What animals live in the Crimea? Animals of Crimea (which live now and are listed in the Red Book - description) What types of animals are characteristic for Evpatoria

Fauna of the peninsula very varied. We already know that Crimea is divided into steppe and mountainous. And also the peninsula is washed by the Black Sea. In the sea depths of this peninsula live different kinds marine life.

The steppe peninsula is characterized by a wide distribution of various species of rodents. These include various types of hamsters and ground squirrels, as well as mice. These inhabitants cause great harm to grain crops. The fox, ferret and weasel, which also inhabit the steppe zone, are the enemies of these inhabitants. The common hare is also found here.

The steppe Crimea is very densely populated with birds, especially a lot of waterfowl, this is due to the presence of abundant food in this area. There is a bird sanctuary in the Karkinitsky Bay area, which has international significance... In total, about 230 bird species live here, or about 85 species nest. There are also various types of swans and herons. Several species of cranes live in the steppes.

Tit photo: alona779

Among birds of prey, the steppe eagle is very rare, which destroys a huge number of rodents. Starlings, titmice, finches, goldfinches settle in the forests.

From reptiles in the steppe zone occurs steppe viperwhich is poisonous. Of the lizards, there is a yellow lizard, a Crimean lizard.

Steppe viper photo: Giacomo Radi

In the mountainous Crimea animal world much more diverse than in the steppe. However, many years of human activity led to the fact that many species of animals disappeared forever.

Deer and roe deer, wild boar and foxes are permanent inhabitants of the Crimean forests. Rodents include squirrels and various types of mice. Some subspecies of badgers and marten have also survived.

The last wolf was killed over sixty years ago. Currently, wolves are not found in Crimea. Of the birds, there are titmouses, grouse jays, black vultures.

Black vulture photo: sharadagrawal931978

In the Black Sea off the coast of Crimea, there are a variety of marine life, including dolphins, who try not to swim to the coast and keep a decent distance from it. Only sometimes in the distance can you see a flock of swimming dolphins. Jellyfish, which can often be seen near the coast. Touching it can cause discomfort in the form of a burning sensation on the skin.

Various types of molluscs live off the coast of the Crimea. Small crabs and seahorses are among the inhabitants of the sea in the Crimea.

Among the fish, herring, flounder, sea bass, gobies, mullet and red mullet live here.

Every year the number of marine life decreases due to human activities.

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The fauna of the Crimea is a unique complex of various species, distinguished by high rates of isolation from a number of other geographically related faunas inhabiting the territories of the Caucasus, Ukraine and the Balkans. Today in Crimea there are both endemics and many representatives of rare or critically endangered animals.

Mammals

The mammalian class of Crimean animals includes representatives of six species of the order of insectivores, eighteen species of the order of bats, fifteen species of the order of rodents, seven species of carnivores, six species of artiodactyls and just a couple of species of lagomorphs.

Crimean red deer

The largest and most conspicuous inhabitant of the Crimean forests is distinguished by its slenderness, proud head planting and wide branched horns, which disappear annually in February or March. The average weight of an adult male of the Crimean red deer reaches 250-260 kg, with the height of the animal at the withers in the range of 135-140 cm. The lifespan of an artiodactyl mammal rarely exceeds 60-70 years.

Steppe polecat, or white polecat

A nocturnal mammal belonging to the genus and weasels from the marten family is the largest member of the genus. The average body length of the animal varies from 52 to 56 cm, with a mass in the range of 1.8-2.0 kg. Obligate predator has a high, but sparse hairline with a clearly visible and dense underfur light color... The animal is characterized by a dark color of paws and tail, as well as a very peculiar coloring of the muzzle.

Badger

Birds

About nine dozen species of Crimea birds are classified as rare, including such rather large predators as the steppe eagle, burial ground, vulture and black vulture. Among the Crimean birds, there is also a large number of songbirds.

Blackbird

A sedentary and migratory songbird. The length of an adult is a quarter of a meter, with an average weight in the range of 90-120g. Females have a brown coloration with light spots on the back. The males are characterized by black plumage. Birds settle in areas of mixed and broadleaf forests, on the territory of city parks and gardens, where these birds prefer to keep in pairs.

Pheasant

Males of this species are distinguished by very bright plumage, in which a gentle red color with black spots prevails. The beautiful feathers are complemented by a white ring at the neck. The female is characterized by a gray color with streaks. They differ from any other chickens by the presence of a long and pointed tail. Such a bird prefers to take off noisily and suddenly, vertically upward, after which it flies strictly horizontally.

