Shumen Plateau Nature Park (excluding mosses). The faunal species reported consist of 350 invertebrates and more than 240 vertebrates. The mammals recorded are: badger ("Meles meles"), beech marten ("Martes foina"), fox ("Vulpes vulpes"), red deer ("Cervus elaphus"), roe deer ("Capreolus capreolus"), wild boar ("Sus scrofa") and soforth. There are also several species of avifauna. The reptile species reported include Aesculapian snake ("Elaphe longissima"), European green lizard ("Lacerta viridis"), Hermann's tortoise ("Testudo hermanni"), horned viper ("Vipera ammodytes"), spur-thighed tortoise ("Testudo graeca"), and wall lizard ("Podarcis muralis"). Animals, which are under different protection categories, reported in the park are: black woodpecker ("Dryocopus martius"), Eurasian eagle-owl ("Bubo
Meles (genus) Primorskii. Genetic studies of mitochondrial DNA shows the separation of two variants on either side of the Volga but their exact taxonomic rank remains undefined. A further study of cheek teeth from individuals across the entire range supports this division and provides confirmation that "M. meles" and "M. anakuma" are indeed separate species. A further species is "Meles thorali" from the late Pleistocene, known only from fossil remains, specimens of which have been found at Saint-Vallier, Drôme, in southeastern France and Binagady, in Azerbaijan. These have large cheek teeth and characteristics intermediate between "M. meles" and "M. anakuma". It is