The Dodecanese Island of Kastellorizo (South-east Aegean, Greece) is situated
some 140 km east of Rhodes and two km off
the Lycian peninsula in southern Turkey; it
is about 10 km2
in size, the highest elevation
being Mount Paleokastro (272 m). This
limestone island exhibits typical forms of
karst and is totally deprived of overground
springs. It is mostly covered with phrygana-type vegetation trodden by goats, and
the few cultivated areas, surrounded with
wire fences are to be found in the west of
the city Megisti (plain of Acheres) and on
the plateau overhanging it (plain of Aghios
Ioannis).
During the last visit in April 2002, and
contrary to the situation observed at an earlier stay in 1998 (PAYSANT 1999), many natural depressions and tanks or artificial reservoirs were filled with water, which was a
sign of more important fall and winter precipitation, as it is suggested by comparing
the average rate of precipitation recorded in
Antalya from September 1997 to March
1998 (1397.9 mm) with that from September 2001 to March 2002 (2359.5 mm) (http:
//www. weatheronline.co.uk).
Despite the presence of numerous
wire fences protecting the plots where goats
were left in extensive grazing, most areas
were visited, particularly the sites already
prospected by VALAKOS & PAPAPANAGIOTOU
(1985). The goal of the visit was to contribute to our information of the herpetofauna and its distribution on the island. All individuals captured were photographed and
released on site. For record localities see
figure 1.
Early references to the herpetofauna
on Kastellorizo can be found in VALAKOS
& PAPAPANAGIOTOU (1985) and VAN WINGERDE (1986). As for the other references concerning Lyciasalamandra luschani basoglui
(BARAN & ATATÜR, 1980), whose population
is very important on the island, see the liat in VEITH & al. (2001). Bufo viridis viridis LAURENTI, 1768.
This is the first record of B. viridis for
Kastellorizo. Adults, tadpoles and imagos
from localities 2, 4, 9, 10 and 14. The lack
of sources strongly conditions the reproduction of this species, which had not been
encountered during the 1998 stay. The main
places of reproduction consist of the tanks
and other artificial reservoirs set to collect
rainwater as well as a few shallow limestone
depressions. Unfortunately such concrete
facilities are often deadly for the adults after
the end of their breeding cycle, because of
the vertical walls. Only the tempat of Acheres,
a humid depression surrounding huge reservoirs, seems to foster the reproduction of
the species as it is proved by the thousands
of tadpoles and imagos encountered.