Lithuanian fauna

Poland

Hungary

Italy

Lithuania

Bulgaria

Croatia-Osijek

Turkey

Croatia-Zagreb
Name & Conservation status
English name: Wisen
Latin name: Bison Bonasus
In the language of the given country: Stumbras
Conservation status: VU - Vulnerable
Taxonomy
Regnum: Animalia
Phylum: Chordates
Classis: Mammals
Ordo: Cloven-hoofed ungulates
Familia: Bovine
Genus: Bison
Description The European bison is the heaviest and the largest surviving herbivore in Europe. Optimal habitats for the European bison are deciduous and mixed forests, but the range should include about 20% of grassland habitats. In fresh deciduous forest, European bison find food throughout the vegetative season. In the Caucasus region, European bison prefer foothill forests; in summer, they feed on alpine meadows. Today the largest concentration of European bison can be found in Poland's Bialowieza National Park.
A typical European bison is about 2.1 to 3.5 metres long, not counting a tail of 30 to 60 centimetres long, and 1.6 to 2 metres tall. Weight of this mammal typically can range from 300 to 920 kg.
Historically the bison was distributed throughout western, central, and south-eastern Europe and the Caucasus. By the end of the 19th century, there were only two populations of Wisent left in the wild: in Bia³owie¿a Forest Bison bonasus bonasus and in the western Caucasus mountains Bison bonasus caucasicus. As a result of reintroductions and introductions, it now occurs in free-ranging and semi-free herds in Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Russian Federation, Ukraine, and Slovakia.

 
Name & Conservation status
English name: Common Snipe
Latin name: Gallinago Gallinago
In the language of the given country: Perkūno oželis
Conservation status: LC - Least Concern
Taxonomy
Regnum: Animalia
Phylum: Chordates
Classis: Birds
Ordo: Charadriiformes
Familia: Sandpippers
Genus: Snipes
Description The Common Snipe is a small to medium sized wading bird common in northern Europe and northern Asia. It may be found in open areas with enough low vegetation to provide cover. These areas include marshes, canals, stream banks, bogs, and wet meadows, and even Arctic tundra. Nests are usually grass-lines hollows in wet meadows, or marsh.
The Common Snipes are 25–27 cm in length with a 44–47 cm wingspan and a weight of 80–140 g. They have short greenish-grey legs and a very long (5.5–7 cm) straight dark bill. The body is mottled brown with straw-yellow stripes on top and pale underneath. They have a dark stripe through the eye, with light stripes above and below it. The wings are pointed.
The breeding season of the Common Snipe spans from the middle part of April to August. The male snipe lures females by using a distinctive technique called “drumming”. Early in the breeding season, the female snipe may have many mates.
The common snipe is also regularly hunted for food and sport, with over a million birds killed annually in Europe.

 
Name & Conservation status
English name: White Rabbit
Latin name: Lepus timidus
In the language of the given country: Baltasis kiškis
Conservation status: LC - Least Concern

Taxonomy
Regnum: Animalia
Phylum: Chordates
Classis: Mammals
Ordo: Lagomorpha – hares, pikas and rabbits
Familia: Hares and rabbits
Genus: Lepus – common hares and jackrabbits
Description The Mountain Hare, also known as blue hare, tundra hare, variable hare, white hare, snow hare, alpine hare and Irish hare, is a hare that is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats. White Hares thrive in three main types of habitat: tundra, forest, and the moorlands of some European countries. High densities of hares are found in transition zones of Scotland and Ireland with open clearings. During the winter White Hares usually move into more sheltered areas.
The mountain hare is a large species, though it is slightly smaller than the European hare. It grows to a length of 45–65 cm, with a tail of 4–8 cm, and a mass of 2–5.3 kg, females being slightly heavier than males. In summer, for all populations of white hares, the coat is various shades of brown. In preparation for winter most populations moult into a white pelage. The tail remains completely white all year round, distinguishing the mountain hare from the European Hare which has a black upper side to the tail.
The breeding season is from January to September. When breeding, the male follows the female by her scent. If he gets too close, she may be strike at him or simply turn towards him with her ears laid backwards as a warning signal.

 

Name & Conservation status
English name: Black Stork
Latin name: Ciconia Nigra
In the language of the given country: Juodasis gandras
Conservation status: LC - Least Concern
Taxonomy
Regnum: Animalia
Phylum: Chordates
Classis: Birds
Ordo: Storks birds - Ciconiiformes
Familia: Storks
Genus: Ciconia
Description The Black Stork is a large wading bird. It is a widespread species that breeds in the warmer parts of Europe across temperate Asia and Southern Africa. It is seen in pairs or small flocks and breed in quiet, wooded areas which are close to water. Black Storks build nests high in trees and forage in marshy wetlands and rivers. They may be found in hilly, mountainous terrain also, as long as there is enough water nearby for foraging.
Slightly smaller than the White Stork, the Black Stork is a large bird, 95 to 100 cm in length with a 145–155 cm wingspan, and weighing around 3 kilograms. They can stand as tall as 102 cm. Like all storks, it has long legs, a long neck, and a long, straight, pointed beak. The plumage is all black with a purplish green sheen. The breast feathers are long and shaggy forming a ruff which is used in some courtship displays. The bare skin around its eyes is red, as are its red bill and legs. The sexes are identical in appearance, except that males are larger than females.
The Black Stork is a strong migrant, wintering in tropical Africa and India. The storks migrate from the middle of August to the end of September. They return in the middle of March.

Name & Conservation status
English name: Black-throated diver
Latin name: Gavia arctica
In the language of the given country: Juodakaklis naras
Conservation status: LC - Least Concern
Taxonomy
Regnum: Animalia
Phylum: Chordates
Classis: Birds
Ordo: Loons
Familia: Loons, Divers
Genus: Gavia
Description The Black-throated Divers are migratory aquatic birds found in the northern hemisphere. In winter, they are primarily found on large lakes off the coasts of Europe, Asia and North America, including the northern tundra and taiga habitats of Canada, Russia, Scandinavia. European populations typically inhabit areas ranging from the Baltic Sea to the northern Mediterranean during winter months.
These birds prefer a habitat free of disturbance. The Black-throated Divers rely on their freshwater breeding territory to provide food. They dive deep in the water for fish and also feed their offspring small fishes and insects until they increase in size, enabling them to feed on larger fish.
Breeding Black-throated Divers adults are 58 to 77 cm in length with a 100 to 130 cm wingspan, shaped like a smaller, sleeker version of the Great Northern Diver. Body mass is reportedly from 2–3.4 kg. They have a gray head, black throat, white under parts and checkered black-and-white mantle. The non-breeding adult is duller in appearance with the chin and fore neck white. Female and male Black-throated Divers are similar in their physical appearance and feature distinctive, deep-red eyes.

back