Reptiles in the National Hunting Grounds of Mafra The Iberian Wall Lizard (Podarcis hispanica) Size: 70 mm in head and body length. Diet: flies, shrikes, mongoose and genets. Their main means females may breed 2-3 times per year with each mosquitos, centipedes, spiders, ants, grasshop- of defence are escape and the abili! to shed their resulting in 1-5 eggs. These hatch between June pers and beetles. In cities, they may also con- tails as a diversionary tactic. They are active most and September following around two months of sume bits of waste food and other detritus. They of the year round and only require temperatures incubation. In the National Hunting Grounds of are preyed upon by various species such as: oth- of above 13ºC. Reproduction: breeding starts in Mafra, they are common in the immediate vicini- er lizards, snakes, birds of prey, herons, storks, February and continues through to April. The ! of the buildings.

The Algerian Schreiber’s Common Wall Gecko Sand Lizard Green Lizard (Tarentola mauritanica) (Psammodromus algirus) (Lacerta schreiberi) Size: 150 mm in length (85 mm in head-body length). Size: 90 mm in head and body length (300 mm Size: 125 mm in head and body length (with Diet: insects. Their predators include snakes, other in total length). the tail extending double the body length). lizards, birds of prey, cats, hedgehogs and rats. In de- Diet: beetles, spiders, ants, grasshoppers and Diet: flies, mosquitos, grasshoppers and bee- fence, they may both shed their tails (autotomy) and pseudoscorpion. Sporadically, they may also tles while also eating forest fruits. They are issue sounds of alarm whenever threatened. This spe- consume the young of other lizard species as preyed upon by birds of prey, storks, ginets cies displays both crepuscular and nocturnal habits. well as its own and along with vegetation. and o"ers. Their defence mechanisms span In general, it remains active all year round apart from Their predators include snakes, other lizards, fleeing, camouflage and the abili! to shed its in colder regions where it hibernates. shrikes, storks, birds of prey, foxes and genets. tail. This species remains active from Febru- Reproduction: From spring to summer. During repro- Their defence mechanisms include both their ary to October when it goes into hibernation. duction, the males become territorial and demarcate capaci! to climb and to shed their tails. Reproduction: From April to July. The eggs are their borders through emi"ing sounds. The females Reproduction: From April to July. The females laid in exposed sites without any vegetation lay more than once per year and generally between lay between 2-3 times between May and July between May and July. The number of eggs April and June. 1-2 eggs get laid and deposited under- with each consisting of 2-12 eggs that hatch ranges between 6 and 17 depending on the size neath stones or in holes and then incubated through- between August and October following 1-3 of the female with the eggs hatching a#er 2-3 out 4-12 days in warm locations and up to 9 months months of incubation. In the National Hunt- months. In the National Hunting Grounds of when colder. In the National Hunting Grounds of Ma- ing Grounds of Mafra, this species is common Mafra, the species is found along the Safarujo fra, they are commonly found on the walls of illumi- throughout. watercourse. nated buildings. Ocellated Lizard (Lacerta lepida) Size: 150-260 mm in head and body length (with their predators that include birds of prey, storks, ritorial and on occasion resulting in violent bat- its tail reaching double this length). Diet: beetles, herons, snakes and other carnivorous mammals. tles. Breeding takes place between March and May bu"erflies, grasshoppers, bees, spiders and centi- Their main means of defence is their speed and, with the eggs lain between May and June (5-22 pedes and complemented by both vegetation and whenever threatened, they raise their head and eggs). In order to ensure su#cient humidi!, the fruit. They may also hunt other lizards and small open their mouths wide and may a"empt to bite. eggs are buried beneath stones, tree trunks or oth- mammals. This species is an excellent climb- They are active between March and October when er ro"ing vegetation. Incubation takes between er that not only enables it to access birds nests, they then enter into hibernation. Reproduction: 2-3 months. In the National Hunting Grounds of their eggs and their young, but also to escape spring. During the season, the males become ter- Mafra, this species is common throughout. Iberian Worm Lizard Western Three-toed Skink adder Snake (Blanus cinereus) (Chalcides striatus) (Rhinechis Scalaris)

