Animal world area is quite diverse. Elk, badger, marten, many species of birds, including waterfowl, are found in the Penza forests. The Siberian roe deer, wild boar, spotted deer, muskrat, raccoon dog, and beaver have taken root well in the region. There are many custom hunting grounds in the region.

Currently, 28 species of rodents belonging to eight families and 7 species of insectivores from three families are known to inhabit the territory of the region, a total of 35 species, 26 of which are considered in this work (Table 1).
Table 1. species composition small mammals of the Penza region.

Family
		White-breasted hedgehog
mole		European mole
Shrews	shrews	Lesser shrew
	shrews	Lesser shrew common shrew
		Cutora vulgaris
	hazel dormouse	Dormouse hazel
	forest dormouse	Dormouse forest Dryomys nitedula
Mouser Sminthidae		mouse forest Mouse Strand
Hamsters	gray hamsters	Hamster gray
	Steppe pied	steppe pied
	forest voles	red vole
	water voles	water vole Arvicola terrestris
	gray voles	Underground vole house vole Dark vole common vole East European vole M. rossiaemeridionalis
	Baby mice	baby mouse
	Forest and field mice Apodemus	Harvest mouse Lesser wood mouse yellow-throated mouse
		house mouse
		gray rat

White-breasted hedgehog

The range of the species is located in Central, Southern and Eastern Europe, in the south of Western Siberia, the Caucasus, in Asia Minor.
The subspecies taxonomy of hedgehogs has not yet been developed. Previously, it was believed that the hedgehogs of the Penza region, as well as Russia as a whole, belong to the species Erinaceus europaeus - the common hedgehog (Guryleva, 1968).
However, recent studies (Zaitsev, 1982; 1984) show that two of its subspecific forms are independent species, E. europaeus and E. concolor. The white-breasted hedgehog is common in more southern regions; in the European part of Russia - presumably to the Volga, ordinary - further north. Therefore, hedgehogs inhabiting the territory of the Penza region belong to the species E. concolor, which was confirmed by karyological studies carried out in the vicinity of Penza and in the Zemetchinsky district (Bystrakova, 2000). Karyotyped animals had a characteristic white spot on the chest. However, A.A. Medvedev (1932) reported on the discovery in the Tambov region, along with the white-chested hedgehog, also an ordinary hedgehog. Therefore, the possibility of cohabitation in the area of ​​2 species cannot be ruled out.
The hedgehog is a species common to the region, inhabiting a variety of landscapes. Animals give preference to the edges of forests, clearings and thickets of shrubs. On open spaces hedgehogs settle among small shrubs, tall grasses and other secluded places; often they are found near human habitation, in gardens and forest belts.

common mole

The species inhabits lowland forests (except for the northern taiga) and the forest-steppe of Europe and Western Siberia.
In the Penza region, it is represented by the subspecies T. e. europaea L. (1758).
A common species in the region, however, its habitat is noted in only 6 districts. This can be explained by the specifics of catching moles, which, even in places with a high abundance, very rarely fall into the grooves; for the extraction of a mole, it is necessary to use special mole traps, which is not always possible during expedition trips.
The habitat of moles was recorded mainly in the north- and south-west of the region, where it inhabits floodplain broad-leaved and mixed forests with rich humus and enough wet soil in which they live earthworms. In the steppe areas, moles are practically not found, due to the structural features of the soil and the dryness of the climate. Thus, the southern border of the distribution of the species can be drawn approximately along the border of the Penza and Saratov regions.
In the Zemetchinsky district and the environs of Penza, moles have been observed annually since 1992; in other places, trappings were carried out only once.

Lesser shrew

The range of the species covers the forest-steppes, steppes, semi-deserts (including mountainous) of Eurasia from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
On the territory of the Penza region, it is represented by the subspecies C. s. suaveolens Pallas (1811).
In the Penza region, it is located at the northern border of its range. Single sightings of the species in 1929 (Medvedev, 1932), 1958 (Guryleva, 1968) and 1983 (Frolova, 1986) gave reason to consider it extremely rare and occurring sporadically in the region. However, in last years in the city of Penza and beyond its borders, white-toothed shrews were repeatedly hunted in human buildings and next to them. Currently, the species has been recorded in 8 districts, mainly in the north of the region, in mixed and broad-leaved forests along the floodplains of the Moksha, Atmis, and Uza rivers. The researchers suggest that this synanthropic species, like the house mouse, is rarely recorded in captures due to the fact that work on the study of small mammals is carried out mainly far from settlements(Bystrakova, 1998).

Lesser shrew

The range of the species covers continental Europe and Siberia to the east to the Baikal region.
In the Penza region, it is represented by the subspecies S. m. minutus L. (1766).
A species previously considered extremely rare in the region (Guryleva, 1968). However, in recent decades lesser shrew found in 12 districts, mainly in the southern part of the region. The habitats inhabited by the lesser shrew are very diverse, but it prefers relatively moist, but not swampy areas of the outskirts of forests or thickets of shrubs, and is also found along the banks of water bodies. For example, in the south-west of the region (Neverkinsky district), small shrews were caught in the floodplain of the river. Kadada in deciduous forest with comparatively sparse undergrowth; in the central regions (Nzhnelomovsky, Mokshansky) - in the floodplains of the Atmis and Moksha rivers in broad-leaved forests with well-developed undergrowth and dense grass cover. In the Luninsky district, the lesser shrew was caught in a wide meadow floodplain of the river. Suras with small willow bushes.
It should also be noted that at the sites of stationary research (the biological station of the Department of Zoology and Ecology in the Zemetchinsky district and the biostation of the PSPU in the Shemyshey district), the little shrew has been observed annually, starting from 1991 and 1992, respectively, and in some years its number was comparable to that of the common shrew, one of the most widespread species of small small mammals in the region.

common shrew

The range of the species covers Europe, Western and Eastern Siberia, Northern Kazakhstan.
For the common shrew, intraspecific chromosomal variability has been discovered; the existence of about 50 chromosomal races has been proven within the range (Zima et al., 1996). On the territory of the Middle Volga region, the habitation of 3 chromosome races is currently established; in the Penza region, the race B “Mologa V” is widespread (Bulatova et al., 2000).
Within the region, it is represented by the subspecies S. a. araneus L. (1758).
As noted above, the common shrew is a typical species for the region. It is noted in 19 regions, where it inhabits mainly broad-leaved (oak, linden, aspen, maple) and mixed forests along the floodplains of the Kadada, Moksha, Nyanga, and Sura rivers. Always adheres to moist habitats, very rarely found in dry pine forests and in open spaces.
The largest number The places of finds of the common shrew are concentrated around the city of Penza, as well as along the entire floodplain of the Sura River. This is due to favorable habitat conditions: in these areas, as a rule, deciduous forest (oak, linden, birch) grows with well-developed undergrowth (hazel, mountain ash, buckthorn, warty euonymus) and thick litter of tree litter.
In different years, starting from 1971, the common shrew was found in the Belinsky district (floodplain of the Vorona river), Bashmakovsky, Pachelmsky (floodplain of the Vysha river), Serdobsky, Kolyshleysky (floodplain of the Khoper river). Every year, since 1991, it has been celebrated in Zemetchinsky, since 1992 - in Shemysheysky districts. In general, it can be said that, in fact, the common shrew in the Penza region was found in all places where trappings were carried out.

water shrew

The range of the species occupies near-water forest biotopes of Europe, the Caucasus, Western and southern Eastern Siberia, and Transbaikalia.
On the territory of the Penza region, it is represented by the subspecies N. f. fodiens Pennant, 1771.
Kutora is a stenobiont species, gravitating towards near-water habitats; for the region it is common (Guryleva, 1968; Frolova, 1986). The finds of the shrew are known in 12 districts; all of them are confined to the banks of rivers, streams, ponds, lakes and oxbow lakes, densely overgrown with shrubs (willow, bird cherry, alder) or forest (oak, linden, maple, aspen, birch). Similar biotopes are found in Nizhnelomovsky, Mokshansky, Shemysheysky districts. In the Neverkinsky and Gorodishchensky districts, the water shrew was found in the floodplains of the Kadada and Sura rivers with typically meadow vegetation and rare shrubs.
Shrews are caught almost every year at a biological station in the Zemetchinsky district; repeatedly noted in Shemysheysky and Gorodishchensky (1998-1999) areas; at other points this species was caught only once.

