List of amphibians and reptiles of Cantabria

These lists include all the wild vertebrates living in Cantabria, classified according to the genus and family they belong to.

Their distribution is variable; from species such as the common toad or the viperine snake, found throughout the region, to others such as the Italian wall lizard or the gold-striped salamander, which are very difficult to spot.

[1][2][3][4] In relation to conservation, amphibian populations in Cantabria, as in the rest of the world, are suffering a marked decline, mainly due to habitat loss, diseases and climate change.

[5][6] Anurans, commonly known as frogs and toads, are characterized (in their adult phase) by their compact body, lacking tails and possessing highly developed hind legs, adapted for jumping.

Its coloration varies from gray to brown with green, reddish and black spots not very marked; the ventral area is light.

The color of its skin varies between a wide range of brownish, grayish and greenish tones.

Of robust appearance and large hind legs, it is distinguished from the common toad by a yellow stripe along the column.

With a broad head, large eyes and slender limbs adapted to jumping, they have lines ranging from brown to black drawn along the sides.

Found in streams and pools of cold water on rocky substrate and among riparian vegetation.

Unlike anurans, the caudates have an elongated body with a tail, both in the larval and adult stages.

It is distinguished from all other species of Iberian aurodeles by the size of its tail, which exceeds that of the rest of the body.

During the breeding season, the green becomes more vivid and the male acquires a large dorsal crest dotted with white, black and orange vertical stripes.

Reptiles originated from amphibians in the Carboniferous period, being the first animals to possess well-developed lungs.

[1][2] Known as turtles or chelonians, the species of the order Testudines are characterized by a short, broad trunk and a carapace or shell that protects the internal organs of the body.

Evolutionarily, it is the most recent order of reptiles and the one that has achieved the greatest ecological success, due, among other qualities, to the presence of a kinetic skull that facilitates the swallowing of prey.

[26] Twenty-two species are found in Cantabria, grouped into six families: Scincidae, Lacertidae, Gekkonidae, Anguidae, Colubridae and Viperidae.

Some, such as the Iberian rock lizard (Iberolacerta monticola) or the Seoanei viper (Vipera seoanei) are endemic to the north of the peninsula, while others, such as the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis sicula), the common wall gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) or the Tenerife gecko (Tarentola delalandii), have been introduced by people.

NV: (in Spanish) Eslabón, enano, nánago, enánago, inano, ánago, anagón.

NV: (in Spanish) Eslabón, enano, nánago, enánago, inano, ánago, anagón.

NV: (in Spanish, common to all lizards) Lagartesa, ligartesa, lagarteza, ligaterna, legaterna, regarteza.

Color greenish-brown very variable, with yellowish chest and occasionally reddish head and back.

It has spots in males and lateral stripes in females, among which stand out two thick and dark ones that may be outlined by other thinner yellowish ones.

It has five toes on each leg, with lateral and lower lamellar protuberances that provide some grip for climbing and moving along vertical surfaces.

A large, robust gecko with a gray dorsum with dark, inconspicuous transverse stripes followed by light spots and a whitish or yellowish underside.

NV: (in Spanish) Enánago, nánago/u,[41] enanu, inanu, ánago, anagón, alamón, eslabón, cedajón, salayón, babón, gamón.