On the slopes of the Ural Mountains and on the plains of the Urals lies a vast territory, where the Republic of Bashkortostan is located. This area is famous for its abundance of rare and unique animals that miraculously coexist in the immediate vicinity not only from each other, but also from people. Human intervention in the quiet and measured life of the world of animals, unfortunately, caused them tremendous harm. Many species in this region are now considered rare or endangered. Today we will talk specifically about them, about the animals of Bashkortostan: unusual, unique, mysterious and listed in the Red Book.
A bit about the region
But before starting a conversation about animals of the Republic of Bashkortostan, it is worth saying a few words about the region itself. Note that the climate here is continental. The region has fairly warm summers, followed by cold winters.
The vast expanses of the steppes, mountains that protect from squally winds and bring down heaps of thick impenetrable fogs, groomed fields, impenetrable forests that appear almost in their original form, lakes and rivers - all this can be seen here, just by looking around.
Animals of Bashkortostan
In fact, the environs of the republic are inhabited by a huge number of animals: birds, fish, amphibians, but we will only talk about rare animals of Bashkortostan. It is worth noting that there are more than 70 species of mammals that live in the territory of the region. Among them: wolves, squirrels, minks, otters, moose, roe deer. They are familiar to many, even if only by name. And there are those that few have heard of:
- big-eared hedgehog ;
- muskrat;
- northern leather jacket;
- bat;
- night and evening;
- baibak;
- steppe pika;
- maral;
- bird burial ground.
The list of rare animals of Bashkortostan that are listed in the Red Book is far from complete, but even from it it becomes clear that the republic is really rich in unusual animals. Next, we will try to talk about each of these animals separately.
Long-eared hedgehog, muskrat and marmot: description and interesting facts
An eared hedgehog is practically no different from its counterparts, however, the name makes it clear that it has a certain feature. Yes, these are the hero’s big ears. Thorny creatures can be found all over the world, not only in Bashkortostan, but here they protect it and create comfortable living conditions. In the republic there are a huge number of reserves. An interesting fact about hedgehogs is that they have a special immunity to the poisons of some snakes and vipers. Although these small animals do not prey on creeping reptiles, they will not give themselves offense if attacked.
The desman has been listed in the Red Book for a long time, because a large number of animals were destroyed by hunters, chasing valuable mammalian fur. The desman is very similar to the mole, and they belong to the same family. An interesting fact is that she eats a quantity of food equal to her weight per day. This is a blind animal that can swim underwater.
Baibak is a huge representative of the squirrel family on planet Earth, belonging to the genus of marmots. His body can reach 60 cm in length, and weight - up to 10 kg. Baibaki truly unusual animals of Bashkortostan, the photo in the article fully confirms this.
Northern leather jacket, bat, night and evening
Next, we talk about unusual bats. For example, a bat is a flying predator smaller than a matchbox. This is the smallest representative of the bat detachment, and it weighs only 3 grams. Another specimen of the bats class is the night-lamp, which feeds on mosquitoes and flies. The evening party is a larger predator than the rest. Her body weight is 100 g, and the diet is the same as her predecessors - insects.
Northern leather jacket is a small bat that is not afraid of freezing temperatures, or rather it can easily sit out with a slight minus in its shelter. It is generally accepted that bats are predators, however, the skin is fed mainly by bugs and nocturnal butterflies.
An interesting fact that applies to all of the listed animals of Bashkortostan is the fact that these species of bats are very useful to nature: they destroy a huge number of insect pests.
Steppe pika, maral and poultry burial ground
The steppe pika is considered the smallest representative of the hare-like order, but this animal does not look like a hare, rather resembles a hamster, but belongs to the order of marmots. Pika is sometimes called a digger because of the constant desire to dig holes. Thus, it brings great benefits to the soil.
Maral is a red deer, which more than others is protected from poachers. The fact is that the horns of a cloven-hoofed handsome cost a lot of money, and in the pursuit of profit, hunters do not spare the animals themselves. A maral female carries a baby 8.5 months, which is a fairly long gestation period for mammals.
The burial ground is a huge bird of prey, which for a long time was called an ordinary eagle. Not so long ago, scientists discovered a certain feature: the love of a winged individual to be in close proximity to funerary mausoleums.
The listed animals of the Red Book of Bashkortostan are a miracle of nature, which should be preserved for future generations.