The dwarf bat, also known as common pipistrelle and Pipistrellus pipistrellus, lives in caves in the western Carpathian mountains. The bat has chestnut brown hair on its back with lighter brown hair on its belly. The bat has only a 1- to 2-inch long head and body, making it one of the smallest bats in the Carpathians. Dwarf bats mate in spring, summer and fall, with most mating taking place in September and November. The maximum known age of a dwarf bat is 12 years. Dwarf bats have become more rare due to agricultural chemicals and loss of habitat, according to the University of Bristol.
The black goat, also known as Rupicapra rupicapra, lives for up to 18 to 20 years throughout the Carpathian Mountains in Northern Romania. The black goat is on the verge of extinction, according to the European Habitats Directive. Black goats live at high altitudes in rocky, steep areas. Male and female black goats have black, straight horns that turn backward at the tip. The horns grow a new ring during the summer, which indicates the age of the goat. The black goat's coat changes from dark brown in summer to light gray in winter. Hunting and loss of habitat have edged the black goat toward extinction.
The alpine leek, also known as Allium victorialis or the victory onion, lives in the northern portion of the east side of the Carpathian Mountains. Damp mountain forests and subalpine meadows provide a pristine habitat for the Alpine leek. The plant is widely used in Romania in dressings, with greens and as a measure to prevent scurvy due to the plant's high vitamin C content. Alpine leeks are perennials that grow from bulbs attached to a slanted root underground. The plant produces smooth, flat, broad leaves and white, puffy, chive-like flower heads atop slender, smooth green stems. Alpine leeks blossom from May to July and produce fruit from July to August.
