Animals and birds of the coniferous forest. Animals of mixed forests

From September 15 to 17, Russia celebrates one of the largest environmental holidays - Russian days forests. As you know, forests are not only lungs of the planet and a pantry of various berries, mushrooms and medicinal herbs, but also home to many amazing animals. In this regard, we are telling you about some rare animals that live in Russian forests.

1. Musk deer.

This small deer-like animal with fangs lives in the mountain coniferous forests of the Sayans, Altai, Transbaikalia and Primorye. Despite its terrifying appearance, the musk deer feeds exclusively on vegetation. However, the musk deer is notable not only for this, but also for its attractive smell, which lures females for mating. This smell appears due to the musk gland located in the male’s belly next to the genitourinary canal.

As you know, musk is a valuable component of various medicines and perfumes. And it is precisely because of this that musk deer often become the prey of hunters and poachers. Another reason why this unusual animal is classified as an endangered species is the reduction of the boundaries of its range, which is associated with increased human economic activity (mainly deforestation).

One of the solutions to the problem of preserving the species in wildlife is farm breeding musk deer and selection of musk from living males.

2. Japanese green pigeon.

This unusual bird, about 33 cm long and weighing approximately 300 grams, has a bright yellowish-green color. It is common in South-East Asia, but also found in the Sakhalin region (Crillon Peninsula, Moneron Islands and South Kurile Islands). The bird inhabits deciduous and mixed forests with an abundance of cherry and bird cherry trees, elderberry bushes and other plants, the fruits of which it feeds on.

The Japanese green pigeon is a rare species, and therefore little is known about its life. Today scientists know that green pigeons are monogamous birds. They weave their nests from thin twigs and place them in trees at a height of up to 20 meters. It is believed that partners hatch eggs in turns for 20 days. And after that, helpless, down-covered chicks are born, which will learn to fly only after five weeks. However, pairs or flocks of green pigeons are rarely seen in Russia; most often they are noticed alone.

3. Far Eastern, or Amur leopards.

Even at the beginning of the 20th century, there were much more rare cats, and their range covered a considerable territory - the eastern and northeastern parts of China, the Korean Peninsula, the Amur, Primorsky and Ussuri territories. However, between 1970 and 1983, the Far Eastern leopard lost 80% of its territory! The main reasons then were forest fires and the conversion of forest areas for Agriculture.

Today, the Amur leopard continues to lose its territory and also suffers from a lack of food. After all, roe deer, sika deer and other ungulates, which this leopard hunts, are killed in huge numbers by poachers. And since the Far Eastern leopard has beautiful fur, it itself is a very desirable trophy for poachers.

Also due to the lack of suitable food in the wild Far Eastern leopards are forced to go looking for her in reindeer herding farms. There, predators are often killed by the owners of these farms. And on top of that, due to the small size of the population of Amur leopards, it will be very difficult for representatives of the subspecies to survive during various disasters like a fire.

However, all this does not mean that the subspecies will soon disappear. Today there are still large areas of forest that provide suitable habitat for the Far Eastern leopard. And if these areas can be preserved and protected from fires and poaching, then the population of these amazing animals in the wild will increase.

Interestingly, Far Eastern leopards are the only leopards that have been able to learn to live and hunt in harsh winter conditions. In this, by the way, they are helped by long hair, as well as strong and long legs, which allow them to catch up with prey while moving through the snow. However, Amur leopards are not only good hunters, but also exemplary family men. Indeed, sometimes males stay with females after mating and even help them with raising kittens, which, in principle, is not typical for leopards.

4. Alkina.

These butterflies live in the southwest of Primorsky Krai and are found along streams and rivers in mountain forests, where the food plant of the caterpillars of the species, the Manchurian liana, grows. Most often, male butterflies fly to the flowers of this plant, and females sit in the grass most of the time. Alkinoe females tend to linger on this plant to lay eggs on its leaves.

Today, due to the disturbance of the Kirkazon habitat and its collection as medicinal plant its quantity in nature decreases, which, of course, affects the number of alkynoe. On top of everything else, butterflies suffer because they are collected by collectors.

