Wczesną wiosną przez trzy kolejne lata (2009–2011) obserwowano w niewielkim oczku wodnym
w Gorcach larwy traszki górskiej Ichthyosaura alpestris (Laurenti, 1768) w zaawansowanych stadiach
rozwoju. Wskazuje to jednoznacznie na zimowanie larw traszki pod lodem i jest pierwszym
bezpośrednim potwierdzeniem tego nietypowego zjawiska w Gorcach. Obserwacje te dostarczają
dowodów, że nawet niewielkie zbiorniki wodne mogą być ważnym miejscem życia i rozrodu chronionych
gatunków płazówOverwintering larvae of the Alpine newt Ichthyosaura alpestris were observed in a small pond in the Gorce Mts
(Poland, 49°30′N, 20°08′E, elevation 900 m a.s.l.) in early spring of 2009–2011. Typically, larvae of this newt species
hatch from eggs in spring or early summer; after 3–4 months of development, they undergo metamorphosis and
leave the aquatic environment. In certain conditions, however, especially in lower temperatures, the larvae may
be unable to achieve a sufficient stage of development to leave the ponds before winter. In Poland, the presence
of non-metamorphosed larvae of the Alpine newt were reported in several montane water reservoirs in late
autumn and early spring (Świerad 1988, 2003), but there was no direct evidence of this phenomenon in the
Gorce Mountains. Observations presented in this paper prove that overwintering of Alpine newt larvae occurs
also in this area and this unusual phenomenon may regularly take place in the aforementioned pond. Moreover,
seemingly insignificant, small water reservoirs (about 1 m in diameter; less than 1 m of depth) may be a valuable
habitat for protected amphibian specie
