Reptiles
and amphibians

Latin name: Bombina variegata
Characteristics: Dirty-brown to loamy-yellow upper side, grey underside with conspicuous yellow spots; flat appearance; a round snout and heart-shaped pupils are further characteristics of the yellow-bellied toad.
Habitat: In mountainous and hilly areas in damp places, where it quickly colonizes newly created bodies of water, water furrows, ditches and pools (wallows). It appreciates the sun and can also cope with drying waters.
Behavior: Can be found in spawning waters from April, although this is highly dependent on altitude. In case of danger, the toad adopts a defensive posture known as the "barge position". It pushes its spine through and folds its legs over its body, which acts like a barge. The yellow spots on the underside are displayed as a defensive measure (warning color!).

In the intensively used valleys of Central Europe, the yellow-bellied toad has become rare and has already disappeared in many places. This has also been the case in the Alpine foothills for some years now. However, it is still widespread in the area of Kalkalpen National Park and the intact population is becoming increasingly important for Upper Austria.

The smooth and marbled-looking ventral side of the toad, which is only four to five centimetres in size, is strikingly yellow to yellow-orange in color and interspersed with larger dark spots. The yellow-black markings serve as a warning and indicate inedibility. Their preferred habitat is shallow and sunny waters with a muddy substrate. In case of danger, they dive quickly, their mud-colored upper body surface serving as excellent camouflage. Yellow-bellied toads can use even the smallest bodies of water, so they are regularly found in depressions that are only temporarily filled with water, wagon wheel tracks and even in puddles left by grazing livestock. Shallow, warm waters are rich in small animals that serve as food for the toad.

The adults hibernate buried in the ground from October to March/April. The spawn contains up to 100 eggs and the tadpoles hatch after eight days. A special adaptation is that they spawn several times during the summer. This is a successful way to counteract the inconstant small bodies of water that often dry out.

The distribution area includes Central, Southern and Eastern Europe. In the Alps, they can be found up to an altitude of 2,000 meters.

Typical natural habitats in the national park are small pools in forest clearings, especially the numerous red deer hollows in the area. As a warmth-loving amphibian species, it likes to follow people into woodland-free cultivated areas. In Kalkalpen National Park it can therefore be found in large numbers in the sunny pools of mountain pastures.

Status, endangerment and protection

Status Kalkalpen National Park: probably good population
Status Upper Austria (2005): endangered
Endangered in Upper Austria: population decreasing
Conservation responsibility Austria: strongly responsible
Need for action for Austria: need for protection given
EU Habitats Directive: Annex II, IV
Nature Conservation Act Upper Austria: protected

Latin name: Salamandra atra
Characteristics: The completely black, small salamander is unmistakable.
Habitat: As a land dweller, it can also be found at greater distances from bodies of water. It is adapted to the mountains and is not uncommon from around 900 meters above sea level in Kalkalpen National Park .
Behaviour: Particularly common after rainfall, often observed directly on the hiking trail and then usually several specimens.

Observation tip: The salamanders are the best example of the fact that it's worth being out and about even when it's raining: You have the best chances here at Kalkalpen National Park near the Feichtau lakes in the Feichtau-Alm area between May and September. The Alpine salamander is easy to observe due to its slow speed. Avoid hasty movements, otherwise it will increase its speed unexpectedly and quickly hide in the next hole or crevice, and on steep stretches it can even roll down, which it survives unscathed. As with most animals, the following also applies to it: do not come directly from above by bending over it, but crouch down in good time, avoid hasty sideways movements and keep a sufficient distance.

Latin name: Zootoca vivipara
Characteristics: Dainty, brown lizard with a short-looking tail. Irregular or regular-looking markings and a dark midline. Males and females can be distinguished by the underside: Males rather yellowish with black speckles, females whitish yellow.
Habitat: On forest edges, forest clearings, alpine meadows and also moors, making it a lizard species that is more likely to be found in damp places. Occurs up to 2400 meters above sea level, so it can be found anywhere in the Sengsen Mountains.
Behaviour: Difficult to spot on sunny tree stumps on the bark or on overgrown stones. It is a livebearer.

Observation tip: You have to look carefully to find mountain lizards: Particular attention should be paid to tree trunks or other "sunny spots" in clearings, forest edges or alpine meadows. However, these should not be places that are too hot from the sun. It also seems to be easier to find in the late afternoon hours.

Latin name: Vipera berus
Characteristics: The coloration of the adder is very variable, which makes a clear description impossible. In the national park, they can be either completely black or reddish-brown with the familiar zigzag band on the back. They are between 50 and 70 cm tall, with females appearing more massive and usually longer than males.
Habitat: Found on forest edges and clearings, clear-cuts, but also on scree fields and forest roads.
Behaviour: Adders are not aggressive and usually only announce their presence by hissing when directly disturbed.

Take care when hiking: Pay attention on open forest paths and near suitable shelter (thorny bushes, young trees and mountain pines whose dense branches reach the ground, hollow stones and tree stumps, etc.)!
Even when resting in meadows, the ground should be checked for inconspicuous young animals!