HERPETOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS IN THE LOWER DANUBE AREA (CALAFAT-CALARASI SECTOR)

Abstract

The first information on a reptile species occurring in Romania is represented by the description of some eggs of European Pond Turtles found in the Danube valley, in the middle of the 18th century (Marsigli, 1744). If we do not take into account the Danube Delta and the Iron Gates area, in the following two centuries (XIX and XX) there were scarce scientific investigations in the sites along the Danube river. In his detailed work, Călinescu gives data on the amphibians and reptiles observed in vicinity of the Danube (Călinescu, 1931). The well-known Romanian monographies of Fuhn (1960) and Fuhn & Vancea (1961) provide details on the occurrence of most of the species living in the target area. New records are published in few articles (Cruce, 1971; Fuhn, 1964; Tatole et al., 1994). The recent overviews are mostly based on the above mentioned publications, without indication on the information sources (Cogălniceanu, 1991; Cogălniceanu et al., 2000).
The present paper shows the results of current preliminary studies focused on the distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the areas close to the Danube river.

Full text

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HERPETOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS IN THE LOWER DANUBE AREA
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Zsolt TÖRÖK
Key words: amphibians, reptiles, distribution, Danube valley, Romania
INTRODUCTION
The first information on a reptile species occurring
in Romania is represented by the description of some
eggs of European Pond Turtles found in the Danube
valley, in the middle of the 18th century (Marsigli,
1744). If we do not take into account the Danube
Delta and the Iron Gates area, in the following two
centuries (XIX and XX) there were scarce scientific
investigations in the sites along the Danube river. In
KLV GHWDLOHG ZRUN & OLQHVFX JLYHV GDWD RQ WKH
amphibians and reptiles observed in vicinity of the
'DQXEH& OLQHVFX7KHZHOONQRZQ5RPDQLDQ
monographies of Fuhn (1960) and Fuhn & Vancea
(1961) provide details on the occurrence of most of
the species living in the target area. New records are
published in few articles (Cruce, 1971; Fuhn, 1964;
Tatole et al., 1994). The recent overviews are mostly
based on the above mentioned publications, without
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The present paper shows the results of current
preliminary studies focused on the distribution of
amphibians and reptiles in the areas close to the
Danube river.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The investigations were carried out during the year
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Suhaia sector), 10 – 11 October (sector between
Giurgiu and the confluence of Vedea river with the
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Calafat sector).
During the field work we have observed the
occurrence of amphibians and reptiles in three major
types of habitats: the actual floodplain (the area
between the shore of the Danube and the dam along
the river), the former flooplain (area between the dam
and the limit of the continental land) and the areas
very close to the limit of the continental land
(including the localities).
The species were identified with the aid of the
classic keys (Fuhn, 1960; Fuhn & Vancea, 1961). The
occurrence of some species was also established on
the base of eggs, skin fragments and corps. Vernacular
names of the species are according to Arnold &
Burton (1978).
The UTM codes with 10x10 km squares were used
to indicate the location of the investigated areas
(Lehrer & Lehrer, 1990). In case of some sites we
have also mentioned the nearest locality.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The results of the investigations are presented as a
list of species, mentioning the site and data of records.
The sites are listed in alphabetic order in Table No. 1.
During the field studies we have found the
following species:
1. The Danube Crested Newt (Triturus
dobrogicusZDVUHFRUGHGDW7XUQX0 JXUHOHQHDUWKH
confluence of Sîi river with the Danube; 27 April).
2. The Smooth Newt (Triturus vulgaris) was
recorded at Gostinu (pond in the village; 26 April).
3. The Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina bombina) was
observed at Bechet (pond near the custom office; 27
April), Chirnogi (25 April), Corabia (27 April),
' EXOHQL (former duck-farm; 27 April), ' EXOHQL
(pond in the village; 27 April), 'XQ UHQL (27 April);
Gostinu (pond in the village; 26 April), 2OWHQL D (25
April), Orlea (27 April), 6 UDWD (27 April), Suhaia
(lake; 26 April), Turnu 0 JXUHOH (bridge over Sîi
river; April).
4. The Green Toad (Bufo viridis) was recorded at
Bujoru (26 Arpil), Chirnogi (25 April), ' EXOHQL
(former duck-farm; 27 April), *ROHQ L  $SULO
Gostinu (26 April), 2OWHQL D  $SULO Suhaia (26
April), Turnu 0 JXUHOH  $SULO 9LLúRDUD 
April).
5. The Common Tree Frog (Hyla arborea) was
observed at Balta Arcear (near Ciupercenii Noi; 27
October), Chiciu (near & O UDúL; 18 September),
' EXOHQL (former duck-farm; 27 April), Giurgiu (25
April), Iazurile &LRF QHúWL (19 September), Gârcov
(zootechnical farm, 25 October), Gostinu (20
September), Malu (11 October), Ostrovul Kama-Dinu
(river island; 10 October), 3LHWULúX (Danube shore; 11
October), Suhaia (lake; 21 September), Turnu
0 JXUHOH (26 April) and Vedea (Danube shore at KM
507; 11 October).
6 and 7. The frogs belonging to the Rana
“esculenta” complex (probably both the Edible Frog
– Rana esculenta and the Marsh Frog - Rana
ridibunda) were recorded at balta Arcear (near
Ciupercenii Noi; 27 October), Bechet (27 April),
Bujoru (near bridge over Vedea river, 20

