List of amphibians and reptiles of Cantabria

The vertebrate fauna in Cantabria presents a wide diversity due to the variety of ecological niches existing in the region and its geographical position, equidistant between the Mediterranean region of the south of the peninsula and the nearby Atlantic Europe.

These lists include all the wild vertebrates living in Cantabria, classified according to the genus and family they belong to. In addition to the scientific name of each species, the common name in the Spanish language, the vernacular names most commonly used in this region, a brief description, a map of distribution in Spain and the conservation status are also included.

The herpetofauna of Cantabria is composed of a significant number of species. Some of them are Iberian endemisms, such as the Iberian painted frog, the Moller's tree frog, the Iberian frog, the gold-striped salamander, the Bedriaga's skink, the Iberian rock lizard, the Iberian emerald lizard and the Baskian viper, while others, such as the red-eared slider, the Italian wall lizard, the gecko or the Tenerife gecko are species introduced by man. 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.

Amphibian
In Cantabria there are fifteen species of amphibians of the Anura and Caudata orders, all of them intimately linked to the different aquatic environments: wetlands, mountain rivers, seasonal ponds, lakes, lagoons, lagoons, coastal lagoons, marshes, and others, where they spend all or part of their lives. The families represented are: Alytidae, Bufonidae, Hylidae, Pelodytidae, Ranidae and Salamandridae. Some of these species are widely distributed, such as the fire salamander, the alpine newt or the midwife toad, while others, such as the parsley frog or the Iberian frog, are very scarce or, in the case of the gold-striped salamander, practically non-existent.

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.

Anura order
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. Five families are found in Cantabria, comprising ten species.

Caudata order
Unlike anurans, the caudates have an elongated body with a tail, both in the larval and adult stages. This order is represented in the region by five species: Ichthyosaura alpestris, Chioglossa lusitanica, Lissotriton helveticus, Salamandra salamandra and Triturus marmoratus. Two of them, Ichthyosaura alpestris and Lissotriton helveticus, are only found in Spain, in the northern fringe.

Reptiles
Reptiles originated from amphibians in the Carboniferous period, being the first animals to possess well-developed lungs. They are characterized by a tough and generally scaly skin. In Cantabria there are two orders of reptiles: Testudines (turtles and chelonians) and Squamata (squamates), which group together twenty-seven different reptile species.

Testudines Order
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. The carapace has a head and front legs at the front and hind legs and a tail at the back.

Squamata order
The Squamata order includes lizards, chameleons, iguanas, serpents and snakes among others. Evolutionarily, it is the most recent order of reptiles and also 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. 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 man.