Amphibians and Reptiles
Thirty-four species of amphibians and reptiles are found on Olympus, namely 10 amphibian species and 24 reptile species, according to the latest data for the area12,7,8. Medium and low altitudes are inhabited by tortoises (Testudo hermannii, Testudo marginata), snakes (Zamenis longissimus, Coronella austriaca, Vipera ammodytes, Natrix tessellata, Zamenis situla, Elaphe quatorlineata, Malpolon insignitus), newts (Triturus macedonicus, Triturus vulgaris), frogs (Rana dalmatina, Rana graeca, Pelophylax kurtmuelleri, Hyla arborea), toads (Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, Bufotes viridis) and lizards (Ablepharus kitaibelli, Pseudopus apodus, Podarcis muralis, Lacerta viridis). Among them, 25 species are listed in the Habitat’s Directive Annexes.
Gallery
Amphibians & Reptiles protected under EU Directive 92/43/EEC
| Α/Α | SPECIES | COMMON NAME | DIRECTIVE ANNEXES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ablepharus kitaibelii | European copper skink | IV |
| 2 | Bombina variegata | Yellow-bellied toad | ΙΙ |
| 3 | Bufotes viridis | European green toad | IV |
| 4 | Coronella austriaca | Smooth snake | IV |
| 5 | Dolichophis caspius | Caspian whipsnake | IV |
| 6 | Elaphe quatuorlineata | Four-lined snake | ΙΙ |
| 7 | Hierophis gemonensis | Balkan whipsnake | IV |
| 8 | Hyla arborea | European tree frog | IV |
| 9 | Lacerta trilineata | Balkan green lizard | IV |
| 10 | Lacerta viridis | European green lizard | IV |
| 11 | Mediodactylus kotschyi | Kotschyi’s gecko | IV |
| 12 | Natrix tessellata | Dice snake | IV |
| 13 | Platyceps najadum | Dahl’s whipsnake | IV |
| 14 | Podarcis erhardii | Erhard’s wall lizard | IV |
| 15 | Podarcis muralis | Common wall lizard | IV |
| 16 | Podarcis tauricus | Balkan wall lizard | IV |
| 17 | Pseudopus apodus | European glass lizard | IV |
| 18 | Rana dalmatina | Agile frog | IV |
| 19 | Rana graeca | Greek stream frog | IV |
| 20 | Telescopus fallax | European cat snake | IV |
| 26 | Testudo hermanii | Hermann’s tortoise | ΙΙ |
| 21 | Testudo marginata | Emarginated tortoise | ΙΙ |
| 22 | Triturus macedonicus | Macedonian crested newt | ΙΙ |
| 23 | Vipera ammodytes | Horned viper | IV |
| 24 | Zamenis longissimus | Aesculapian snake | IV |
| 25 | Zamenis situla | European ratsnake or leopard snake | ΙΙ |
a Priority habitats / Species: Natural habitats and species that are in danger of disappearance for the conservation of which the Community has particular responsibility in view of the proportion of their natural range which falls within its territory. They are denoted by an asterisk (*) in Annexes I and II and special measures apply to them.
b Annex I Habitat types of EU Habitat’s Directive 92/43/EEC: Natural habitat types of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation.
c Annex II Species of EU Habitat’s Directive 92/43/EEC: Animal and plant species of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation.
d Annex IV Species of EU Habitat’s Directive 92/43/EEC: Animal and plant species of community interest in need of strict protection.
e Annex Ι species of EU Wild Bird’s Directive 2009/147/ΕEC: Species that are subject to special conservation measures concerning their habitat in order to ensure their survival and reproduction in their area of distribution.
1 «Specialized Environmental Study of Olympus National Park» (2010). Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Dept. of Environmental Planning, Division for the Management of the Natural Environment.
2 Tsitsoni Th., Fotiadis G., ELKE-AUTH (2015). «Surveillance and evaluation of the conservation status of Habitat Types of European Community Interest in the area of jurisdiction of Olympus National Park Management Agency». Phase D’. ONPMA, RDP Macedonia-Thrace 2007-2013.
3 Council Directive 92/43/EEC “On the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora”.
4 Strid, A. (1980). Wild Flowers of Mount Olympus. Goulandri Natural History Museum, Athens.
5 Tsitsoni Th., Fotiadis G., Tsitinis G., ELKE-AUTH (2015). «Surveillance and evaluation of the conservation status of Plant species of European Community Interest in the area of jurisdiction of Olympus National Park Management Agency». Phase D’. ONPMA, RDP Macedonia-Thrace 2007-2013.
6 Sokos, Ch., Birtsas P., Hatzinikos E., Bontzorlos V., Papaspyropoulos, Κ., et al., TECHNOOMOIOSTASI-YLORIKI-LOUVITAKIS (2015). «Surveillance and evaluation of the conservation status of Mammals of European Community Interest in the area of jurisdiction of Olympus National Park Management Agency». Phase D’. ONPMA, RDP Macedonia-Thrace 2007-2013.
7 Olympus National Park Management Agency (2017). Technical Report 2016 on the Monitoring of Environmental Parameters, Litochoro.
8 Olympus National Park Management Agency (2016). Technical Report 2015 on the Monitoring of Environmental Parameters, Litochoro.
9 Legakis, A. & Maragou, P. (2009). The Red Book of Endangered Animals of Greece.Hellenic Zoological Society, Athens.
10 Bousbouras, D. & YETOS Ο.Ε. (2015). «Surveillance and evaluation of the conservation status of Birds of European Community Interest in the area of jurisdiction of Olympus National Park Management Agency». Phase D’. ONPMA, RDP Macedonia-Thrace 2007-2013.
11 Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 November 2009 “On the Conservation of Wild Birds”.
12 Ioannidis I., Papamichail G., GEOANALYSIS Α.Ε. (2015) «Surveillance and evaluation of the conservation status of Amphibians & Reptiles of European Community Interest in the area of jurisdiction of Olympus National Park Management Agency». Phase D’. ONPMA, RDP Macedonia-Thrace 2007-2013.
13 Pamperis, L. (2009). The Butterflies of Greece. 2nd edition, PAMPERI & ΚΟΑΝ publishers, Athens. Website www.pamperis.gr for updates on the book.
14 Avtzis D., Kaltsas D., TECHNOOMOIOSTASI-YLORIKI-LOUVITAKIS (2015) «Surveillance and evaluation of the conservation status of Invertebrates of European Community Interest in the area of jurisdiction of Olympus National Park Management Agency». Phase D’. ONPMA, RDP Macedonia-Thrace 2007-2013.
15 Presidential Decree 67/1981 (Hellenic Government Gazette No. 23 Α’/30-1-1981) “On the protection of native flora and wild fauna and the procedures for the coordination and control of their research”.
16 Heath, J. (1981) Threatened Rhopalocera (butterflies) of Europe. Council of Europe.
17 Tolmann, T. & Lewington, R. (2008). Collins Butterfly Guide: The Most Complete Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Europe. 3rd Edition, HarperCollins UK.
18 Speight M.C.D. (1989). Saproxylic invertebrates and their conservation. Council of Europe.
