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Fauna in
Armenia is diverse given the country's relatively small geographic size,
owing to the varied habitats created by the area's mountainess terrain.
Armenia is an important area for migratory animals, about 350 different
bird species were recorded in the country. Many of the world's
domesticated animals originated in the area Armenia is located in, and
the mouflon, the ancestor of domesticated sheep, is present there.
Research suggests that about a quarter of the animal species in Armenia
are internationally endangered. The mouflon are suffering a great
population decline due to poaching and habitat loss, and the Sevan
trout, which made up thirty percent of the fish in Lake Sevan, have
virtually disappeared. The Mouflon, ancestor of domesticated sheep.
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Southern and south-western Armenia remains the last stronghold for
survival of this cat in the whole Caucasus, in part due to its
connectivity with Iran where the main portion of the Persian leopard
population exists. The total population size in Armenia numbers no more
than 10-20 individuals, including adults, sub adults and cubs. Special
calculations were not carry out. By fragmentary data, population in
Armenia is accounted not more than 25 individuals.
* Armenian Gull
* Armenian Rock Lizard
* Brown Bear
* Caspian Tiger
* Caucasian Bear
* Common Spoonbill
* Eastern Imperial Eagle
* Eumeces schneideri
* European Otter
* Greek Tortoise
* Leopard
* Long-eared Hedgehog
* Marbled Polecat
* Natterer's bat
* Pallas's Cat
* Persian Leopard
* Sevan khramulya
* Sevan trout
* Squacco Heron
* Steppe Eagle
* Syrian Brown Bear
* Vipera raddei
* Wild Goat
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With 17 vegetation zones,
the variety of plant-life in Armenia is truly astounding. The country
has everything from desert plants to oak, beech and pine forests, wet
marshland and sub-tropic plants to alpine meadows teeming with wild
flowers.
There are even virgin fields of wild grain, the forebears of the first
wheat in the ancient world, believed to have been cultivated in Armenia
12-15,000 years ago. Known by their genus names Triticum Urartu and
Triticum Araraticum, the wheat is native to the Ararat valley and can be
found in small protected fields between Yerevan and Garni.
Armenia's flora is so diverse and rich it seems all you would have to do
is add cacti, palms and a rain forest, and your would pretty much
complete the world's diversity of plant life.
Armenia has over 3,500 species of plants, more than half of the 6,000
that can be found in the entire Transcaucasus region. While Europe has
around 20,000 species, and the entire North American continent holds
40,000 species, with a total landmass of just under 30,000 sq.
kilometers (about the size of Belgium), Armenia's diversity and close
proximity of so many different types of flora is often breath-taking.
Literally within an hour's drive of Yerevan, 5 completely unique
topographies lie, each with its own varieties of flora, many lying on
opposite sides of the highway. While one side will hold forests teeming
with woodland species, the other may be semi-desert, Mediterranean
marshland, mountain steppe or alpine meadow. Forests are home to
particular species unique to the Transcaucasus, including the Arax Oak,
Eastern Beech, Caucasian Pine, and a coniferous tree called the 'Tis'.
Native to Armenia are the apricot and peach. The apricot was taken by
Alexander the Great's army back to Greece, where the Romans then spread
it througout Southern Europe. Other fruits that grow in the country
include apples, pears, cherries, mazzards, plums, pomegranites and an
amazing variety of grapes. The Ararat Valley sustained a large cotton
industry before vineyards were promoted, with further diversification in
vegetables and melons.
* Acer campestre
* Apricot
* Armenian cucumber
* Downy Birch
* Black Poplar
* Elaeagnus angustifolia
* Eurasian smoketree
* European Pear
* Common Fig
* Hackberry
* Sycamore Maple
* White Mulberry
* Norway Maple
* Armenian Oak
* Pomegranate
* White Poplar
* Pyrus salicifolia
* Quince
* Sea-buckthorn
* Tatar Maple
* Wild Cherry
* White Willow |
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