Fauna of Terrestrial Vertebrates of the Eastern Escarpment of Ustyurt Plateau

About the authors:

Elena A. Bykova, Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Field Coordinator, UNDP in Uzbekistan; elena.bykova@undp.org

Aleksandr V. Esipov, Deputy Director on Science, Chatkal Biosphere Reserve (Uzbekistan); esipov411@gmail.com

Dmitriy E. Golovtsov, Senior Researcher, Chatkal Biosphere Reserve (Uzbekistan); dimagolovtsov@mail.ru

Denis A. Nuridjanov, Junior Researcher, Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Tashkent)

Abstract:

This article describes the composition of faunistic complexes of amphibians, reptiles and mammals inhabiting the chink cliffs in East Ustyurt, North-West Uzbekistan. The chink is an intro-zonal area, which is rather long, yet it occupies a small area. The chink has excellent protective properties that attract many animals. The total list of the vertebrates includes 14 species of reptiles and 1 species of amphibians, two of which are included in the national Red Data Book (Elaphe quatuorlineata) and IUCN Red List (Agrionemys (Testudo) horsfieldi). The list of mammals includes 29 species. Three of them are listed in national Red Data Book: Hemiechinus hypomelas, Saiga tatarica, Gazella subgutturosa; and 16 of them are included in IUCN Red List: H. hypomelas, Crocidura suaveolens, Myotis mystacinus, Lepus tolai, Allactaga major, Al. severtzovi, Pygeretmus platyurus, Сricetulus migratоrius, Meriones tamariscinus, M. libycus, Vulpes corsac, Mustela eversmanii, Vormela peregusna, Meles leucurus, S. tatarica, G. subgutturosa. The saiga antelope and goitered gazelle are considered the most endangered species both nationally and globally. The Central Asian Tortoise, Steppe-Runner, Severtsov jerboa and Tamarisk Gerbil are regional endemics. The Eastern chink of Ustyurt Plateau requires efficient conservation meassures being a unique, rich in biodiversity, yet, extremely vulnerable area.

References:

1. Bannikov A. G., Darevskiy I. S., Ishchenko V. G., Rustamov A. K., Shcherbak N. N. 1977. Opredelitel' zemnovodnykh i presmykayushchikhsya fauny SSSR [The Determinant Guide Book of Amphibious and Reptilian Fauna of the USSR]. Moscow.
2. Bogdanov O. P. 1960. Fauna Uzbekskoy SSR. Zemnovodnye i presmykayushchiesya [Fauna of the Uzbek SSR. Amphibians and Reptiles], vol. 1. Tashkent. 
3. Bykova E. A., Esipov A. V. 2015. “Migratsiya saygakov i drevnie okhotnich'i sooruzheniya na putyakh ikh sezonnykh peremeshcheniy” [Saiga Migration and Ancient Hunting Structures on the Routes of Their Seasonal Displacements]. Ekologicheskiy monitoring i bioraznoobrazie, no 3(10), pp. 51-57.
4. Bykova E. A., Esipov A. V., Golovtsov D. E., Efimov A. Yu. 2010. “Osobennosti ekologii saygaka v Uzbekistane” [Features of the Ecology of the Saiga in Uzbekistan]. Uzbekskiy biologicheskiy zhurnal, no 1, pp. 44-48.
5. Kostin V. P. 1956. “Materialy po faune mlekopitayushchikh levoberezh'ya nizov'ev Amu-Dar'i i Ustyurta i ocherk raspredeleniya vidov pozvonochnykh zhivotnykh” [Materials on the fauna of mammals on the left bank of the lower reaches of the Amu-Darya and Ustyurt and an Outline of the Distribution of Species of Vertebrates]. Tr. In-ta zoologii i parazitologii. Tashkent: AN UzSSR, vol. 8.
6. Palvaniyazov M. 1965. “Pustynnyy volk. Lisitsa-karaganka” [Desert Wolf. Vulpes vulpes caragan]. Cand. Sci. (Biol.) diss. abstract. In: Ekologiya, rasprostranenie i khozyaystvennoe znachenie pushnykh zverey v Karakalpakii (Semeystva Canidae i Mustelidae), pp. 6, 8-9. Tashkent: Nauka UzSSR.
7. Reymov P. P. 1987. Gryzuny Yuzhnogo Priaral'ya (sistematika, ekologiya i khozyaystvennoe znachenie) [Rodents of the Southern Prearalie (Taxonomy, Ecology, and Economic Significance)]. Tashkent.
8. Reymov P. P. 1985. Mlekopitayushchie Yuzhnogo Priaral'ya (ekologiya, okhrana i ispol'zovanie) [Mammals of the South Prearalie (Ecology, Protection, and Use)]. Tashkent: Fan.
9. Reymov P. P. 1994. “Mlekopitayushchie Yuzhnogo Priaral'ya, ikh okhrana i ratsional'noe ispol'zovanie v usloviyakh degradiruyushchey prirodnoy sredy” [Mammals of the Southern Aral Sea, Their Protection and Rational Use in a Degrading Environment]. Dr. Sci. (Biol.) diss. Yekaterinburg.
10. Reymov P. P. 1981. “Ekologo-geograficheskaya kharakteristika teriofauny Yuzhnogo Ustyurta” [Ecological and Geographical Characteristics of the Teriofauna of Southern Ustyurt]. Vestnik karakalpakskogo filiala AN Uz. SSR, no 4 (86), pp. 14 19.
11. Korovina E. P. (ed.). 1949. Ust'-Urt Karakalpakskiy. Ego priroda i khozyaystvo [Ust-Urt of Karakalpak. Its Nature and Economy]. Tashkent.
12. Yagodin V. N. 1991. “Strelovidnye planirovki Ustyurta (opyt istoriko-kul'turnoy interpretatsii)” [Shifted Planning of Ustyurt (Experience of Historical and Cultural Interpretation)]. Arkheologiya Priaral'ya, vol. 5. Tashkent.