The range of the species covers the plains and mountains (up to 2000 m) broadleaf forests Europe and the Caucasus; islands of the Mediterranean.
On the territory of the Penza region, it is represented by the subspecies G.g. glis L., 1766.
The shelf inhabits mainly watershed and floodplain broad-leaved and coniferous-broad-leaved forests, as well as massifs of walnut-fruit plantations.
In the region, the species was first noted in the Gorodishchensky and Narovchatsky districts (Fedorovich, 1915), and then in 1997 one specimen was caught in the Shemysheysky district on the banks of the Sursky reservoir, on a cordon in a broad-leaved forest (oak, linden, aspen). There are no other finds of polchka in the region yet. Apparently, the information given does not reflect the true picture of the distribution of the species in the Penza region, since catching dormouse requires the use of special, rather laborious methods, which was not included in the goals of expeditionary research.

hazel dormouse

Distributed mainly in broad-leaved low-mountain (up to 1300 m) forests of continental Europe; south of Scandinavia and England; north of Turkey.

Prefers broad-leaved forests, especially oak and beech, where it lives in aspen-birch biotopes, mainly with undergrowth of hazel, linden and maple.
In the Penza region, hazel dormouse was noted only once, in the Nizhnelomovsky region (Guryleva, 1968).

forest dormouse

The range of the species passes through Europe (except for the extreme south and north), as well as the Caucasus, Asia Minor and Western Asia.
The subspecies taxonomy of the forest dormouse is not well developed; in the Penza region, it is represented by one of the subspecies of the so-called Central Russian group (D. n. nitedula Pallas, 1779; D. n. obolenskii Ognev, 1923; D. n. carpathicus Brohmer, 1927).
It inhabits mainly broad-leaved and sometimes coniferous-broad-leaved forests, including floodplain and insular forests, as well as shrub thickets along beams in the forest-steppe zone, gardens, forest nurseries, field-protective plantings. Everywhere avoids tall forests without undergrowth.
On the territory of the region, the species was recorded in 4 regions, mainly in the north, in broad-leaved and mixed forests in the floodplains of the Sura, Moksha and Vysha rivers. In Zemetchinsky district forest dormouse occurs periodically, starting from 1995, and in other areas, trappings were carried out only in certain years.

forest mouse

It lives in the plain and low-mountain forests of Northern, Central and Eastern Europe, Northern Kazakhstan and the south of Western Siberia, the Baikal region.
In the late 1980s, it was found that under the species name B "forest mouse" there are 2 forms with different numbers of chromosomes - 2n = 32 and 2n = 44, which were given the status of species (Sokolov et al., 1989). Therefore, at present, in order to accurately establish the species belonging of mice, it is necessary to study their chromosome sets. On the territory of the Penza region, mouse mice were karyotyped in 2 districts - in Zemetchinsky and in Kolyshleysky. It has been established that mice from the Zemetchinsky district have 32 chromosomes in the karyotype, i.e. belong to the species forest mouse; the animal from the Kolyshleysky district has 2n = 44, and it belongs to another species, the Strand mouse (Bystrakova et al., 1999).
The wood mouse is most common in deciduous as well as mixed forests, especially with a predominance of aspen and well-developed undergrowth and herbage. Avoids marshy meadows and swamps of various types.
On the territory of the region, mice were caught even without karyotyping, and it can only be assumed that forest mice also live in these areas (Luninsky and Nizhnelomovsky), because. the animals were caught in biotopes more typical for this species than for the Strand mouse (floodplains of the Sura, Moksha, Vysha rivers, overgrown with young oak or pine forest).
In these areas, the wood mouse was noted only once, while in the Zemetchinsky district it has been found annually since 1995.

Mouse Strand

Distributed in the south of Eastern Europe, in Ciscaucasia, presumably in Central Europe.
It is a geographically replacing species-twin of the forest mouse, in the karyotype of 44 chromosomes. In the Penza region, it has so far been found only in the Kolyshleysky district, on the territory of the site of the reserve V "Privolzhskaya forest-steppe" (V "Ostrovtsovskaya forest-steppe"). This site is characterized by steppe territories in the floodplain of the river. Khoper, in some places overgrown with shrubs and completely covered with last year's herbs.
Thus, through the territory of the Penza region, along the watershed of the basins of the Sura and Khopra rivers, there is a line that delimits the ranges of two twin mouse species - the forest and Strand.
Obviously, further studies of the distribution of these species in the Penza region are needed. However, some features of their biology do not allow these studies to be carried out as quickly as is possible in the case of other rodents.

gray hamster

The range of the species includes southern and southeastern Europe, Asia Minor and Western Asia, within which it inhabits forest-steppes, semi-desert and desert regions, up to high mountains (up to 4300 m above sea level in the Pamirs).
Two subspecies are possible in the Penza region: C. m. bellicosus Charlemagn, 1915 (known in the central regions of the European part of Russia) and C. m. phaeus Pall., 1779 (steppe Don region, Lower Volga region).
The gray hamster was noted in the southern regions of the region - in Tamalinsky, Bekovsky and Maloserdobinsky (Guryleva, 1968); apparently, the distribution of the species to the north is limited by forests; therefore, its northern border passes either through the Penza region or near its borders. The hamster is confined to open spaces, often to agrocenoses (in the Kamensky district it was caught in corn crops), however, it was also noted in human buildings (in the Shemysheysky district it was caught in a school building). In all other areas where the counts were carried out, the species was not found.
It should be noted that valuable information on the distribution of relatively rare steppe species, such as the gray hamster, can be obtained by analyzing the contents of the pellets of birds of prey. So, in the pellets of an eagle owl from the Shemyshei region, we found 9 skulls of this species.

steppe pied

The range of the species extends across the steppes and semi-deserts of Eurasia from the Dnieper River to Tuva, and south to the Tien Shan.
In the Penza region, it is represented by the subspecies L. l. agressus Serebrennikov, 1929.
The steppe lemming ubiquitously inhabits the steppes, semi-deserts and the southern part of the forest-steppe, but avoids the forb steppes and shrubs; prefers grass-forb, feather-grass-fescue and sagebrush steppes. Willingly settles on arable land, fallow lands, pastures, along the edges of roads and railroad embankments. Within the study area, the species was found in 4 regions in the south and southwest of the region, in open spaces, including fields.
In the Penza region, the steppe pied beetle is located on the northern border of its range, in addition, it does not go well in crushers - a traditional tool for trapping small mammals. Therefore, data on finds of this species are scarce. It should be noted that in the pellets of the eagle owl from the Shemyshei region, in which skulls were found gray hamsters, we also found the skull of the steppe lemming, and for the Penza region this is the northernmost point of finding the species.

