Animals of the Stavropol Territory are truly unique and numerous creatures. Zoologists have calculated: over 8 species of amphibians, 12 species of reptiles, 90 species of various mammals and more than 300 species of all kinds of birds inhabit this territory. Some of them are listed in the Red Book. Let's talk about this in more detail.
Jerboas
These small and funny animals are found in the Stavropol Territory in large quantities. They can be seen in the forest-steppe and desert zones. They move quickly, jumping on their hind legs. Zoologists were surprised when they learned that these harmless creatures are capable of speeds up to 50 km / h!
Many animals of the Stavropol Territory are quite intelligent creatures, while jerboas are also very cautious. Almost always lead a solitary lifestyle. They contact their relatives only during the breeding season. These are omnivores. Both plant and animal foods are included in their diet: bulbs, roots, herbs, insects, bird eggs.
Reed cat
The fauna of the Stavropol Territory is rich in its special cats - reeds. One of them even has the honor of decorating the Novosibirsk Zoo. In nature, these creatures prefer to stick to thickets, prickly shrubs, reeds and sedges. In a word, any dense vegetation near water bodies attracts them.
Reed cats do their best to avoid open areas, so you will not find them in the steppes and deserts of the Stavropol Territory. Like any predators, they feed on everything that moves and is smaller than themselves. Their favorite foods are small rodents, birds, and small reptiles.
Eared hedgehog
The famous eared hedgehog tramples over the land of the Stavropol Territory from the day of its existence. You can meet it not in the forests, but mainly in the steppe and semi-desert pastures. As you know, hedgehogs belong to the class of insectivorous animals, which means they feed on ants, bugs, worms, etc. By the way, eared hedgehogs are animals of the Stavropol Territory that have adapted to endure the high temperatures of this climate zone.
What is the Red Book of the Stavropol Territory?
This is the name of the official document, which contains information about the state, distribution and measures taken to protect rare and endangered representatives of the fauna world, various wild animals and wild mushrooms and plants that live and grow in the area. Plants and animals of the Stavropol Territory are systematized and described in the Red Book on subspecies, species, and their populations. Let's consider some of them.
Hamster Radde
This animal is recognized as an endangered species. It lives in dry cereal and mixed grass steppes, and also inhabits mountain steppes located at altitudes from 1500 to 2500 meters above sea level. Radde hamsters have a body length of up to 28 centimeters. They prefer to settle on already developed lands, especially in fallow lands. Avoid forests and flooded meadows.
Steppe pestrus
These animals of the Stavropol Territory belong to the family of hamsters and the family of parsley. The body length of the steppe pestle does not exceed 12 centimeters. Her eyes and ears are also small. Outwardly, it resembles gray voles, yellow parsley and Eversmann hamsters, but differs from them in a characteristic dark strip on the back. Inhabits the Turkmen, Arzgir, Ipatovsky, Petrovsky and Blagodarnensky districts of the Stavropol Territory.
Caucasian European Mink
This is a subspecies of the well-known European mink. It is widespread in the Caucasus, in the Lower Don region and the Lower Volga region. You can meet her in nature on small rivers and streams. It feeds exclusively on animal food: fish, frogs and newts, near-water rodents, insects. It has a beautiful and practical fur. This, in fact, ruined her: man almost completely exterminated this beast.
Steppe ferret
The animals of the Red Book of the Stavropol Territory are numerous and diverse creatures, and we will not be able to tell you about each of them in the framework of this article. Therefore, we end our review with a story about the steppe ferret. In its habits and appearance, it is very similar to its fellow forest ferret, but it is slightly larger and brighter than it. Body length ranges from 30 to 60 centimeters. It lives in the Primanych steppes of the Stavropol Territory.