German spring - Amphibians

I spent another winter in Costa Rica, so I was able to flee from the cold and enjoy the tropical flora and fauna. Back in Germany, I also appreciate the European species. The timing is perfect, since Amphibians are by far most active during spring time.

Unfortunately I missed the annual meeting of dozens of Common Frogs (Rana temporaria) in their breeding pools, but I was lucky enough to find a single one sitting on a meadow close to a pond. The Common Toads (Bufo bufo) arrive a little bit later at the ponds and also they stay much longer in the water before they go back to the forest, so I was able to watch many of them. 

Rana temporaria - Common Frog

Bufo bufo - Common Toad

Bufo bufo - Common Toads, mating

Last year I showed a picture of an adult Barred Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra terrestris) at the Amphibious welcome in Germany So now it is time for a picture of a cute Salamander Larva. 

Salamandra salamandra terrestris - Barred Fire Salamander, Larva

You can tell the Palmate Newt (Lissotriton helveticus) is a male by the webbed hind feet and a low, smooth crest along the back that continues into a slightly higher crest on the tail, ending in a thread-like tip.

Lissotriton helveticus - Palmate Newt, male 

Samira and I were super happy to find a beautiful and rare European Spadefoot Toad (Pelobates fuscus). We named this little cutie "Klumpi". The Pool Frog (Pelophylax lessonae) is way more common, but still very pretty.

Pelobates fuscus - European Spadefoot Toad, "Klumpi"

Pelophylax lessonae - Pool Frog

Good newts, everyone!

I was never really satisfied with the process of catching newts out of the water during their aquatic phase and putting them on moss covered stones, or something like that, to take pictures of them.

Most pictures doesn't  look very natural and they hardly show the beauty of the newts.

So I did not have to reinvent the wheel, by simply putting them into a small aquarium.

It should be very narrow for a good and efficient result. The newts swim around in their temporary home a little, I get some nice "underwater" shots and as a reward for their cooperation I like to feed them some mosquito larvae, or whatever I have at hand. Newts aren't picky.

That's my aquarium on a fancy little stool... to make it even more comfortable

Palmate Newt - Lissotriton helveticus

Palmate Newt - Lissotriton helveticus

Alpine Newt - Ichthyosaura alpestris, larva

Alpine Newt - Ichthyosaura alpestris, male

If you don't have a waterproof camera, this is a good way to get nice pics anyway. Of course you can also take pictures of fish, tadpoles, or any other water creature you can find... and catch. Make sure to release the photo models at the same place where you caught them.