Vertebrate Zoology - Practical Course - V. V. Kuibida - 2007

MODULE 5. Class Mammalia

Mammals of the Pereiaslav Region

Favorable climatic conditions, topography, and vegetation promote the widespread distribution of mammals throughout the Pereiaslav region. Excluding subspecies, there are 54 species representing the Class Mammalia in the region. These are predominantly Representatives of the orders Insectivora, Chiroptera, Carnivora, Rodentia, and Artiodactyla.

Among terrestrial species of the Order Insectivora, the Pereiaslav region is inhabited by members of the shrew family (Soricidae) — the common shrew (Sorex araneus), the pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus), the white-toothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon), and the lesser white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens). Colloquially, they are often confused with mice and referred to as "long-nosed mice" or "little elephants." Few people know that some shrews emit ultrasonic signals, particularly during the mating season, and perceive ultrasounds reflected from other animals or objects, perhaps because their pinnae are almost entirely hidden in fur. Some Skull bones of shrews can overlap, causing the skull to shrink in winter and enlarge in summer. Named in honor of the Polish zoologist who studied it, this phenomenon is known as "Dehnel's phenomenon." Within a day, a shrew consumes an amount of food equal to or exceeding its own body weight, and therefore must feed every 2 to 3 hours year-round. Shrews remain active in winter, tunneling under fallen leaves and snow to find insects and their larvae. They are extremely beneficial animals, although they can occasionally be a nuisance in apiaries, where they crawl into beehives, destroy bees, and damage honeycomb. At 10–11 days of age, young white-toothed shrews form so-called caravans. The young clutch the Skin near the Base of the tail of the preceding individual, and the caravan moves through the grass. The adult female at the HEAD of the Column can lift four young even through vertical passages or labyrinths without losing them.

Water-loving members of the shrew family—the Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens) and the very rare Mediterranean water shrew (Neomys anomalus)—settle along the banks of water bodies. They are adept swimmers and divers that can remain underwater for extended periods. They feed on invertebrates, Mollusks, and even fish and frogs that exceed them in size. The secret to their success lies in their venomous glands. Frogs are terrified of water shrews; upon encountering them, they seem to become paralyzed and play dead, saving themselves by covering the venomous bite Location on their heads with their front paws.

The European mole (Talpa europaea) is widely distributed in gardens, meadows, and forest edges, while the white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) inhabits shrubby and woodland biotopes. It is worth noting that many people hold the misconception that moles eat the roots of cabbage or tomatoes in garden beds, or that hedgehogs eat apples or mushrooms, as is frequently depicted in illustrations. Insectivores destroy vast numbers of harmful insects and their larvae, as well as mouse-like rodents. For the winter, a mole stores several hundred earthworms in its nest. To prepare this "live preserve," it bites off the head of each worm and walls them up in the walls of its burrow. Deprived of their heads and affected by saliva and lower temperatures, the worms cannot crawl away and remain fresh for a long time. Interestingly, the palms of a mole's front limbs are turned outward, and a crescent-shaped bone forms an outgrowth somewhat resembling a "sixth finger."

According to O. A. Sologor (1973), seven species of bats belonging to the Order Chiroptera have been recorded within the Pereiaslav region. The most common among them are the noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula), the serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus), and the common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), which are found throughout the area in tree hollows and the roofs of old buildings. We have also found them in straw ricks featuring transverse openings. They gather in cozy, dark corners in groups ranging from one to a hundred individuals. When disturbed, they emit clicking sounds while simultaneously gnashing their Teeth. Mating occurs in autumn. Following a prolonged latent period, the young are born in the spring. The female gives birth to one or two pups, which cling tightly to her lower abdomen. While nursing her young, she does not cease flying. The main diet of bats consists of mosquitoes, midges, flies, and other insects, with a particular preference for cockchafers. If you notice a pile of dead cockchafers lacking abdomens in your garden, that is the work of bats.

The Order Carnivora in the Pereiaslav region comprises two families: Mustelidae and Canidae. The Mustelidae family includes such valuable fur-bearing animals as the pine marten (Martes martes), the stone marten (Martes foina), the European polecat (Mustela putorius), the ermine (Mustela erminea), the least weasel (Mustela nivalis), the European mink (Mustela lutreola), the American mink (Mustela vison), the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), and the badger (Meles meles). The Canidae family is represented by the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the wolf (Canis lupus). In 1936, a new fur-bearing animal—the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)—was introduced to the Kyiv region from the Far East. Alongside the growth in its numbers, this introduced species has proven to be a fierce predator of waterfowl, destroying nests and preying on ducklings and other waterbirds.

