ИСТИНА

The researches of the Mediterranean ecosystems vertebrate fauna at the Abrau Peninsula (northeastern coast of the Black Sea) are conducted since 1990. Broad-leaf forests, Juniper-pistachio light forests and shiblyak cover the low mountains of this part of the North-Western Caucasus. Herpeto- and Theriofauna are very rich here due to the diversity of the habitats. Eight species of amphibians (Lissotriton vulgaris, Triturus karelinii, Pelobates fuscus, Bufo verrucosissimus, Pseudepidalea viridis, Hyla arborea, Rana macrocnemis, Pelophilax ridibundus) and 15 species of reptiles (Testudo graeca, Emys orbicularis, Anguis fragilis, Pseudopus apodus, Lacerta agilis, L. media, Darevskia praticola, D. brauneri, Hierophis caspius, Platyceps najadum, Zamenis longissimus, Elaphe sauromates, Natrix natrix, N. tessellata, Pelias renardi) inhabit the Abrau Peninsula. There are amphibian species of European (3), Europ-Asian (2), Caucasian (1), Near Eastern-Caucasian (1) and Euro-Mediterranean types of the area. Among reptiles dominate species of the Mediterranean-Southwest Asia type of the areas (8). Reptile species of the Euro-Asian type form the second group (5). 4 species of amphibians and 11 species and subspecies of reptiles are included into the Red Data Book for the Krasnodar region (2007) and 9 species of herptiles are in the IUCN Red list as Threatened species. Most of the amphibians and reptiles inhabit dry subtropical ecosystems on slopes of the south-eastern and southern exposure along the coast. Theriofauna of the mountainous part of the Abrau Peninsula is represented by 58 species of mammals. The most diverse are Chiroptera (18 species), Carnivora (14) and Rodentia (12). There are three species of Cetacea: Delphinus delphis ponticus, Tursiops truncates ponticus, Phocoena phocoena relicta in the coastal waters of the Black Sea. They in IUCN Red list as LC, EN and EN, respectively. The most species of Abrau Peninsula theriofauna are widespread (19 species) or have a range of European-type (19 species). There are 6 Caucasian species and 6 Caucasian subspecies in Abrau Peninsula. They give to Utrish theriofauna the Caucasian appearance. There are also alien mammal species at the Abrau Peninsula: Sciurus vulgaris, Nyctereutes procyonoides, Procyon lotor, Cervus nippon and archeoinviders - Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus and R. rattus. The last has disappeared now. Three new mammal species for this region have been described: Sorex raddei, Chionomys sp., Sylvaemus ponticus. Our studies suggest that the Abrau Peninsula is the north-western tip of the spread of the Caucasian Herpeto- and Theriofauna. Utrish reserve was created at the Abrau Peninsula in 2010. It is the only reserve at the Black Sea coast of Russia. Its territory (10000 ha) includes both land and coastal waters. There are many endemic and rare species of the Caucasian Herpeto- and Theriofauna in Utrish reserve. However, the most of the dry subtropical ecosystems (the preferred habitats of the rare species) remained beyond its borders. Our task is to preserve the unique fauna of amphibians, reptiles and mammals of this region.