bank vole

Distributed in various forests of Europe, north of Asia Minor east to the Yenisei, Baikal region.
Two subspecies are possible in the Penza region: C. g. glareolus Schreber, 1780 (distributed from Belarus and Smolensk region to Tatarstan) and C. g. istericus Miller, 1909 (recorded in Voronezh, Saratov, Samara regions).
The bank vole is one of the most typical and widespread species in the Penza region, whose habitat has been noted in 20 districts. The largest number of finds of the species is concentrated along the floodplain of the Sura and its tributaries (Kuznetsky, Gorodishchensky, Shemysheysky, Penza, Luninsky districts), in Zasurye, as well as along the floodplains of the Moksha, Vysha and Vorona rivers (Mokshansky, Pachelmsky, Zemetchinsky districts). Everywhere bank vole confined to arboreal vegetation - to broad-leaved and mixed forests (oak, aspen, birch, linden, pine), however, everywhere it avoids forests with a dense forest stand, inhabiting clarified habitats along the edges, especially those overgrown with shrubs or light forests; common in floodplain forests. It is often found in shelterbelts, as well as residential and utility buildings, especially in winter (in winter it is also common in haystacks and stacks). In the places of stationary surveys, the bank vole is caught annually.

water vole

The range of the species occupies plain and mountain (up to 3200 m) near-water biotopes of the northern part of Eurasia.
In the Penza region, it is represented by the subspecies A. t. terrestris L., 1758.
Inhabits river floodplains, shores of various types of lakes, irrigation canals and other natural and artificial reservoirs, upland and floodplain bogs. Settles in quagmire, meadows, among shrubs and swampy undergrowth along the banks of forest streams, in fields and vegetable gardens; sometimes found in buildings. The shores of clogged or polluted reservoirs are avoided everywhere.
On the territory of the region it was found in 5 districts along the floodplains of the Moksha, Sura rivers, overgrown with shrubs (willow, bird cherry, alder), grass (sedge, reeds). In the Zemetchinsky district, the water vole has been observed almost annually since 1995 in the floodplain of a forest stream overgrown with broad-leaved species and various shrubs.

underground vole

The range is located in the forest zone of plains and mountains (up to 2200 m) of Western and Central Europe, from the Atlantic coast to the Balkans and Ukraine, in the center of the European part of Russia there is an isolate.
In the Penza region, it is represented by the subspecies M. s. transvolgensis Schaposchnikov et Schanev, 1958.
It reaches the highest abundance in broad-leaved forests, as well as in island forests of the forest-steppe; sometimes found in secondary deforested areas among mixed and coniferous forests with a well-developed grass cover, as well as in meadow and shrub habitats in floodplains.
The habitat of the underground vole in the Penza region was established recently, in the late 90s. Previously, the westernmost point of its capture was with. Desirable Ryazan region. (Zagorodnyuk, 1992), located about 25 km from the northwestern border of the Penza region, and since 1996 it has been recorded almost annually at a biological station in the Zemetchinsky district (in a mixed forest; in a meadow with high grass; in a floodplain of a stream at the edge of forests). It should be noted that in most cases the animals were killed with the help of a trapping groove, and only 1 time - in a crush. The infrequent use of ditches when trapping small mammals, as well as some difficulty in identifying the species (reliable only from the skull), may be the reasons why the ground vole is considered very a rare species, the distribution of which is far from being studied enough.

house vole

The range of the species includes moist habitats in the tundra and taiga zones (in the mountains up to 2500 m) of Eurasia, in Alaska.
In the Penza region, it is represented by the subspecies M. oe. stimmingi Nehring, 1899.
Inhabits mainly the forest zone, where it is most numerous in moist open meadow-type habitats along the banks of rivers and lakes, edges of sedge and moss bogs, in floodplains overgrown with bushes and river valleys.
In the Penza region, the housekeeper can be considered as normal view, the number of which, however, is low everywhere due to the remoteness from the main range.
The southern border of its distribution runs along the south of the Saratov region. In all seven districts of the region where the housekeeper is found, it is confined to wet areas (floodplains of the Khopra, Sura, Kolyshleya rivers). At the biological station in the Zemetchinsky district, it is observed constantly, but sometimes with rather large intervals of 3-4 years.

Dark, or plowed, vole

It is distributed mainly in sparse forests and shrub thickets of the plains - middle mountains (up to 2000 m) of Europe, Western Siberia, and the Baikal region.
In the Penza region, it is represented by the subspecies M. a. gregarius L., 1766.
Adheres mainly to open, well-moistened biotopes, avoids dry coniferous forests; habitats and way of life are similar to the housekeeper.
The species was first noted in 1950 in the city of Penza (Ognev, 1950); Since then, the field vole has been found in 6 more districts of the region. Although southern border range of the field vole, apparently, coincides with the border between the Penza and Saratov regions(Shlyakhtin et al., 2001), i.e. located much closer to our territory than the housekeeper, at the biological station in the Zemetchinsky district the field vole is observed annually, and, as a rule, in several copies, unlike the housekeeper. To date, the southernmost point of detection of the species in the region is with. Sosnovka, Kondolsky district.

common vole

The range covers meadows and agrocenoses of mainland Europe (except for the extreme north and south) to the east to the Dnieper-Kirov line.
Subspecific taxonomy has not been developed.
30 years ago, when studying the chromosome sets of voles from different regions, it was found that within the polytypic species of the common vole, 5 twin species with different karyotypes are distinguished, all of which were given species status (Meyer et al., 1972, Malygin, 1983). In the Penza region, as well as in the territory of the European part of Russia, two of them live - common (2n = 46) and Eastern European (2n = 54) voles, whose ranges basically coincide. The habitat of both named species was confirmed by karyotype studies (Stoiko, 1997; Bystrakova, 2000). The 46-chromosome vole was noted in Zemetchinsky, Nizhnelomovsky, Luninsky, Kondolsky and Shemysheysky districts. The rest of the finds on the distribution map of the species are indicated as “conditionally” and can indicate the places of finds of both common and Eastern European voles, since the animals were not karyotyped.
It reaches its highest abundance in open habitats of the steppe and forest-steppe zones, including cultivated lands. In the forest zone of the Russian Plain, the favorite habitats are glades, edges, thickets of shrubs in river valleys. The species is also common on the outskirts of large cities, in parks, in wastelands and cemeteries, in gardening plots. In the Penza region, the finds of common voles are confined to the floodplains of the rivers - Sura, Moksha, Khopra and Vorona.

East European vole

Distributed in Eastern Europe, but occurs somewhat to the north and does not go far to the south.
It is a twin species of the common vole. Subspecific taxonomy has not been developed.
The species affiliation is determined by the karyotype, so the places of finds of voles in the region are still little known. For the first time in the study area, it was discovered in 1973 (Belyanin et al., 1973) in the Lopatinsky district (floodplain of the Uza river), then in 1987 two specimens were caught in the Belinsky district (Stoiko, 1987), and in 1999 - in Kondolsky and Gorodishchensky districts (Bystrakova, 1999). The habitats of twin species are similar.

baby mouse

The range covers temperate zone Eurasia to the north to 65 N, to the south - to Ciscaucasia, northern Mongolia, southern China and Assam, the British Isles, Japan, Taiwan.
In the Penza region, it is represented by the subspecies M. m. minutus Pallas, 1771.
Within the study area, it was found in 9 districts, mainly in the center and north-west of the region. For the first time in the region, a baby mouse was found within the city of Penza (Fedorovich, 1915; 1926), then it was noted in the Gorodishchensky and Sosnovoborsky districts in 1953 and 1960 (Guryleva, 1968), the rest of the finds were made in 80-90 -s yrs.
In some areas, the species prefers wooded areas (Nizhnelomovsky, Kondolsky, Serdobsky districts), however, in most cases it occupies typical biotopes - floodplain tall grass meadows, various agrocenoses, haystacks and ridges. In all areas marked on the map, the baby mouse was caught once, with the exception of the Zemetchinsky district, where this happens sporadically, after several years.

