Transylv. Rev. Syst. Ecol. Res. 5, (2008), "The Maramureş Mountains Nature Park" 189 THE CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF HERPETOFAUNA IN THE MARAMUREŞ COUNTY AND THE MARAMUREŞ MOUNTAINS NATURE PARK, (MARAMUREŞ, ROMANIA) Dan COGĂLNICEANU *, Raluca BĂNCILĂ **, Ciprian SAMOILĂ * and Tibor HARTEL *** * “Ovidius” University Constanţa, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mamaia Boulevard 124, Constanţa, Constanţa County, Romania, dan_cogalniceanu@yahoo.com, cip@greenmap.org ** “Emil Racoviţă” Institute of Speology, The Romanian Academy House, 13 Septembrie Street 13, Bucharest, Romania, RO - 050711, bancila_ralucaioana@yahoo.com *** “Mircea Eliade” College, 1 Decembrie 1918 Street 31, Sighişoara, Mureş County, RO - 545400, Romania, asobeka@yahoo.com KEYWORDS: Romanian Carpathians, Maramureş, inventory, mapping, amphibian, reptilian, area of occupancy. ABSTRACT We documented and then updated the geographic range of herpetofauna from the Maramureş County based on historical and present data and on our own inventory data. A total of 25 species (14 amphibians and 11 reptiles) were recorded in the area. We further examined the species conservation status by applying three cartographic measures and a relative area of occupancy index. The species were roughly ranked in a similar way according to all indices. We found that the most rare and potentially threatened species were Rana arvalis, Coronella austriaca and Natrix tessellata. We suspect that the lack of suitable habitats and ecological specialization are the causes of their increased vulnerability. The indices tested by us proved adequate for detecting vulnerable amphibian and reptile species, and could serve as a simple but effective tool in species conservation. RESUME La distribution de l’herpetofaune du département de Maramureş et du Parc Naturel Montagnes de Maramureş (Maramureş, Roumanie). Les données sur la distribution de l’herpetofaune du département de Maramureş et du Parc Naturel Montagnes de Maramureş proviennent de la littérature et notre inventaire. En total 25 espèces sont présentes dans la région, dont 14 amphibiens et 11 reptiles. Nous avons estime le statut de conservation en appliquant trois mesures cartographiques et un indice relatif de l’aire occupe. Les espèces ont été hiérarchise similairement par rapport a tout les indices utilises. Les plus rares et possiblement menaces espèces sont Rana arvalis, Coronella austriaca et Natrix tessellata, probablement a cause due manqué des habitats propice. Les indices utilises sont utiles pour identifier les espèces vulnérables et peuvent servir comme instruments simples et efficaces pour décider les priorités en conservation.