CBD Fourth National Report - Azerbaijan (English version)

Country Study on Biodiversity and Fourth National Report
The Republic of Azerbaijan
Table 3.8 Number of known endemic species from different invertebrate groups in Azerbaijan
Group Number of endemic species
Porifera (sponges) 3
Coelenterata (jellyfish, corals etc) 1
Platyhelminthes (flat worms) 3
Acanthocephales 8
Annelida 17
Mollusca 126
Anthropoda 738
The greatest number of aquatic invertebrates is found in the Caspian Sea, which is not
surprising given how the isolation of this water body may have contributed to speciation.
A number of bee species are found in restricted ranges in Nakhichevan and may be unique to
the Caucasus.
Among vertebrates, the knowledge of endemism is much higher.
• Fish. A number of fish species endemic to the Caspian Sea, mainly species from the
orders Clupeiformes (herrings) and Perciformes (perch). Fifteen species, and six subspecies
of Gobiidae (order Perciformes) in Azerbaijan are endemic, while most of the
endemic freshwater fish are from the order Cypriniformes.
• Amphibians. One species is found in Azerbaijan as Caucasian endemics (Pelodytes
caucasicus).
• Reptiles. Some species, related to Caucasian zoogeographical complex may be considered
as Caucasian endemics.
• Birds. Three regional (Caucasian) endemics are found in Azerbaijan.
− The Caucasian black grouse (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi) is found in high
mountain forests at altitudes of 1,700–3000m, in both winter and summer. It
is considered Data Deficient by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species,
2000).
− The Caucasian snowcock (Tetraogallus caucasicus) occurs in high
mountains and meadows (at altitudes of 2,200-4,000m) and is listed in the
Azerbaijan Red List.
− The green warbler (Phylloscopus nitidus) is found in pine and mixed forests
and in sub-alpine scrub at altitudes of 1,200-2,600m.
• Mammals. Although there are no strictly endemic mammals in Azerbaijan, there are
around 15 regional endemics present in the country. The Caspian white-toothed shrew
(Crocidura caspica), Hyrcan forest mouse (Sylvaemus hyrcanicus) and Schelkovnikov's
vole (Microtis schelkovnikovi) have been found in the Lenkoran district, but are also likely
to be found in the adjacent territory of Iran. The long-tailed hamster (Calomyscus
urartensis) is found in a small area in the mid-Araz valley of the southern Caucasus, and
also in Iran. Vinogradov's jird (Meriones vinogradovi) is found in the arid territory of
Nakhichevan, and also in adjacent countries. However, Nazarov's vole (Terricola
nazarovi) has only been found in the Murovdag Range of the Lesser Caucasus. The status
of the Caucasian leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica) is unclear.
Species endemic to the Caucasus region and Asia Minor include the Levant mole (Talpa
levantis), Rade's shrew (Sorex raddei), Shelkovnikov's water shrew (Neomys
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