Harvest mouse

Distributed in Europe, eastern Kazakhstan, south of Western Siberia to Lake Baikal.
Two subspecies are possible in the Penza region: the northern one (A. a. karelicus Ehrstrom, 1914), distributed southward to the line Kiev - Voronezh - Saratov, and the nominative one (A. a. agrarius Pall., 1771).
The field mouse is a common species for the Penza region, recorded in 17 districts of the region, most of the finds are concentrated in the floodplains of the main large rivers (Sura, Moksha, Vysha, Vorony); inhabits various, mostly well-moistened habitats. Everywhere it avoids continuous forest plantations, adhering to shrub and open biotopes, including meadows and grain fields. Found in the city. According to observations at the biological station in the Zemetchinsky district, the number sometimes increases significantly, and in some years, on the contrary, it decreases, moreover, more noticeably than in our other typical mouse-like rodents (bank vole, yellow-throated mouse).

Lesser wood mouse

It is distributed in the forest-steppe zone of Eurasia to the west to the Baltic states, to the north to the Vologda and Arkhangelsk regions, to the south to the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov and the Black Sea region.
In the Penza region, the subspecific affiliation has not been clarified due to the undeveloped subspecific taxonomy.
The Lesser Wood Mouse is a common species for the region, found in 15 districts. The largest number of catching sites is concentrated in the floodplain of the Sura River (Penza, Shemysheisky, Gorodishchensky, Luninsky districts), as well as in the floodplains of the Vyshi, Atmis, and Vorona rivers. Almost everywhere the species was caught in the same type of biotopes: usually it is a floodplain broad-leaved (oak, aspen, linden, birch) or mixed (pine and broad-leaved species) forest with a developed undergrowth (hazel, mountain ash, buckthorn, warty euonymus). Often settles in forest belts, sometimes found in stumps and stacks.
However, according to observations at biological stations, in habitats with yellow-throated mice that require similar environmental conditions, the small wood mouse, as a rule, cannot compete with the latter and is forced out by it, appearing only in years of decline in the number of yellow-throated mice.

yellow-throated mouse

Distributed mainly in the forests of Europe (including England and southern Scandinavia), from the Baltic through central Russia to the southern Urals.
Two subspecies are possible in the Penza region: A. f. flavicollis Melchior., 1834 (characteristic of the northern regions of Russia) and A. f. samariensis Ognev, 1922 (distributed in the southern regions).
Common view in the area. In the study area, it was found in 19 districts, mainly in the eastern part of the region, which is explained by the presence of large forest areas in these places (Penza, Shemyshey, Gorodishchensky, Luninsky districts). Often found in the north-east of the region in broad-leaved forests along the floodplains of the rivers Vysha, Atmis, Lomovka, Moksha (Nizhnelomovskiy, Pachelmskiy, Bashmakovskiy, Zemetchinsky districts). In the south of the region, it occupies suitable habitats in island forests in the floodplains of the Khoper and Uza rivers.
When conducting long-term research in certain places, it is caught annually.

house mouse

It is distributed throughout the world in human settlements. They inhabit various natural biotopes in the southern part of the temperate, subtropical and tropical zones. Outside of dwellings, a person avoids open arctic and subarctic landscapes of the north and central parts of deserts, as well as continuous forests of the taiga type.
In the Penza region, it is represented by the subspecies M. m. musculus Linnaeus, 1758.
In the study area, it was found in 11 districts, where it inhabits a wide variety of biotopes: from residential and utility premises to various types of forest plantations; in natural habitats it is noted much less frequently than in human buildings. The house mouse is a typical synanthropic species, so it can be found almost everywhere next to a person, in this regard, we should talk about the ubiquitous distribution of this species in the region.

gray rat

Distributed in the southeast of Siberia, Primorye, northeast China and all over the world in human settlements or near it.
In the Penza region, it is represented by the subspecies R. n. norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769.
Occurs in vegetable gardens, wastelands, gardens and parks, in hothouse and greenhouse buildings, in urban areas (including large cities), in grain fields and stacks; in all cases, the prerequisite is the proximity of water.
On the territory of the region it is noted in 5 districts. There were no special captures of rats in the region; therefore, almost all data on the presence of this species were obtained from oral reports or as a result of random captures.

The fauna of the Penza region is a forest-steppe faunistic complex, ecologically adapted due to natural and anthropogenic reasons and has zonal features.

So, being in the southern part of the forest-steppe zone of the Volga region, the territory of the region abounds different types landscapes that are "home" not only for typical animal species of the modern forest-steppe zone of Russia, but also for intrazonal species and introducers.

Depending on the origin and preferred habitats, three ecological groups of animals are observed - northeastern, western and southern. Among the northeastern ecological group, in addition to forest species living in the most forested northeastern regions of the region, such as pine marten, mole, capercaillie, gray toad, there are taiga animals found on the border of their ranges - lynx and brown bear. The western group is represented by typical species of European boreal forests - red noctule, forest dormouse, European roe deer, inhabiting broad-leaved forests and insular areas of European pine taiga in the west of the region. The southern group consists of typical inhabitants of the steppes - speckled ground squirrel, mole rat, large jerboa, etc.

In total, 73 species of mammals, 299 species of birds, 8 species of reptiles, 11 species of amphibians, 51 species of fish have been registered in the Penza region.

mammals

Mammals of the Penza region are represented by 73 species from 6 orders and 19 families, of which 29 species are from the order Rodents, 16 species from the order Carnivores, 13 species from the order Bats, 7 species from the order Insectivores, 6 species from the order Artiodactyls and 2 species from the order Lagomorphs.

The fox is distributed everywhere with varying degrees of density in the Penza region.

Order: Carnivores

Brown bear

(lat. Ursus arctos) - a species of mammals from the genus Bears. It occurs in the north-west of the region in dense forests with windbreak, dense undergrowth and tall grasses. The species is listed in the Red Book of the Penza region with the status - "Endangered".

Wolf

(lat. Canis lupus) - a species of mammal from the genus Wolves. The wolf prefers landscapes of open spaces, primarily because it is easier for the wolf to hunt ungulates there, which form the basis of his diet.

lynx

(lat. Lynx lynx) - a species of mammals from the genus Lynx. It lives in large forest areas with dense undergrowth and windbreak, although it occurs in a wide variety of stands, including forest-steppe. The species is listed in the Red Book of the Penza region with the status - "Rare".

raccoon dog

(lat. Nyctereutes procyonoides) - a representative of the Canine family, the genus Raccoon dogs. Intentionally introduced and self-propagating species. Inhabits overgrown banks and floodplains, wet meadows with shelters, riverine forests.

red fox

(lat. Vulpes vulpes) - a mammal of the genus Fox, family Canine. The preferred habitat for the fox is small forests, light forests, although it is found in a wide variety of stands. The number of foxes in the region is about 2500 individuals.

Korsak, or steppe fox

(lat. Vulpes corsac) - a species of animals of the Canine family, the genus Fox. It lives in the steppes, in open grassy areas, enters the forest-steppe.