The Order Rodentia is the most numerous among the mammals of the Pereiaslav region. The water vole (Arvicola terrestris) and the harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) are found along the banks of water bodies. Among the inhabitants of fields and agricultural lands, the common vole (Microtus arvalis) and the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) are widespread. In brushlands and forests, one can find the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), and the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus). Unwelcome neighbors to humans include the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) and the house mouse (Mus musculus).

Less common and rare rodents include the European pine vole (Microtus subterraneus), the hamster (Cricetus cricetus), the southern birch mouse (Sicista subtilis), the blind mole-rat (Spalax microphthalmus), the greater jerboa (Allactaga major), and the speckled ground squirrel (Spermophilus suslicus).

In deciduous forests, one may encounter the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), the edible dormouse (Glis glis)—popularly known as the night squirrel—the forest dormouse (Dryomys nitedula), and the hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius). Of heightened interest to hunters are such rodents as the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber), the American settler of the 1944–1950 period—the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)—and a representative of the Order Lagomorpha, the European hare (Lepus europaeus).

Four species of the Order Artiodactyla are found in our region. Everyone knows them, as it is difficult to confuse the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) with the wild boar (Sus scrofa), moose (Alces alces), red deer (Cervus elaphus), or sika deer (Cervus nippon).

1) Red Data Book of Ukraine:

✵ Mediterranean water shrew (Neomys anomalus), order Insectivora — represented by two subspecies with different statuses: Category III (rare) and Category IV (indeterminate). In the Pereiaslav region, this animal was found in the first half of the 20th century in the floodplain of the Supoi River within the Yahotyn District. Since then, there have been no further records of the species from our region. Generally, in Ukraine, the Mediterranean water shrew is more characteristic of the left-bank region.

✵ Greater noctule bat (Nyctalus lasiopterus), order Chiroptera — Category III (rare). An extremely rare migratory species in the Pereiaslav region. It inhabits mature deciduous forests and parks, roosting in tree hollows in small groups, often alongside other bat species. Sightings of this species in the first half of the 20th century were recorded in the vicinities of the villages of Semenivka and Selychivka in the Baryshivka District. It is listed in the European Red List and the Bern Convention (Appendix II).

✵ Southern birch mouse (Sicista subtilis), order Rodentia — Category III (rare). A very rare species in our region. It differs from ordinary mice by its small size and very long, thin tail. A black stripe runs along its back from the Nose to the tail. It inhabits steppe patches, forest edges, fallow lands, and birch groves. It is active at twilight and night. Listed in the Bern Convention (Appendix II).

✵ Greater jerboa (Allactaga major), order Rodentia — Category II (vulnerable). A very rare species in the Pereiaslav region. Colonies of the jerboa are known in the sandy, undulating areas of the Rzhyshchiv military training ground and have also been found in the vicinity of Boryspil. Other colonies of the species may exist in the Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi and Baryshivka Districts. Externally, it resembles a tiny kangaroo (jumping on long hind legs) with a long tail ending in a tuft. It lives colonially in dry areas, pastures, and roadsides, inhabiting burrows characterized by an oval entrance and a relatively long (up to 1 m) trodden pathway known as a "runway." It leads a nocturnal lifestyle, feeding on plant roots and tubers, and hibernates during the winter.

✵ Ermine (Mustela erminea), order Carnivora — Category IV (indeterminate). A sparse species in the Pereiaslav region. It inhabits diverse landscapes, including river floodplains, shrub thickets, forest edges, and clearcuts. In winter, its fur turns white, making it visually very similar to the least weasel, though it is larger and features a black tip on its tail. It is precisely because of this tail that the ermine has become one of the most famous animals in history. European monarchs trimmed their lavish collars with white tails tipped in black or wore entire robes made of ermine fur—a luxury reserved exclusively for royalty. To this day, ermine tails can be seen on the robes of the British monarch. The animal feeds primarily on mouse-like rodents, thereby bringing significant benefit to agriculture.

