A Checklist of the Herpetofauna in the Bulgarian Part of Hadzhidimovo Gorge (South-Western Bulgaria)

The Bulgarian part of Hadzhidimovo Gorge (the Mesta River basin, south-western Bulgaria) was studied in March-October 2018 in order to collect data about the local herpetofauna. A preliminary checklist of the amphibians and reptiles is presented, based on bibliographic records and the field research. The list includes 25 species. The representatives of the class Amphibia are 8 (the half of them are new for the area), and the reptiles are 17 (5 of them are reported for the first time). The field records for all new species (except Pelophylax ridibundus complex) as well as for the most of the known species interesting from zoogeographic point of view are specified. It is of particular interest the discovery of Triturus ivanbureschi, Podarcis muralis, Ablepharus kitaibelii, and Platyceps najadum in the gorge.