Brown or common long-eared bat (lat. Plecotus auritus) — one of the species of the genus Plecotus from the family of common bats (Vespertilionidae). Unlike other Palaearctic representatives of the family, long-eared bats are distinguished by their very long ears (almost equal in length to their forearms). When resting, their ears are laid back and hidden under their wings. Weighing no more than 12 grams and with a body size of 5 cm, their ears can sometimes be larger than their body. However,
Lake Frog. The lake frog is the largest species of tailless amphibians in the domestic fauna (15 - 17 cm in length), belonging to the group of green frogs (subgenus Pelophylax). It has a vast range: from Eastern France to Eastern Kazakhstan and from the Netherlands and Perm region to the Balkans and Turkey. Moreover, it is characterized by the expansion of its range and the colonization of new habitats through dispersal along rivers and canals in both European Russia and in Georgia,
Pevtsov's Toad. Medium-sized toads, up to 91 mm maximum. They are primarily genetically distinguished from the Turan toad (Bufo turanensis) (number of chromosomes = 44), by the distance between the fore and hind limbs, which is more than one and a half times the length from the shoulder joint to the corner of the mouth; males are distinguished from females by a shorter distance - almost equal to the distance from the shoulder joint to the corner of the mouth. The parotids are small,
Marco Polo Sheep — Ovis ammon L. (in Kyrgyz: male — kulja, female — arhar) The Marco Polo sheep is distributed over a significant territory of Kyrgyzstan, mainly in high-altitude areas along the state border from Khan Tengri Peak in the east to the Fergana Range and Alai Valley in the west. The most numerous populations of Marco Polo sheep are found in the Sary-Jaz, Jetty-Oguz, Pokrov, and Ton ranges, as well as in the valleys of the Ak-Sai and Arpa rivers. They are less frequently encountered
Asymblepharus alaicus - Alai Asymblepharus A small lizard: body length up to 6.5 cm, weight up to 3.8 g. Females are larger than males. The body is stocky, with a small head that tapers towards the front, thick limbs, and a tail. The body is covered with small, uniform, and shiny scales. Separate eyelids are absent. The eye is covered by a motionless transparent membrane. It is surrounded by granular scales, olive-colored on top with brown and green hues. There are 4 rows of longitudinal
Gray Hamster. In Kyrgyzstan, it inhabits virgin steppe areas dominated by grass vegetation, and is often found in shrub and tree biotopes, gardens, and parks, especially those overgrown with weeds. It is most numerous in cereal fields and human structures. The population is generally low, not exceeding 2-6% occurrence. In burrows, there is usually one nest at a depth of 30-50 cm with soft bedding, and 1-2 storages of seeds, fruits, and leaves. It often uses the burrows of other rodents (ground
Semirechenskaya Forest Dormouse—D. p. angelus. The coloration of the nape and the middle part of the back distinctly features reddish-brown tones; the forehead is ash-gray, and the tail is light gray, but depending on the habitat, the fur color can change to yellow or almost white. It is a small animal about 20 cm long, with exactly half of that length being the tail. Its weight does not exceed 35 g. The fur on the tail is significantly darker and longer. In stressful situations, the fur on it
Siberian Mountain Goat — Capra sibirica Pall. (in Kyrgyz: male — teke, female — echki) In Kyrgyzstan, it is found across all mountain ranges. It is particularly numerous in the Terkei, Kungoi, Kyrgyz, Talas, Chatkal, Naryn, At-Bash, Kok-Shaal, Fergana, Alai, and Zaalai ranges. It inhabits the mountains surrounding Lake Son-Kul, in the upper reaches of Sary-Jaz, as well as along the Barcoldoy, Ak-Shiyrak, and Kuylu-Tuu ranges. In its distribution, it prefers cliffs and rocky slopes, with the
Dzhayran — Gazella subgutturosa Giild (in Kyrgyz: kara-kuiruk, zheiren) The dzhayran has a relatively limited range. There are reports of dzhayrans being found in the barren steppes of the southwestern part of the Issyk-Kul basin (Semizbel Plateau and the Orto-Tokoy area). There are also records of dzhayrans in the Kalmak-Ata area on the northeastern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul and on the southwestern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul in the Agolen area. The dzhayran was quite widespread in the Issyk-Kul
Blind Mole. A rodent, a field mouse, adapted to live underground. It feeds exclusively on plant roots. This small animal has a body length of 10-12 cm, with a short tail of up to 1.5 cm. Adult animals reach a weight of 45 grams. In nature, blind moles come in various colors: from black to beige shades.