Size: 260-280 mm in length. Size: 210 mm in head and body length (435 mm Size: 150 cm in length. Diet: ants, insect larvae and other subterra- in total length). Diet: rodents, lizards, young rabbits and adult and young nean arthropods. They are preyed upon by liz- Diet:slugs, crickets, flies, beetles and spiders. birds. They adopt the constrictor method of hunting in ards, snakes, shrikes, bird of prey and frogs. In Their predators range from snakes and oth- various situations. In turn, they are the prey for birds the presence of predators, they role their body er lizards to birds of prey, herons, hedgehogs, of prey and for mongoose. This is an aggressive species up in on itself and twist violently. They may foxes, ganets, skunks, badgers, mongoose and whenever disturbed and may produce sounds, secrete clo- also shed their tails and, on occasion, bite. wild boar. The speed of retreat and the abili- acal liquids and a"empt to bite. As it is not venomous, this They remain active from February to Novem- ! to shed its tail represent the main defence snake represents no danger to humans – as is common to ber and are both diurnal and nocturnal and mechanisms of this species. It has diurnal the Aglyph species. Typically diurnal, this becomes more opting for subterranean habitats. habits and is active between February and Oc- crepuscular in the peak of summer. This is an agile snake Reproduction: Prior to spring. The eggs are laid tober. Reproduction: From spring to summer. !pe and moves easily up trees and buildings. in the months of June and July and formed The o$spring are born between July and Au- Reproduction: late spring through to mid-summer. The by one single but large egg. In the National gust with this ovoviviparous species laying females lay between 4-24 eggs under stones, abandoned Hunting Grounds of Mafra, they are common 1-15 eggs. In the National Hunting Grounds of burrows or even in self-excavated holes. During incuba- throughout its extent. Mafra, they are common throughout but espe- tion, the females care for the eggs in the period before they cially in the pasture lands. hatch some 1-3 months later. This species may be found throughout the National Hunting Grounds of Mafra. Spanish Pond Turtle (Mauremys leprosa) Size: 189-212 mm. Diet: vegetation and inverte- Diurnal in nature, the turtle hibernates in cold re- numbering between 1-12. In the National Hunting brates whilst also ingesting fish and amphibi- gions. Reproduction: in late spring. The eggs are Grounds of Mafra, this species is common to the ans. Its predators include herons, storks and birds lain in June and July with the female digging a Safarujo watercourse and the Taipas and Álamos of prey in addition to wild boar, o"er and foxes. hole beyond the waterline and burying the eggs tanks. Grass Snake Southern Smooth Snake (Natrix natrix) (Coronella girondica)