Badger

(lat. Meles meles) - a mammal of the genus Badgers, the Kunya family. It lives in various landscapes, more often near water bodies, ravines, gullies, steep banks. The number of badgers in the region is about 2000 individuals.

river otter

(lat. Lutra lutra) - a species of animals of the genus Otter, family Kunya. It occurs on the Sura River and its tributaries in the Gorodishchensky, Kuznetsky, Luninsky and Sosnovoborsky regions, on the Khoper River in the Kolyshleysky and Serdobsky regions. It settles in forests of all types, choosing rivers with littered windbreak banks, less often lakes and ponds with areas that do not freeze in winter. The species is listed in the Red Book of the Penza region with the status - "Declining in numbers".

pine marten

(lat. Martes martes) - a species of animals of the genus Martens, the Kunya family. It lives in deciduous and mixed forests, prefers large forests, dense deciduous forests. The number of pine martens in the region is about 1800 individuals.

Stone marten

(lat. Martes foina) - a species of mammals from the genus Marten. It lives in deciduous and mixed sparse forests, settles on the edges, in fields with thickets of shrubs.

European mink

(lat. Mustela lutreola) is a species of mammal from the genus Ferrets. It occurs in the Vysha river basin within the Zemetchinsky district, preferring to settle in floodplain thickets of shrubs and reeds. The species is listed in the Red Book of the Penza region with the status - "Endangered".

American mink

(lat. Neovison vison) is a mammal of the Kunya family, the genus Ferrets. Intentionally introduced and self-propagating species. The range covers forest, less often forest-steppe natural zones. Settle along the valleys and banks of deaf forest rivers, the banks of streams, lakes, ponds, swamps, floodplain thickets of shrubs and reeds.

The American mink was brought from North America to the territory of the region in 1964 and released in the floodplain of the Sura River, where it successfully took root and settled.

Polecat forest

(lat. Mustela putorius) - a species of animals of the Kunya family, the genus Ferrets. It lives in the north-west and east of the region, settles on the edges of forests of all types, preferring broad-leaved ones, in blueberries. The number of forest ferret in the region is about 400 individuals.

polecat steppe

(lat. Mustela eversmanni) - small predatory mammal the Kunya family. It lives in the steppe, less often in the forest-steppe natural zones, settles in the burrows of hamsters, ground squirrels and mole rats.

Ermine

(lat. Mustela erminea) is a mammal of the Kunya family, the genus Ferrets. It occurs in the forest-steppe, less often in forest natural zones, in copses, pegs, clearings and forest edges. The number of ermine in the region is about 500 individuals.

weasel

(lat. Mustela nivalis) is a small predatory mammal of the Kunya family. It lives throughout the Penza region in various natural and landscape zones, more often in fields, on the edges, in light forests, and bushes.

Order: Artiodactyls

Elk

(lat. Alces alces) - a mammal of the genus Elks, the Deer family. In summer it prefers deciduous forests with tall grasses, in winter - young pine and spruce forests with dense undergrowth. The number of moose in the region is about 4000 individuals.

red deer

(lat. Cervus elaphus) - a species of mammals from the genus Real deer. Intentionally introduced species. It lives in forests of all types, preferring light broad-leaved, in places with spacious meadows and dense thickets of bushes.

Red deer were brought in 1974 from the Khopersky reserve of the Voronezh region to the territory of the Gorodishchensky and Belinsky districts.

sika deer

(lat. Cervus nippon) - a mammal from the Deer family, the genus Real deer. Intentionally introduced species. Inhabits sparse broad-leaved and mixed forests with tall grasses. The number of spotted deer in the region is about 800 individuals.

In the period of 1970-80s, several hundred spotted deer were brought from the Moscow region and from the Khopersky reserve of the Voronezh region to the hunting farms of Bessonovsky, Gorodishchensky, Luninsky, Neverkinsky and Serdobsky districts.

European roe deer

(lat. Capreolus capreolus) - a mammal from the Artiodactyl order, the Deer family, the Roe deer genus. It lives in the forest, less often in the forest-steppe natural zones, preferring sparse deciduous forests, thickets of shrubs. The number of roe deer in the region is about 5700 individuals.

Siberian roe deer

(lat. Capreolus pygargus) is a representative of the Deer family, the genus Roe deer. Intentionally introduced species. It lives in the forest-steppe and the southern part of the forest zone, preferring open places: meadows, floodplains, clearings, clearings, with thickets of shrubs, tall, dense grass.

In 1957, 22 individuals of Siberian roe deer brought from Vladivostok were released in the Gorodishchensky district. Over time, they multiplied and populated the eastern regions of the region.

Boar

(lat. Sus scrofa) is an omnivorous mammal of the genus Boar, family of Pigs, order Artiodactyls. Intentionally introduced species. Inhabits moist deciduous forests with tall grasses, along river and stream valleys with dense coastal vegetation, in swampy areas overgrown with reeds, in thickets of bushes. The number of wild boar in the region is about 2200 individuals.

The acclimatization of the wild boar was carried out in the period 1970-73, when several dozen individuals were settled in the Bessonovsky, Gorodishchensky, Kamensky Luninsky and Penza regions.

Order: Insectivores

common mole

(lat. Talpa europaea) - a mammal of the genus Ordinary moles, the Mole family. It lives in the forest, less often in the forest-steppe zones. Prefers sparse deciduous forests, copses, kolts, edges with dense herbs, meadows, fields, orchards, orchards and other biotopes with moderately moist loose soils.

White-breasted hedgehog, or Eastern European

(lat. Erinaceus concolor) - an animal species of the genus Eurasian hedgehogs, family Ezhovye. It differs from the presence of a white spot on the chest, which contrasts with the dark brown belly. Inhabits the edges of deciduous watershed forests and windbreaks, clearings and bushes.

Russian muskrat

(lat. Desmana moschata) is an insectivore from the Mole family. reacclimatized look. Occurs in Belinsky, Bashmakovsky, Maloserdobinsky, Kolyshleysky, Serdobsky, Tamalinsky and Zemetchinsky districts along floodplain reservoirs on high steep banks overgrown with aquatic vegetation. The species is listed in the Red Book of the Penza region with the status - "Endangered".

common shrew

(lat. Sorex araneus) - a representative of the genus Shrews, the most common representative of the Shrew family. Inhabits sparse broad-leaved and mixed forests, copses, thickets of shrubs, thickets of tall grasses, edges, more often found along the floodplains of the Sura, Kadada, Moksha, Nyanga rivers.

In addition to the common shrew, the following species of the Shrew family live in the Penza region: Lesser shrew (lat. Sorex minutus) - from the genus Shrew; Small shrew (lat. Crocidura suaveolens) - from the genus Shrew; Cutora vulgaris, or water (lat. Neomys fodiens) - from the genus Kutora.

Order: Lagomorphs

white hare

(lat. Lepus timidus) - a species of animals of the Hare family. It lives in forest and forest-steppe natural zones. In the forest zone, it prefers light forests, overgrown burnt areas and clearings; in the forest-steppe it is found in birch groves, thickets of shrubs, reeds and tall dense grass.

hare

(lat. Lepus europaeus) - a representative of the Hare family, the genus Hares. A typical inhabitant of the forest-steppe, found in open spaces of the forest zone: clearings, burnt areas, edges, meadows, glades.

Order: Chiroptera

Two-tone leather

(lat. Vespertilio murinus) - a representative of the family Smooth-nosed bats, the genus Bicolor leather. The most numerous species of bats in the Penza region. Inhabits Bashmakovsky, Belinsky, Bekovsky, Zemetchinsky, Luninsky, Mokshansky, Nikolsky, Pachelmsky, Penza, Neverkinsky, Kameshkirsky and Shemyshey regions, in forests in open areas: on the edges, along the banks of rivers and lakes, near ravines and ditches.

Kozhan late

(lat. Eptesicus serotinus) - large bat from the genus Kozhany. It lives in various landscapes, more often in anthropogenic ones; it has been repeatedly noted in the city of Penza.