5. Bison.

Previously, these animals were widespread in the territory former USSR, but by the beginning of the 20th century they were preserved only in Belovezhskaya Pushcha and the Caucasus. However, even there their numbers were steadily declining. For example, by 1924, only 5-10 bison remained in the Caucasus. The main reasons for the decline of bison were their extermination by hunters and poachers, as well as destruction during military operations.

The restoration of their numbers began in 1940 in Caucasian Nature Reserve, and now in Russia bison inhabit two regions - the North Caucasus and the center of the European part. In the North Caucasus, bison live in Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia, Chechnya, Ingushetia and the Stavropol Territory. And in the European part there are isolated herds of bison in the Tver, Vladimir, Rostov and Vologda regions.

Bison have always been inhabitants of deciduous and mixed forests, but avoided extensive forest areas. In the Western Caucasus, these animals live mainly at an altitude of 0.9 - 2.1 thousand meters above sea level, often going out into clearings or treeless slopes, but never moving away from forest edges.

By appearance The bison is very similar to its American relative, the bison. Nevertheless, it is still possible to distinguish them. First of all, the bison has a higher hump, more long horns and tail than that of a bison. And in the hot months, the back of the bison is covered with very short hair (it even seems that it is bald), while the bison has hair of the same length all over its body at any time of the year.

The bison is listed in the Red Book of Russia as an endangered species and today lives in many nature reserves and zoos.

6. Fish owl.

This species settles along river banks in Far East from Magadan to the Amur region and Primorye, as well as on Sakhalin and the Southern Kuril Islands. The fish owl prefers to live in the hollows of old trees with an abundance of aquatic prey nearby, however, old forests and hollow trees are often cut down, which inevitably displaces these birds from their habitats. In addition, fish eagle owls are caught by poachers, and they often fall into traps while trying to pull the bait out of them. The development of water tourism on the Far Eastern rivers and, consequently, increased disturbance of these birds gradually leads to a decrease in the number of eagle owls and interferes with their reproduction. All this has led to the fact that today this species is endangered.

The fish owl is one of the largest owls in the world, as well as the largest member of its genus. Interestingly, these birds can hunt with two different ways. Most often, the fish eagle looks for fish while sitting on a stone in the river, from the shore or from a tree hanging over the river. Having noticed the prey, the eagle owl dives into the water and instantly grabs it with its sharp claws. And when this predator tries to catch sedentary fish, crayfish or frogs, it simply enters the water and probes the bottom with its paw in search of prey.

7. Giant noctule.

This bat, the largest in Russia and Europe, lives in deciduous forests in the territory from the western borders of our country to Orenburg region, as well as from the northern borders to Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod regions. There they settle in tree hollows, 1-3 individuals each, in colonies of others bats(usually red and lesser noctules).

The giant noctule is rare view, however, ecologists do not know exactly what is causing their low numbers. According to scientists, deforestation poses a threat deciduous forests. However, today there are no special measures to protect these animals, since it is not clear what measures will be effective.

It's interesting that these the bats They hunt large beetles and moths, flying over forest edges and ponds. However, blood and droppings analysis showed that these animals feed also small birds during migrations, however, this was never recorded.

8. Heavenly barbel.

In Russia, in the south of the Primorsky Territory (in the Terneysky, Ussuriysky, Shkotovsky, Partizansky and Khasansky districts) a beetle with a bright blue color lives. It lives in broadleaf forests mainly in the wood of the greenbark maple. There the female beetle lays eggs, and after about half a month the larvae appear. They develop in the wood for about 4 years, and then, in June, the larva gnaws out the “cradle” and pupates. After about 20 days, the beetle emerges from the wood and immediately begins to reproduce. He will spend all his strength on this for the rest of his life, which lasts only two weeks.

The barbel is listed in the Red Book of Russia as a rare species whose numbers are declining. According to environmentalists, the reason for this is deforestation and a sharp decrease in the number of greenbark maples.

