Herpetofauna of opencast mines is poorly known and no comprehensive research has been previously carried out in this field. On the example of Lower Silesia this study aims to investigate this fauna. Observations, conducted in 22 different opencast mines in the eastern, lowland part of Lower Silesia (SW Poland), resulted in identification of a total of 19 species (14 amphibian species and 5 reptile species). No differences in the species composition, taking into account the exploited minerals, were found but the herpetofauna differ slightly after dividing the opencast mines into sandpits and quarries. Some species were recorded exclusively either in sandpits or in quarries. We also found statistically significant differences in the composition of herpetofauna and separately amphibian species as taking into account the status of exploitation of opencast mines. One species occurred primarily in exploited mines and four only in abandoned ones. No statistical differences between the number of species in exploited, recently abandoned and long since abandoned opencast mines.
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