Wushan brown

(lat. Plecotus auritus) is a small mammal from the genus Ushany. It lives in various forest open areas: on the outskirts of forests, on the edges, along the banks of forest rivers and lakes. Winterings are known in anthropogenic shelters in various settlements of the region.

Evening redhead

(lat. Nyctalus noctula) is a small mammal from the genus Vespers. It lives in broad-leaved and mixed forests, preferring old-growth floodplain forests. The species is listed in the Red Book of the Penza region in the category - "Uncertain by status".

In addition to the red evening, on the territory of the Penza region live Evening gigantic(lat. Nyctalus lasiopterus) and small Vespers (lat. Nyctalus leisleri).

Water bat

(lat. Myotis daubentonii) is a small mammal of the smooth-nosed bat family. Inhabits the riverine forests of Bekovsky, Belinsky, Bessonovsky, Vadinsky, Zemetchinsky, Narovchatsky, Nizhnelomovsky, Lopatinsky, Mokshansky, Nikolsky, Luninsky, Kuznetsky, Penza, Shemysheysky, Kameshkirsky, Neverkinsky, Serdobsky regions, hunting insects at dusk over water. Winterings are known in anthropogenic shelters of the Nizhnelomovsky and Narovchatsky regions.

In addition to the water bat, the following species of smooth-nosed bats from the genus Myotis live in the Penza region: Brandt's bat (lat. Myotis brandtii), Nightlight Natterer(lat. Myotis nattereri), Pond bat(lat. Myotis dasycneme). Natterer's night bat is included in the Red Book of the Penza region with the status - "Rare".

The bat of the forest, or Nathusius

(lat. Pipistrellus nathusii) - a small bat from the genus Nedopyri. One of the most numerous and widespread species of bats in the Penza region. It lives in floodplain forests, and is also often found in anthropogenic landscapes - parks, forest belts, rural settlements.

In addition to the forest bat on the territory of the Penza region, there are Mediterranean bat(lat. Pipistrellus kuhlii) and Dwarf Bat (lat. Pipistrellus pipistrellus).

Order: Rodents

Beaver ordinary, or river

(lat. Castor fiber) - a mammal of the genus Beaver, family Beaver, order Rodents. reacclimatized look. The most preferred habitat for are deciduous forests. Settle along the banks of slowly flowing rivers, oxbow lakes and lakes. The number of beavers in the region is about 9,000 individuals.

As a result of hunting, the population of river beavers in the Penza region was exterminated in the 17th century. In the 1960-70s, work was carried out to reacclimatize the species, during which time several hundred individuals from the Ryazan, Bryansk, Nizhny Novgorod and Voronezh regions were released into the reservoirs of the region, where they successfully took root and settled.

Steppe marmot, or Baibak

(lat. Marmota bobak) - a species of animals of the genus Marmots, the Squirrel family. reacclimatized look. lives in Bessonovsky, Neverkinsky and Kameshkirsky districts, in flat steppes, on grass-forb unplowed meadows, on the edge of cultivated fields. The species is listed in the Red Book of the Penza region with the status - "Rare".

After the active agrarian development of virgin and fallow lands in the 18th-20th centuries, marmots almost completely disappeared from the territory of the region. In the 1980s, work was carried out to reacclimatize the species, then 665 animals were released in six districts of the region. Now the number of marmots in the region is 250-300 individuals.

Gopher big, or reddish

(lat. Spermophilus major) is a species of animals of the Gopher genus, Squirrel family. Intentionally introduced species. It lives in the plain steppes, less often in the forest-steppe and the southern part of the forest zone.

In addition to the large ground squirrel, the Penza region is also inhabited by Speckled ground squirrel(lat. Spermophilus suslicus). The species is listed in the Red Book of the Penza region with the status - "Rare".

mole rat

(lat. Spalax microphthalmus) is a large rodent of the mole rat family of the genus Mole rats. It occurs in the southern, central and northern regions of the region in steppe landscapes and in various grassy areas, forest edges and clearings.

Large jerboa, or earthen hare

(lat. Allactaga major) - a representative of the jerboa family, the genus Earthen hares. It lives in Bashmakovskiy, Belinsky, Kamenskiy, Kameshkirskiy, Kolyshleyskiy and Tamalinsky regions. Prefers steppe and forest-steppe landscapes with hard ground and sparse herbage.

Squirrel ordinary

(lat. Sciurus vulgaris) - a species of animals of the Squirrel family, genus Squirrels. It settles in forests of all types, preferring pine forests, spruce forests and cedar forests. The number of squirrels in the region is about 4600 individuals.

In the Penza region, there is also a subspecies of the common squirrel - Teleutka, or teleutka squirrel (lat. Sciurus vulgaris exalbidus). This large subspecies was brought into the forests of the Gorodishchensky district in 1948 from the Altai Territory to enrich the hunting fauna.

Dormouse forest

(lat. Dryomys nitedula) is an arboreal rodent of the Soniaceae family. It occurs in Zemetchinsky, Kameshkirsky, Kuznetsky, Luninsky, Pachelmsky, Tamalinsky, Shemysheysky districts in broad-leaved and mixed forests, gardens and forest nurseries with dense undergrowth.

In addition to the forest dormouse on the territory of the Penza region, there are also dormouse dormouse (lat. Glis glis) and Dormouse hazel, or mushlovka (lat. Muscardinus avellanarius). Hazel dormouse is included in the Red Book of the Penza region with the status - "Uncertain by status".

Muskrat

(lat. Ondatra zibethicus) is a semi-aquatic mammal of the Hamster family. Intentionally introduced species. It is found in forests of all types, along the banks of rivers, oxbow lakes, lakes, freshwater swamps.

The muskrat was brought to the Penza region in 1958 and in 1963 to the rivers Moksha, Kadada and Khoper, where they successfully took root and settled.

Hamster

(lat. Cricetus cricetus) - a mammal of the genus Real hamsters, the Hamster family. It lives in forest and steppe natural zones, preferring the forest-steppe, settles in fields, meadows, on the edges, in bushes.

In addition to the common hamster, the Gray Hamster (lat. Cricetulus migratorius) also lives on the territory of the Penza region.

Rat gray

(lat. Rattus norvegicus) - a representative of the Mouse family, the genus Rat. In nature, it lives along the banks of various reservoirs, however, most now prefer to settle where there are people nearby - in gardens, fields, garbage dumps, in human dwellings.

Water vole, or water rat

(lat. Arvicola terrestris) - a mammal from the order Rodents, the Hamster family. Inhabits the floodplains of the Vadu, Vorona, Vysha, Moksha, Sura, Khopra rivers and their tributaries, wetlands near freshwater or brackish lakes and ponds.

common vole

(lat. Microtus arvalis) - a rodent from the Hamster family. It lives in forest, forest-steppe and steppe landscapes in open areas with dense grass cover.

In addition to the common vole, several more closely related species of the Hamster family live in the Penza region: Eastern European vole(lat. Microtus rossiaemeridionalis), Underground vole(lat. Microtus subterraneus), red vole (lat. Myodes glareolus), dark vole, or plow vole (lat. Microtus agrestis), Housekeeper vole(lat. Microtus oeconomus). The underground vole is included in the Red Book of the Penza region with the status - "Rare".

steppe pied

(lat. Lagurus lagurus) - a small animal of the Hamster family. It lives in the steppes and the southern part of the forest-steppe in areas with grass-forb vegetation. The species is listed in the Red Book of the Penza region with the status - "Rare".

mouse forest

(lat. Sicista betulina) - a representative of the Mouse family, the Mouse genus. It lives in forest and forest-steppe natural zones. Settles in forests of all types with dense undergrowth, groves and thickets of bushes.