9. Himalayan, or white-breasted bear.

The Ussuri white-breasted bear inhabits the deciduous forests of the Primorsky Territory and southern regions Khabarovsk Territory and the southeastern part of the Amur region. Until 1998, it was listed in the Red Book of Russia as a rare species, and today it is hunting look. However, if in the 90s its population was 4-7 thousand individuals, now this bear is on the verge of extinction (its population is up to 1 thousand individuals). The reason for this was, first of all, deforestation and mass hunting. The latter, by the way, was discussed during the international environmental forum “Nature without Borders” in Vladivostok, after which in 2006 a decision was made in the Primorsky Territory to introduce restrictions on hunting the Himalayan bear during hibernation.

The white-breasted bear leads a semi-arboreal lifestyle: it gets food in trees and hides from enemies (these are mainly Amur tigers and brown bears). Almost the entire diet of this bear consists of plant food, in particular nuts, fruits and berries, as well as shoots, bulbs and rhizomes. It also does not refuse to feast on ants, insects, mollusks and frogs.

10. Black stork

A widespread but rare species, the number of which is declining due to human economic activity, manifested in deforestation and drainage of swamps. Today the bird is found in forests from the Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions to Southern Primorye. The black stork prefers to settle near bodies of water in deep, old forests.

Exactly there, on the old tall trees(and sometimes on rock ledges) black storks build nests, which they will then use for several years. When the time comes to invite the female to the nest (around the end of March), the male fluffs up his white undertail and begins to emit a hoarse whistle. The eggs laid by the female (from 4 to 7 pieces) will be incubated by the partners in turn until the chicks hatch from them after 30 days.

The coniferous forests of the Northern Continent represent the most extensive areas of continuous forest cover on Earth. Conifers do well in high latitudes because they are evergreen, and photosynthesis can begin immediately as soon as conditions become favorable for growth, without the need to grow leaves first, as is the case with deciduous forests. In this way, conifers compensate for the short growing season, which lasts from 50 to 80 days, depending on latitude. Seed maturation and reproduction are also related to climate. Coniferous trees, unlike deciduous trees, do not form fruiting organs, which are pollinated and ripen within one year. Fertilization in the female cone may take a year or more to complete and may take up to three years until the bud develops and the seeds are ripe for propagation.
The result of the lack of leaf litter and the prevalence of cold climatic conditions that retard the natural decomposition of the carpet of fallen pine needles, a material that is difficult to decompose in any case, is only a very thin layer of soil and little or no undergrowth. The mammals that inhabit these areas are mostly herbivores and live on a diet of moss, pine needles, bark and cones. Insectivorous birds are rare compared to those that feed on the seeds and buds of conifers. Forest fires are infrequent in these areas, and usually occur in the spring, when there is little sap in the trees. At this time, vast areas can be devastated.
Re-occupancy begins deciduous trees- birch, alder and rowan, which only after some time are replaced by climax vegetation - spruce, larch, cedar * or pine.
Characteristic for coniferous trees The tall, pointed shape is ideal for supporting the weight of snow that falls in the winter and allows the snow to slide off quickly when it begins to melt in the spring. The shallow root system is perfectly adapted to the thin layer of soil that characterizes this habitat.
In northern regions where underlying soil layers remain frozen all year round, and therefore impervious to water, many rivers, streams and swamps arise with their local flora of mosses and sedges. The forest becomes more and more sparse and mixes with the neighboring tundra. Large areas of tundra mosses and lichens grow at higher elevations. Near rivers in the transition region, the forest remains dense and encroaches far to the north, into the tundra, along river valleys. On the southern edge of the taiga belt, coniferous forests are gradually replaced by deciduous forests.
Throughout the world, small areas of coniferous forests occur outside their main latitudinal distribution, especially on mountain slopes, where altitudinal zonation creates climatic conditions, similar to the conditions formed near the poles.
Throughout the Human Age, coniferous forests have suffered significant damage due to clearing for agriculture and industrial forestry. As a result, large areas of land were subject to wind and rain erosion, which destroyed the soil structure and, naturally, reduced its ability to retain moisture. Coniferous forests took some time to recover from the damage because the normal process of succession cannot take place immediately.

* It should be remembered that in the northern coniferous forests there is no true cedar (genus Cedrus). Under English word“cedar” can refer to juniper, Siberian cedar pine (most often called that), thuja and cypress. – V.P.