Narrow-headed Vole (Kyr cheke momoloy). Body length up to 125 mm, tail length up to 40 mm (from 1/5 to 1/3 of body length). Color ranges from light ochre to dark brown, often with a characteristic mottled pattern from a mix of dark and light hair tips. There is often a vague black longitudinal stripe on the nape and in the front part of the back, especially distinct in young individuals. The narrow-headed vole is distributed almost throughout the territory of Kyrgyzstan. Its habitats are very
Maral — Cervus elaphus L. (in Kyrgyz: male — bughu, female — maral) The first information about the distribution of the maral in the territory of modern Kyrgyzstan can be found in the works of N. A. Severtsov (1873), who noted its presence in the mountains around Issyk-Kul, along the Naryn River and the Kyrgyz Ridge (Shamsi Gorge and further west to the Ala-Archa River). In the 1800s, the maral was widely distributed throughout the republic, found across all ridges of Northern Kyrgyzstan where
Red Pika. The largest among modern species. Body length is 215—230 mm. This animal externally resembles a hare, but is much smaller. With large ears, it differs in fur color, which is reddish-orange in summer and gray in winter; the fur is dense with a well-developed undercoat. Behind the ear flaps, there is a relatively wide yellowish-white collar. In Kyrgyzstan, it is found everywhere in high-altitude areas. It is a mountain species. It inhabits forests and ascends to subalpine meadows and
Nutria was artificially introduced to the territory of Kyrgyzstan in 1944. Nutria is native to America—a typical rodent from the family of mice. Externally, it resembles a rat and is often referred to as a muskrat. On average, it weighs about one kilogram, sometimes nearly two. Its dense, cylindrical body starts with a blunt head and ends with a bare, scaly tail. The nutria is colored a delicate brown on top and a grayish-blue on the bottom. It has a short neck, a small blunt head, small eyes,
Corsac (steppe fox). It resembles a fox in appearance. Its body length is only 50–60 cm, tail length is 25–35 cm, and height at the shoulders is about 30 cm. It has large, broad-based ears that attract attention. The winter fur is fluffy and silky. The corsac is a typical inhabitant of semi-deserts and dry flat steppes. The corsac primarily feeds on small rodents (field mice, voles, mice, jerboas), reptiles, insects, birds, and their eggs. It less frequently preys on ground squirrels,
Roe deer — Capreolus capreolus Grau. (in Kyrgyz: male — kuran, female — elik) The roe deer is widely distributed in the republic, found almost everywhere on the slopes and gorges of mountain ranges covered with spruce forests or thickets of shrubs, the latter being particularly well represented in floodplain forests. The most numerous roe deer are found along the ridges: Terskey and Kunghey Ala-Too, At-Bashinsky, Naryn, Kavak, Jumgal (northern slopes), Talas, Chatkal, Kyrgyz (northern slopes),
Jackal (чөө). Appeared in Kyrgyzstan in the 1960s. Externally, the jackal resembles a small wolf. Height at the withers is 45–50 cm, weight ranges from 7 to 13 kg. The winter coat is pale, dirty yellow, with noticeable reddish and black shades; the tail is reddish-brown with a black tip. The jackal prefers dense thickets of shrubs and reeds in plains, near rivers and lakes, and often lives close to human settlements. It is less commonly found in the foothills and is believed not to ascend into
Kolonok. Introduced in 1941 from Russia. The fur of the kolonok is reddish-yellow in winter and reddish-red in summer, with grayish paws, a light belly, a brown upper side of the snout and whiskers, and a white tip on the snout, lips, chin, and 1-3 spots under the neck, sometimes with a spot extending from the chin down the neck; the length from the end of the snout to the base of the tail is 28-30 cm, and the tail length is 16.5 cm; the tail is fluffy in winter, almost like that of a marten,
Porcupine, Indian (Chutkur, Karmushtak). The porcupine is a rare animal in Kyrgyzstan, an endangered species. Previously, it could be observed in large numbers throughout almost the entire territory of Kyrgyzstan. Today, encounters with this animal are extremely rare and few. Externally, the porcupine is difficult to confuse with another animal. The largest rodent in Central Asia inhabits dry, open areas with thickets of shrubs and forest edges. The body length of an adult animal ranges from
