Mongolian Red List of Reptiles and Amphibians - Web - Zoological ...

DISTRIBUTION OF MONGOLIAN REPTILES AND
AMPHIBIANS
When the distributions of the threatened species were overlaid, a clear trend of increasing
richness of threatened species moving southwards became evident. Areas with largest numbers
of threatened species are the Trans Altai Govi Desert, the Govi Altai Mountain Range, Alashan’
Govi Desert and the Eastern Govi. Although many reptiles would be expected to be distributed
in desert and semi-desert habitats in southern Mongolia, there are a greater number of threatened
amphibian species than reptiles, yet the representation of the threatened species in northern
habitats (forested areas with rivers and streams or large lakes), is considerably lower. This is
largely driven by the fact that the threatened amphibians, on average, have much smaller ranges
and there is therefore less overlap of their distributions.
Figure 4. Distribution map of threatened amphibian and reptile species. Darker colours represent areas with
higher numbers of species.
Amphibians
A distinct pattern is revealed when comparing the species richness and the distribution of
threatened amphibian species (Figures 5.a and b respectively). The majority of the species
present in Mongolia are found in the north and north-eastern regions such as the Hangai
Mountain Range, the Hövsgöl Mountain Range, Mongol Daguur Steppe, Middle Halh Steppe,
Eastern Mongolia, Ikh Hyangan Mountain Range, and at greatest concentrations in the Hentii
Mountain Range. This pattern is refl ected in the distribution map of threatened amphibian
species. Greatest concentrations of threatened amphibians occur in the Hentii Mountain
Range, where their overall richness is highest. Other areas with a similar high distribution
contain high numbers of threatened species, such as the Ikh Hyangan Mountain Range, the
Hövsgöl Mountain Range, and Mongol Daguur Steppe.
Reptiles
The distribution of reptiles in Mongolia is more varied, perhaps because there are a greater
number of reptiles than amphibians, and more suitable habitat for this group of species. The
resulting distribution map of reptile species richness refl ects these differences, although a large
majority of the species occur either in the south-west or south of the country (Figure 5.c).
Relatively large numbers of species can also be found in the west of the country, particularly
at Great Lakes Depression and the western Hangai Mountain Range. Areas containing the
greatest species richness include the Trans Altai Govi Desert, the Govi Altai Mountain Range,
Alashan’ Govi Desert, and the Eastern Govi. All of these areas also contained the largest
number of threatened species. (Figure 5.d)
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