Size: 100-120 cm in total length. Size: 70 cm in length. Montpellier Snake Diet: invertebrates, amphibians and fish. Their Diet:lizards, geckos, western three-toed (Malpolon monspessulanus) predators include the Montpellier snake, birds skinks and small snakes. In turn, this of prey, o"ers, weasels and genets. Their de- snake is hunted by birds of prey, oth- Size: 2 m in length (the largest snake in Portugal). fence mechanisms include both releasing an er snakes, wild boar and small carni- Diet: other snakes, rodents, di$erent lizard !pes and young unpleasant smell and playing dead by tak- vores. This is a peaceful species and rabbits. Its predators range from birds of prey to mongoose ing up a position exposing its ventral section, rarely and only ino$ensively bites. Its and wild boar. While its main means of defence is fleeing, open mouthed and not moving. As an Aglyph primary means of defence is issuing whenever threatened, it may prove aggressive, raise its !pe snake, it is not dangerous to humans. an unpleasant smell from its cloacal head, breathe and bite. This snake !pe produces a strong This species has diurnal habits and active vents. This species is both crepuscular neurotoxic venom but despite this poses no danger to man from March to October. The snake is both ter- and nocturnal and active from March as of the opistoglyph !pe (venomous fangs located in the ritorial and aquatic and a very agile, swi# to October. Reproduction: Breeding rear section of the mouth). Typically diurnal but adopting and good swimmer. Reproduction: spring and takes place between May and June more crepuscular habits in the peak of summer. This is a autumn. The females lay between 6-70 eggs with the eggs laid in July and num- very agile snake species and both climbs and swims with between June and July below fallen trunks bering between 5-10 depending on the great ease. Reproduction: spring. Breeding takes place be- and in naturally occurring holes. Sometimes size of the female. The eggs incubate tween May and June and one month later the females lay this site is communal and shared with literal- for 1-2 months. In the National Hunting between 4-20 eggs beneath stones, decaying vegetation or ly hundreds of eggs in a single site. Hatching Grounds of Mafra, this species has been in the burrows of rodents or rabits with incubation lasting takes place 1-2 months later. In the National identified in the Chanquinha pine for- around two months. This species is found across the Na- Hunting Grounds of Mafra, this is found across est and Milhariça zones. tional Hunting Grounds of Mafra with the largest exam- the extent of its grounds. ples spo"ed in the Lombas area. Viperine Snake (Natrix maura) Size: 65-70 cm in length. Diet: feeds essentially appear viper like) and issue a whistling noise. ally deposit their eggs (4-32) between June and while in the water and targeting amphibians, Diurnal in habit, this species remains active be- July and laid among tree roots and other decom- small fish and invertebrates. It is the prey for tween March and October and both on land and in posing vegetation with hatching occurring a%er Montpellier snakes, herons, birds of prey and ot- water even while, when compared with the grass 1-3 months. In the National Hunting Grounds of ters. When threatened, it may pretend to be dead, snake, it is more at home in the water and less Mafra, this species is found along the Safarujo release an unpleasant smelling substance, raise agile on land. Reproduction: Spring. The females watercourse. its head to make it more triangular (making itself may have multiple breeding partners and gener- Lataste’s Viper (Vipera latastei)

Size: 70 cm in length. Diet: small mammals, lizards and especially their young mammals, birds, amphibians and insects. Their predators include birds of prey, wild board, mongoose, genets, hedgehogs and other snakes. In their own defence, they a"empt to escape whilst otherwise breathing loudly and a"empting to bite. They produce a venom with proteolytic proper- ties and dangerous even to humans as a solenog- Horseshoe Whip Snake lyph species (with its venomous fangs located in (Coluber hippocrepis) the frontal section of its mouth). This is a diurnal species even while turning either crepuscular or Size: 80-150 cm in length. even nocturnal in the summer heat. Reproduction: Diet: rodents, geckos, di$erent lizard species and birds. They are preyed upon by birds of prey and spring. The females of this ovoviviparous species by mongoose. When in danger, they curl up and dilate their heads, make noises and may bite. How- produce 5-8 o$spring in late summer. In the Na- ever, this species bears no danger to man given it belongs to the Aglyph group (without venomous tional Hunting Grounds of Mafra, the snake has fangs). With diurnal habits, this snake hibernates between November and March but is otherwise been identified in the Celebredo and Sunível ar- agile and a good climber. eas (with the largest number spo"ed by the pond Reproduction: during spring and the beginning of summer. Females deposit 4-11 eggs at a time, there). This species is classified as Vulnerable by generally occurring in July, and beneath ro"ing tree trunks or abandoned burrows with incubation the Red Book of the Vertebrates of Portugal. ongoing for 6-8 weeks. This species is common throughout the National Hunting Grounds of Mafra. Reptiles in the National Hunting Grounds of Mafra

PATRIMÓNIO NATURAL COM HISTÓRIA.