Eurasian Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor). In Kyrgyzstan, there lives the Eurasian hedgehog, which is twice lighter than the common hedgehog. While the latter can weigh up to a kilogram, the former rarely exceeds 400 grams, although its body length is only slightly shorter. It is also distinguished by its long ears. If they are bent forward, they reach the base of the snout. The animal can fold them back. It is a true southerner, loving warm, sunlit habitats, and does not shy away from open
Raccoon Dog. Family of Dogs. Introduced from the Far East and North America in 1934. Initially, it was brought to nut forests and to Susamyr, but for the same reason as the raccoon, it completely disappeared from these areas. Finally, in 1945, one and a half dozen raccoon dogs were released into the sea buckthorn thickets (dzherganaka) along the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. The conditions here turned out to be better: plenty of food and shallow snow. The very fact of successful acclimatization on
Raccoon. In 1936, the North American raccoon was acclimatized in the walnut forests of Arslanbob (Kyrgyzstan), where it readily occupied the hollows of walnut trees. The raccoon is the size of a cat. Its body length is 45—60 cm, tail length 20—25 cm; weight 5—9 kg. The fluffy tail is marked with 6-7 dark rings across. Its legs are short, with such well-developed fingers that its tracks resemble the imprint of a human hand. There is a brown patch around the eyes, giving its sharp snout a
Wild Boar — Sus scrofa Linn. (in Kyrgyz: kaman, japaiy chotchko) Just a hundred years ago, a great number of wild boars inhabited the territory of Kyrgyzstan and southern Kazakhstan. The first researchers of Kyrgyzstan in the mid-last century noted that "everywhere, both in the steppe and in the mountains, although sporadically, the wild boar is the most numerous species of large animals" (Severtsov, 1847). Wild boars in Kyrgyzstan lived not only in large intermountain valleys but
Mole (Tian Shan, mountain, small). Medium-sized mammals with long tails and large hind legs. The common mole reaches a length of 55—82 mm and weighs 4—16 g. The tail length is 60—75 mm, and the foot length is 10—15 mm. The coloration of the upper body is dark brown, sometimes almost black-brown, while the underside is lighter. Young individuals are somewhat lighter in brown color. The tail is covered with short hairs or is bare, and is approximately the same length as the body. The ear pinna
Squirrel (Tiyin Chychkan). In 1952, 200 Tiyin squirrels were brought from the ribbon forests of Kazakhstan and settled in the spruce forests near Przhevalsk (Jilandy Gorge). The following year, a second batch of 73 was released into the forests of the Naryn Ridge. Each female gives birth to two litters a year, with 4-5 offspring in each. The squirrels reproduced so well that by 1955 their numbers had increased tenfold. This allowed for the capture of about 100 of their already acclimatized
Otter (Kunduz). It lives in and near water. This is a large animal with a long, flexible, streamlined body. The fur is dark brown on top and light, silvery underneath. The guard hairs are coarse, while the underfur is very dense and soft. The head is flattened, almost merging with the body, which ends in a long, muscular tail. The legs are short and equipped with well-developed webbing. The body length is 55–95 cm, the tail length is 26–55 cm, and the weight is 6–10 kg. Once, the otter
Steppe or White Ferret — Mustela (Putorius) eversmanni Lessor. (in Kyrgyz: сасык-кусен, ач-кусон) The ferret is about the size of a small cat with a long body covered in even straw-gray fur, dark brown between the eyes, on the belly, paws, and tip of the tail. In Kyrgyzstan, the Turkestan subspecies is found, which provides relatively good quality fur. It is widespread throughout the republic. It inhabits open areas - in the steppe, semi-desert, high mountains, spreading across steppe sections
Solongoi — Mustela altaica Pall. A small animal with a slender and sleek body, short limbs, and a long fluffy tail. The body length is 19–26 cm, and the tail is 8–14.5 cm. The snout is pointed, the ears are short and relatively wide, rounded, and the fur is short. The coloration is a uniform brownish-gray, with a gray-brown spot on the head from the nose to the ears, somewhat darker on the head, and the sides and belly are noticeably reddish compared to the back.
