What is the meaning of the word "balcanica"?
Name "balcanica" (adjective meaning "Balkan's" in translation) is used in names of (not only) Balkan taxons (Rana balcanica,
"Vipera aspis balcanica", fish Sabanejewia aurata balcanica, dragonfly
Calopteryx splendens balcanica, herb Pinguicula balcanica, ...) so it is not concerning only herpetofauna (to get know sense of this see next chapter).
Creation conditions, sense
Creation of this websites originated in demand of the first authors to transparently aggregate locality records and photos from their
voyages on the Balkan peninsula. It is paradox, that although we (Czechs) are not Balkan nation, Balkan peninsula was and propably
still is most frequently visited by Czech herpetologists and terrarists. We take it that we should not forget to this fact, qualify
by historical, language, price and distance reasons and to underestimate necessary of saving and recording data from these voyages.
Balkan peninsula is still not herpetologicaly explored and can give new discoveries. Balkan peninsula is also (in compare with the Iberian
and the Apennine peninsula in framework of the Europe) area with highest number of species and endemism of the herpetofauna.
Our aim is to create compex web as for the beginers and the generals (section basic species info), as for the specialists with ability
to contribute or to find here appropriate articles, authentic locality data records, literature index, sources and other necessary information
about amphibians and reptiles of the Balkan peninsula.
Content management system and registration
When it makes sense to register?
Our content management system enables to insert locality records and their corresponding photos on-line directly by its authors who want to start with mapping of Balkan herpetofauna.
So it does not make sense to register if you have no observations of amphibians and reptiles from Balkans!
Registration is authorized by redactors, so wait for activation e-mail for further info. After that you will be able to login and to start inserting records and photos. The reason is to prevent spambots penetrate content management system as valid author. Thansk for understanding.
Properties of content management system
Insert your e-mail used during registration into "login" form. In case succesfull login the frame around box of user get orange.
Our content managemenst system enables:
- insert locality records (items: taxon, date of find, region, locality, detailed info about locality, GPS position, altitude, comments)
- insert photos of taxons/localities (and to connect them to respective locality record)
- edit profile info and change password
- show your locality records via interactive Google Maps
- download your records into Excel spreadsheet, so you can use it out of Balcanica
All maps are automatically generated. So it was neccesary to use special angle-appearance map where terrestrical coordinates responds to rectangular system of coordinates. In this type of mapping are lengths and surfaces out of focus. So there are quadrates only in sence of degrees, not in sence of real lenght, e.g. in kilometres.
In practice every locality finds has its own terrestrical latitude and longitude. According to this are maps filled by green quadrates and by clicking on them are displayed appropriate locality finds.
Origin of Balcanica.cz
2004 - April/May, first talking-to about creation of web pages (then more broadly intended in European herpetofauna)
originated somewhere on rails in eastern Bohemia during travel by train to meeting of Czech Herpetological Society in
Destne in Orlicke Hory Mountains.
2005 - November/December During Enthomological stock exchange in Station of Young Natural Historians in Ostrava-Poruba
in terraristic room was designated name Balcanica and orientation of future web pages.
2005 - 10.12. activated first developing version of Balcanica.cz on freehosting web of one of authors.
2006 - 12.2. definitive decision to use MySQL database for easier administration of localities and web pages
2006 - 14.2. domain balcanica.cz registrated together with hosting
2006 - 22.2. created almost definitive appearance of web pages, first co-authors contacted