Nature » Fauna

Reptiles

Twelve different species of reptiles live in the Park. Up to 1,000 meters of altitude, the Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis), the Green Lizard (Lacerta bilineata), and the Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis) can be found. Despite living above the tree limit, the Viviparous Lizard (Zootoca vivipara) ends its hibernation already in February. Among the most common snakes there are the Dark Green Snake (Coluber viridiflavus), the Aesculapian Snake (Elaphe longissima), the Grass Snake (Natrix natrix), and the Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca). Less common is the Dice Snake (Natrix tessellata). Moreover, two poisonous snakes must be mentioned: the Asp Viper (Vipera aspis) and the Adder (Vipera berus). They live at the edge of woods, in clearings, among shrubs, near stony grounds. They spend the winter in a state of latency, or hibernation, which they interrupt in spring, when they start mating. After three or four months 10 -12 babies are born. In the eastern section of the Park, and especially in the areas immediately outside the Park, the rare Nose-horned Viper (Vipera ammodytes) lives.