Stoat — Mustela erminea Linn. (in Kyrgyz: arys, kara-kuyruk) The territory of Kyrgyzstan is inhabited by the Fergana subspecies, which differs from other forms found in the territory of the former Soviet Union by its lighter coloration of summer fur. However, this coloration is subject to significant variations among the Tien Shan stoats. For instance, we have observed body coloration in various individuals ranging from ochre-gray and light brown to chestnut. A small portion of individuals
Weasel — Mustela nivalis Linn. (in Kyrgyz: arys-chichkan) Kyrgyzstan is inhabited by the mountain Turkestan subspecies, which has a light brown coloration in summer fur (on top) and medium body size compared to other forms inhabiting the territory of the Soviet Union. In Kyrgyzstan, it is found everywhere, from lowlands to high mountains, but is distributed extremely unevenly. Almost everywhere, the weasel is significantly outnumbered by the ermine, and it only predominates over it in certain
Vormela peregusha Guld. (in Kyrgyz: чаар кусон) In appearance, the Vormela resembles the forest and steppe ferrets but is a smaller species than they are, with a body length of 29 to 38 cm and a tail length of 15 to 22 cm. The weight of adult Vormelas ranges from 370 to 730 g. The body structure of Vormelas features an elongated narrow torso and short legs, typical of many weasel-like animals. The upper part of the body is colored in dark brown tones and covered with yellow spots and stripes.
Mountain marten, stone marten — Martes foina Erxb. (in Kyrgyz: суу cap) Kyrgyzstan is inhabited by a Central Asian subspecies of the stone marten, which is relatively large in size. It is found in almost all mountainous regions of the republic, predominantly in the mid-mountain altitude zone. The population density is generally quite low, averaging about 0.015 individuals per 10 km². The highest density is observed in the mountains of the Osh region, where there are 0.021 individuals per 10
Badger — Meles meies Linn; (in Kyrgyz: Kashkulak) The badger is widely distributed across the territory of Kyrgyzstan; it is perhaps even difficult to say where it is not found. Its vertical range is broad — from valleys cultivated for agriculture (Chuy, Talas, Issyk-Kul) to high mountain ridges at altitudes of 3500—4000 m above sea level.
Steppe or spotted cat— Fells libyca Forst. (in Kyrgyz: ала-мышык) In Kyrgyzstan, the spotted (steppe) cat is common in all low-lying valleys and is numerous in the Issyk-Kul basin, as well as in the Chuy, Kochkar, and Talas valleys. In general appearance, the steppe cat is quite similar to the forest cat, but looks somewhat smaller and lighter.
Manul — Felis (Otocolobus) manul Pall. Externally, the manul is very similar to a large domestic cat, with a body length of 52 to 65 cm, a tail length of 23 to 31 cm, and a weight ranging from 2 to 5 kilograms. It differs from the domestic cat by its denser, more massive build, short thick legs, and very thick fur (there are 9,000 hairs per square centimeter, which can reach a length of 7 cm).
