The fauna of Georgia is represented by various zoogeographic elements with a predominance of Mediterranean, Caucasian, European and Central Asian representatives of the animal world.
Content
Introduction
Large mammals such as a bear , wolf , fox , red deer , roe deer , and wild boar are common in Georgia’s ecosystems. On the verge of extinction is a leopard , considered a species that disappeared in the Caucasus and was again discovered by Georgian zoologists in 2001 [1] . The striped hyena and gazelle are also on the verge of extinction. In the XX century, the Black Sea monk seal and the Turanian tiger finally disappeared, but new species appeared (were introduced), such as the raccoon-striped raccoon (North America) and the raccoon dog (Far East), as well as the subspecies of the common squirrel - the tele-squirrel.
In the alpine and subalpine zones, two types of tours are characteristic: Dagestan and Caucasian , which are found in the highlands of the Greater Caucasus and are endemic to the Caucasus .
Near the Georgian sea coast from mammals, 3 species of dolphins are found - the white - barrel , bottlenose dolphin and porpoise . In addition, in 1939, a white-bellied seal was recorded near Batumi . Among marine fish, there are, among others: sharks, stingrays, beluga, Russian and Atlantic sturgeons, Black Sea salmon, hamsa, herring, sea dogs, flounders, fish needles, seahorses and others.
Biodiversity
Vertebrates
- The Mammals class in Georgia has more than 109 species.
- Bird Class - more than 330 species.
- Types of birds: pink starling , Persian nightingale , steppe hazel grouse , mountain partridge , pheasant , Caucasian black grouse , mountain turkey , quail , bustard , strep , Caspian Ular , Turoch , peregrine falcon , steppe eagle , burial eagle , marsh eagle , common spotted eagle , common eagle buzzard , cheglock , vulture , eagle owl and others.
- The reptile class in Georgia has 52 species, including 3 species of turtles, 27 species of lizards and 23 species of snakes (of which 3 species of snakes and 12 lizards are endemic to the Caucasus). List of species.
- The Amphibian class is represented by 13 species (one species of tree frog, 3 species of toads, two representatives of the genus True Frogs and Garlicfishes, one salamander and 4 species of newts). List of species.
- About 84 species of freshwater fish , as well as 6 introduced species, were found in the waters of Georgia.
- Types of fish: trout , Black Sea salmon , Atlantic sturgeon , pike , bream , ram , roach , rudd , asp , colchis podust , temples, colchis barbel , Caucasian chub , common carp , pike perch , river perch , eel and others.
Invertebrates
Georgia has over 11,000 species of invertebrates.
- Arthropods - over 9,150 species.
- Insects - over 8,230 species.
- Arachnids [2] .
Georgia Red Book
In some areas of Georgia (in Khevsuretiya and Tusheti ) there is a bezoar goat , which, as an endangered species, is listed in the Red Book of Georgia. Of the other animals, the Red List of Georgia includes: Atlantic sturgeon , Caucasian salamander , Asia Minor Newt , Caucasian cross , Caucasian viper , Aesculapius snake , Mediterranean tortoise , bustard , strep , Caspian Ular , Caucasian black grouse , Peregrine Falcon , steppe eagle , burial eagle , turach , Caucasian mink , dressing , striped hyena , gazelle .
In the 19th century, bison lived in Georgia (the latter was killed in the 20s of the 20th century), beaver, monk seal, Caspian tiger . In the historical period, there were also Asian lions and tours . The last specimen of the Caucasian elk was killed in 1810 . To preserve the rare fauna of Georgia, nature reserves have been established (Lagodekhi, Borjomi, Saguramsky, Ritsinsky, Kintrishsky and others).
Fossil Fauna
Elephants, rhinos, kabaloid horses, wolves, bears, lynxes, leopards , deer , roe deer , fossil goats , primitive bulls and hamsters , and the remains of a large bird, presumably from the ostrich order, were found in the paleofauna of Dmanisi of the Paleolithic era. Dmanisi lake sediments, faunal remains and stone objects date back to 0.53 ± 0.20 Ma. Ph.D. era. [3]
The Dmanisi settlement became most famous after the discovery of Homo georgicus , (Russian: Georgian Man ), an extinct species of people.
Georgia Animal Lists
- List of reptiles of Georgia
- List of Amphibians of Georgia
- List of Ants of Georgia
See also
- List of National Parks of Georgia
Notes
- ↑ Fauna of Georgia: Leopard Returns
- ↑ Caucasian Spiders "CHECKLISTS & MAPS" Archived February 11, 2009.
- ↑ Introduction // Essays on the History of Georgia = Essays on the History of Georgia. T. I / Editors: Valid member of the Academy of Sciences of the GSSR G. A. Melikishvili, Dr. ist. Sciences O.D. Lordkipanidze. Reviewers: Dr. East. Sciences M.P. Inadze, Dr. ist. Sciences A. Khantadze. - 2nd ed. - Tbilisi: Metsniereba ", 1989. - T. I. - S. 224. - 500 p. - ISBN 5-520-00498-6. Archived January 11, 2012. Archived January 11, 2012 on the Wayback Machine
Literature
- Barach G.P., Fauna of Georgia, vol. 1 - Freshwater fish , Tbilisi , 1941.
- Vereshchagin N.K., Mammals of the Caucasus , M.-L. 1959.
- Dinnik N.Ya. Animals of the Caucasus , Tiflis , 1914.
- Zhordania R.G. Ornithofauna of the Lesser Caucasus , Tbilisi , 1962.
- Muskhelishvili T.A. Reptiles of Eastern Georgia , Tbilisi , 1970.
- Satunin K.A. Mammals of the Caucasus region , vol. 1-2, Tiflis , 1915-1920.