Euproctus asper

The euprocte of the Pyrenees ( Euproctus asper ) is a Amphibien Urodèle with the rough skin of color gray, olive or black (with for some a clearer line on the back) equipped with four legs griffues and a prehensible tail which enables him to be maintained in agitated water of the torrents. It can measure of 8 with 14 cm, its morphology general are connected with that of the Salamandre.

Distribution

It is an endemic species which one meets mainly in the torrents or the lakes of mountain of the Pyrenean chain until 2 400 m of altitude like in some hydrographic sources and systems underground of Pyrenean Piedmont starting from 250 m of altitude. It is a species which affectionate only cool water and oxygenated.

Life cycle

The life cycle of the euprocte depends on the temperature of water. In spring, to the snow melt, the animal leaves a state of lethargy to regain the torrent whose temperature borders the 6°C. It is active as long as the temperature of water does not exceed the 15°C, temperature from which it takes refuge in-depth. With the autumn, when the temperature of water becomes lower than 6°C, the adults begin their terrestrial life, it leave water to enter in lethargy their winter refuge: ground of the banks or anfractuosity of the rocks. During this period, the larvae hide in the sand of the torrents. The euproctes can live until 20 years.

Food

It nourishes watery preys (towards, Crustacés, Mollusques, larvae of insects) during its working life, the winter, it does not feed.

Reproduction

It is a species Ovipare of which the period of reproduction is spread out June at August according to altitude. The female lays approximately ten round and transparent eggs from 4 to 5 mms in diameter which are deposited with the shelter under a stone or in a narrow anfractusosity.

40 with 50 days after the laying, the larvae leave eggs and start to nourish themselves, the metamorphosis in an adult state will take place after one year of larval life, the animal reaches its sexual maturity at the end of 2 with 3 years.

Statute

It is a protected space but which is not threatened, except for the populations Cavernicoles of which survival depend on the water quality and the safeguarding of their Biotope.

See too

Euprocte

External bonds

Photographs * CNRS Moulis * reptilia-amphibia.net *, species soon in danger on the red List of the UICN. Checked Nov. 2007.

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