✵ European mink (Mustela lutreola), order Carnivora — Category II (vulnerable). A very rare species in our region. Until the 1980s, this animal was occasionally sighted visually on the adjacent islands of the Kaniv Reservoir; however, these observations cannot be considered fully reliable unless the animal was captured and craniometric measurements were taken. In nature, the European mink is very similar to the American mink, which was introduced to Russia between 1933 and 1959 and has now appeared in many parts of Ukraine. Additionally, there have been known instances of American minks escaping from large fur farms, such as the one located near the village of Veselynivka in the Baryshivka District. The American mink is a food competitor to the European mink. Where they coexist, they interbreed, but no offspring are produced due to embryo resorption. In addition to the Red Data Book of Ukraine, the European mink is listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention.

✵ Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), order Carnivora — Category II (vulnerable). A sparse, locally common species in the Pereiaslav region. It spends the majority of its Life in water, most frequently encountered in undisturbed areas such as the coastal zone of the Rzhyshchiv training ground and the islands of the Kaniv Reservoir. It feeds mainly on fish, which it prefers to consume on elevated spots along the bank. These animals love to slide down slopes, forming genuine "toboggan runs." Otters still suffer from poaching and therefore require comprehensive protection. The species is also listed in the European Red List and Appendix II of the Bern Convention.

✵ European badger (Meles meles), order Carnivora — Category II (vulnerable). This animal is a sparse species in our region. In the Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi District, it has been recorded in the area of the Rzhyshchiv training ground near the village of Divychky, along the Serpent's Wall earthworks, in the vicinity of Velyka Karatul, in the Biloziorske forestry, and elsewhere. The animal digs complex burrows featuring numerous entrances, underground passages, living chambers, and dead ends that form a veritable "badger town." Recently, the population of badgers in Ukraine has begun to grow thanks to conservation measures.

2) European Red List

In addition to the "red-booked" greater noctule bat and Eurasian otter, the following species of the Pereiaslav region are included in the European Red List:

✵ Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), order Chiroptera. A rare wintering species in the Pereiaslav region, recorded in the Boryspil District. It differs from our other bats by its enormous ears, which fold back when it is at rest. Historically, the brown long-eared bat has widely dispersed alongside humans, settling in human structures (attics, roofs, etc.). Like all bats, it provides significant benefits to humans by destroying harmful insects.

✵ Common mole-rat (Spalax microphtalmus), order Rodentia. In the Pereyaslav region, this species is uncommon. It inhabits forest edges, virgin lands, fallows, shelterbelts, and roadsides. Leading a subterranean lifestyle, it lacks external ears, and its eyes are concealed beneath the skin. Unlike the mole, it digs the soil using massive incisors that protrude prominently outside the Mouth. The body length is 200-260 mm. Mole-rat earth mounds are typically much larger than those of moles and are clustered more densely together. Their diet consists of subterranean parts of various plants, including crops. Interestingly, on the right bank of the Dnieper (including the Kaniv district), the Podolian mole-rat is already found. These two mole-rat species can be reliably distinguished only under laboratory conditions by studying their craniological features.

✵ Hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius), order Rodentia. Local common names include nut-gnawer and nutcracker. An uncommon and rare species in the Pereyaslav region. Hazel bushes or wild filbert trees are its favorite habitats. In winter, this animal hibernates in a tree hollow or underground nest, whereas in summer it constructs spherical, bird-like nests with an exit hole of about 2 cm.

✵ Wolf (Canis lupus), order Carnivora. A fairly rare predator in our region. Recently, it has been repeatedly recorded in the Dibrova tract of the Pereyaslav-Hmelnytskyi district. The wolf population in Ukraine has been gradually increasing since the 1970s and currently exceeds 2,000 individuals. This species is not strictly protected in Ukraine and is classified as a game species. It is listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention.

✵ Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentoni), order Chiroptera. An uncommon migratory bat of the Pereyaslav region. It is found predominantly in river valleys. Colonies and solitary roosts of this species were discovered in the late 1980s in the vicinity of the villages of Tsybli and Hotsky in the Pereyaslav-Hmelnytskyi district, as well as on the Snake Islands of the Kaniv Reservoir. Outwardly, it appears as a rather small bat. It hunts prey mainly near water bodies, flying over the water at a height of 5-20 cm.

