Spring is also the best time to observe reptiles in Europe. The Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis) is the most common reptile around and it was the first one I found this year. A lot of patience was necessary to get a portrait shot of a quite shy Viviparous Lizard (Zootoca vivipara).
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| Anguis fragilis - Slow Worm |
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| Zootoca vivipara - Viviparous Lizard |
The Aesculapian Snake (Zamenis longissimus) is very rare in Germany. There are only a few isolated and small populations in the country, I am very lucky to live in the center of one of those. This spring I was able to find three juveniles. Young Aesculapian Snakes have a beautiful pattern!
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| Zamenis longissimus - Aesculapian Snake, juvenile |
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| Zamenis longissimus - Aesculapian Snake, juvenile |
The sun was already gone, when I saw a pair of Sand Lizards (Lacerta agilis) still hanging around on a tree trunk. Regarding Grass Snakes (Natrix natrix), 2020 has already been a successful year. I observed quite some of these good swimmers around different lakes and ponds.
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| Lacerta agilis - Sand Lizard, gravid female |
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| Lacerta agilis - Sand Lizard, male |
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| Natrix natrix - Grass Snake |
Samira found what I consider to be the most secretive reptile of Germany, a very pretty Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca)... perfect conclusion for this year's spring time.
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| Coronella austriaca - Smooth Snake |