VEGETARIAN BEASTS

Evolution of the helmethorns

Animals that feed on woody vegetation are largest inhabitants in areas covered with coniferous forest. In the summer they feed mostly on young shoots and needles, and subsist on a diet of bark, mosses and lichens for the rest of the year. Throughout the northern continent, the most numerous species are those descended from the gigantelopes of the African subcontinent. These northern animals, although heavier than their distant antelope ancestors, are not even close in size to the African giantelopes. Only shaggy forms with Far North, living in the tundra, can be compared with them in size.
The difference in size between the two different northern forms stems from two different periods of dispersal. The first of these took place about forty million years ago, before the giant mountain ranges were erected between Africa and Europe, and around the time that the rabbits drove the antelopes from their original home on the African plains. Gigantelopes, then still in the early stages of their evolution, were forced to move north into coniferous forests, where they later began to flourish and evolved into helmeted horns. Cornudens spp.
The second wave of migration took place closer to the present, about ten million years ago, when African giantelopes reached their current elephantine proportions. Erosion of the mountain range that once separated the Indian subcontinent from the rest of Asia opened up new routes to the north, and led to the gradual settlement of the tundra and the evolution of the woolly gigantelope. Megalodorcas sp.
Soon after the appearance of these animals in coniferous forests, the jaws and horns of the ancestral forms of helmeted horns began to evolve in accordance with their new habitat. Like the now almost extinct ruminants, many of these animals did not have upper incisors. They plucked grass using the lower incisors and the bone plate in the upper jaw. But such a system is not very effective for tearing branches from forest trees. The first change that occurred was the growth of the horny plate on the head forward, forming a kind of beak. The lower lip became muscular and extended forward to align
with her, thereby stretching oral cavity forward some distance from the front teeth. Such a primitive structure is still found in some species, for example, in the helmeted helmet Cornudens horridus. In more advanced forms, however, the lower jaw also extended forward so that the front teeth aligned with the horny beak. These adaptations are the result of evolutionary pressure to allow only those species that could successfully feed on the branches and bark of conifers and lichens to survive. The bizarre horny formations above the eyes are also used for protection.
The structure of the horns has evolved one step further in the water helmet Cornudens latirostris, which inhabits lakes and river banks. This creature has a horny plate extended forward in the form of a wide structure, similar to a rake, with the help of which this animal collects soft aquatic plants, which it searches for at the bottom of ponds and streams. On each leg it has two wide hooves, widely spread to the sides and connected by a membrane of skin, which protects the animal from getting stuck in soft mud and sand. In its way of life, the water helmet most likely resembles hadrosaurs - duck-billed dinosaurs of the last half of the Age of Reptiles.

As in any other habitat, animals coniferous forest included in the familiar web of food chains of predators and their prey, with carnivores forming the final link. Here, as in the temperate deciduous forests, the most ferocious and common hunters are the predatory rats. They hunt under trees in small flocks, tracking down rabbits or helmeted sheep, separating weak and aging individuals from the herd, and driving them to exhaustion. Predatory rats do this before attacking, then tearing apart the prey with their strong front teeth. Helmethorns have powerful horns, so if they are chased, it can be just as dangerous for the predator as for the one being chased.
A predator unique to coniferous forests is the pamtret Vulpemustela acer, a large animal similar to a weasel, one of the few representatives of true predators still living. Its size - up to two meters in length - makes it the largest predator found in these areas, and it may owe its survival to its short, muscular body and ability to easily run through sparse undergrowth, suddenly appearing in front of its prey. Pamtrets live in small family groups and usually hunt in pairs.
Not all predators are mammals; Birds also take their share of small animal populations. Bigbeak Pseudofraga sp., one of the largest birds of prey, has a wingspan of about a meter and lives in the western forests of the Northern Continent. She descended from the starling, which evolved to fill the gap left when many ancient predator birds became extinct during the Age of Man. It has a rounded tail and wide, blunted wings, thanks to which it flies quickly and maneuverably between frequently growing trees. It has a straight, strong beak and strong claws, which it uses to grab prey. The closest living relative of the greatbeak, Parops
lepidorostris- a completely different creature. It is only ten centimeters long and feeds mainly on insects, which it pulls out of the bark of trees with its thin beak.
With so many predators in the coniferous forest, it is not surprising that small mammals must have a variety of defenses to ensure their survival. Spine-tailed squirrel Humisciurus spinacaudatus is a great example of their ingenuity. It has a long, wide and flat tail with spines developing on its underside, which lies on the ground at rest. However, when the animal is alarmed, it throws its tail over its back, and with a sharp increase in skin tension, it raises the spines. This becomes an almost insurmountable barrier, and can be used to repel attacks from any side.
The beaver was a large rodent that adapted a semi-aquatic lifestyle during the Age of Mammals, in part to protect itself from predators. After man, beaver Castor spp. became even better adapted to life in water. His tail and hind legs fused together into one large rowing surface, which, driven by the spine, produces powerful up and down rowing movements. Its ears, eyes and nose are set high up on its head and remain on the surface when the rest of the animal's body is submerged in water. Surprisingly, the paddle surface does not interfere with the animal’s movement on the ground, and is used as a grasping limb, allowing it to climb trees, expanding the range of possible food sources and building material.