✵ Nathusius's pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii), order Chiroptera. An uncommon migratory species in our region. It was recorded In the second half of the 20th century in the Baryshivka and Yahotyn districts. Visually, it differs from other bats by its very small size. The only smaller species is the common pipistrelle. Its flight is fast and steady, without sharp turns.

✵ Greater noctule (Nyctalus noctula), order Chiroptera. A common migratory species of the Pereyaslav region. It has been recorded in the Pereyaslav-Hmelnytskyi, Baryshivka, and Yahotyn districts. This is one of the largest bats in our fauna, easily distinguished from other bats by its impressive size. It inhabits deciduous and mixed forests, as well as old parks—anywhere with ancient hollow trees. The species' main migration routes run along the Dnieper towards the Black Sea in the direction of the Balkans.

✵ Serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus), order Chiroptera. A common resident and wintering species of the region, recorded in most PARTS OF THE Pereyaslav region. Its habitats are closely linked to human settlements, where it roosts and overwinters in attics, behind cornice cladding, and between double walls. It is relatively large, with a dark back and a light belly. It forms colonies ranging from several dozen to hundreds of individuals. Its flight is slow and steady, without sharp turns.

✵ Spotted suslik (Spermophilus suslicus), order Rodentia. A very rare species in the Pereyaslav region. Reliably recorded in the vicinity of the village of Voronkiv, Boryspil district. As early as the mid-20th century, it was quite widespread on the Left Bank, where it gradually disappeared due to the complete plowing of virgin lands and mass extermination by humans as an agricultural pest. It is a small animal with an elongated body, short limbs, and a short tail. External ears are practically invisible, while the eyes are large and bulging. It differs from other ground squirrels by clearly visible white spots against a grey-chestnut back. It settles on roadsides, pastures, and gully slopes, living in colonies. It hibernates during the winter. It is a candidate for the new edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

✵ Common hamster (Cricetus cricetus), order Rodentia. An uncommon rodent in the Pereyaslav region. In certain locations (such as the vicinity of Veselynivka village in the Baryshivka district), it is common. Nowadays, following the plowing of virgin lands, it has almost entirely shifted to living in agricultural landscapes. It is a relatively small animal (slightly larger than a rat) with a short tail and variegated fur dominated by yellowish-red tones. It has a distinct light patch on its cheek. Individuals that are entirely black (melanists) are characteristic of the Middle Dnieper region. Hamsters are famous for their cheek pouches, which they use to transport grain to their winter pantries. Furthermore, this rodent is known for its aggressive and vicious temperament. When in danger, it hesitates not to attack an enemy (even a human), menacingly clicking its sharp teeth. Hamster bites are extremely painful.

✵ Acclimatization of mammals

✵ Raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), also known as the Ussuri raccoon or mongoose, order Carnivora, was first introduced to the Kyiv region from the Far East in 1936. At that time, 40 individuals were released into the Mezhrichchya hunting enterprise along the Irpin River. Later, raccoon dogs were bred on collective farm fur farms in the Dymer district and released into the wild in 1941. Over several years, the raccoon population grew and reached a record high of 700 individuals in 1962. The main habitats of raccoon dogs were in the Kyiv-Svyatoshyn, Obukhiv, Pereyaslav-Hmelnytskyi, Kaharlyk, and other districts adjacent to the Dnieper floodplain with its dense thickets and marshes. Subsequently, the raccoon dog was recognized as harmful due to its propensity to feed on waterfowl and their eggs. It was hunted and eliminated by all possible means, and by 1975 their population in the Kyiv region numbered only 70 individuals. Today, in the Pereyaslav region, this species is quite common in wetland and aquatic biotopes.

✵ Siberian roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), order Artiodactyla. This species inhabits the Urals, Siberia, and the Northern Caucasus. Siberian roe deer were first brought to Ukraine in 1959, and to the Kyiv region—to the Bohuslav district (15 animals) and the Zaliske forest-game reserve (27 animals)—in the 1960s. Because the deer were released into areas inhabited by the local roe deer population, the results of this Introduction remain uncertain. It is worth noting a fascinating feature of roe deer Embryogenesis. Fertilization of one group of females occurs in August-September. After the initial Cleavage stages, the fertilized egg arrests its development. This latent period lasts for 4.5 months, until December. In December, the remaining females are also fertilized, but without any delay in embryonic development. Both groups give birth to young in May, meaning that the gestation period lasts 9 months for some and 5.5 months for others.

