On the preparation of the III edition of the "Red Book" of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Red List of Karabakh fauna E.I. Ahmadov

Abstract

The article has been developed relying on the results of research conducted by the staff of the Institute of Zoology of ANAS before the occupation of Karabakh and surrounding areas by Armenia. According to previous years' research in Karabakh and surrounding areas, which have been under occupation for nearly 30 years, 56 species of insect fauna are rare, endemic and endangered. Of the 53 fish species registered in the Lesser Caucasus of Azerbaijan, 7 are included in the Red Book of Azerbaijan (2013), and 4 species are included in the IUSN Red List. It was determined that 12 species of fish are distributed in the Hakari River, and 13 species in the Basitchay and Okhchuchay rivers. In the Lesser Caucasus natural region, 4 out of 11 species of amphibians belonging to the batrakhofauna of Azerbaijan and 35 out of 63 species of reptiles belonging to the herpetofauna are registered. 1 species of tortoises, 10 species of lizards and 13 species of snakes are distributed in the fauna of Karabakh. One species of amphibians and 7 species of reptiles were included in IUCN and GK (2013). Prior to the occupation, 32 species out of about 200 bird species registered in 16 orders and 57 families in Karabakh and its environs were included in the II Edition of the Red Book (2013). Most of these species are included in the lists of international conventions (Bern, Bonn, CITES, AEWA). Prior to the occupation of Karabakh, 24 species out of 75 species of mammals belonging to 6 orders were included in the Red Book of Azerbaijan (2013). Five of them are also included in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUSN). The second edition of the Red Book of Azerbaijan, published in 2013, included 223 species of animals that are rare, endangered and in need of protection. Of these, 1 species belongs to the class Oligochaeta, 1 species Crustacea, 1 species Mollusca, 77 species Insecta, 9 species Pisces, 6 species Amphibia, 14 species Reptilia, 72 species Aves, 42 species Mammalia. The third edition of the RB, which is scheduled for publication in 2023, will embrace 279 species of rare and endangered species. The issue of medical leech and 2 bony fish species proposed to be included in the 3rd edition of the Red Book of Azerbaijan will be clarified. It is proposed to remove 77 species of insects included in the second edition of the Red Book, 14 species in the third edition, and to increase the number of species on the updated list to 118 by adding 55 species. The list of amphibians (6 species) will not be changed, and the list of reptiles will include 6 additional species of reptiles. The third edition will consider the inclusion of 15 new species in the previous list, the second edition will consider the removal of 8 species of mammals from the list of mammal species and the inclusion of 1 species in the updated list of mammals.