- A creek flows between rocks and rocks. Small jumps of water, rapids and puddles are mixed along the course. The water is cold, but that's how the Pyrenean triton likes it. In fact, this little amphibian, used to swimming against the current, doesn't choose any place to live in. It needs special conditions, and maybe that's what makes the species special. The Pyrenean triton is brown, smooth and lacquered skin. At first, aesthetically it is not very nice, but once seen you will not forget the moment. Because finding an animal all over the world just around the Pyrenees is not an everyday thing.
Pyrenean triton (Calotriton asper)
GROUP: Vertebrate/Amphibian.
SIZE: 10-15 cm with included tail.
WHERE DO YOU LIVE? In the rocky, cold, fast streams.
What do you eat? Small invertebrates from streams.
LEVEL OF PROTECTION Declared of special interest. Protected in CAPV and in Europe.
The Pirenaico Triton, which is about 400 meters high, is characterized by races up to 2,500 meters high. But not all! Well oxygenated, clean and with maximum temperatures of 15°C throughout the year. For this reason, he is fond of the streams of the upper part of the Pyrenees, although he has also found himself at a low height in some streams in the Basque Country. In the Basque Country it has its distribution in the northeast: North and Navarra. In Gipuzkoa it has only been found in a valley of Leitzaran.
The Pyrenean triton has its head crushed, as it likes to hide under the stones and thus keep the stream going down the mountain. That’s why he likes streams made up of rocks of many stones or stones that are full of cracks. Not very sedimentable. There you will also find small macroinvertebrates of the streams. His food.
With these needs, it is not surprising that the triton is considered the indicator of clean streams. It is also a deeply rooted knowledge in the area of Aragon and hence its name in Aragonese: Guard fuens (guard of streams).
It's an amphibian, with four legs and tail. Thick tail. Males use it mostly to be able to swim in the fast water, but at the same time use the same tail to hold the female on the deck.
But it also has enemies, Pyrenean tritons. Trout, for example. For this reason, in some rivers and streams in which the triton has disappeared, man-made trout is responsible for it. Also in a recent study conducted by the Society of Aranzadi Sciences in the municipality of Goizueta, the absence of trout has been observed in most of the rivers found in the Pyrenees, although in very few points the presence of both has been observed.
In the context of climate change, the Pyrenean triton can be an interesting species for research. In fact, it will surely be many of the populations of the lowest heights in the Basque Country that will be affected by it, so its follow-up can be interesting for science. Or who knows if, being at the limit of its distribution, it is not the Basque Country that genetically has the most predisposition to deal with warmer temperatures.
In spite of everything, this small species shows us, once again, that research on many animals that make us invisible can help us find answers about global problems. Because not knowing men doesn't mean that this species doesn't matter.