✵ Fallow deer (Cervus dama), order Artiodactyla. An animal with a natural range spanning the Mediterranean countries of Southern Europe, Northwestern Africa, and Asia Minor. In the 16th century, fallow deer were acclimatized in the forests of Lithuania and Belarus. Within Ukraine, fallow deer were kept in estate parks and forests during the 19th century, but during the Great Patriotic War, the last of these animals perished in the Lviv region. Fallow deer reached the Kyiv region in the 1950s. They were brought from the Askania-Nova reserve, with 10 individuals released into the Sukholisky hunting enterprise (1952) and 10 into the Holosiiv forests (1959). Subsequently, fallow deer were released from the Kyiv Zoo and other locations, and by 1985 their population reached 77 individuals. Recently, they have been released in the forests near the villages of Tsybli and Divychky, and in 2006, 10 fallow deer were introduced into the Dibrova tract near Pereyaslav-Hmelnytskyi.

✵ Sika deer (Cervus nippon), order Artiodactyla. The natural range of this deer encompasses the Ussuri Krai, China, Vietnam, and Japan. At the beginning of the 20th century, the sika deer was an endangered species. The main reason for its population decline was the hunting of males for their unossified antlers (velvet antlers), used to produce the medicinal preparation "Pantocrin", known for its tonic and restorative properties. Interestingly, once a year in April, the deer shed their antlers. New antlers grow very rapidly, at a rate of 1.5-4 cm per day. They remain soft and covered in fur for 120 days. The sika deer was introduced to the Kyiv region from the Askania-Nova reserve in 1956 (20 individuals into the Dymer hunting enterprise). Its numbers grew due to further introductions from the Far East into Zaliske, Dymer, and Biloozerka in the Pereyaslav-Hmelnytskyi district, among others. By the early 1970s, about 250 sika deer lived in the Kyiv region. Recently, they have been released in the forests near the villages of Tsybli and Divychky, and in 2006, 10 deer were introduced into the Dibrova tract near Pereyaslav-Hmelnytskyi. Occasional wanderings of the species into the territory of the Kaniv Nature Reserve have also been recorded.

✵ Muskrat (Ondatra zibethica), order Rodentia. This semi-aquatic rodent is a native of the North American fauna. In 1929, 36 muskrats from Canadian populations were brought to Ukraine for the first time. Muskrats reached the Kyiv region after the Great Patriotic War and successfully adapted to local water bodies. For instance, by 1985, the muskrat population in the Kyiv region reached 3,130 individuals. Muskrats feed on diverse plant matter, thereby clearing ponds, lakes, and rivers, which enhances the productivity of these aquatic ecosystems. Serving as prey for foxes, raccoon dogs, otters, and polecats, the muskrat contributed to an increase in their populations. Its fur is in demand on both domestic and international markets.

✵ Bobak marmot (Marmota bobak), order Rodentia. Several centuries ago, this animal was widespread in the Kyiv region, then vanished, after which numerous attempts have been made to restore its population. Guillaume Le Vasseur de Beauplan wrote about their presence in the Kyiv region (Description of Ukraine, 1650): "There are two rivers—the Sula and the Supiy, both flowing into the Dnieper. Between these rivers live small animals called *baybaks* in the local language...". Aside from Other Aspects of their biology, Beauplan describes astonishing scenes of intra-population behavior among marmots: "One might say there are slaves among these animals, for the lazy ones command those slaves to lie on their backs and place a large bundle of dry leaves on their bellies, which the marmot holds with both paws... Then other marmots pull the little beast by the tail all the way to the burrow entrance—thus the leaves are transported as if on a sled. From there, they are forced to distribute the grass into the burrows. I have seen several times how skillfully they do this" (cited in Krysachenko V.S., 1995, p. 265). Today, the bobak marmot is found only in the extreme east of Ukraine. Repeated attempts have been made to reintroduce bobaks in the Kyiv region. In the postwar years, bobaks were released several times, but each time without success. The latest attempt was the release of marmots in the Batura tract of the "Trakhtemyriv" Regional Landscape Park in 1999.