LIFE IN THE TREES

Birds and animals that feed on trees and on trees of coniferous forests

Throughout the Age of Mammals, rodents were one of the most successful groups of animals in coniferous forests. Their powerful teeth helped them cope with the tough plant material they found there, and their warm, fluffy coats helped them retain body heat during hibernation.*
Incisive tooth Tenebra vermiforme, a rodent relative of the moth squirrel from temperate deciduous forests, is highly adapted to life in coniferous forests. Its huge incisors and worm-like body allow it to drill deep tunnels in living trees, where in winter it is reliably protected from the cold. Although in some respects this animal is at an advanced stage of development, its parasitic lifestyle is rather more primitive. The basis of his diet is tree bark, which he peels off completely, leaving the tree bare. This, combined with the serious damage it causes by tunneling, destroys the tree within a few years.
Since chiseltooths inhabit only living trees, they must constantly move, and every spring, after hibernation, a new generation of young individuals migrate in search of new lands. They are very vulnerable during migration and many are predated by predators before they complete their journey. The balance between woodworm and predator is extremely fragile, and only a slight decrease in the number of predators is enough for an increase in the number of woodgnaws to occur, which could lead to the complete destruction of coniferous forest over large areas.
Not a single small rodent of any other species among the inhabitants of coniferous forests is so destructive. Many feed on shoots, bark and seeds found in cones. Many species live on the ground and feed from cones when they fall. Other species are lightly built and agile enough to climb branches where cones grow.
One large vole-like rodent travels Scandemys longicaudata, is unusual in that it has a prehensile tail. It is too heavy to reach the cones growing on the thinnest branches, and instead it feeds on them by hanging by its tail on a stronger branch growing nearby and reaching for them with its front paws. Like other rodents of approximately the same size, it collects more food than is necessary to satisfy its one-time needs, and stores the leftovers for the hungry winter months. Its hibernation nest is a long hanging structure woven from grass, strips of bark and pine needles. Hanging from the end of a branch, it is large enough to accommodate the animal along with enough food for a successful winter.
Among the many seed-eating birds that live in coniferous forests, the largest is the common pine click beetle** Paraloxus targa. The two sexes of this bird differ greatly both in appearance and in lifestyle. The male has a more powerful build and is armed with a massive beak, which he uses to break Pine cones and get the seeds out of them. The female, smaller and duller in color, completely lacks the heavy beak of the male and is a scavenger, including carrion, insects, larvae and bird eggs in her diet. It is most likely that the ancestor of the common pine clicker was a bird similar in appearance to the modern female, and that the distinctive features of the male evolved primarily for mating purposes, and its feeding habits are a secondary adaptation.

