COMPOSITION, DISTRIBUTION AND ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL ANALISIS OF THE CHECHEN REPUBLIC THERIOFAUNA

Aim. The Chechen Republic is a mountainous country with a very rich natural environment, a wide variety of wildlife in the region and the diversity of its fauna. Accordingly, the purpose of the work was to study the composition of the mammal fauna of the Chechen Republic, the habitat patterns of each species and selection of eco-faunal groups, types of mammal fauna of the Chechen republic, combining them into zoogeographical complexes. An attempt has been made to carry out an objective analysis of zoogeographical theriofauna of Chechen Republic on the basis of contemporary material. Methods. Zoogeographical method has been used as a main research method. We studied composition and distribution of species of theriofauna of Chechen Republic; determined the optimum habitat and the geometric center of the area, the environmental characteristics of each species and its compliance with the chosen optimum habitat conditions. On this basis and the history of the formation of the fauna and its genetic composition we identified ecological and faunal groups which served as the basis for identifying types of fauna and combining them into zoogeographical complexes. Results. The analysis revealed the full species composition, thus we obtained an objective picture of the distribution of species of mammals in Chechnya by established ecological and faunal groups based on the analysis of ecological features of species, identifying the places of their concentration and the optimum number within the range of the habitat. We identified three new eco-faunal groups of mammals in Chechen Republic; one of them is the North Caucasus mountain-steppe mammal, for the first time. We determined the list of endemic and relicts of theriofauna of Chechen Republic and prepared the basis for a complete zoogeographical analysis of theriofauna in the region. Conclusions. The research revealed habitation of up to 89 species of mammals in theChechenRepublic; we studied their distribution both within theChechenRepublic, as well as throughout any habitat, the structure of their areas has also been discussed. On this basis, we identified up to 16 eco-faunal groups and defined their zoogeographical range. The basis was created for a complete zoogeographical analysis of theriofauna ofChechenRepublic. 

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