Black Proteus
Proteus anguinus parkelj (photo: G. Aljančič).
This morphologically most distinct of all Proteus populations,
discovered in 1986, is limited to the cave system behind just ten karst springs in
Bela Krajina, southeastern Slovenia, an area encompassing less than 30
km2. The black Proteus is indeed highly endangered; even a
relatively small local pollution incident could have a devastating impact on the
entire population, and thus its global existence.
Since 2002, seven of these extremely rare amphibians are maintained and studied in this laboratory. Support for an ex situ breeding program is urgently needed.
see Media:
Črna človeška ribica [The black olm]. M. Recek et al., O živalih in ljudeh, RTV Slovenia/ TV Maribor, May 4, 2013 (watch from 7:10)
Original project and laboratory records. Dates and historical terminology are retained.