Fauna



Invertebrate animals

In Zlatni Pyasatsi Nature Park are found 621 species of invertebrate animals.
There are 37 species of Molluscs, mainly terrestrial prosobranch gastropods and pulmonates. The Leeches (Hirudinea), Crustaceans (Crustacea), Arachnids (Arachnida) and myriapods (Myriapoda) are represented partially, with no more than 30-40% of the species of these taxa.
There are 150 species of beetles found in the park, and between them are the protected species – stug beetle (Lucanus cervus) and Long-Horned Beetle (Morimus asper funereus).
The true fly species are about 140, belonging to 11 families. The most numerous families of them are Limoniidae and Tachinidae.
There are 14 Bulgarian endemics (Zebrina varnensis, Cicindela hybrida rumelica, Larinus bulgaricus, etc.), 12 Bulgarian endemics (Bulgarica varnensis, Metrioptera oblongicollis, Argoptochus markovensis, etc.), 7 species are listed in the Bern Convention – Hirudo medicinalis, Helix pomatia, Lucanus cervus, etc.; 6 species are in the Council Directive 92/43/EEC – Lucanus cervus, Osmoderma eremita, Lycaena dispar, др.; 8 species are CORINE species – Helix pomatia, Calosoma sycophanta, Morimus funereus, etc. There are 4 preglacial relics and 4 protected invertebrate species (Hirudo medicinalis, Helix lucorum, Helix pomatia and Lucanus cervus) in the Park. There are 3 species of butterflies with conservatin status – Lycaena dispar, Scolitantides orion and Melitaea trivia.
As total, there are 44 species of invertebrates with conservation status in the Park.

Amphibians and Reptiles
In Zlatni Pyasatsi Nature Park occur 11 amphibian species, among them Smooth Newt (Triturus vulgaris), Agile Frog (Rana dalmatina), European Tree Frog (Hyla arborea). The amphibian species in the Park represent 60% of the amphibian fauna in Bulgaria.
The reptiles in the Nature Park are 19 species, among them Common Tortoise (Testudo graeca ibera), Balkan Wall Lizard (Podarcis tauricus), Caspian Whip Snake (Coluber caspius), Grass Snake (Natrix natrix). The reptiles that occur in the Patrk represent 53% of the reptiles living in Bulgaria.

Birds
Over 120 bird species occur at the park territory. The breeding birds in the park are 86 species, of which 46 are resident birds. Among the birds that are all year round in the Park are the Jay (Garrulus glandarius), the Blackbird (Turdus merula), Robin (Erithacus rubecula), Great Tit (Parus major), Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) and Great Spotted Woodpecker (Picoides major).
The migratory birds that occur in the Park are 72 species, including those that use the Via Pontica migratory way just above the Park.
In the Nature Park nest, but winter elsewhere the species Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus), Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Nightingale (Luscinia megarynchos), Semi-collared Flycatcher (Muscicapa semitoprquata).
Of the 86 breeding bird species in the Park 72 species are protected by the Bulgarian Law of Biodiversity.

Small Mammals
In the Nature Park are found 27 species of small mammals. The insectivorous mammals are 7 species, among them European Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) and European Mole (Talpa europaea). The Rodents are 20 species – Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), Forest Dormouse (Dryomys nitedula), Black-bellied Hamster (Cricetus cricetus), etc. In the Park’s territory live 64% of the species small mammals in Bulgaria.

Bats
In the Nature Park occur 12 bat species of all the 33 species in Bulgaria. From the Horseshoe bats occur Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) and Greater Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum). The Vesper bats are presented in the Park by Myotis myotis, Myotis bechsteinii, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis daubentonii, Nyctalus noctula, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Pipistrellus nathusii, Eptesicus serotinus and Plecotus austriacus. Permanent residents are Rhinolophus hipposideros, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Nyctalus noctula and Miniopterus schreibersii. All bats in the Park are protected species.
The artificial galleries in the park may be considered as an Important Bat Underground Habitat in Bulgaria with a national importance.

Big Mammals
In Zlatni Pyasatsi Nature Park live 14 species big mammals, of which 11 species are carnivores and 3 species are even-toed ungulates. Among carnivores are species like Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Stone Marten (Martes foina), and Wild Cat (Felis sylvestris). The even-toed ungulates in the Park are Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), European Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) and Red Deer (Cervus elaphus).