In addition to the forest mouse, the Strand mouse (lat. Sicista strandi) also lives on the territory of the Penza region. The species is listed in the Red Book of the Penza region with the status - "Uncertain by status".

field mouse

(lat. Apodemus agrarius) - a mammal of the Mouse family, the genus Forest and field mice. It lives in forest and forest-steppe natural zones in open biotopes - in meadows, forest edges, in bushes, on agricultural lands.

In addition to the field mouse, the following species from the Mouse family live in the Penza region: House mouse (lat. Mus musculus), yellow-throated mouse(lat. Apodemus flavicollis), Small forest mouse(lat. Apodemus uralensis), Baby mouse (lat. Micromys minutus).

Birds

The factor of predominance in the territory of the Penza region of a peculiar forest-steppe, in which large masses of deciduous and mixed forests alternate with small insular forest areas, shrub thickets and vast meadow and steppe spaces, determines the ecological features of the faunal complex of birds in the region.

So, on the territory of the region, there are numerous species of birds that are traditionally considered forest or steppe, but originally confined to the forest-steppe. Among them are such as the steppe eagle, derbnik, hobby faggot, steppe and common kestrel, little bustard, steppe lapwing, steppe tirkushka - campophiles; black grouse, hazel grouse, capercaillie, woodcock, common cuckoo, great spotted woodpecker, chaffinch, oriole, jay, forest lark, song thrush, common dove, wood dove, eastern nightingale - dendrophiles.

Bullfinch males are easily recognizable due to the pinkish-red breast color.

In addition to campophiles and dendrophiles, the area is numerous and rich in species. environmental group birds associated with aquatic and semi-aquatic biotopes. Among them are well-known mallard, great grebe, gray heron, bittern, cracked teal, coot, corncrake, common moorhen, lapwing, small plover, lake and silver gulls, river and marsh terns.

Reptiles and amphibians

The herpetofauna of the Penza region includes 19 species - 8 species of reptiles and 11 species of amphibians.

Of the reptiles in the region, 1 species of turtles, 3 species of lizards and 4 species of snakes live: marsh turtle, quick lizard , viviparous lizard, brittle spindle, perishing ordinary, common viper, steppe viper , verdigris vulgaris. The marsh turtle and the steppe viper with the status - "Rare" are included in the Red Book of the Penza region.

Of the amphibians, 2 species of newts, 2 species of toads and 7 species of frogs have been recorded: common newt, crested newt, common toad(grey toad), green toad, red-bellied toad, common spadefoot, frog edible, moor frog, grass frog, pond frog, lake frog. The pond frog and common frog are included in the Red Book of the Penza Region with the status - "Uncertain by status".

Fish

The ichthyofauna of reservoirs in the Penza region includes 51 species of bony fish and 1 lamprey species from 10 orders and 15 families.

Species are categorized by orders and families.
Order Sturgeon, family Sturgeon: sterlet.
Salmon order, Salmon family: grayling, peled, white salmon (nelma), European vendace.
Smelt order, Smelt family: European smelt.
Pike order, Pike family: common pike.
Order Cyprinidae, family Cyprinidae: bream, blue bream, common white-eye, southern bystrianka, Russian bystrianka, common bleak, common asp, silver bream, golden crucian carp, silver crucian carp, Volga podust, white carp, carp (common carp), common gudgeon, white gudgeon , common verkhovka, chub, ide, common dace, sabrefish, common minnow, common mustard, common roach, rudd, tench; family Balitorovye: charr mustachioed; Loach family: common loach, Baltic loach, Siberian loach, golden loach, loach, fish, shemaya.
Order Catfish, family Catfish: common catfish.
Order Cod-like, Burbot family: burbot.
Order Perciformes, family Perch: common ruff, Don ruff, river perch, common pike perch, bersh; goloveshkovye family: rotan-goloveshka; goby family: goby goby, round goby, goby goby.
Detachment Scorpioformes, family Rogatkovye: common sculpin.
Detachment Lampreys, family Lampreys: Ukrainian lamprey.

Pike is one of the most coveted fishing trophies.

10 species of fish and 1 species of lamprey are included in the Red Book of the Penza Region: Ukrainian lamprey, sterlet, golden pluck, blue bream, quicksand, Volga podust, fish, sabrefish, Don ruff, bersh, common sculpin.

The Penza region is one of the central regions of the Volga region. The nature of the land of Penza became a source of inspiration for Lermontov M. Yu., Kuprin A. I. and other poets and writers. The region freely stretches on the Volga Upland. The flowering of the steppes in the south of the region smoothly flows into the shade of deciduous and pine forests in the northern part of the region.

Wide plains are crossed by hills, separated by small and large ravines. Many rivers with picturesque banks and floodplains create a wide water web of the region. And all this rich natural space is filled with many species of animals and plants.

Flora of the Penza region

The meadow-forest landscape of the north and northeast passes in the south into meadow-steppe and steppe. Pine occupies the main place in the forests. It is this species that forms a third of the region's forests. Coniferous periodically pass into mixed and deciduous forests. There, the pines are already being replaced by oaks. There are also beautiful birch groves, aspen, ash, maple, linden, mountain ash and elm grow in mixed forests. Hazel reigns among the shrubs. More than 120 species of mushrooms and more than a hundred varieties of mosses and lichens grow under the canopy of forests.

Substantial part natural steppe used in agriculture. Small untouched areas have been preserved (Poperechenskaya, Kuncherovskaya, Ostrovtsovskaya reserved steppes). They became part of the specially protected natural areas Reserve "Privolzhskaya forest-steppe" Similar unique remains of the natural zonal steppe have not been preserved anywhere else in Europe. The steppe is dominated by perennial herbs and flowers: daisies, buttercups, cornflowers, beautiful and feathery feather grass.

Fauna of the Penza region

The fauna of the region is represented by more than 600 species. The most common forest dwellers are hedgehog, fox, hare, ferret, badger, squirrel, marten. In addition, you can meet a wild boar, a roe deer, an elk and even a wolf and a bear on the forest path. Do not be alarmed if you hear the hooting of the Tawny Owl, owls are very common in the Penza forests. Among birds, woodpeckers, nightingales, wagtails, tits and buntings are considered the most numerous forest inhabitants.

Marmots, steppe ferrets, ground squirrels, field hazel grouses, gray partridges and larks live in the steppe. You need to walk carefully through the forest and steppe: in addition to harmless snakes, you can meet with a poisonous common viper. Marsh turtles are found in a few swamps. On the territory of the region, it is possible to meet with a rare gray crane or egret.

More than 50 species of fish are found in numerous reservoirs of the region. Bream, pike perch, ide, catfish feel comfortable. Roach, perch, crucian carp, carp and pike are found in rivers and lakes. The most valuable fish that lives in the natural environment is the sterlet. This species is listed in the Red Book of the Penza region, as it is very rare.

Seasons in the Penza region

This region is characterized by a temperate continental climate.

Winter is quite mild, the average January temperature fluctuates around -11...-13 degrees. The first snow usually falls between November and December, and the snow cover remains until the end of March. In winter, its thickness is about 50 cm.