Demoiselle crane

The Steppe Crane is the smallest and second most common crane. Such birds fly with a well-coordinated and clear "key", headed by the leader, who sets the whole rhythm of flight. The height of one of the most beautiful birds is approximately 88-89 cm, with an average weight of 2-3 kg. There is black plumage on the head and neck, and long tufts of white feathers are very clearly distinguishable behind the bird's eyes.

Pastor

Adults have a kind of crest on their heads. The wings, tail, head and neck of the bird are characterized by black coloration with the presence of a metallic shade. The rest of the plumage is pink. The natural habitat of the pink starling is open spaces with cliffs, stone clusters and rocky cliffs, where the bird has become numerous and quite common. Sometimes such birds settle in different cultural landscapes.

Common eider

Reptiles and amphibians

The Crimean peninsula is home to fourteen species of reptiles, including lizards, turtles and snakes. Six species of non-venomous snakes are represented by Copperhead, common and water snakes, four-striped snakes, leopard and yellow-bellied snakes. Only the steppe viper belongs to.

Crimean naked gecko

The small lizard is the rarest subspecies of the slender-toed Mediterranean gecko. A rare scaly reptile has a flattened body no more than 5 cm long and has a rather long tail. The color of the Crimean bare-toed gecko is represented by gray or sandy-gray tones. In addition to rather small scales, the sides and top of the gecko's body are covered with large oval-shaped tubercles.

Jellus

A peculiar legless lizard is completely devoid of its front legs, but has hind limbs, represented by two tubercles located next to the anus. The largest in size representative of the family reaches a length of one and a half meters, differs in a four-sided head and a pointed muzzle. The serpentine body, compressed from the sides, passes into a rather long and mobile tail.

Rocky lizard

A representative of the family Real lizards has a body up to 80-88 mm long. The upper part of the body has a green, brownish, sometimes olive-gray, dark sandy or ash-gray coloration. In the region of the ridge, there are a couple of small dark spots merging into characteristic stripes. On the sides of the body, there are dark and light stripes, and in the chest area of \u200b\u200bthe rocky lizard there are characteristic “blue eyes”.

Crimean lizard

One of the common varieties of wall oviparous lizards has a body within 20-24 cm long. The color of the lizard on top is greenish or brownish in color with a pair of longitudinal rows of dark spots. The belly area in adult males is yellowish or orange in color, while in females the lower body is greenish or white. The body is slightly compressed, turning into a long tail.

Agile lizard

Representatives of the species are distinguished by a light lower abdomen and the presence of stripes in the back. At the same time, males, as a rule, have a darker and brighter color, and also have a rather large head. The average length of an adult reaches 25 cm. This lizard received a very unusual name due to its ability to quite abruptly and quickly change the direction of its movement, which allows it to easily confuse its pursuers.

Swamp turtle

Fish

The ichthyofauna of Crimea is very diverse, and the fish that exist here are represented by species that live in the waters of the Azov and Black Seas, and also inhabit various fresh water bodies located on the peninsula.

Russian sturgeon

The representative of the sturgeon family has a living and anadromous form. The fish is distinguished by the presence of gill membranes, accreted to the intergill space with no fold, a short and rounded snout, and an interrupted lower lip. The body is usually covered with rows of stellate plates. The back area is characterized by a gray-brown coloration, and the sides are distinguished by a gray-yellow color.

Sterlet

Valuable commercial fish of the sturgeon family is a popular object of lake and pond breeding. Against the background of other members of the family, it enters the period of puberty at an earlier date, uses mainly mosquito larvae in its diet. It is assumed that the natural diet of females and males is markedly different, due to different environmental conditions.

Black Sea-Azov Shemaya

The representative of a very rare species from the family of cyprinids has an elongated and low body with lateral compression, the maximum length of which, as a rule, does not exceed 30-35 cm. The dorsal fin is noticeably carried back. The ray-finned fish is characterized by a pelagic type of color, has a dark green back with a bluish tint, as well as grayish fins.

Black sea herring

A representative of the herring family is distinguished by a running, laterally compressed body, the height of which is approximately 19-35% of the total length. The fish has a strongly pronounced keel, a low and narrow head, a large mouth with well-developed teeth that are noticeable to the touch. The color of the dorsal surface of the fish is greenish-blue, with the presence of a pronounced silvery-white coloration on the sides of the body.

