NATURE IN THE
CAUCASUS

 Description of Species of Special Concern

Lynx Otter European mink Bats Caucasian snowcock Caucasian viper Persian brook salamander Endemic fish   A brief description of each of the special concern follows. Lynx Lynx (Lynx lynx) is listed as near threatened (NT) by IUCN. The species is widely distributed throughout forest ecosystems in the Caucasus. However, due its secretive habits and the absence of special studies devoted to its biology in the Caucasus, the exact distribution of lynx is unknown and even a rough estimation of the population size is not possible. Trends in population dynamics are similarly unknown. Special studies are needed to estimate the range and the approximate density of the species. Otter Otter (Lutra lutra) is listed as near threatened (NT) by IUCN. This species lives in quiet parts of river currents, avoiding densely populated areas. It is found in all kinds of landscapes, from sea level to 2,000 m. It is vulnerable globally. Trends in population dynamics are unknown. Mapping of the range is required in order to develop a strategy for maintaining connectivity between existing otter habitats. All individual habitats should be listed as areas of special concern. European mink European mink (Mustela lutreola) is listed by IUCN as endangered (EN A1ace). This is a small mustelid associated with water. The European mink lives in the plains forest belt of the Northern Caucasus. No appropriate data concerning numbers of this species or main threats are available. Mapping of the range is required in order to develop a strategy for maintaining connectivity between existing mink habitats. All individual habitats should be listed as areas of special concern. Bats The following group of bats is considered as one species of special concern: Western barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus) Vulnerable (VU A2c) Geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus) Vulnerable (VU A2c) Schaub’s bat (Myotis schaubi) Endangered (EN B1+2c, C2a, D) Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteini) Vulnerable (VU A2c) Mediterranean horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus euryale) Vulnerable (VU A2c) Lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) Not listed Mehely’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus mehelyi) Vulnerable (VU A2c) Seven bat species’ (Rhinolophus mehelyi, Myotis bechsteini, M. emarginatus, Barbastella barbastellus, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, R. euryale, R. hipposideros) were listed by IUCN in 2002 as globally threatened. All known bat species in the Caucasus, as well as in Europe, are protected by the European Bat Agreement and by the Bonn Convention for the protection of migratory animals (CMS). These species are found sporadically in forest belts. Bats of the Rhinolophus genus concentrate in caves in the forest belt; others use various shelters like tree hollows, old buildings, etc. Bats congregate in caves and old trees, forming large nursing and wintering colonies, often consisting of different species. The destruction and disturbance of such roosts or colonies threatens the existence of several species simultaneously. Data on the exact distribution of these bats throughout the Caucasus are scarce, although one can suppose that their ranges roughly coincide with forest distribution. The main threats include deforestation and associated destruction of bat shelters. Mini-reserves should be created in areas of large bat concentrations in caves and forests. Caucasian snowcock Caucasian snowcock (Tetraogallus caucasicus) is not listed as endangered by IUCN, but it is an important endemic species for the Caucasus Ecoregion. The species is found in alpine areas of the Greater Caucasus. Unlike the black grouse, the snowcock prefers habitats in dry alpine landscapes (usually over 2,400 m), and is mostly found where there are rocks in the subnival zone. No data about long-term trends in population dynamics are available. Necessary measures for conservation include mapping of the bird’s exact range (based on both published data and special research) and possibly creation of mini-reserves in the subnival zone. Caucasian viper Five Caucasian vipers are treated as one species of special concern for this report:         Darevsky’s viper (Vipera darevskii) Critically endangered (CR C2b)   Caucasian viper (Vipera kaznakovi) Endangered (EN A1cd+2)   Dinnik’s viper (Vipera dinniki) Vulnerable (VU C1+2)   Pontic viper (Vipera pontica) Critically endangered (CR C2ab, D)   Wagner’s viper (Vipera wagneri) Endangered (EN A1d+2d)       Caucasian vipers are a group of species containing five narrow-ranged species included in the IUCN Red List: Caucasian viper, Dinnik’s viper, Pontic viper, Darevsky’s viper, and Wagner’s viper. Some other species are not included in the Red List despite their very limited distributions. Common threats for all vipers and the often poorly documented fact of geographic isolation between these species mandate a single conservation strategy. Caucasian and Pontic vipers are attributed to the forest belt, while the other species inhabit subalpine and alpine belts of both the Greater and Lesser Caucasus. Potential threats include landscape degradation as a result of logging and overgrazing. Exact distribution, population sizes, and dynamics are unknown. The most effective protection measures would include creation of mini-reserves within important habitats. Persian brook salamander Persian brook salamander (Batrachuperus persicus) is near threatened (NT) according to IUCN. This species is an endemic of the Alborz Mountains in northern Iran. It is associated with the mountain forest belt. It lives in the upper reaches of small mountain streams. The brook salamander is an extremely secretive nocturnal animal. Its distribution is sporadic: only a few locations are known. The most serious threat is destruction of shelters due to extensive timber harvesting. Effective protection measures would include creation of mini-reserves in the most important habitats. Endemic fish Two fish species endemic to Lake Sevan are considered as one species of special concern - the Sevan trout (Salmo ischchan) and Gokcha barbel (Barbus goktschaicus). Found only in Lake Sevan, these two species have a very restricted range. Sevan trout occurs in the lake, while Gokcha barbel inhabits only tributaries of the lake. While both species are intensely overfished and threatened by ongoing habitat degradation, neither are not listed in the IUCN Red List. Once there were four subspecies or races of Sevan trout. Now there is only one remaining in Lake Sevan. The main threats are overfishing and poaching, as well as habitat loss due to changing water levels. Urgent efforts for stabilization of their populations are needed. Learn more about the ECP’s Vision for Biodiversity Conservation in the Caucasus. Notes: - The foregoing is a digest of or excerpt from Part 2 of the ECP. The full text of the ECP can be found here - Descriptions apply to the Ecoregion, and thus include the areas of Russia, Turkey and Iran that form part of the Ecoregion. All of the biomes and almost all of the bio-diversity, however, are strongly represented in the three core countries.