Endemics are organisms which can be found in specific part of the world compared to the cosmopolitan distribution. It is believed that there are several hundred endemic species of flora and fauna in BiH.
Science has so far registered only 6 species of Gaovica worldwide and 3 of them are from the area of east Herzegovina. They are: "Gatacka gaovica", "Popovska gaovica" i "Trebinjska gaovica" (Phoxinellus pstrossii ). The "Trebinjska gaovica" is classified under "Popovska" by some scientist.
According to some stories, this endemic fish species "Gaovica" was served to rich people and even was served in far Istanbul to its bright Sultan. Much was said about its good quality and that rejuvenating effect.
Even today, "Gaovica" inhabits caves and pits of Herzegovinian waters. It is a small fish long averagely about ten centimeters or less, but it has extraordinary taste and is pretty oily, so during its preparation there is almost no need for adding extra oil.
In the swamp Gromizelj, near Raca on the River Sava and Village Vela next to Bijeljina, "Umbra Kameri" was found, the rare fish that inhabits even water of Dnjepar and some watercourses in Slovakia and Hungary, among people also known as "Mrguda". "Umbra Krameri" is one of the oldest vertebrates on Earth. It originates from prehistoric times. It is lungfish. It can breathe more than ten hours out of water, and it can live in mud for months waiting for the favorable conditions for life and reproduction. According to the scientific literature it can reach a length up to fifteen centimeters. It has dark color and lives in waters of specific PH content such is in Gromizelj. Its population in this rusty swamp of Semberija is higher than in any other known swamp in Europe.
Graphic design: Ivan Kovalj
Final graphic processing: Bozidar Dosenovic and Nebojsa Dumic
Printing house: Poste Srpske, Banja Luka