Blacktip shark

The representative of the order of karhariniformes has a fusiform body, a short and pointed snout, rather long gill slits, and is also distinguished by the absence of a crest. Most individuals are distinguished by a black edging at the tips of their fins. The average length of an adult shark is one and a half meters. An active predator eats schooling small fish, and juveniles form clusters with size segregation.

Toothed grouper

The fish belonging to the Stone Perch family is characterized by a rather powerful body, the maximum length of which is 162-164 cm, with a weight in the range of 34-35 kg. In this case, the upper jaw of the fish extends beyond the vertical edges of the eye. A distinctive feature of the grouper is the presence of a rounded tail fin and a retractable upper jaw, which takes the shape of a tube in the process of opening the mouth.

Spotted wrasse

Medium-sized fish, has an elongated body and a long, pointed head. Males are noticeably larger than females. In the snout area there are thick and rather fleshy lips, and support for the long dorsal fin is provided by rigid rays located in the front part. The specific feature of the spotted wrasse is a very pronounced sexual dimorphism, as well as a change in color during the spawning period.

Mokoy

Representatives of the monotypic genus are distinguished by an elongated and slender body with long pectoral fins. The color of the upper body is blue, and the color becomes lighter on the sides, so the belly is almost white. The maximum body length of an adult blue shark exceeds three meters, with an average weight of 200 kg. The fish is distinguished by triangular and beveled teeth with pronounced serrations.

Black sea trout

Representatives of the salmon subspecies are found in resident and anadromous forms. A very valuable fishing object and popular in the conditions of sport fishing, the species is distinguished by its medium size and external characteristics that are standard for the class of Ray-finned fishes and the order Salmoniformes. The food base of the Black Sea trout consists of amphipods, as well as aquatic insect larvae and their adult aerial forms.

The fauna of the Crimea has been studied no less thoroughly than the flora.

The connection between uniqueness geographic location Crimea and the peculiarity of the fauna of the peninsula is no less obvious than for the flora, although the animals are more dynamic. In addition to the species typical for the nearby southern regions of Ukraine, we meet everywhere on the peninsula animals of the Mediterranean range. Many species or subspecies of animals are found, except for the Crimea, only in the Caucasus, the Balkans, and the islands Aegean or in Asia Minor, confirming the hypothesis of the existence of Pontida.

The hunting territories of some animals are measured in many kilometers, the animals are able to make long migrations, nevertheless, the Crimean fauna has many endemic species and subspecies. Finally, the uniqueness of the Crimean natural communities is confirmed by the "impoverishment" of the fauna - the absence of many species, which are very common for neighboring regions.

All of the above is an indisputable proof of the special principles and ways of development of the natural community on the Crimean peninsula.

The data of paleontology, the science of fossil organisms, show us that in ancient times the Crimea was inhabited by such heat-loving animals as giraffes and ostriches. Then, along with the glaciers, they were replaced by northern species, for example, arctic fox and reindeer. Even 10-12 thousand years ago, the Crimean fauna consisted of an amazing conglomerate of species of completely different spaces and times.

Alas, uniqueness comes at the highest price. In the event of unfavorable conditions, animals on a relatively small area of \u200b\u200bthe peninsula have nowhere to migrate, so they adapted to a unique habitat.

Animals are divided into invertebrates and chordates. The former are very primitive, the latter are perfect. Primitiveness is a very relative concept. The evolution of invertebrate ancestors did not end with the birth of vertebrate descendants. Many types of microorganisms appeared much later than the relatively young species of primates.

The coelenterates are often cited as a vivid example of the primitiveness of our evolutionary ancestors. Let's check if this is so, using the example of jellyfish - the most accessible representatives of this class.

Jellyfish lead two lives, and transmigration of souls for them is a constant practice. In one of their lives, they are a sedentary form - polyps attached to a solid substrate, close relatives of the builders of coral islands. Like all couch potatoes, polyps are not capable of the frenzy of passion and multiply by budding. Confirming the eternity of the conflict between "fathers and children", the sprouted offspring of polyps are born in the form of gelatinous formations well known to us. Experts call these forms "sexual". The gelatinous body of jellyfish has the shape of a bell or umbrella; squeezing it, the animal shows us the oldest example of a jet engine and moves in space, however, somewhat slower spaceships... At rest, jellyfish move at the behest of waves and currents. Along the edge of the body, the jellyfish are armed with tentacles with stinging cells that bite into the victim's skin and paralyze it. A person is not threatened with paralysis, but a meeting with some oceanic species of jellyfish can result in a serious burn. Most large jellyfish reach 2.3 m in diameter.

