Fauna of the Republic of Armenia

The

Republic of Armenia is distinguished by the exceptional richness and diversity of its animal world, the abundance of endemic, relict, and rare species, and is regarded as one of the most remarkable regions of the Caucasus in terms of faunal diversity.

The fauna of the republic comprises more than 17,000 animal species. Vertebrates are represented by 536 species, including 83 mammals, 353 birds, 53 reptiles, 8 amphibians, and 39 fish species. The number of invertebrate species exceeds 11,000. Many animals are endemic and occur exclusively within the Armenian Highland and adjacent territories. These include the Armenian wild sheep (mouflon), the bezoar goat, the Caucasian pheasant, the Armenian horned viper, and others.

The endemic animal species of Armenia belong to several zoogeographical groups: the Caucasian group (Shelkovnikov’s tree frog, Caucasian black grouse, etc.), the Lesser Caucasus group (Darevsky’s viper, most species of rock lizards), the Eastern Caucasus group (Transcaucasian spotted lizard, striped lizard), the Atropatene–Eastern Armenian group (Armenian mountain-steppe viper, Armenian eirenis, Radde’s viper, Dall’s sand gerbil), and the Armenian Highland group (Chernov’s naked-eyed lizard, black-throated thrush, wild turkey, Armenian gull, and others).

Relict species of the republic’s fauna include six species of mollusks: Troshel’s snail (Bithynia trosheli), the keeled ramshorn snail (Planorbis carinatus), the column snail (Columella columella), the narrow whorl snail (Vertigo angustior), the Bulgarian orculella (Orculella bulgarica), and the compressed pea mussel (Musculium strictum). Among amphibians, the common newt (Triturus vulgaris) is considered relict, while among birds these include the velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca) and the boreal owl (Aegolius funereus).

Armenia lies within the Palearctic subdivision of the Holarctic zoogeographical realm, at the junction of three major provinces: the Iranian, Asia Minor, and Caucasian provinces.

The Iranian province encompasses the foothills adjacent to the Kura–Arax lowland, the subtropical zone of the Meghri region, and the extreme northeastern areas of the country. Characteristic representatives include the Persian toad-headed agama and the golden trachylepis (reptiles), the rufous-tailed wheatear and the Iranian penduline tit (birds), as well as the Dall’s sand gerbil and the mouflon (mammals), among other species.

Typical species of the Asia Minor fauna are found in the semi-deserts of the Araks Valley and in the mountain steppes of Shirak, Lori, and the Sevan Basin. Representatives of this province include the Asia Minor newt and frog (amphibians), the Asia Minor lizard, and Schmidt’s whip snake (reptiles).

The Pontic–Caucasian faunal complex covers the northern and northeastern regions of the republic, as well as the southern forested areas of Zangezur and the entire high-mountain zone. Its characteristic species include Darevsky’s viper and most rock lizards (reptiles), the griffon vulture and the Caucasian black grouse (birds).

In the central regions of the republic, species of Near Eastern and Mediterranean origin predominate, while a number of species of Eurosiberian origin are also present.

The distribution of animal life generally corresponds to the zonation of vegetation belts. However, due to the mobility of animals, many species occur in almost all natural zones (hare, brown bear, fox, wolf). The predominant part of the republic’s fauna is adapted to the warm and arid conditions of foothills and middle-altitude mountains characterized by semi-desert and dry steppe landscapes.

Armenia serves as an important crossroads of migration routes for nomadic animals and migratory birds. The landscape diversity shaped by mountainous relief, a well-developed river network, and the presence of major water bodies facilitates the movement of migratory birds and large mammals, thereby contributing to the development and preservation of high biodiversity. Migratory species include swallows and cranes, while seasonal movements are characteristic of the mouflon and the leopard.