A pair ofSharp-ribbed Salamanders, Pleurodeles waltl , removed from the swimming pool at Quinta dos Frades. According to our NEW snake book, a Ladder Snake, elaphe scalaris, a species of Rat Snake found in Iberia and Mediterranean France. The young have a bold ladder pattern, which is reduced to two simple stripes in adults. There is only one species of potentially dangerous venomous snake in Portugal, and that is the Common Viper, or Adder. The other venomous species here have their fangs at the back of the mouth, and are too small to open their mouths wide enough to bite a person.
Most snakes run for cover at the sound or vibration of something large approaching.
The reptile of the month. Although not experts, we always try and identify the flowers, birds, reptiles, insects and mammals that we see around, using a small collection of reference books.