Fauna аnd Distribution оf Mammals оf the Stavropol Region

Introduction. Mammals are of great practical importance for humans as hunting species, agricultural pests, carriers of especially dangerous infections. Only in Stavropol region, about 20 species from three orders (rodents, insectivores and hares) are known as carriers and reservoirs of such dangerous diseases for humans as plague, tularemia, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever. The last generalizing publication on the mammals fauna of Stavropol region was made in 2000. It contains 89 taxa of the species rank. Since then, both qualitative and quantitative changes have taken place in the mammalian fauna of the region. In addition, the taxonomic status of a number of species has been revised.

Materials and methods of research. The list of mammals of Stavropol region was compiled on the basis of our own long-term research and analysis of literary sources in accordance with modern systematic views on this group of animals.

Results. In total, 90 species of mammals belonging to six orders have been reliably registered on the Stavropol region territory so far: insectivores – 9 species, bats – 19 species, lagomorphs – 1 species, rodents – 35 species, carnivores – 19 species and artiodactyls – 7 species. We did not include a number of species in the list due to the unreliability or lack of their findings in the region as such.

Conclusions. In addition to the previously published list, we provide 9 new species (Myotis davidii, Plecotus macrobullaris, Pipistrellus nathusii, Sylvaemus witherbyi, Sylvaemus ponticus, Microtus rossiaemeridionalis, Procyon lotor, Neovison vison, Capreolus pygargus). Eight species are alien to the region’s fauna (Sciurus vulgaris, Ondatra zibethicus, Marmota bobac, Nyctereutes procyonoides, Procyon lotor, Neovison vison, Capreolus pygargus, Cervus nippon).

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