Ichthyosaura (Mesotriton) Alpestris Low Altitude Population from Poiana Rusca Mountains, Western Romania, Another Apuseni Mountains Scenario?(Report‪)‬

Byline: Covaciu-Marcov Severus-Daniel , Ilies Alexandru , Bogdan Horia-Vlad, Cicort-Lucaciu Alfred-Stefan and Ferenti Sara - Emial: scovaciu@uoradea.ro Abstract.- Ichthyosaura alpestris was encountered for the first time ever at low altitudes in the western region of the Poiana Rusca Mountains. The species comes down to 208m a.s.l., being present in forest habitats. On the eastern side of the massif, I. alpestris is absent from low altitudes and it is rare even at normal altitudes. The presence of these populations at low altitudes in a region found at the limit of sub-Mediterranean influences is explained by the existence of a glacial refuge for I. alpestris in this area, which migrated very little to the east afterwards, due to the massif's particularities. Thus, the presence of low altitude I. alpestris populations from the Poiana Rusca Mountains is similar with that from the Apuseni Mountains, being determined by the same factors.