Animal psychologists who have studied the intellectual abilities of octopuses have come to the conclusion that their level is very high. This statement seems to be in some conflict with the statement about the "primitiveness" of another class of invertebrates - molluscs. In the water bodies washing the Crimea, alas, neither squids nor octopuses are found, but there is an abundance of their evolutionary relatives. On land and in fresh water bodies, there are quite a few snails, slugs, bivalve shells, and among the mollusks of the Azov and Black Seas, zoologists distinguish more than 200 species.

In Latin, shellfish means "soft". Quite often, mollusks hide their softness in a strong shell or in a bivalve shell. Undoubtedly, these are "good", "useful" animals. First of all, by the fact that they produce pearls for people. All bivalve molluscs secrete a special secret, a substance that turns into mother-of-pearl when solidified. In translation from German "mother of pearl" means "mother of pearls". If a foreign object enters the body of pearl mussels, then, being enveloped in nacre, it can become a pearl. Unfortunately, pearl mussels are mainly engaged in this commendable occupation in tropical waters.

Many molluscs attach themselves to rocks using strong, thin threads called byssus. This substance is a solidified secret of a special byssus gland. In ancient times, fine linen was made from the byssus of a mollusk - a strong silk-like, somewhat harsh fabric.

A very commendable property of molluscs from the point of view of many people is their edibility. Molluscs do not eat people, but they need something to eat. This aspiration is not encouraged in any way. For hunting slugs, humanity has come up with more traps than for catching tigers.

Crustaceans cannot be called primitive. As for their "usefulness", in their culinary properties many of them are in no way inferior to shellfish, especially when it comes to decapod crayfish, which include lobsters, lobsters, our freshwater crayfish, crabs and shrimps. These "healthy" animals occasionally bring a very pleasant variety to the everyday life of beer lovers.

There are 11 thousand species of centipedes on Earth. "Legs", or rather segments, these animals really have a lot: from 11 to 177, but, despite the abundance of "limbs", these animals are often very slow. The most common centipedes in Crimea are kivsaki-dark brown slow animals hiding under stones, dead wood or bark. Their only protection is the ability to hide and a rather pungent smell.

Scolopendra found in the Crimea also belongs to the class of centipedes. This predator hides during the day in approximately the same places as kivsaki, and is active only at night. Scolopendra is equipped with a powerful jaw apparatus and is poisonous. The bite of the Crimean scolopendra is quite painful, but absolutely harmless.

Representatives of the order of arthropods of the class of arachnids - phalanxes, or solpugs, also bite very painfully. About 600 species of these arthropods live in deserts or semi-deserts. The largest phalanx, moreover, the largest representative of the class of arachnids of Ukraine - the common phalanx reaches a length of 5 cm.There are also many legends about the venomousness of the phalanges, but we will hardly be able to prove their inconsistency on ourselves, since the animal is so rare that listed in the Red Book.

Scorpions are classified as arachnids. A scorpion bite is very painful (it injects venom through the hollow formations at the end of the tail). However, it is less and less possible to meet a scorpion in Crimea, and not at all because he is very prone to suicide, striking himself with a sting, but because many of us believe all sorts of fairy tales and fables and rush to trample a dangerous animal, forgetting that no one is given the right to destroy the harmony of nature. Even when it comes to ticks, really the most unpleasant for us, humans, representatives of the arachnid class.

However, according to some zoologists, ticks are not arachnids. One way or another, and there are no fewer of them from this - 3 thousand species are allocated only in Ukraine. Many of them spoil agricultural products, others do not directly touch people, and others have not come up with anything better than to feed on our blood. On Far East there are types of ticks that carry the causative agents of encephalitis. In Crimea, too, especially in spring, there are similar "aggressors", so after a walk in a mountain forest or spring yaila, examine your loved ones and "look around" yourself. Ticks do not tolerate heat well and are most active in spring and autumn.

We will complete the story of invertebrates in the class of insects. This is the most numerous class of the animal kingdom, numbering, according to the most conservative estimates, more than 800 thousand species. The Crimea is home to at least 12-15 thousand species of these most prosperous in the biological sense of the animals.

Insects are found everywhere on the peninsula: on desert salt marshes, rocks, in water bodies and on their banks, even in old apartments. Nevertheless, only a small part of what entomologists observe is within our field of vision. Zhukov, for example, entomologists in Crimea described at least 4,000 species, and a person far from biology is unlikely to be able to distinguish more than 100, or even 10 species. However, many people think it is quite sufficient to get acquainted with only one of the beetles who came to visit us from Colorado.

