Alpine Newt
Triturus alpestris (Laurenti, 1768)
Molge alpestris Laurenti, 1768: Kovachev, 1912: 80; Shishkov, 1914: 6; Triton alpestris Laurenti, 1768: Valkanov, 1938: 101.
Order Caudata
Family Salamandridae
Conservation status: in Bulgaria: Vulnerable VU [B2], BDA-II, III; International: IUCN-LC, BeC-III.
General distribution. The westernmost habitats are in the Cantabrian Mountains (Northern Spain) and Central Spain, and the easternmost – along the eastern slopes of the Carpathian arch. The northern border of the area follows the coastal line of Europe from Bretagne and Normandy to Southern Denmark. In Southern Europe it is distributed sporadically in some high mountains where it is a glacial relict (for example, in Southern Italy and in the Balkan peninsula in the south to Peloponnese).
Distribution and abundance in Bulgaria. Only in the high mountains at altitudes between 900 and 2 500 m. In the Balkan range only near Petrohan [1]; in Sredna gora [2, 3, 4]; in Rila [4, 5, 6, 7]; in Osogovska mountain [4, 8]; in the Western Rhodopes [4, 5, 9, 10]. In some of the habitats (Yundola, 1995, Osogovska mountain, 2001-2006) it is abundant – up to about 30 individuals have been observed on an area of 1 m2 in the shallow places of the water basin inhabited, in others the numbers in the last 4 decades abruptly decreased (Petrohan), in a third type singular individuals are observed or only larvae, in a fourth type the species was not confirmed after being found once in 1910 (Malak Bogdan peak). The distribution is typically relict composed by entirely isolated localityes.
Habitats. Stagnant or poorly flowing water basins, including such that are insignificant in their area and depth, but always with ample underwater vegetation, some also with overwater vegetation.
Biology. During the second half of the spring it lays 100-200 eggs on underwater plants. Metamorphosis takes place in the autumn. It spends the summer and the autumn on the ground under stumps, in soil cavities, etc. There are no sure data of the places of wintering in Bulgaria.
Similar species. It differs from the other newts in the Bulgarian fauna by the orange-red abdomen and neck, without dark spots on them.
Negative factors. Drying up some of the water basins inhabited (Petrohan) or their turning into dams with a changeable water level (Martvoto Yakorudsko lake), the destruction of the shore and the vegetation of the water basins inhabited, pollution with waste waters (Osogovo, Rila), artificial breeding with the rainbow trout which eats the larvae and the adult newts.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Bulgarian Red Data Book, 1985, in the category rare. Some of the habitats are in protected territories (in the Rila National Park, the Rila Monastery Natural Park; in the zones of the European Natura 2000 ecological network. The water basins inhabited near Petrohan are dug out because of their strong siltation (1987, 2004) and rotting stumps are placed near them, under which the newts find shelter; a poster about protected amphibians was published (1998); popular articles have been published about the significance and the preservation of the species, and a brochure about the habitat near Petrohan (2005).
Conservation measures needed. Prevention of the inhabited water basins against drying up, hydrotechnical activities causing a changing water level, preventing their pollution; disallowing artificial breeding with rapacious fish of the inhabited water basins; creation of new small water basins in the vicinity to those with severely endangered populations.
References. 1. Beskov et Beron, 1964; 2. Kovachev, 1912; 3. Shishkov, 1914; 4. Veselinov, 1993; 5. Buresch & Zonkov, 1941; 6. Beshkov, 1985; 7. Peshev et al., 2005; 8. Naumov, 2005; 9. Valkanov, 1938; 10. Petrov et al., 2006.
Author: Vladimir Beschkov
