Walk at Armancette's lake

It's the “most of everything” frog…

It is the most terrestrial frog, that is to say that it may only return to water to overwinter or during the breeding season.
It is also the frog living at the highest altitudes: it lives up to 3000 m of altitude. It is even said to be able to dive under the ice!
But it is also one of the most widespread in Europe, living in different types of habitats, from parks and gardens or plain ponds to the highest mountain streams and lakes!

The Alpine Newt is an amphibian that does not fear low temperatures! It is able to live in alpine lakes at an altitude of 2500 m or more. To survive at these altitudes, it developed the ability to adapt to extreme temperatures; the Alpine Newt manages this by spreading its reproduction cycle over two years or even by reproducing during its larval stage: this phenomenon is called "neoteny". It is a protected species, sensitive to the presence of large fish. The stocking practices for fishing activities in high altitude lakes threaten the survival of these amphibians in these environments.