The most noticeable insects are butterflies, nevertheless, without special knowledge, skills and equipment, a tiny part of more than 2,000 species of Crimean butterflies appears to our eyes, since the majority of these insects have a modest camouflaging color or nocturnal activity.

Due to their large numbers and varied diet, insects play an extremely important role in natural communities. Only their tireless activity maintains the magnificent diversity of vegetation in various landscapes, without these little workers there would not be many vegetable, fruit and field crops. But even the most unpleasant order of insects for us - dipterans - all these flies, mosquitoes, mosquitoes, horseflies and gadflies cannot be considered "bad".

It is very unpleasant when a mosquito bite itches. It is unusually pity for a deer tormented by gadfly larvae, but as soon as some species of insects disappear, as soon as any species of birds or fish that feed on them or their larvae can disappear, and some fellow of the Colorado potato beetle, who was able to reproduce without hindrance in the absence of predators, it will turn out to be much more unpleasant for us and our economy than the itching from a mosquito bite mentioned above. Man constantly upsets the balance of nature, creates prerequisites for the excessive development of certain species by his activities, for example, by plowing the steppe, and then, instead of trying to restore the balance, upsets it even more.

The richest species composition of insects (entomofauna) in Crimea is observed on the southern coast, especially in its eastern part. Almost 75% of the Crimean insect species and most of the typical Mediterranean species are found here. Many Mediterranean species live in mountain forests, in the foothill forest-steppe and on the flat peaks of Yaila. Most of the endemic species are distributed in all these zones. Many types of insects steppe Crimea due to plowing, they survived only in point habitats with intact areas of steppe vegetation. Of the 173 species of insects listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, 104 live on the territory of Crimea.

Pisces belong to a higher evolutionary stage, to vertebrates. That is, they, like you and me, have a skeleton inside the body, and not outside. On fish, evolution introduced the construction of a skeleton from bone into practice, although the "worst" representatives of this class (sharks) and the "best" (sturgeons) appeared on Earth before Nature invented bone, and therefore have to make do with cartilage.

In fresh water bodies of the Crimea, 46 species of fish live, but only 14 of them are aborigines, primordially Crimean inhabitants. The remaining 32 species were acclimatized in one way or another. Only after the commissioning of the North Crimean Canal, crucian carp, carp, perch, pike perch (as a city), silver carp, grass carp and pike became common in fishing for fishermen. In Black and Azov seas there are about 200 species of fish. Many of them live in them permanently, others visit it "in transit", migrating through the Bosphorus. Some species make similar migrations annually, others - every few years, and others, such as swordfish, have been seen in isolated cases.

Not all fish species can make such journeys, since the relatively low concentration of salt in the Black Sea is detrimental to most Mediterranean species adapted to more salty water. The same can be said about the migrations of various species from the Black Sea to the more fresh Azov Sea or in the opposite direction.

Now the reader and I will have to leave the abyss of waters, as amphibians, otherwise called amphibians, did about 225 million years ago. For such a long time, it would seem that it is possible to adapt to life on land, but amphibians have not completely overcome some of the habits of their dark evolutionary past: they reproduce only in water to hatch from eggs and serve a certain period of their life as tadpoles. Amphibians are divided into tailed (newts) and tailless (toads, frogs). Both are represented on the territory of Crimea by six species, the most common of which are the lake frog and the green toad, and the toad is found even in semi-desert areas, hiding in deep burrows during the day, and going out to hunt for insects at night and after rains. The tree frog (tree frog) and the crested newt are common in the mountain-forest part of the Crimea, and the red-bellied toad and the common toad can be found only in the plains.

Many of us are inadequate about amphibians, and there are reasons for this attitude. First, amphibians vaguely resemble reptiles, many of which are poisonous. Secondly, the skin of many species of toads is poisonous, and if you eat a toad raw, you can get poisoned, which sometimes happens to small predators and dogs. It is quite possible that fear of poisonous animals, like other instincts, accumulates in the memory of generations and is transmitted genetically. On the other hand, a reasonable person must overcome this fear, as we overcome the fear of the dark in childhood. Many Romanesque peoples have overcome this fear and with great pleasure eat frog legs, in no way, however, eating raw toads.