Table 1. Sites of the Danube river valley investigated in 2000.
Name of investigated site / sites No. of site in Fig. 1c Name of county UTM code
Balta Arcear (near Ciupercenii Noi locality) 3 Dolj FP 55
Bechet 9 Dolj GP 35
6 Dolj GP 06
Bujoru (border area and bridge over Vedea river) 22 Teleorman LJ 83
Calafat 2 Dolj FP 57
Chiciu 36 NJ 28
Chirnogi (village and agricultural polder) 30 MJ 68
18 Teleorman LJ 34
Corabia (locality and archaeological site) 14 Olt KJ 94
10 Dolj KJ 65
11 Dolj KJ 64
6 Dolj GP 06
Gârcov 15 Olt LJ 04
24 Giurgiu LJ 94
Giurgiu (near bridge toward Zimnicea & ruins) 27 Giurgiu MJ 15
1 Dolj FP 67
Gostinu 29 Giurgiu MJ 27
Gostinu (agricultural polder) 28 Giurgiu MJ 37
Gura Padinii (near border area) 13 Olt KJ 84
34 NJ 19
35 NJ 29
Islaz (locality & near Ostrovul Mic islet) 16 Teleorman LJ 14
25 Giurgiu MJ 04
33 NJ 09
Malu (near locality & border area) 26 Giurgiu MJ 05
Nedeia 8 Dolj GP 25
32 MJ 78
Orlea 13 Orlea KJ 84
Ostrovul Arcalia area (Danube shore) 4 Dolj FP 65
Ostrovul Kama-Dinu (river island) 25 Giurgiu MJ 04
5 Dolj FP 75
23 Teleorman LJ 93
24 Teleorman LJ 94
Potelu 12 Olt KJ 74
7 Dolj GP 16
10 Dolj KJ 65
Slobozia (near locality; fishpond & border area) 27 Giurgiu MJ 15
Suhaia (fishpond & border area) 19 Dolj LJ 54
17 Teleorman LJ 24
Vedea (near locality & border area) 25 Giurgiu MJ 04
Vedea river (area of confluence with the Danube) 22 Teleorman LJ 83
19 Teleorman LJ 54
8 Dolj GP 25
Zimnicea (ruinele) 21 Teleorman LJ 63
September), Chiciu (near & O UDúL, 18 September),
Chirnogi (25 April), Ciuperceni (near Turnu
0 JXUHOH, 21 September), Corabia (27 April),
' EXOHQL (pond in the locality and former duck-farm;
27 April), 'XQ UHQL (27 April), Giurgiu (25 April),
*ROHQ L (27 April), Gostinu (20 September), Iazurile
&LRF QHúWL (fishpond; 19 September), ,H]HU& O UDúL
(fishpond; 19 September), Islaz (25 October), Lake
* O XL (southern end; 19 September), 2OWHQL D (25
April), 3LHWULúX (near village; 20 September), 3LHWULúX
(Danube shore area 11 October), Potelu (27 April),
6 UDWD (27 April), Suhaia (26 April), Turnu 0 JXUHOH
(26 April), Turnu 0 JXUHOH (confluence of Sîi river
and the Danube; 27 April), 9LLúRDUD (21 September).
8. The Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis) was recorded
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the pond near the industrial area; 19 September), Malu
(near Danube shore; 20 September).
9. The Green Lizard (Lacerta viridis) was
recorded at Calafat (27 April), Chirnogi (19
September), Corabia (Sucidava archaeological site, 27
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toward Zimnicea; 20 September), Islaz (mainland-shore
of the Danube in the vicinity of the island Ostrovul Mic;
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village; 11 October), Nedeia (27 April), Orlea (25
October), Ostrovul Arcalia area (mainland-shore of the
Danube in the vicinity of the island; 27 October),
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the vicinity of the island, 27 October), Potelu (27 April),
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near the fishpond and near to Danube shore; 11 October),
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10. The Balkan Wall Lizard (Podarcis taurica) was
recorded at Bujoru (bridge over Vedea river, 20
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(zootechnical farm; 25 October), Giurgiu (near the
bridge toward Zimnicea; 20 September), Gostinu (20
September), Gura Padinii (area near to the Danube shore;
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118
village, 11 October), Malu (area near the Danube
shore; 20 September), Malu (near the village, 11
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(mainland-shore of the Danube in the vicinity of the
island; 27 October), Potelu (27 April), Slobozia (dams
at the fishpond near to the locality, 11 October), Suhaia
(lake and area near Danube shore; 21 September),
Vedea river (area of confluence with the Danube; 11
2FWREHU9LLúRDUD6HSWHPEHUDQG=LPQLFHDUXLQV
near Danube shore; 21 September),
