| Vrtare Male | |
|---|---|
| Jama Vrtare male | |
 Vertebra of a mammoth found in Vrtare Male | |
  Location of Vrtare Male cave in Croatia | |
| Location | Dramalj, Croatia |
| Coordinates | 45°11′55″N 14°39′31″E / 45.19861°N 14.65861°E |
| Depth | 39 metres (128 ft) |
Vrtare Male is a pit cave located near Dramalj, a seaside village in Croatia. Its depth is believed to be 39 metres (128 ft), with around 10 metres (33 ft) submerged.[1] It was first explored in 1966 by the Mountaineering Society Velebit.[1] In 1996, Dragan Pelić, a photographer and spelaeologist from nearby Crikvenica, descended into the cave and found a rare Decapoda specimen, which was confirmed by Croatian spelaeologist Branko Jalžić.[2] This prompted further cave expeditions, starting in 2005, and the establishment of a protected area around Vrtare Male.[3]
The cave is home to the freshwater cave prawn (Troglocaris anophthalmus), endemic to Dinaric karst. Vrtare Male is part of the National Ecological Network of Croatia. It is registered under the code HR3000257, and potential for inclusion in Natura 2000.[4][5] In 2009, it was proclaimed a geological-palaeontological natural monument. The area under protection covers around 310 square metres (3,300 sq ft).[5]
- ^ a b Japundžić, Dražen. "Lion's Pit" (PDF). Crikvenica City Museum. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ^ "Top 10 prirodnih atrakcija Kvarnera - Dom dobrih dupina i bjeloglavih supova". Jutarnji list. 4 July 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ^ "Jama Vrtare male u Dramlju kod Crikvenice preventivno zaštićena". Public Institution Priroda, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ^ "Jama Vrtare male". Public Institution Priroda, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Geološko-paleontološki spomenik prirode - Jame Vrtare male (preventivna zaštita)". Public Institution Priroda, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. Retrieved 9 August 2015.