Animals living in mixed forests are generally characteristic of the entire forest zone of Russia. Hares, foxes, hedgehogs and even wild boars can also be found in well-developed forests. Squirrels already feel great not only in the wild, but also in an ordinary city park. Beaver lodges can still be seen on rivers far from populated areas. There are also such animals of mixed forests as bear, marten, wolf and badger. Elks also quite often come out onto roadways and the outskirts of villages.

Inhabitants of mixed deciduous forests

In mixed broad-leaved forest Representatives of the animal world of taiga forests also feel great: the white hare, the squirrel. At the same time, the most typical animals of mixed forests live: elk, badger.

Elk

It's not called the European moose for nothing forest giant. It is one of the largest animals living in the mixed deciduous forest zone. Its average weight reaches three hundred kilograms. The male's head is decorated with huge horns. The fur of this animal is usually gray or black-brown.

These inhabitants of mixed forests feed mainly on the shoots of young trees, preferring aspen, willow or rowan. In winter, moose choose pine needles, mosses and lichens as their main food. These animals are excellent swimmers. An adult can swim calmly for a full two hours at a fairly good speed (up to 10 km/h). The end of spring and the very beginning of summer is the time when a moose cow gives birth. As a rule, these are one or two calves, which throughout summer period live with their mother.

Badger

The common badger is found throughout the entire territory of mixed forests. In size, this animal can be compared to a small dog. The body length reaches 90 cm, and average weight badger approximately 25 kg. It hunts exclusively at night for insects, digging up nutritious roots and various worms along the way. He loves frogs very much. Badger is a nocturnal animal, daylight hours he spends days in his hole.

The badger hole is a very interesting structure. As a rule, it has several floors and a huge number of entrances and exits. Sometimes their number reaches up to 50. The central hole can reach a length of up to 10 meters and is located at a depth of up to 5 meters. The badger is a very clean animal: it always buries all its uncleanness in the ground. They live in colonies. The badger spends the winter hibernating.

Common hedgehog

Hedgehogs are animals that live in mixed forests. This little animal has a very poor vision, but perfectly developed hearing and sense of smell. In case of danger, the hedgehog curls up, taking the shape of a ball. And then none of the predators can cope with it (this animal has approximately 5000 spines, the length of which is 2 cm).

In the territory of mixed forests of Russia, the most common are hedgehogs whose spines have gray shade and dark transverse stripes are clearly visible.

The hedgehog prefers insects and invertebrates as food: earthworms, slugs and snails. Hunts frogs, snakes, destroys the nests of birds living on the ground. Sometimes eats wild berries.

The common hedgehog has two burrows: summer and winter. The winter hole serves him for sleep, which lasts from mid-autumn until April, and the summer version of the home is used for the birth of offspring. Baby hedgehogs are born naked, and a little later (within a few hours) soft white needles appear, which within 36 hours change their color to their usual color.

Mole

There are quite a lot of moles in mixed forests. These completely blind animals spend most of their lives underground. They feed mainly on insects, larvae, and earthworms. Moles do not hibernate in winter, since at this time of year they do not experience problems with a lack of food.

Mixed forest animals

White hare

The habitat of this animal is not limited to the mixed forest zone. It can be found both in the tundra and in steppe bushes. IN winter time The color of its skin becomes completely white. Only the tips of the ears still remain black. The paws are overgrown with fluffier fur. In summer, these animals of mixed forests have the usual gray color.

The mountain hare feeds on grass, shoots and bark of trees: willow, birch, aspen, maple, oak and hazel. The hare does not have a permanent hole as such. At the slightest danger, this animal prefers to flee.

A female hare brings up to 6 rabbits twice during the summer. The young become adults after spending the winter with their mother.

bison

The fauna of the mixed forests of Russia quite recently could boast of such magnificent animals as They were found everywhere in the northwestern regions of Russia. But, unfortunately, the bison population was almost completely exterminated. To date, a lot of work has been done in the country to restore the numbers of these animals.

River beavers

The fauna of mixed forests is represented by such an interesting and unusual animal as the river beaver. Previously, they were found almost everywhere. But because of their very valuable fur, they were almost completely exterminated.

Beavers prefer to choose quiet forest rivers for their homes, the banks of which are covered with dense thickets. These animals feed on young shoots of trees and their bark.