11. The Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
was observed only at Giurgiu (at the ruins of fortress;
20 September)
12. The Grass Snake (Natrix natrix) was recorded
at Corabia (2000.IV.27 April), ' EXOHQL (former duck-
farm; 27 April), 6 SDWD (27 April), Iazurile &LRF QHúWL
(19 September), Bujoru (near the bridge over Vedea
river; 20 September), Suhaia (dam near the Danube
shore; 21 September), 9LLúRDUD (21 September),
3LHWULúX (dam near the Danube shore; 11 October),
Vedea river (area of confluence with the Danube; 11
October), Balta Arcear (pond near Ciupercenii Noi; 27
October), %LVWUH (lake, 27 October).
The areas placed between the dam and the Danube
shore have a good general ecological status. Most of
the sites are undisturbed, providing proper conditions
for amphibians. Practically all the species are common
ones in this region. We assume that even the newts are
more common than it could suggest the limited number
of records.
Three species of amphibians, cited in the literature
as species occurring in this region, were not found by
the author during the investigations. The Agile Frog
(Rana dalmatina) was probably not recorded because
of the limited time we had to survey the area. The other
two species have secretive life (the Common Spadefoot
- Pelobates fuscus, the Eastern Spadefoot - Pelobates
syriacus), being difficult to observe during day-time.
The Eastern Spadefoot has been previously recorded in
IHZVLWHV% FHVFX)XKQ)XKQ
The Balkan Wall Lizard (Podarcis taurica) and the
Green Lizard (Lacerta viridis) are the most common
reptiles in the region. Green Lizards occurred in more
than half of the investigated sites. The Balkan Wall
Lizards were frequently met in the western half of the
target region, meanwhile the Sand Lizards (Lacerta
agilis) were observed only in the eastern part of the
target region.
Among the reptiles there are two species that have
not been recorded previously from this area. The
Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis) is known to
occur only in Banat, southern Transilvania and
Dobrogea. The record site from Giurgiu is at huge
distance from the closest known record site in Romania
(e.g. Canaraua Fetii from Dobrogea). The other species
not mentioned before in this area is the Green Lizard
(Lacerta viridis). This is probably due to the scarce (if
any) faunistical investigations carried out in the sites
placed in the vicinity of the state frontier.
Three species of reptiles, previously known in this
region, were not observed during the investigations. These
species are the European Pond Terrapin (Emys orbicularis),
the Dice Snake (Natrix tessellata) and the Large Whip Snake
(Coluber caspius).
CONCLUSIONS
During our field investigations we have observed 7
species of amphibians and 5 species of reptiles living in the
areas placed in the close vicinity of the Danube river. Two
species have not been previously mentioned in the target
area. This new records increase to 18 species the regional
herpetofaunistical list.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author is indebted to Dr. Nichersu Iulian for making
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some of the bibliography.
REZUMAT
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.DUDPDQ R EURDVF  QRX  SHQWUX IDXQD 5HSXEOLFLL
3RSXODUH5RPvQH&RPXQLF ULOH$FDGHPLHL535WRPXO
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]RRJHRJUDILFH OD VWXGLXO DPSKLELLORU úL UHSWLOHORU GLQ
5RPkQLD $5 ± 0HPRULLOH 6HF LXQLL ùWLLQ LILFH 6HULD
,,,WRP9,,SDJ±%XFXUHúWL
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JHRJUDILF úLHFRORJLDúRSvUOHLGHLDUE Lacerta taurica
3DOODV vQ 5RPkQLD 6W úL &HUF %LRO 6HULD =RRORJLH
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9. )8 + 1 , 9$1&($ ùW  ± 5(37,/,$
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]RQD ' EXOHQL%HFKHW MXG 'ROM Ocrot. nat. med.
înconj.WRPQUSDJ±%XFXUHúWL
AUTHOR’S ADDRESS
ZSOLT TÖRÖK - Institutul 1D LRQDO GH Cercetare úL
Dezvoltare “Delta 'XQ ULL´ Str. Bbabdag nr. 165, 8800
Tulcea, România, e-mail: torok@indd.tim.ro