Lynx — Felis lynx Linn. (in Kyrgyz: suleesun) A fairly large animal. Body length 82–105 cm, weight 8–15 kg, rarely more. The body is short and dense, on high strong legs with very wide furry paws. There are wide cheeks on the sides of the head, and tufts at the ends of the ears. The tail is short, appearing to be truncated at the end. The fur is brownish-white in winter and pale-red in autumn. It is quite widely distributed in Kyrgyzstan, found across all ridges where there is forest. Its
Snow Leopard — Felis uncia Schreb. (in Kyrgyz: Ilbirs) In Kyrgyzstan, the snow leopard is found in almost all mountain ranges, where it inhabits the belt of alpine meadows, treeless cliffs, and snowfields. Only in winter, when a thick layer of snow covers the slopes of the mountains and alpine meadows, do snow leopards descend to lower altitudes. All movements of snow leopards in winter, as well as in summer and other seasons, are mainly associated with the movements of ibex, which are their
Bear — Ursus arctos Z. (in Kyrgyz: аю) In Kyrgyzstan, it is a typical inhabitant of the highlands. It ascends to 4000 m above sea level and higher. The following locations of bears are known to us: the Terke ridge, the Kungoy Ala-Too, Naryn, At-Bash, Kyrgyz, Talas, Chatkal, Fergana, Alai, and Zaalai ridges. Bears have been repeatedly observed throughout the mountain strip, from the Khan-Tengri peak in the east to the Fergana ridge in the west, including the Ak-Sai and Arpin valleys, as well as
Fox— Vulpes vulpes Linn (in Kyrgyz: tulku) In Kyrgyzstan, it is widespread, from areas cultivated for agriculture (Chui Valley, Pre-Fergana regions) to high-altitude ridges (3500—4000 m above sea level). It can be found in various types of habitats, including areas located near human dwellings. It particularly favors territories abundant in mouse-like rodents and where there are many ravines, thickets, and other suitable places for burrowing. In high-altitude meadows, it often uses the burrows
Wolf — Canis lupus L. Widely distributed throughout Kyrgyzstan, from its valley regions to high mountain ridges. Within its range, it adheres to seasonal pastures, where tens, and sometimes hundreds of thousands of small and large livestock concentrate, or places abundant with game (ibex, argali, roe deer); in summer, it can be found in areas inhabited by marmots. Despite such a wide distribution of wolves across the republic, their numbers have significantly decreased in recent years, and
SUSLIKS (in Kyrgyz: sary chychkandar) Kyrgyzstan is home to two species of susliks: the yellow or sand suslik — Citellus fulvus Lich. and the relict suslik — Citellus relictus Kaschk. Both are significant in fur harvesting, ranking fourth in terms of their share in the republic. Yellow Suslik (in Kyrgyz: sary chychkan) A fairly large animal. Body length exceeds 300 mm, tail length up to 120 mm. The fur color is sandy-yellow with a small admixture of black hairs, uniform. The belly is somewhat
Marmots (in Kyrgyz: суурлар) In Kyrgyzstan, there are two species of marmots: the gray or Altai marmot—Marmota baibacina Kastsch and the red or long-tailed marmot—Marmota caudata Qeoffi. Some authors (Kashkarov, 1925, 1932; Kuznetsov, 1948; Blagodarova, 1947) indicate the presence of the Menzbier marmot—Marmota menzbieri Kaschk within Kyrgyzstan. This marmot was first described by D. N. Kashkarov in 1925 for the western part of the southern slope of the Talas Ala-Too, and in 1932 he suggested
Tolai Hare — Lepus tolay Pall (in Kyrgyz: kojon) It inhabits almost the entire territory of Kyrgyzstan, except for areas of intensive agriculture (Chui Valley and the Pre-Fergana regions). It is distributed from the foothills to an altitude of 4000 m above sea level. It lives in quite diverse ecological conditions, but prefers desert or semi-desert areas and dry steppes. It usually adheres to sparse shrubs, chia thickets, dried riverbeds, and ravines, slopes of mountains covered with large
More than 80 species of mammals, over 330 species of birds, about fifty species of fish, including 12 commercial species, and around 30 species of reptiles and amphibians—this is the diversity of Kyrgyz fauna. Each altitude zone and natural landscape typically has its own inhabitants, but there are also cosmopolitan species that can be found both on low plains and in high mountain areas.
The fauna of the Chui Valley is part of the Western Tienir-Tous zoogeographic region. According to specialists, more than 300 species of vertebrates inhabit this area, including over 15 species of fish, about 280 species of birds, and 50 species of mammals. The densely populated plains of the Chui Valley are mostly developed, and the natural landscape has been significantly altered, leading to a decrease in animal populations each year. In the late 19th century, tigers, wild boars, and others