It's called a hut. Beavers use tree branches as building material. The size of the hut has no strict restrictions. Each beaver builds it differently, but it must be repaired every year.

Of particular interest are the dams that these animals skillfully know how to build. Beavers build dams in case the water level in the river drops very sharply. The finished dam can easily support the weight of an adult.

A wild boar

Wild boar is very strong and fast beast. Despite some external clumsiness, he moves easily and quickly on his strong legs. Wild boars live in small herds, which consist of males and females with piglets. The boar's eyes are small and, moreover, this animal is somewhat blind. Therefore, the main senses for a boar are hearing and smell. This fully explains the typical behavior of a wild boar in the event of possible danger: it raises its nose upward, sniffing and at the same time pricking its ears.

Wild boars are native to forests as they are active mainly at night. Wild boars spend daylight hours in hard-to-reach places. Boars are absolutely omnivorous.

But mixed forests are home to not only herbivores, but also forest predators: bears, wolves, foxes and martens.

Wolves

The most dangerous animals in mixed forests are, of course, wolves. They have always caused a lot of trouble, but nevertheless, the call for the complete extermination of the population of this animal is completely unjustified. The wolf is a predatory animal, but it destroys mainly sick or severely weakened animals. By doing this, it helps improve the health of the animal population living in the area. In areas where the number of these predators is relatively small, there is practically no harm from this animal.

Pine marten

Marten is another one bright representative predatory animals living in mixed forests. This animal makes nests in tree hollows, choosing rather high places for this. Leading night image life, the marten quite often destroys squirrel nests. The squirrel is active during daylight hours, and at night it sleeps soundly in the hollow, so it becomes very easy prey for the marten. But the marten also eats food of plant origin: fruits or berries. He loves to eat wild honey. Because of this weakness, he may be quite for a long time live directly next to a bee's nest. Sometimes several martens can gather in one place at the same time.

Fox

The fox is a very cautious predator. The body length of this animal reaches a meter and the famous fox tail is almost the same size. The fur of this animal most often has a red color, the chest and abdomen are light gray, but the tip of the tail is always white.

These animals prefer mixed forests, which alternate with clearings, ponds and meadows. The fox can be seen both on the outskirts of villages and in groves among meadows.

The fox's vision is rather poorly developed, so it navigates the area using its sense of smell and excellent hearing. The fox uses abandoned badger holes as a home. Sometimes it digs a hole on its own, the depth of which reaches 4 meters. There must be several emergency exits.

Foxes prefer to lead. They are nocturnal predators. The fox feeds on rodents, hares or birds. In very rare cases, it attacks a roe deer calf. no more than 8 years.

Lynx

Lynx is another representative of predators living in mixed forests. Lynx hunts from ambush. She can track prey for quite a long time, hiding among the branches of trees or dense bushes. This predator has long, powerful paws that help the lynx jump over fairly long distances.

The main prey of the lynx is roe deer or deer. But she does not disdain small mammals. He will happily chase a hare or catch a bird. The lynx arranges its burrow in advance in order to calmly give birth to offspring. Typically, the number of kittens in a litter ranges from 2 to 4 cubs. They live next to their mother for 9 months.

Animals of mixed forests of Russia

Thus, mixed forests have a fairly diverse animal world. Among the inhabitants of this natural area There are both predators and herbivores, both inhabitants of taiga forests and “indigenous” inhabitants of the forest-steppe zone. Many animals fall into deep winter hibernation, while others, on the contrary, lead an active lifestyle all year round.

Coniferous forests are mainly found in the northern hemisphere. Pines and larches, spruce and cedars, firs and cypresses, junipers and thujas grow in them. The climate of this natural zone is quite cold, since such conditions are relevant for the growth of coniferous trees. Coniferous forests have a rich fauna, which ranges from insects and rodents to omnivorous animals and birds.

Main fauna representatives

Coniferous forests are inhabited mainly by vegetarian animals that feed on trees, berries, and herbaceous plants. In addition, these forests are home to omnivorous animals such as bears and lynxes. They have to travel long distances to find prey. Some of the main inhabitants of coniferous forests are squirrels and hares.

