Motto: Nature and legend  in the region of Hercules

 

Weather now in Herculane:

 

 

 

        

     

            The first data regarding the fauna (especially insects and birds) of the Domogled-Cerna Valley National Park, appeared as a succession of the research carried out by Johann Centurius von Hofmannsegg from Dresda, in 1794.

            Due to biogeography, biologic, and climatic conditions, the national park preserves a very interesting and rich fauna. There are numerous scientifically valuable species.  Some are unique in the country and worldwide; the park especially excelling in the diversity of insects.

            The national park is characterized with a high biodiversity regarding the butterfly fauna.  More than 1,500 species are concentrated here, including 45 % of Romania's Lepidoptera species. A large number of the butterfly species are endemic, such as: Lampronia aeripenella, Brevantenia banatica, Eupithecia domogledana, Melicta athalia mehadiensis.

            Presently, the studied invertebrates have been represented by some very rare species, emphasizing the park originality.

            From among the vertebrates, the birds have been studied more closely.  Still, the results and data are incomplete. The bird fauna is diverse and rich. As an outcome of the research regarding the bird species, the following facts were established:

-        species with meridional origin are present (Mediterranean and Indo-African),

-        the forest avifauna has a specific character, being distinguished in the general characteristic of the Carpathian ornithological fauna,

-        the lower limit of the mountainous species habitat has values less than the known ones in the Carpathian mountains.

            The following are strictly protected species of birds in the park: Apus melba, Coracius garrulus, Cinclus cinclus, Oenanthe hispanica, Emberiza citrinella, etc.

            The reptiles within the national park can be found both in the alpine and nemoral areas, the latter containing more species. Among these exist protected and endemic species, such as: Vipera ammodytes, Testudo hermanni, Lacerta vivipara, L.muralis,Natrix tessellato, Vipera berus etc.

            The amphibians inside the natural protected area are represented by the following species: Triturus alpestris alpestris, Bombina variegata, Salamandra salamandra, Bombina bombina, Rana dalmatina.

            For the aquatic vertebrates, the park is home to these species: Salmo trutta fario, Thymallus thymallus, Barbus barbus.

            Wild mammals have their habitat deep in the forests, mostly in the Cerna basin. This area is characterized by a great richness of important mammals within Europe, such as: Ursus arctos, Lynx lynx, Rupicapra rupicapra etc.

            Bat guano is very well represented in one of the national park's thermal caves – Adam's cave. Here we can find the thickest accumulation of bat guano from all Romanian caves (3 m thick, accumulated from different bat species but primarily from Rhinlophus euryale).

            The geographic, climatic and habitat conditions in the Domogled-Valea Cernei National Park have made possible the existence of a diverse and large amount of fauna.