Due to its wet nature, the Ljubljansko barje has always been known for frogs and other amphibians. The water that stagnated in the lower-lying areas provided them with an adequate habitat for successful reproduction. The surrounding grasslands, bushes and forests provided them with a suitable terrestrial habitat, in which they lived for the rest of the year. Even today, the Ljubljansko barje continues to be one of the most important areas for amphibians in Slovenia. Three quarters of all Slovenian species can be found here.
Amphibians are among the most endangered animal groups in the world. All 20 Slovenian species are protected. When we hear the word “amphibians”, we immediately think of frogs. But not every frog is a frog! They share their living space with their “cousins”: toads and tree frogs. A more distant relative includes urodeles whose body shape somewhat resembles lizards. Among them are newts and salamanders, and the proteus can also be found in individual springs of the Ljubljanica in the western part of the Ljubljansko barje.
I invite you to enter the magical world of amphibians through The Frog Alphabet! Choose a letter. Find its tablet and learn the term associated with amphibian life. The text will guide you along the path to a true connoisseur.
A race against time
Amphibians begin their life’s journeys as aquatic animals. Spring and summer droughts often lead to the destruction of their spawn and larvae. Species that need more time to develop or reproduce in the warmer part of the year are particularly sensitive. These include the Italian crested newt, the largest newt species in Europe.
The survival of amphibian larvae does not only depend on sufficient quantities of water. Many hungry mouths are preying on us, we are threatened by the elements, sometimes there is a lack of oxygen in the water or we run out of food. Diseases also threaten us from time to time. According to some estimates, out of 100 eggs, only two successfully develop into an adult animal! Those specimens which finally succeed are quite lucky. And this is also the reason why they have called me Srečko (The Lucky One).
Check out what a typical year in the life of a Italian crested newt is like! Spin the wheel and see what it does during your visit.
The activity of amphibians and their development depends on weather and other conditions. The timeline shown is a simplified representation, which may deviate from the actual state of affairs in nature.
January: Italian crested newts usually overwinter on land. Suitable overwintering places can be more than a kilometre away from their favourite pool.
February: During the first thaw, the large Italian crested newt travel to the spawning areas at the same time as other amphibians. In favourable weather conditions, almost all representatives of this species travel there almost at the same time. In the case of intermediate cooling and drought, the migration takes place over a longer period of time.
March: In the event of a long, cold and dry winter, amphibian overwintering ends as late as in March. At that time, the Italian crested newts travel to the spawning area together with other amphibians.
April: Italian crested newts mate in water. The male drives other males away from his territory and courts the females. It performs a special mating dance. Males dress in wedding attire for the mating process. They grow a jagged dorsal ridge, and a bright streak appears on their tail.
May: Adult animals spend most of their time at the bottom of the pool. They only travel to the surface for air. Females carefully wrap their eggs individually in a leaf of a floating or submerged aquatic plant. These soon hatch into larvae.
June: Small larvae are easy prey for aquatic predators, especially fish. They hide from them in dense vegetation. During this period, the adult animals begin to leave the pools and move onto the land, where they spend the rest of the year.
July: Larvae of the Italian crested newts grow quickly. They enjoy feeding off water fleas, mosquito larvae and other aquatic invertebrates. Meanwhile, adult animals look for food in the surroundings of their terrestrial hiding places.
August: The larvae metamorphose. In doing so, their feathery gills become stunted, and their lungs grow in their place. Young animals have a noticeable yellow stripe down the middle of their back. Soon they will be ready for life on land.
September: Young Italian crested newts leave the pools. Adult animals stock up for the long winter. They especially like earthworms and snails.
October: Time to move! Italian crested newts, old and young, find a suitable place for overwintering. This can be a crack in a rock, a crevice under a root, or a hole in the ground. Some young animals can also spend the winter in their pool.
November: At low temperatures, Italian crested newts become numb. They can break their overwintering when there is a thaw, but when the weather cools down again, they return to an inactive state.
December: Italian crested newts are waiting for spring in their overwintering places. Even in case of possible thaws, they do not eat during this time.