AMPHIBIANS and REPTILES Hall in Regional Natural History Museum - Plovdiv

   The exposition of the Natural History Museum presents Bulgaria’s great herpetological diversity through stuffed specimens of most of the species found in the country. 47 out of 56 reptiles and amphibians known in Bulgaria are exhibited in the exposition, representing 90 % of the total number of species.
   All representatives are of high conservation status. They are listed in the annexes of national and international nature conservation documents and agreements:
-Biological Diversity Act
-Bulgarian Red Data Book
-Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife, Natural Habitats (Bern Convention)
-Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora
-IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Convention on International
-Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
   The Hall is divided in several sections arranged in a taxonomical order. Among the indigenous amphibian and reptile species presented in the exposition, of particular interest are Alpine newt (Mesotriton alpestris), Red-headed whip snake (Platyceps collaris) Cat snake (Malpolon insignitus), and Leopard snake (Zamenis situla), which are some of Bulgaria’s rarest species. Other species, which have typical biology and are rarely found in the wild, are also presented. These are Eastern spadefoot (Pelobates syriacus), Turkish sand boa (Eryx jaculus), and European blind snake (Typhlops vermicularis). Venomous and non-venomous snakes are exhibited in separate vitrines, compared in a schematic juxtaposition.
   In addition, the exposition contains interesting and rare representatives of the herpeto-fauna that are not found in Bulgaria. The most interesting representative of the amphibians is the Olm (Proteus anguineus), inhabiting only a few karts caves in Croatia, while the most interesting reptile specimens are the 6 meter long Yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus), the Ball python (Python regius), the Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), and the Nilotic crocodile (Crocodilus niloticus), etc.