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Wildlife Of Armenia
The wildlife of Armenia includes, in addition to plants, wild boars, porcupines, various lizards, snakes and numerous species of birds. Endangered species living in Armenia are the Caucasian bear, Caucasian bearded goat, the Armenian mouflon (sheep) and the leopard. Fauna Fauna in Armenia is diverse given the country's relatively small size, owing to the varied habitats created by the area's mountainous terrain. Armenia is an important area for migratory animals, about 350 different bird species were recorded in the country. Many of the world's domesticated animals originated in or near Armenia, and the mouflon, the ancestor of domesticated sheep, is present there. Research suggests that about a quarter of the animal species in Armenia are internationally endangered. The mouflon is suffering a great population decline due to poaching and habitat loss, and the Sevan trout, which once made up thirty percent of the fish in Lake Sevan, have virtually disappeared. Southern and sout ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sevan Trout
The Sevan trout (''Salmo ischchan'') is an endemic fish species of Lake Sevan in Armenia, known as ishkhan (իշխան, ) in Armenian. It is a salmonid fish related to the brown trout. The fish is endangered, because various competitors were introduced into the lake during the Soviet period, including common whitefish (''Coregonus lavaretus'') from Lake Ladoga, goldfish (''Carassius auratus'') and narrow-clawed crayfish (''Astacus leptodactylus''); and because of lake level change. On the other hand, the Sevan trout itself has been successfully introduced to Issyk Kul lake in Kyrgyzstan. A resolution by Armenia's Council of Ministers in 1976 stopped the commercial fishing of Sevan trout and organized Sevan National Park. The fish are nowadays also reared in hatcheries. The Sevan trout has fourGabrielyan, B.K. (2001An annotated checklist of freshwater fishes of Armenia ''Naga'' vol. 24, 23–29. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Long-eared Hedgehog
The long-eared hedgehog (''Hemiechinus auritus'') is a species of hedgehog native to Central Asian countries and some countries of the Middle East. The long-eared hedgehog lives in burrows that it either makes or finds and is distinguished by its long ears. It is considered one of the smallest Middle Eastern hedgehogs.Qumsiyeh, M. B.. (1996Mammals of the Holy Land Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock Texas. pp. 64–66 . This hedgehog is insectivorous but may also feed on small vertebrates and plants. In captivity they can live for over 7 years. Since the long-eared hedgehog is naturally parasite prone and can carry diseases as bad as plague, it is highly recommended that, if kept as a pet, it should be purchased from a respected dealer. Wild hedgehogs have been found to carry ''Rhipicephalus sanguineus'', the brown dog tick, which can transmit Boutonneuse fever. Description The length of the head and body of the long-eared hedgehog is approximately 120–270 mm, and the t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Karabakh Horse
The Karabakh horse ( az, Qarabağ atı) is a mountain-steppe racing and riding horse breed. It is named after the Karabakh region, from which the breed originates. The breed is noted for its good temperament and speed; in 2004, a Karabakh horse named Kishmish from an Aghdam stud farm covered in and in . The Karabakh is thought to be influenced by Persian horses and the Akhal-Teke, Kabarda, Turkoman and Arabian breeds, and it influenced the development of the Russian Don during the 19th century. It is bred primarily in Azerbaijan's Shaki region. The breed numbers below 1,000, and it is threatened with extinction. History The Karabakh region was known for the quality of its horses; the classical historian Strabo describes the Armenian province of “Orchistene" as supplying the kingdom with the "most cavalry." According to some sources, tens of thousands of horses with golden-chestnut coloring (characteristic of Karabakhs) were seized by the Arabs during their eighth- and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Greek Tortoise
The Greek tortoise (''Testudo graeca''), also known commonly as the spur-thighed tortoise, is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. ''Testudo graeca'' is one of five species of Mediterranean tortoises (genera '' Testudo'' and '' Agrionemys''). The other four species are Hermann's tortoise (''T. hermanni''), the Egyptian tortoise (''T. kleinmanni''), the marginated tortoise (''T. marginata''), and the Russian tortoise (''A. horsfieldii''). The Greek tortoise is a very long-lived animal, achieving a lifespan upwards of 125 years, with some unverified reports up to 200 years. Geographic range The Greek tortoise's geographic range includes North Africa, Southern Europe, and Southwest Asia. It is prevalent in the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus (from Anapa, Russia, to Sukhumi, Abkhazia, Georgia, to the south), as well as in other regions of Georgia, Armenia, Iran, and Azerbaijan. Evolution The oldest known definitive fossil is from the Early Pliocene of Greece, but sp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
European Otter
The Eurasian otter (''Lutra lutra''), also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia. The most widely distributed member of the otter subfamily (Lutrinae) of the weasel family (Mustelidae), it is found in the waterways and coasts of Europe, many parts of Asia, and parts of northern Africa. The Eurasian otter has a diet mainly of fish, and is strongly territorial. It is endangered in some parts of its range, but is recovering in others. Description The Eurasian otter is a typical species of the otter subfamily. Brown above and cream below, these long, slender creatures are well-equipped for their aquatic habits. Their bones show osteosclerosis, increasing their density to reduce buoyancy. This otter differs from the North American river otter by its shorter neck, broader visage, the greater space between the ears and its longer tail. However, the Eurasian otter is the only otter in much of its r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eumeces Schneiderii
