As a result of its biogeographical position, diversity of landscapes,
variations in altitude and mountainous nature, Armenia supports
a wide range of animal species. Such diversity is outstanding
compared to other countries of the region. Many of the species
that occur exist at the edge of their range, or in separate
isolated populations, and are therefore of particular interest
for zoologists and conservationists. A brief outline of the
invertebrate and vertebrate fauna is presented below, and the
number of species recorded in different groups is summarised
in Table 2.9.
Table 2.9 Animal diversity in Armenia
|
Group
|
Number of species recorded
|
|
Invertebrates
|
c. 17,000
|
|
Fish
|
31
|
|
Amphibians
|
8
|
|
Reptiles
|
53
|
|
Birds
|
349
|
|
Mammals
|
83
|
|
TOTAL
|
c. 17,524
|
Invertebrates have been less well studied than vertebrates in
Armenia, as in most countries. Around 17,000 species of invertebrates
have been recorded in the country, of which 90% are insects
(key groups are shown in Table 2.10). Studies have been conducted
on around 30% of invertebrates, and although the beetles (Coleoptera)
are well studied, other groups such as Ephemeroptera (mayflies)
and Neuroptera (lace wings) are not well known. A number of
invertebrates are considered to be threatened including 7 molluscs,
15 grasshoppers, 1 homopteran bug, 10 hymeropterns (bees, wasps
and ants), 40 butterflies and moths, 20 beetles and 4 flies.
A range of planktonic invertebrates are found in Armenia's water
systems (totaling 124 species), including 46 species of rotifers
(Rotatoria) and 78 crustaceans (Crustacea).
· Different rotifer species are associated with different
water bodies. The most common include Brachionus rubens, Ketatella
quadrata, Filinia longiseta, Pedalia fennica, and Conochilus
hippocrepis. The greatest diversity of rotifers was previously
found in the lakes Sevan, Arpi and Gilly (although the latter
has since been drained).
· Among the crustaceans, both planktonic and pelagic
forms are found. Common species include Chirocephalus skorikowi
(in the vicinity of Lake Sevan, among other sites), and Lepthesteria
dahalensis (Lori and Sevan regions). A total of 16 species of
Phyllopoda are recorded from Armenia. Copepods include Diaptomus
(7 spp.) and Cyclops (16 spp.).
In addition, a wide range of benthic species are found in Armenian
water bodies (316 spp; Annex 2).
· A range of benthic species have been studied relatively
well. These include: oligochaete worms, leeches, gastropods,
bivalve molluscs, amphipods, dragonflies, mayflies, stoneflies,
caddis flies, hemipteran bugs, flies, and beetles.
· A range of species are also found within the mud at
the bottom of lakes and rivers. These include sponges (such
as Ephidatia fluviatilis in Lake Sevan), flatworms, nematode
worms, and copepods.
· Amphipods are found in a range of sites, among them
are Unionidaes spp. (Ararat valley and warm reservoirs in the
north), and Potamion potaimon (widespread in fast-flowing watercourses).
In addition, and introduced species, Pontastacus leptodactylus,
is proliferating in reservoirs and watercourses.
Table 2.10 Numbers of species of specific invertebrate taxa
studied in Armenia
|
Taxonomic group
|
Number of species
|
|
Type
|
Class
|
Series
|
|
Mollusca
|
|
|
155
|
|
|
Gastropoda
|
a
|
141
|
|
|
|
Planilabiata
|
1
|
|
|
|
Ectobranchia
|
2
|
|
|
|
Discopoda
|
5
|
|
|
|
Basommatophora
|
24
|
|
|
|
Stylommatophora
|
109
|
|
|
Bivalvia
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
Actinodontida
|
2
|
|
|
|
Astartida
|
12
|
|
Arthropoda
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arachnida
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scorpiones
|
3
|
|
|
|
Aranei
|
302
|
|
|
|
Acarina
|
C.2000
|
|
|
Insecta
|
|
|
|
|
|
Odonata
|
15
|
|
|
|
Orthoptera
|
150
|
|
|
|
Blattodea
|
20
|
|
|
|
Mantodea
|
20
|
|
|
|
Dermaptera
|
|
|
|
|
Phasmodea
|
|
|
|
|
Homoptera
|
400
|
|
|
|
Hemiptera
|
500
|
|
|
|
Hymenoptera
|
470
|
|
|
|
Lepidoptera
|
570
|
|
|
|
Coleoptera
|
1200
|
|
|
|
Diptera
|
200
|
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.
A total of eight amphibian species are found in Armenia (Table
2.12). Most of these species are generally widespread (European
marsh frog, Rana ridibunda; brusa frog, R. macrocnemis; European
green toad, Bufo viridis; European tree frogs, Hyla arborea
shelkovnikovi, and H. savigni), along with the endemic Syrian
spadefoot toad (Pelobates syriacus). In addition, a further
species was recently found in Armenia - an isolated population
of banded newts (Triturus vittatus) outside their normal distribution.
Armenia is recognised as having one of the most interesting
reptile faunas in the former Soviet Union (FSU). Of 156 reptiles
recorded from across the FSU, a total of 53 are present in Armenia,
many of which are both endemic and threatened (Table 2.13).
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 2.11 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
|
Spp. unconfirmed Perch
|
Recorded in 1992 in water bodies of
the Ararat Valley; not identified or assessed as yet.
|
|
Table 2.12 Number of amphibian species in
different families, including number of common and
rare/threatened species
|
Family
|
Total number of
species
|
Number of common
species
|
Number of common
species
|
|
Salamandrida
|
2
|
-
|
2
|
|
Bufonidae
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
|
Pelobatidae
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
|
Hylidae
|
2
|
2
|
-
|
|
Ranidae
|
2
|
2
|
-
|
|
TOTAL
|
8
|
5
|
3
|
Table 2.13 Number of reptile species in different families
|
Order / Family
|
Number of species
|
Number of common species
|
Number of rare, threatened or indeterminate
species
|
|
Testudines
|
|
|
Emididae
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
Testudinidae
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
|
Sauria
|
|
|
Gekkonidae
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
|
Agamidae
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
Anguidae
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
Scincidae
|
4
|
-
|
4
|
|
Lacertidae
|
17
|
11
|
6
|
|
Serpentes
|
|
|
Typhlopidae
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
|
Boidae
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
|
Colubridae
|
18
|
10
|
8
|
|
Viperidae
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
|
TOTAL
|
53
|
26
|
27
|
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
|
|
