|
The position of Armenia, and its varied ecosystems
and climate, result in relatively high bird diversity
in this country. Bird faunas of Europe, the Mediterranean
and the Middle East are represented. A total of 349
bird species are recorded from Armenia, and birds constitute
over 60% of the vertebrate fauna of the country (Table
2.14). The lakes of Sevan and Arpi, along with the Ararat
Valley are of great importance for wetland birds, and
are used by migrating species. Together these sites
support 145 species of waders and waterbirds.
Table 2.14 Number of bird
species in different orders
|
Order
|
Total number of species
|
Number of common species
|
Number of rare, endangered
and indeterminate species
|
| Gaviformes |
2
|
-
|
2
|
| Podicipediformes |
5
|
4
|
1
|
Pelecaniformes
|
4
|
-
|
4
|
| Ciconiformes |
13
|
6
|
7
|
| Phoenicopteriformes |
1
|
-
|
1
|
| Falconiformes |
35
|
13
|
22
|
| Anseriformes |
28
|
13
|
15
|
| Galiformes |
7
|
3
|
4
|
| Gruiformes |
13
|
4
|
9
|
| Charadriiformes |
62
|
41
|
21
|
| Columbiformes |
8
|
7
|
1
|
| Cuculiformes |
2
|
2
|
-
|
| Strgiformes |
7
|
4
|
3
|
| Caprimulgiformes |
1
|
1
|
-
|
| Apodiformes |
2
|
2
|
-
|
| Coraciiformes |
5
|
4
|
1
|
| Piciformes |
8
|
4
|
4
|
| Passeriformes |
146
|
121
|
25
|
TOTAL
|
349
|
229
|
120
|
The mammals represent the second largest vertebrate
class in Armenia, after birds, with 83 species recorded
in the country (Table 2.15). Over the last 10 years
research has identified the presence of seven bat species
which had not previously been recorded. These included
the grey long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus), barbastelle
(Barbastella barbastella), Leisler's bat (Nyctalus leisleri),
Nathusius's pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii), Savi's
pipistrelle (Pipistrellus savii), particoloured bat
(Vespertilio murinus) and the European free-tailed bat
(Tadarida teniotis).
Table 2.15 Number
of mammal species in different orders and families,
including number of common and rare/threatened species
Order / Family
|
Total number of species
|
Number of common species
|
Number of rare, endangered
and indeterminate species
|
Insectivora
|
| Erinaceidae |
2
|
-
|
2
|
| Talpidae |
1
|
-
|
1
|
| Soricidae |
7
|
1
|
6
|
Chiroptera
|
| Rhinolophidae |
5
|
2
|
3
|
| Vespertilionidae |
17
|
7
|
10
|
| Mollossidae |
1
|
-
|
1
|
Rodentia
|
| Leporidae |
1
|
1
|
-
|
| Hystricidae |
1
|
-
|
1
|
| Capomyidae |
1
|
1
|
-
|
| Scinridae |
2
|
1
|
1
|
| Muscardinidae |
2
|
-
|
2
|
| Dipodidae |
2
|
-
|
2
|
| Zapodidae |
1
|
-
|
1
|
| Muridae |
17
|
13
|
4
|
| Spalacidae |
1
|
-
|
1
|
Carnivora
|
| Mustelidae |
5
|
3
|
2
|
| Ursidae |
2
|
2
|
-
|
| Hyaenidae |
1
|
-
|
1
|
| Canidae |
3
|
2
|
1
|
| Felidae |
6
|
3
|
3
|
Artiodactyla
|
| Suidae |
1
|
1
|
-
|
| Cervidae |
2
|
-
|
2
|
| Bovidae |
2
|
-
|
2
|
TOTAL
|
83
|
37
|
46
|
Fish belonging to five orders are found in Armenia
(Salmoniformes, Cypriniformes, Siluriformes, Cyprinodontiformes,
Perciformes). A total of 31 species of fish are recorded
in Armenia, including nine endemic species or sub-species
(Chapter 3). Important and widely distributed species
are shown below (Table 2.11), of which up to six are
introduced (non-native) species.
Table 2.11 Fish
species found in Armenia and comments on their distribution
and abundance
Species
|
Common
and local name
|
Comments
on distribution and abundance
|
Salmoniformes
|
| Salmo ischchan |
Sevan trout |
Endemic species which occurs in Lake Sevan and
surrounding rivers; four subspecies also recorded. |
| Salmo trutta m.fario |
Trout (karmrakhait) |
Once widespread in rivers, now declining |
| Salmo caspius |
Caspian salmon |
Not well studied |
| Salmo gairdneri irideus |
Pacific salmon |
Mainly found in fish farms |
| Coregonus lavaretus sevanicus |
Whitefish (Sevan sig) |
Artificially selected; common in Lake Sevan since
the level decrease and the main commercial fish |
Cypriniformes
|
| Leuciscus cephalus orientalis |
Chub (Caucasian tepough) |
Widespread in water bodies, except Lake Sevan
and some high altitude lakes |
| Chondrostoma cyri leptosoma |
Nase (kura yentaberan) |
Not well studied |
| Barbus lacerta |
Barbel (kura beghlou) |
Shows great ecological flexibility and much inter-population
variability; relatively rare. |
| Ctenopharingodon idella |
Grass carp (white amour) |
Oriental species introduced with the aim of improving
water quality in marshy lakes and irrigation systems;
raised on fish farms |
| Varicorhinus capoeta capoeta |
(kura koghak) |
Several races have developed in Lake Sevan and
its tributaries |
| Carassius auratus |
Goldfish (silver tsatsan) |
Widely distributed as a result of fish farms;
now common in Lake Sevan and the second most important
commercial fish species |
| Hypophthalmichtys molitrix |
Silver carp (lainachakat) |
Important species for fish farms |
| Cyprinus carpio |
Common carp (getatstatsan) |
Introduced to a number of sites (including lakes
in Lori marshes and reservoirs of Ijevan and Dilijan. |
| Rutilus rutilus schelkovnikovi |
Roach (Armenian karmrakn) |
|
| Alburnoides bipunctatus armeniensis |
Schneider (Armenian tarekhik) |
|
| Blicca (Abramis) bjoerkna derjavini |
White bream (Armenian goustera) |
|
Siluriformes
|
| Silurus glanis. |
Wels catfish (loko) |
Widely distributed in the Arax rivers system,
but rarely found in lakes; declining through over-fishing;
not well studied |
Cyprinodontiformes
|
| Gambusia affinis |
Mosquito fish |
Represented by two sub-species of American origin;
originally introduced to combat malaria (feed on
mosquito larvae) |
Perciformes
|
| Spp. unconfirmed |
Perch |
Recorded in 1992 in water bodies of the Ararat
Valley; not identified or assessed as yet. |
|