''Eumeces schneiderii'', commonly known as Schneider's skink or the Berber skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Central Asia, Western Asia, and North Africa. There are five recognized subspecies. Etymology Both the specific name, ''schneiderii'', and one of the common names, Schneider's skink, are in honor of German zoologist Johann Gottlob Theaenus Schneider.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . ("''Eumeces schneideri'' ic, p. 237; ''Eumeces schneiderii zarudnyi'', p. 293). The subspecific name, ''barani'', is in honor of Turkish herpetologist İbrahim Baran. The subspecific name, ''zarudnyi'', is in honor of Russian zoologist Nikolai Zarudny. Description ''E. schneiderii'' has the following characters: Head moderate; snout short, obtuse. Nasal rather large, usually divided, in contact with the two anterior upper ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eastern Imperial Eagle
The eastern imperial eagle (''Aquila heliaca'') is a large bird of prey that breeds in southeastern Europe and extensively through West and Central Asia. Most populations are migratory and winter in northeastern Africa, the Middle East and South and East Asia. Like all eagles, the eastern imperial eagle is a member of the family Accipitridae. Furthermore, its well feathered legs mark it as a member of the subfamily Aquilinae. It is a large, dark-colored eagle, with a resemblance to other members of the genus '' Aquila'' but it is usually the darkest species in its range.Forsman, D. (1999). ''The raptors of Europe and the Middle East: a handbook of field identification''. London: T & AD Poyser. This is an opportunistic predator that mostly selects smallish mammals as prey but also a fairly large proportion of birds, reptile and other prey types, including carrion. Compared to other ''Aquila'' eagles, it has a strong preference for the interface of tall woods with plains and other op ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Common Spoonbill
The Eurasian spoonbill (''Platalea leucorodia''), or common spoonbill, is a wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The genus name ''Platalea'' is from Latin and means "broad", referring to the distinctive shape of the bill, and ''leucorodia'' is from Ancient Greek ''leukerodios'' "spoonbill", itself derived from ''leukos'', "white" and ''erodios'' "heron". In England it was traditionally known as the "shovelard", a name later used for the Northern Shoveller. Taxonomy and systematics A study of mitochondrial DNA of the spoonbills found that the Eurasian spoonbill is sister taxon to a clade containing the royal and black-faced spoonbills. The Eurasian spoonbill has three subspecies: * ''P. l. leucorodia'' – Linnaeus, 1758: nominate, occupies all the range except as below. * ''P. l. balsaci'' – Naurois & Roux, 1974: found on the islands off the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania. * ''P. l. archeri'' – Neumann, 1928: found on the coasts of the Red Sea and Som ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eurasian Brown Bear
The Eurasian brown bear (''Ursus arctos arctos'') is one of the most common subspecies of the brown bear, and is found in much of Eurasia. It is also called the European brown bear, common brown bear, common bear, and colloquially by many other names. The genetic diversity of present-day brown bears (''Ursus arctos'') has been extensively studied over the years and appears to be geographically structured into five main clades based upon analysis of the mtDNA. Description The Eurasian brown bear has brown fur, which ranges from yellowish-brown to dark brown, red-brown, and almost black in some cases; albinism has also been recorded. The fur is dense to varying degrees and the hair can grow up to in length. The head normally is quite round in shape and has relatively small rounded ears, a wide skull and a mouth equipped with 42 teeth, including predatory teeth. It has a powerful bone structure and large paws equipped with claws that can grow up to in length. The weight varie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Armenian Rock Lizard
''Darevskia armeniaca'', commonly known as the Armenian lizard or the Armenian rock lizard, is a parthenogenetic (unisexually breeding) species (or form) of '' Darevskia'', a genus of lizards belonging to the family Lacertidae, the wall lizards. ''Darevskia armeniaca'' is native to the Armenian Highland. Geographic range It is found in northeastern Turkey, northern and northwestern Armenia, southern Georgia, and western Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of t .... Gallery File:Armenischegebirgseidechse-01.jpg, Armenian rock lizard References Further reading * Méhelÿ, Lajos von. 1909. ''Materialien zu einer Systematik und Phylogenie der muralis-änlichen Lacerten. Annales historico-naturales Musei nationalis Hungarici, Budapest'' 7 (2): 409–621. ('' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Armenian Gull
__NOTOC__ The Armenian gull (''Larus armenicus'') is a large gull found in the Caucasus and the Middle East. It was formerly classified as a subspecies of the European herring gull (''L. argentatus''), but is now generally considered to be a separate species, although BirdLife International lumps it with the yellow-legged gull (''L. michahellis''). Description The Armenian gull is a fairly large gull species, though it is on average the smallest of the "herring gull" complex. It can range from , from across the wings, and weighs from . Among standard measurements, its wing chord is , its bill is and its tarsus is .''Gulls of North America, Europe, and Asia'' by Klaus Malling Olsen & Hans Larsson. Princeton University Press (2004). . They are superficially similar to yellow-legged gulls but are slightly smaller with a slightly darker grey back and dark eyes. The area of black on the wingtips is more extensive with smaller white spots. The bill is short with a distinctive blac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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