In the depths of the thickets you can find wolverines that hunt both day and night. They even attack bears and wolves to take their prey. Among the predators of the forest are foxes and wolves. Small animals such as voles and beavers, shrews and chipmunks, martens and minks are found here. red deer, roe deer, elk, bison, musk deer. Where the climate becomes a little warmer, you can find shrubs and hedgehogs, forest lemmings and ferrets. Some species of forest animals hibernate in winter, and some become less active.

Feathered inhabitants of forests

Coniferous forests are home to many bird families. Crossbills nest in the crowns of evergreen trees, feeding their chicks seeds from the cones. There are also nutcrackers here, which, depending on the harvest, can fly to warmer climes for the winter. Wood grouse lead a sedentary lifestyle in coniferous forests. During the day they move on the ground and spend the night in trees. Among the spruces and pines you can meet the smallest representative of the grouse - the hazel grouse. The taiga forests are home to thrushes, woodpeckers, owls and other species.

Insects and amphibians

In forest reservoirs and on the banks you can find toads, salamanders, forest salamanders, and various types of fish swim in the rivers. Among the reptiles, various lizards, vipers and snakes live here. The list of insects of coniferous forests is huge. These are mosquitoes and silkworms, sawflies and horntails, bark beetles and longhorned beetles, flies and butterflies, grasshoppers and ants, bedbugs and ticks.

Coniferous forests have a unique fauna. The more people penetrate deep into the forest, cutting down trees, the more animals are in danger of extinction. If the cutting down of coniferous trees does not at least decrease, entire ecosystems will soon be destroyed and many species of forest animals will be destroyed.

An animal that eats fish and berries in summer to store fat for a long time hibernation. With the appearance of snow, he goes into the den until spring.

Another inhabitant of these places is the lynx, the so-called forest cat, leading a nocturnal lifestyle. She hunts small predators, birds and hares. When the seasons change, the color of the lynx's coat also changes, allowing it to remain invisible. In summer it has a light brown color with dark spots, and is white. Lynx climbs trees easily, well. It feeds on hares, small rodents, birds, foxes, deer, and often eats sick and weak animals.

The forest giant is popularly called the moose. It eats lichens and moss, and eats branches of young trees and shrubs. In winter, he rests in recesses in the cave, hiding his legs under a warm belly. Elk prefers young forests and dense thickets near ponds and swamps, fortunately he is quite dexterous and is able to overcome even marshy swamps.

Herbivorous representatives of the fauna feed on mushrooms, berries, cone seeds, grass, leaves and branches of trees and shrubs.

Deer are quite quiet and eat grass on lawns at dawn and dusk. However, during the mating season they become cocky and dangerous, organizing fights in the fight for females.

The fox is a typical representative of the fauna of the coniferous forest. It is a predator and feeds on small rodents. Another large predator and the fox's relative is the wolf. It hunts both small rodents and birds and large prey - elk, wild boars, and also eats carrion.

Medium and small animals

A typical representative of the coniferous forest fauna is the squirrel. In winter it is gray in color, and in summer it is reddish. She makes a nest in a hollow or on branches, closer to the trunk. The squirrel lines the nest with dry blades of grass, leaves, lichen, moss and wool. There she spends the winter, feeding on supplies prepared in the fall. The nest usually has one or two entrances, which the squirrel closes in cold weather with lichen or its own tail.

In general, animals living in coniferous forests are darker in color and have thicker fur. Birds also have dull colors and a layer of down that keeps them warm.

Hares feed on twigs and bark of birch, aspen, hazel, oak, maple, as well as dried grass. During the day they hide in secluded places - near stumps, trunks, in bushes. When frost comes, hares dig deep holes for themselves. They sleep with with open eyes. Wide, strong paws allow the animal to easily move in the forest, including in the snow, and escape from predators.

Different kinds The mustelid family is well adapted to life in the taiga. These are martens, sables, weasels, minks, wolverines, stoats, etc.

Among the small animals that inhabit coniferous forests are lemmings, voles, chipmunks, hedgehogs and others. Among the reptiles there are lizards, snakes, and vipers.