The Fionchi mountain range (1337 m above sea level, Umbria), between the fertile and humid Valnerina and the valleys of Spoleto, hosts different types of habitats characteristic of the Mediterranean scrub and is one of the favorite destinations of our trekking.
The woods of Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) and Downy Oak (Quercus pubescens), the shrubs of Red Juniper, Brambles and Rose Hips, as well as summit meadows with a high variety of flowers and herbaceous plants and diversity of wild orchids, give it a particular and unique charm in the area.
The mount Fionchi is characterized by the geological peculiarity of stratified marls with variable thicknesses and percentages of clay and limestone that prevent the water from penetrating deeply, giving rise to a multitude of more or less generous natural springs which in some cases have been transformed in fountains.
The presence of numerous wetlands, both natural and man-made, makes it possible to spread various Amphibians on mount Fionchi, where even the Northern Spectacled Salamander (Salamandrina perspicillata) manage to have a stable presence in areas with poor tree cover.
During our last trek on mount Fionchi in September, in addition to observing a multitude of insects, flowers and birds, we came across a particularly light Italian Stream Frog (Rana italica).
The Rana italica (group of red frogs) is considered an endemism, therefore a species present exclusively along our peninsula. It prefers streams and drinking troughs with perennial and clear water, often with the presence of tree cover. This Amphibian is active throughout the year, in the colder months it takes refuge in small ravines surrounding the reservoir, but it can also be observed in mating in January with prohibitive temperatures for many other species.
Below a photo of a specimen with the most common coloration, present in the same site.
The species has sexual dimorphism in size (smaller males) and in coloring, with reddish females and males tending to gray or light brown. This difference is particularly accentuated during the reproductive period. The frog’s skin can change color thanks to the presence of cells called chromatophores and this change can be influenced by greater hormonal activity in the reproductive period, or by external factors such as solar radiation and temperature.
The unusual light color of the frog found during the September trek could have deceived us, making us think of a male in the reproductive period, which however falls between February and April.
The discovery of the frog in a spring exposed to the sun, with an external temperature of about 28° C, has led us to assume that the frog has changed the color of its skin, which however falls within the natural variability of the species, in order to better tolerate the intense solar radiation.
We remind you that wildlife excursions in Umbria will resume soon, to discover the surprising biodiversity of the Martani mountains, the lower Valnerina and new naturale areas with the zoologist and guide Riccardo Mattea.