The stereotyped reasoning about the "usefulness" of amphibians, eating "bad" insects, frankly, set the teeth on edge with their meaninglessness. Amphibians also eat "good" insects with great pleasure, because they do not distinguish food in this way.

The only poisonous of the 14 species of Crimean reptiles - the steppe viper is found in the lowland and foothill regions of the peninsula so rarely that it is included in the Red Book. "Reliable" statements about the toxicity of other species inhabiting the peninsula are actually prejudices, alas, much more tenacious than the species included in this "black list", primarily the yellow-bellied snake, four-striped snake and leopard snake. In addition to the listed snakes, two species of snakes and a copperhead live in the Crimea. The only species of turtles, the marsh turtle, inhabits mainly mountain reservoirs, but sometimes descends along river beds quite far into the steppe regions. Of the six species of lizards, the Crimean, nimble and rocky ones are quite numerous.

Birds, or, as experts say, the "avifauna" of the Crimea, have more than 300 species. Almost 65% of them nest on the peninsula, 5% (17 species) winter here, the remaining 30% are migratory.

The largest birds on the peninsula are the gray crane, demoiselle crane, bustard, little bustard, swans, geese and large predators: snake eagle, steppe eagle, osprey, dwarf eagle, burial ground, white-tailed eagle, golden eagle, vulture, black vulture, griffon vulture , Saker Falcon, Peregrine Falcon and Owl. Sometimes pelicans are seen in Crimea. Almost all large birds are rare. Mountainous areas have chosen the main number of species as their habitat, especially on the plateau of the Main Ridge and on the borders of the plateau and forest. Avifauna is very rich in mixed floodplain forests of river valleys. In the steppe part of Crimea, waders, four species of larks, quails and such rare species as bustards and little bustards that remain for wintering in warm years are quite common.

Crimea is located on the routes of traditional bird migration. In the shallow waters of the Sivash and Karkinitsky Bay, huge flocks of near-water and aquatic species accumulate during the period of migration and wintering. On the peninsula, there is plenty of space for hunters. On the shores of the Black and Azov Seas, dives feed and nest, ducks (mallards, wiggles, pintails, teals), wild geese, woodcocks, quails, gray partridge and wild pigeons wait out the winter in secluded places. However, many game birds have adapted to wintering in the immediate vicinity of crowded city beaches, where the ban on hunting is complemented by an abundance of food.

In many territories nesting and migrations of birds are protected by law, among them are several Sivash islands, the Mount Opuk nature reserve and the Elken-Kaya islands in the south of the Kerch Peninsula.

In the northern part of the Kerch Peninsula there is a state ornithological reserve "Astana Plavni" ("Oisulskaya Plavnya"). The eastern shores of the Aktash lake-estuary are reed thickets, they are called floodplains. Reliable shelter and abundance of food attract numerous flocks of migratory and nesting birds in Crimea.

But the most "main" ornithological reserve, which has a well-deserved international recognition, is the Swan Islands - a branch of the Crimean State Reserve. The six islands of the tract are located near the northwestern shores of the plain Crimea. They stretch for about 8 km along the coast of the Karkinitsky Bay. The largest island is about 3.5 km long and up to 350 meters wide. The islands are about 3.5 km away from the coast. The shallow waters, the abundance of plant and animal food in water and on land, in combination with the protected regime, attract a lot of waterfowl to the Swan Islands. A large population of mute swans nest here. In late autumn, northern whooper swans gather on the islands for the winter. Various species of ducks, waders, egrets and gray herons, gulls, cormorants nest on the islands, more than 25 species in total.

Hunting requires excitement, scientific bird watching requires serious professional skills, but any of us can get up before dawn, walk in the park or climb into the nearest forest to hear a discordant choir of songbirds at dawn, because the bird population is only in forest parks and parks There are more than 20 types of settlements in Crimea.

More than 60 species of mammals live in Crimea. The largest representatives of the Crimean fauna are ungulates, four species of which have adapted to the mountain forests of the peninsula. The Crimean red deer, preserved in the protected areas, is a local (aboriginal) species, the other two species of artiodactyls appeared due to the efforts of people. Fallow deer in the 70s. XX century imported from the Askania-Nova nature reserve, but no large increase in livestock has yet been observed. But the wild boar, which appeared in the mid-50s, has now settled throughout the forest zone, and licensed shooting is allowed for it. Attempts to acclimatize the bison and the mountain sheep-moufflon in Crimea ended in failure: the bison, which harms the vegetation unadapted to the growth of its population, was deprived of its Crimean "registration" in 1980, and the mouflon reproduces rather poorly.

