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The Provincial Council of Malaga has published the first guide dedicated to reptiles and amphibians in the province, a work that joins other informative publications on fauna, mainly linked to the Gran Senda walking routes.
‘Amphibians and reptiles of the Gran Senda of Malaga and province’ details each of the 11 different species of amphibians and 24 of reptiles that can be seen in Malaga province.
High-quality photographs are accompanied by general information about these two groups of terrestrial vertebrates, their different classes, general characteristics and most common habitats, including the most outstanding aspects of their biology, diversity, threats, conservation, as well as a series of guidelines for respectful observation.
The councillor for the Environment, Inland Tourism and Climate Change, Cristóbal Ortega, explains that this publication covers the lack of local information on these groups of terrestrial vertebrates, unknown and, in some cases, feared, but at the same time fascinating and essential in the proper functioning of our ecosystems.
Ortega highlights that, in addition to the awareness and educational work of this publication, the provincial institution works to contribute to the conservation of these fauna groups, having carried out various habitat restoration works in the municipalities of Villanueva del Rosario and Villanueva del Trabuco.
The guide – written by Jacinto Segura Moreno, Juan José Jiménez Rodríguez and Luis García-Cardenete – reflects that Malaga is home to a community of amphibians and reptiles rich in endemisms. Such unique specimens appear as the only chameleon in Europe, a unique salamander from the mountains of Malaga and Cadiz and the largest lizard and the largest ophidian in Europe, the Ocellated lizard and the bastard snake, respectively.
There are also a midwife toad exclusive to the Baetic mountain ranges, eight different species of snakes, two different species of Galápagos, and two species of blind shingles, curious reptiles of underground life, lacking legs, but more related to lizards than with the snakes.
The authors of the guide explain that they intend to contribute to banishing the black legend that has accompanied these species and instead arouse curiosity and appreciation towards them among the population.
The guide – and others – can be downloaded free of charge in the publications section of the tourism website of the Diputación de Málaga (www.malaga.es/turismo).
