The Biology of the Species
The proteus is the only cave-dwelling vertebrate in Europe. Two sub-species of proteus reside in Slovenia: white proteus (Proteus anguinus anguinus Laurenti 1768), which represents the dominant part of the population and black proteus (Proteus anguinus parkelj Sket & Arnzten 1994) found in Bela krajina. In the Kočevje region we can find the white proteus and according to the latest genetic research it represents a separate species of proteus (Gorički 2006) together with the Bela krajina region and Krka river basin localities. The white proteus is a salamander and its 20cm to 30cm long body makes it the largest cave-dwelling vertebrate in the world. The body is snakelike with two pairs of legs. Long tail surrounded by a thin fin is adapted for swimming. The skin contains no pigment. Only larvae have normal eyes which later regress. The whole body is light sensitive. The senses of touch, smell and taste and probably also of hearing are well developed. It breathes using external gills and rudimentary lungs. It feeds on smaller water animals and is also resistant to long-term starvation. Its lifespan is up to 100 years. It reaches sexual maturity at 14 years while retaining the larval features. It lays up to 70 eggs and the embryonic development takes up to five months.
Habitat
It is a dweller of underground water that flows under the Dinaric Karst. The unpolluted water rich in oxygen with a slightly acidic pH and a temperature between 5 to 15°C is crucial for them to thrive.
Threats
The main threats are posed by all forms of Karst pollution (e.g. intensive farming, industrial and municipal waste and emissions, urbanisation, illegal landfills) in areas which influence groundwater and swallow-hole streams.
Distribution
This amphibian is endemic to the Dinaric region. Multiple proteus habitats are known in the Kočevje region but the key habitat is the groundwater which flows in the hinterlands of the Rakitnica spring, Rinža under the Strojna and Velika Gora, and also the Kočevsko polje basin itself as well as the underground water streams which flow towards the springs in the Krka and Kolpa valleys.
Conservation status of the species in the SCI Kočevsko: unfavourable (2013 report)
After the Second World War a high population density of proteus was recorded in the Kočevsko polje basin: Jama v Šahnu cave – more than 100 specimens, Vodna jama pri Klinji vasi cave – 4 specimens per square meter. The negative influences of pollution were first detected after the year 1960. The liquid manure discharges from a pig farm in the Klinja vas village and concentrated spilling of slurry from cow stables in the wider surrounding area of Kočevje (Cvišlarji, Mlaka, Koblarjeva, Livold, Koprivnik, etc.) completely destroyed the populations living in the groundwater flowing on the edge of Kočevje coal basin (Jama v Šahnu cave, Vodna jama cave, Vodna jama pri Klinji vasi caves 2 and 3). The Željske jame caves were also heavily degraded by the Rudniški potok stream which largely filled them up with the mud from coal screening process. A bad ecological status was also recorded for Rinža river (ARSO 2010) and consequently also for its swallow-hole streams. The groundwater quality is further degraded by numerous polluted caves at the edge of Kočevje Karst field.
Project activities
The project actions are aimed towards improvement of the favourable state of the proteus habitat. In the first phase we will analyse the existing condition of the species’ habitat in the key cave habitats of Kočevje polje basin by inventorying the cave fauna, analysing the groundwater quality and recording the cave pollution. We will record the main pollutants of groundwater and try to establish communication with them. If necessary, we will encourage inspection control. This will be followed by cleaning four polluted caves; by setting up physical barriers in them and on additional locations we shall try to prevent the future pollution of these caves and raise awareness among people about the importance of protection of nature, waters, and the Karst underground world.
Protection status
Protected species. The red list classifies it as a vulnerable species.
Habitat type: Karst caves which are not open for the public
HT Features
The entire Karst world of the Kočevska region within the Natura 2000 Kočevsko site represents a living habitat to many cave-dwelling animal species and is classified as a habitat type. There are over 600 Karst caves registered in the area concerned, among which predominate corrosive chasms. Collapse dolines and ice caves are also typical for Dinaric crests on Kočevsko-ribniško polje, as well as water caves in the Krka and Kolpa river valleys. As structures important from the aspect of cave biodiversity, the following caves are recorded as localities inhabiting the proteus and Leptodirus hochenwartii which stand out according to the number of species of cave-dwelling organisms. Below are also listed all larger cave shelters of bats.
Key localities:
Eleonorina jama (cave), Jama treh bratov pri Verdengu (cave), Jama treh bratov pri Kočevju (cave), Jelovička jama (cave), Kobiljača (cave), Ledena jama pri Kunču (cave), Lukova jama pri Zdihovem (cave), Mrzla jama pri Ložu (cave), Ledena jama v Fridrihštanjskem gozdu (cave), Veliki Zjot (cave), Jazbina (cave), Čaganka (cave), Lobašgrote (cave), Bilpa (cave).
Threats
The main threats are posed by all forms of Karst pollution (e.g. intensive farming, industrial and municipal waste and emissions, urbanisation, illegal landfills) in areas which influence groundwater and swallow-hole streams.
Conservation status of the species in the SCI Kočevsko: unfavourable
We recorded extensive negative impact on habitat type: namely manure discharges from a pig farm in Klinja vas as well as excessive and concentrated spilling of slurry from cow stables in the wider surrounding Kočevje area (Cvišlarji, Mlaka, Koblarji, Livold, Koprivnik, etc.) and entirely flooded Željnske jame with mud from the coal screening process following the year 1960, bad ecological status of the Rinža river (ARSO 2010) and consequently also its swallow-hole streams as well as numerous caves polluted with different kinds of waste on the edge of the Karst field. Consequently, the cave fauna water habitat is locally strongly damaged and destroyed.
Project activities
The project actions are aimed towards improvement of the favourable state of the proteus habitat. We shall perform an analysis of the existing condition of the habitat of the species in key cave habitats of Kočevje polje by inventorying the cave fauna, analysing the groundwater quality and recording the cave pollution. We will hereby record the main pollutants of groundwater and try to establish communication with them and encourage inspection control. This will be followed by cleaning of four polluted caves. By setting up physical barriers in them and on additional locations we shall try to prevent the future pollution of these caves and raise awareness among people about the importance of protection of nature, waters, and the Karst underground world.