Among the predatory animals of the peninsula, fox and weasel are quite numerous. Weasel is the smallest predator of Crimea, the fox together with the forest dweller badger are the largest. The common fox is more common in the steppe areas, the Crimean subspecies is more typical for the mountain-forest part of the peninsula. The marten lives in the foothills of the Crimea, a raccoon dog has settled along the North Crimean Canal. Predators eat either purely animal food, like a ferret and a weasel, or have a mixed diet, as is the case with a marten, fox, badger, raccoon dog. There used to be quite a lot of wolves in the Crimea, but the last animals disappeared at the beginning of the 20th century.

Life without wolves for hares undoubtedly seems bland, but the hare is
feels good in Crimea and can be found everywhere, except perhaps in the central city blocks. A significant increase in the rabbit acclimatized in the steppe regions has not yet been observed, but the squirrel that settled in 1940 on the territory of the Crimean nature reserve, settled throughout the peninsula, including parks and green areas of cities.

In the Black and Azov Seas, there are four representatives of marine mammals: the monk seal and three species of dolphins. In a natural setting, dolphins are rarely seen, but nowadays it is easy to get to know them in the dolphinariums of Sevastopol, Yalta, Evpatoria and Karadag, where bottlenose dolphins are usually kept. Dolphins are happy to jump through hoops, play with a ball, perform various teams of trainers - in a word, they demonstrate their remarkable abilities in front of the public, and therefore a visit to the dolphinarium is always very entertaining and informative.

The flora of the Crimea is very rich and varied, it includes more than 2.5 thousand plant species. The species composition of the Crimean vegetation is striking not only with its abundance, but also quality composition... Typical for the south of Ukraine, here are no more than a third of the steppe and plants common for mountains and foothills of the temperate climatic zone of Europe, but more than 50% of vegetation species are of Mediterranean origin and are representatives of the Mediterranean area.

In addition, there are at least 10% of the so-called endemic plant species, that is, those that can be found in only one place on the planet - on the Crimean Peninsula. Such an abundance of endemics allows us to consider the nature of the Crimea as unique. High juniper, folded snowdrop, small-fruited strawberry growing in the mountainous part of the peninsula are characteristic of the Tertiary period, which was almost two million years ago. But, for example, the taiga wintergreen and stoneberry are not at all typical for the southern latitudes, but are more characteristic of the taiga and northern deciduous forests. These are relict plants of the Ice Age, from which they remained in the southern latitudes of Crimea due to its unique geographical position.

2016-11-08

A tourist who went on vacation to Crimea should be aware of what dangers in the nature of this wonderful land may lie in wait for him. At sea and in the mountains, an inexperienced person can run into trouble.

What to fear in Crimea?

You need to know each enemy in person in order to bypass him in time or skillfully avoid the consequences of contact.

Dangerous plants in Crimea

Flora of the Crimea is overflowing with plants that can harm human health. Do not pick the flowers you like without knowing their true properties. Even the well-known magnolia is not so harmless. If you put her flowers in a vase of water at home, then you are guaranteed headaches, and you will not know from what is so bad.

Autumnal or Colchicum

Delicate pink flowers of colchicum (autumn or colchicum) grow in open areas: forest edges, glades, in the mountains. Plucking the beautiful large buds of the plant, you will incur nausea, muscle aches, and diarrhea. Once in the body, colchicum leads to paralysis of the respiratory system, heart. Help with poisoning: rinse the stomach with manganese solution, call ambulance.

Aconite flower

Purple flowers of Aconite are found in the forest, meadow, glade. Very dangerous if swallowed. Causes paralysis of breathing, heart. You also need to act: rinse the stomach with sorbent and seek medical help.

Burning bush

Beautiful lilac flowers with dark veins of holostolnikovaya ash (burning bush) grow in ravines, forests and glades. Due to the oils contained, the plant ignites in the heat, without scorching itself. When in contact with it, you can get a burn that does not heal for a long time. Inhalation of oils from peduncles damages the mucous membranes of the lungs. If the burning bush suddenly meets you on the way, it is better to bypass it. In case of contact with a plant, the affected area must be washed with water, treating with soap.

Datura ordinary

White large flowers, reminiscent of a gramophone, ornamental plants common dope are often planted in resort cities near the roads. Grows in thickets, blooms in mid-summer, bears fruit in autumn. It is poisonous and leads to severe hallucinations, and then falling into coma when eating the seeds of a plant or any part of it. Washing the stomach with manganese and drinking strong unsweetened tea will save a person from the consequences of the destructive effects of ordinary dope.

