fauna

As the dream diminishes of getting the local authority to adopt responsibility for all the trails I have spent the last umpteen years reinstating and maintaining, I have turned my efforts towards passing on knowledge of our local flora and fauna to the general public. Experts in their field are invited to submit copy together with any images they might have and photography enthusiasts/artists approached to contribute their pictures. I put the two together, arrange for the printing and voila, a field guide book! Skopelos Trails sponsors the project, which takes about a year from beginning to end, excluding the expert’s research. The resulting book is then made available through mail order via this site and locally at various outlets. The Walking Guide book will eventually adopt the same design as our published book on insects and butterflies.

In the pipeline is a guidebook on amphibians and snakes (scheduled for next Easter) plus another on bats and birds. Others will follow in the series. My walking guide book contains a list of birds, provided by various tourists over the years but I would be delighted if I could find an expert ornithologist, prepared to provide copy. Please message me if you are interested in contributing.

It’s that time of year again when you’re likely to encounter these reptiles of the suborder Serpentes. As it happens, I am researching with a view to writing a book on this subject. Should be published by next year.

None of them are dangerous unless provoked. If you’re worried, buy a first aid kit from the pharmacy for 14 euros just in case. It has everything you need to stop the venom from travelling, then get to the Health Centre.

Of the Colubridae Rat Snake family we have two types on Skopelos; Leopard (Elephe situla) Spitofido and Four lined (Lafiatis). They are the largest and grow up to 2 meters. Beautifully coloured. Seldom hiss and are calm. The 4 Lined are excellent climbers and swimmers. Some tourists can vouch for the former. One recently came ashore at Panormos, made its way along the beach then went back into the sea. They eat small mammals, birds and lizards. Non venomous.

Eastern Montpellier Malpolon insignitus ( Sapethis or Savrofido). They grow up to 2 meters. Mildly venomous rear-fanged. Variable colours (green, black, grey, green) depending upon juveniles or adults/male or female. Feeds mainly on lizards, rodents, birds, amphibians and other snakes. It will defend strongly if threatened by hissing loudly, raising its head, flattening the neck and pretending to attack. It will bite if caught. Pain, swelling and maybe fever are symptoms that may occur that usually relent in a few hours.

Large Whip Snake – possibly Hierophis jungularis (Dendrogalia) Whilst they don’t usually occur on the same island as the Four Lined snake, it is believed they are here. The common black snake. One of the longest reaching sometimes up to 300cm. Very swift. Non poisonous.

Nose-horned Viper (Oxia). It has connecting brown spots, surrounded by black. Body grey. When disturbed they hiss loudly. Highly venomous. Image by Costas Andreou.

Watch the Birdie

SNAKES – the misunderstood