientific Name: Ophisops elegans Greek name: Οφίσωψ, Ophisops English name: Snake-eyed Lizard IUCN:- Berne Convention: Appendix II State of protection:- Species description Snake-eyed Lizard Ophisops elegans is a species of lizard found in the Mediterranean region and Central Asia. It has a limited distribution. It is a slow moving species that lives solely on ground.

Family: Ranidae Scientific Name: Rana dalmatina Greek name: Ευκίνητος βάτραχος, Efkinitos Vatrahos English name: Agile Frog IUCN: Least Concern (2004) Berne Convention: Appendix II State of protection:- Species description The Agile Frog (Rana dalmatina) is a frog in the genus Rana in the family of the true frogs. It is a common from species which does not occur in the Iberian peninsula and in the bigger part of North Europe. The agile frog prefers light deciduous mixed forests with a lot of water. The open land around a forest is often also populated, as long as it is connected to the forest by shrubs. In dry, warm forests, this species often also lives far away from the water. Of the three Middle European Rana, it is the frog which likes warmth and dryness the most.

Family: Bufonidae Scientific Name: Bufo viridis Greek name: Ζάμπα, Zaba English name: Green toad IUCN: Least Concern (2004) Berne Convention: Appendix II State of protection: - Species Description The European green toad Bufo viridis is a toad found in mainland Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. They live in many areas, including steppes, mountainous areas, semideserts, and urban areas. There are variations in the colors and patterns of these toads across their range. The spots their backs are usually anything from green to dark brown and sometimes red spots appear, too. Most toads have white or very lightly colored stomachs.

http://www.herpetofauna.gr/index.php

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THEME 3 : Physiology and ecology of the herpetofauna

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THEME 3 : Physiology and ecology of the herpetofauna

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Diversity of the herpetofauna   photos

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THEME 3 : Physiology and ecology of the herpetofauna

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THEME 3 : Physiology and ecology of the herpetofauna

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The major threats to amphibians and reptiles in Greece and in the Mediterranean  region generally are presented below.

Urbanization, industrial areas, tourism and recreation areas negatively affected the herptile species. Another important factor is “agriculture and aquaculture” activities and almost half of the species (59% for amphibians and 25% for reptiles) are affected by such activities. Along with the increase of human population, the food needs are also increasing day by day. The expansion of agricultural areas, livestock farming, overgrazing, aquaculture and mariculture activities are causing habitat loss and degradation and intervening in the food webs. Unsustainable harvesting, hunting and fishing activities are directly or indirectly affecting the amphibians and reptiles. Some species are used in traditional medicine, food and pet trade.The dam construction, for water management or use, and other ecosystem modifications make significant pressure on natural herptile populations. Forest fires are deliberately excluded to open such areas, especially in the Mediterranean region in Turkey, it is observed that these activities have been carried out in the summer.

The amphibians (59%) are more sensitive to “pollution” than reptiles (4%). Many chemical pollutants are increasing sensitivity to illness and mortality rates and reducing the reproductive success

Today, global “climate change” emerges as a factor that affects the changing nature of natural habitats. Temperature fluctuations (changing in temperature extremes, increasing average summer temperatures and reducing winter/spring temperatures) cause the alteration of habitats, breeding phenology and host-parasite relationship of herptile species. Mediterranean amphibians (18%) are more affected by global climate change than reptiles (3%).

Mediterranean amphibians and reptiles are affected by these major threats (habitat loss and degradation, invasive alien species, harvesting, pollution natural disasters, disease, human disturbance, vehicle collusion and persecution)

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http://unboxingdiseases.eu/threatened-species.html

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THEME 1 : Origin of the herpetofauna.                           In the list below are presented some of the most remarkable reptiles and amphibians of Samothrace Island 

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THEME 1 : Origin of the herpetofauna.                           In the list below are presented some of the most remarkable reptiles and amphibians of Samothrace Island 

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·         Ablepharus kitaibelii fabichi

·         Bufo viridis viridis

·         Coluber caspius

·          Coluber najadum dahlii

·          Coronella austriaca austriaca

·         Cyrtodactylus kotschyi adelphiensis

·         Elaphe longissima longissima

·         Elaphe quatuorlineata quatuorlineata

·         Eryx jaculus turcicus

·         Hemidactylus turcicus turcicus

·          Lacerta trilineata cariensis

·         Lacerta viridis meridionalis

·          Malpolon monspessulanus insignitus

·         Mauremys caspica rivulata

·         Natrix natrix persa

·          Ophisaurus apodus thracius

·         Ophisops elegans macrodactylus

·         Podarcis erhardii amorgensis

·          Podarcis muralis albanica

·         Rana ridibunda ridibunda

·         Telescopus fallax fallax

·          Testudo graeca ibera

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Roula's HerpetoArea photos and habitats info (1)

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THEME 5: Design the business plan of a local voluntary organisation which aims to protect the local herpetofauna.

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THEME 5: Design the business plan of a local voluntary organisation which aims to protect the local herpetofauna.

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As many population of  amphibians and reptiles are in decline primarily as a result of habitat loss, climate change, introduced species, diseases, and illegal trafficking  it is becoming increasingly important to promote awareness for the herptofauna and its benefits to humans societies.

In local or  even in regional level an herpetofauna foundation – NGO,  etc., could be created.

The Herpetofauna foundation would  inform the local populations, students, tourists, farmers, and various stakeholders on the rationale for the awareness and conservation  programs. Through the educational programs (lectures, workshops,field trips, communication with experts, etc.)  students, puplic,and others interested in biodiversity of reptiles ,  would  raise awareness for these unique organisms and their ecosystem services.