The summer is warm, the average July temperature is about 20 degrees. Mostly sunny weather pleases from May to September. In summer, there are often short rains. Autumn finally sets in at the end of September, when the average daily temperature drops below 10 degrees. Approximately 600 mm of precipitation falls in the region annually.

slide 2

stag beetle

The stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) is the largest stag beetle in our fauna and one of our largest beetles. It is black, the upper jaws and elytra are chestnut-brown in the male, black in the female. The length of the female is 28-45 mm, the length of the male without the upper jaws is 30-55 mm, and with them up to 75 mm. He lives in the south of the forest zone and in the forest-steppe, mostly in oak forests. In July and August, these beetles fly with a loud buzz around the tops of oaks, and during the day they can be found on the juice flowing from wounds on oak trunks. Near such wounds, sometimes several dozen beetles accumulate, which push, and often fight among themselves. At the same time, males fight not only because of a place on a site covered with juice, but also because of females. They rise high on their front and middle legs, almost rearing up, open their jaws wide and rush at each other with such ferocity that they often maim each other. The female lays large (up to 2.2 mm) oval eggs in hollows, in rotten stumps or in the soil at the foot of trees, the rotten wood of which the larvae feed on. The development of the larva lasts about 5 years; the adult larva reaches a length of 13.5 cm and a thickness of the thumb.

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steppe viper

STEPPE VIPER (Virepaursini) is smaller than usual, and the length of its body with a head does not exceed 57 cm, usually no more than 45-48 cm. Females are somewhat larger than males. In contrast to the common viper, in the steppe viper, the lateral edges of the muzzle are pointed and somewhat raised above its upper part, and the nostrils cut through the lower parts of the nasal shields. Above, it is brownish-gray in color with a dark zigzag stripe along the ridge, sometimes broken into separate parts or spots. Sides of the body with dark blurred spots. Black steppe vipers are very rare. Widespread from the steppes Western Europe(France, Italy, Austria, Yugoslavia, Albania, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria), through the steppe and southern part of the forest-steppe zone of our country up to East Kazakhstan and Northwest China. It lives in the Crimea, in the steppe regions of the Caucasus, Central Asia, Turkey, Iran. It rises to the mountains up to 2500-2700 m above sea level. Inhabits Various types steppes, sea coasts, shrubs, rocky mountain slopes, meadow floodplains, riverine forests, ravines, grass-salt semi-deserts and loosely fixed sands.

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spadeweed

GARLIC (Pelobatesfuscus) is best known. Its back is colored yellow-brown or light gray with large and small brown and black spots with red dots. The skin is smooth, at times emits a strong smell, reminiscent of the smell of garlic. The forehead between the eyes is convex. Very characteristic of spadefoot is a large spade-shaped internal calcaneal tubercle, which develops in connection with their burrowing activity. Males have an oval gland on their shoulders. Body length up to 80 mm. Distributed from Central Europe to the Aral Sea and the south of Western Siberia; in the south to the Crimea, North Caucasus, and in the north - to the line Leningrad - Kazan. Spadeworts come to water bodies only during the breeding season, spending the rest of the time on land. They dig well and spend the day buried in the ground, leaving the shelter in the evening.

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Triton

NEWT (Triturus vulgaris) is one of the smallest and most common newts, its total length reaches 11 cm, usually about 8 cm, of which about half falls on the tail. The skin is smooth or fine-grained. The coloration of the upper side of the body is olive-brown, the lower side is yellowish with small dark spots. On the head there are longitudinal dark stripes, of which a stripe passing through the eye is always noticeable. The coloration of males during the mating season becomes brighter and a scalloped crest grows from the back of the head to the end of the tail, usually with an orange border and a blue stripe with a pearly sheen. This fin fold is not interrupted at the base of the tail. Lobe rims form on the hind toes. The female has no mating coloration and no dorsal crest, but the coloration becomes brighter. The crest of the male newt is an additional respiratory organ and is especially rich in capillary vessels. Distributed from France, England and Southern Sweden to Western Siberia inclusive.

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Ermine

Ermine (Mustelaerminea) in general similar to the weasel, but larger than it and well distinguished by the black tip of the tail. Body length varies, from 16 to 38 cm, tail from 6 to 12 cm, weight up to 260 g, but usually less. Like the weasel, the ermine turns white in the winter and only the tip of the tail remains black. The animal is distributed from the Pyrenees, the Alps, Ireland and further throughout Europe, with the exception of most of Yugoslavia, as well as Albania, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey. On the territory of Russia it is found almost everywhere. In Asia, it lives in Afghanistan, Mongolia, northeast China, northern Japan, and probably in the north of the Korean Peninsula. Finally, the ermine is found in Greenland and is distributed almost to the very south of North America. Ermine belongs to the most common predators. It reaches its greatest abundance in the forest-steppe regions of Western Siberia and Northern Kazakhstan.

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Boar

BOAR (Susscorfa) or wild pig is the most widespread species. Inhabits all of Europe north to the Scandinavian Peninsula. In Asia, it lives everywhere to southern Siberia, Transbaikalia and Far East to North. It also inhabits the tropical regions of the mainland, as well as the islands of Sulawesi, Java, Sumatra, New Guinea etc. Was in North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Egypt and other countries), but in most areas it was exterminated. Acclimatized in a number of places in the North and Central America and also in Argentina. Unusually variable in size, body proportions and coloration.

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big jerboa

Jerboa LARGE (Allactagamajor) or earthen hare is the largest of all species of the family. The length of its body is 19-26 cm, the tail is up to 30 cm; at the end of the tail there is a bright and wide “banner” combed on two sides with a black base and a white top. From above, a large jerboa is painted in brownish-gray or pale sandy-gray color, from below the color is white. The large jerboa is not only the largest, but also the northernmost of all jerboas. It is common in semi-deserts, steppes and even forest-steppes of South-Eastern Europe, Kazakhstan and southern Siberia.

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mole rat

The mole rat (Spalaxmicrophtalmus) has been studied somewhat more fully than others. Its dimensions are slightly larger. The color of the fur does not differ from the small mole rat. Distributed in forest field and steppe landscapes from the western regions. The highest density of its settlements are in virgin areas and adjoining crops of perennial grasses (up to 20 animals per 1 ha); on grain crops, no more than 1-3 mole rats per 1 ha are found, and then only in the vicinity of beams, forest belts and forest edges. Mole rat burrows are located in 2 tiers: a complex system of horizontal passages is laid at a depth of 10-25 cm. These are feeding passages.

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Bustard

Bustard (Otistarda) is one of the largest birds of the bustard order: depending on the sex and season, its weight ranges from 4 to 11 and even 16 kg. It is not difficult to distinguish the bustard from other birds by its large size, powerful unfeathered legs, variegated plumage, which combines red and white colors, and also by the mustache extending from the chin - bunches of elongated thread-like feathers. Bustard is a silent and cautious bird, especially in flocks. Thanks to well-developed eyesight, birds grazing in the steppe notice the approach of danger from afar and fly away. The bustard takes off with a running start, heavily raising and lowering its huge wings, but, having risen, it flies relatively easily and quickly, making uniform and deep strokes. Solitary birds, especially in the hot season, sometimes skillfully hide, which is facilitated by a well-pronounced protective coloration.

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Capercaillie

Capercaillie (Tetraourogallus) is one of the largest representatives of chicken, growing almost from a turkey. The weight of males ranges from 3.5 to 6.5 kg, females - from 1.7 to 2.3 kg. This is a large clumsy and shy bird. His gait is fast, while searching for food, he often runs on the ground. Capercaillie rises heavily from the ground, flapping its wings loudly and making a lot of noise. The flight is heavy, noisy, almost direct and short unless absolutely necessary. Capercaillie usually flies above the forest itself or at the height of half a tree; only in autumn, making more significant movements, it keeps high above the forest. The capercaillie has pronounced sexual dimorphism. The male capercaillie is much larger than the female and differs sharply from her in plumage color.

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