Black henbane

A poisonous plant that grows in groups near landfills. These are meter-long white flowers with a dark center. If you take any part of the plant (especially the seeds) in your mouth, then you can be seriously poisoned. Pupils dilate, profuse salivation begins, hallucinations with seizures appear, and suffocation occurs. Need immediate assistance to the victim, as there is a threat of death. You should remove the poison from the stomach, causing vomiting with a tube. Activated carbon is required. Call an ambulance immediately.

Belladonna (mad cherry or belladonna)

A poisonous plant found in beech forests, on river banks. It has dirty purple flowers and dark cherry-like fruits, which is why people are often poisoned with it. Belladonna poisoning is manifested by an increase in body temperature, dry mouth, hallucinations. If you do not provide first aid, then respiratory paralysis develops. The victim needs to drink a manganese solution, activated carbon and seek medical attention.

Raven eye

Crow's eye berries, which resemble blueberries, can be poisoned. They grow in the forests of the Crimea and wet places. After consuming such berries, a gag reflex, diarrhea, and abdominal pain appear. You can not independently induce vomiting and drink a laxative after eating a raven's eye. You need to drink activated charcoal and call an ambulance.

Hemlock spotted

It is a poisonous plant that grows near landfills and wastelands. Its leaves are like parsley. The plant has white tall flowers of an umbrella type. The smell is unpleasant. Poisoning after eating the plant is manifested by a burning sensation in the mouth, the appearance of signs of poisoning, convulsions and seizures. First aid is to take potassium permanganate, activated carbon and calling an ambulance.

Hogweed

Outwardly it looks like a hemlock, but differs in the effect it has. It can be found on the slopes of the mountains. It has a poisonous sap that, when it comes into contact with the skin, makes it highly susceptible to ultraviolet rays. Blisters appear on these places. Burned areas are treated with soap and water. Then Panthenol should be applied to them.

Dangerous insects in Crimea

Scolopendra

In the south of the Crimea, there are scolopendras, resembling centipedes in appearance. They live under stones. They like to crawl into tents with tourists. Scolopendra have poison on their paws, which can cause burns when an insect comes into contact with a human body. This leads to a rise in temperature, pain and symptoms of poisoning. Exposure to the poison is deadly for children and immunocompromised people.

Karakurt

In the steppes of the Crimea, there is a karakurt spider, which has a black color and long front legs. There are individuals with red spots. During the day, the insect lives under stones, and at night it leaves the shelter. The spider does not attack first. It can be stepped on or accidentally touched. His bite is painless, but the consequences are very unpleasant: the nervous system is affected with muscle pains and cramps. 10% calcium chloride (10 ml) and magnesium sulfate (25%) can relieve pain. At the first sign of an insect bite, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Tarantula

The tarantula spider is found everywhere in Crimea. Inhabits vertical holes. Bites hurt. The affected area is swollen and sore. It must be cauterized with a match, then the poison begins to decompose.

Tick-borne Encephalitis

Everywhere in the forests of the Crimea and in the bushes on the side of the roads, encephalitis mites live. The beginning of summer and autumn are the periods of insect activity. The tick first clings to clothing, and then painlessly digs into places behind the ears, on the back. After a few days, the first signs of the disease appear. nervous system - This is an increase in temperature, cramps, muscle pain. It is necessary to prevent the spread of infection in time, and for this you should immediately consult a doctor. Before walking, cover all parts of the body as much as possible, and after them, look everywhere and make sure that there are no ticks.

Dangerous inhabitants of the sea

Poisonous fish live in the Black Sea:

Sea ruff (scorpion fish) with dangerous thorns, touching which pains appear throughout the body for about a day.

A variegated sea dragon that causes local inflammation when touched. Stingray stingray (sea cat) with a spike on its tail, causing pain for a long time.

Jellyfish in Crimea are not dangerous. Only a few can sting, but it feels no more painful than touching nettles. If you come into contact with the cornea of \u200b\u200bthe eye jellyfish, then they must be immediately washed under fresh water... A little about the Black Sea jellyfish:

Snakes

In Crimea, you can often find a snake even in the parks of resort cities, but poisonous species not found here. The most dangerous are the steppe viper and the yellow-bellied snake. If the snake attacks and bites painfully, the viper's venom can provoke a person's illness with an increase in body temperature. In any case, you need to see a doctor.