Drawing of someone who lives in the mountains. Mountain nature: animals and plants

Unlike lowland territories, which are characterized by horizontal (sprat) zoning of landscapes, mountainous areas have vertical zoning, that is, a change in landscapes in the direction from the base of the mountains to their peaks. When climbing into the mountains, a sequential transition from one zone to another is revealed in accordance with the change in temperature and air humidity by different heights. Thus, in the mountains, the flora and fauna naturally repeat the features of latitudinal landscapes - steppe, deciduous, mixed and coniferous forests, alpine tundra with alpine meadows and, finally, the glacial zone. However, there is no complete similarity between mountain landscapes and their corresponding horizontal natural areas does not exist, since mountains are located in different climatic regions of the Earth and rise above sea level from the territory of different latitude zones, which inevitably has a certain impact on the nature of mountain flora and fauna. For example, the appearance and composition of the vegetation and fauna of mountain steppes and deserts Central Asia reminiscent of the nature of the Central Asian plains. The mountains of the forest zone in the corresponding zones have a similar species composition of the flora and fauna of lowland forests.

Within Russia, mountain landscapes occupy more than 6% of the entire territory of the country and are well expressed in the Caucasus and Western Siberia (Altai, Sayan Mountains). As for the mountains of the Urals and Eastern Siberia, then they rise from the territory of the taiga, which smoothes out the specificity mountain belts these areas.

Because mountain systems Russia is located over vast areas and distant from each other, their fauna does not represent a single whole. Animal world each of them differs to one degree or another in species composition from the rest. In this regard, it is more expedient to consider the characteristics of the animal population of the mountains in relation to those species groups that are represented in the zone of alpine meadows, since it is these animals that have the most clearly expressed features characteristic of the mountain fauna.

The influence of eternal snow affects the nature of the adjacent alpine belt. Here, the main habitats suitable for plant and animal life are sufficiently moist, since during most of the summer there is an influx of melt water from the snow cover. According to the terms mountainous terrain Surface water flows down quickly and does not form wetlands, so permafrost does not form anywhere. In the spring, moisture-loving perennial grasses of the meadow type develop, which feed on the peculiar ground mountain birds snowcocks, rock partridges, chukars, etc. These birds move well over uneven hard ground, maneuvering among scattered rubble and rocky ledges, and quickly run along steep slopes.

Various herbivorous animals are also typical for the highlands - marmots and haymakers (pischka). Some of them live among rocky placers, others inhabit high-mountain areas of the steppes. Many of them dig holes and hibernate for the winter (marmots); others do not hibernate, but prepare stacks of fragrant hay for the period of winter starvation (hay supply). No less characteristic of the mountains are rock voles, living either in burrows, or in rock crevices, or among rocky placers, where they make warm spherical nests from wool, down and feathers collected in the surrounding area.

Living conditions in the mountains are very different from those on the plains. As you rise into the mountains, the climate changes: the temperature drops, the wind strength increases, the air becomes thinner, and winter becomes longer.
The nature of the vegetation from the foot of the mountains to the peaks is also different. In the mountains of Central Asia, desert and steppe foothills usually give way to forest, which is first dominated by deciduous and then coniferous species. Higher up there is a low-growing, curved downslope subalpine forest and thickets of bushes. Alpine low-growing vegetation begins even higher, vaguely reminiscent of the vegetation of the northern tundra. The Alpine mountain belt is directly bordered by snow fields, glaciers and rocks; there, among the stones, only rare grass, moss and lichens are found.
The change of vegetation in the mountains occurs over just a few thousand meters, counting vertically. This phenomenon is called vertical zoning or zonation. Such a change in vegetation in the most general outline is similar to the latitudinal zonation of nature on Earth: deserts and steppes are replaced by forests, forests by forest-tundra and tundra.
Natural conditions in the mountains change not only with height, but also when moving from one slope to another. Sometimes even neighboring sections of the same slope have different natural conditions. It all depends on the position of the site in relation to the cardinal points, on its steepness and on how open it is to the winds.
The diversity of living conditions contributes to the fact that the mountains are inhabited by many species of animals. In terms of the number of species of mountain animals, the forest belt of the mountains is the richest. The highlands are much poorer in them. The living conditions there are too harsh: even in summer, frosts are possible at night, and there is little food. Therefore, the higher you go in the mountains, the usually fewer species animals. The most elevated parts high mountains covered with eternal snow and almost completely devoid of life.
They go very high into the mountains - almost up to 6 thousand meters mountain goats and rams; Occasionally, a mountain leopard, the snow leopard, comes up here after them. Of the vertebrate animals, only vultures, eagles and some other birds penetrate even higher. The bearded vulture was seen in the Himalayas at an altitude of almost 7 thousand m, and the condor was seen in the Andes at an even higher altitude. When climbing Chomolungma (Everest), climbers observed choughs - close relatives of our crows - at an altitude of 8100 m.
Some animals, particularly crows and hares, are found in almost all mountain zones, but most species live in only a few or even one zone. For example, bullfinches and yellow-headed wrens nest in the Caucasus Mountains only in the belt of dark coniferous forests formed by fir and spruce.

Irbis or snow leopard.

On the mountains, each vertical zone has its own fauna, which is to some extent similar to the fauna of the corresponding latitudinal zones of the Earth. Animals of the mountain forest belt resemble animals of broad-leaved forests and taiga.

Argali.

The tundra partridge, living on the northern coast of Siberia and on the Arctic islands, is also found in the alpine belt of the mountains of Europe and Asia, where living conditions are similar to the Arctic. Some other animals common in the Arctic also live in the alpine belt of mountains: for example, in the mountains of Southern Siberia and East Asia reindeer live. The habitats of deer in Altai are located in most cases not lower than 1500 m above sea level, that is, mainly in the subalpine and alpine mountain belts, where moss and other terrestrial lichens grow in abundance. IN winter time when in reindeer's diet great importance have reindeer moss and other lichens; the nature of the snow cover plays an important role in the choice of habitat. If the snow is too deep and dense, then ground lichens are inaccessible to deer. In winter, the treeless slopes of the mountains of the Alpine belt are most favorable for the life of deer, where the snow is blown away by the winds, and in clear days melts in the sun.
The fauna of the Alpine belt is very unique, where many animals unknown on the plains are found: different kinds mountain goats (in Western Europe - the alpine ibex, in the Caucasus - the tur, in the mountains of Asia - the Siberian mountain goat), chamois, Asian red wolf, some rodents, vultures, mountain turkey, or snowcock, alpine jackdaw, etc.
Fauna in the alpine belt of the mountains of Europe, Asia, North America and northern Africa are generally homogeneous. This is explained by the fact that in the highlands of the northern hemisphere, living conditions are very similar.
Many mountain animals live only where there are rocks. Musk deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep Chubuk, argali and goral antelope escape from predators in the rocks. Birds - rock pigeon, swifts and red-winged wallcreeper - find convenient nesting places there. The wall climber crawls along steep rocks like a woodpecker along a tree trunk. With its fluttering flight, this small bird with bright crimson wings resembles a butterfly. In dry, sunny areas of the mountains, chukar are often found.
Screes form in many mountains; The life of such animals as the snow vole and the mountain pika (otherwise known as hayfowl) is associated with them. Starting from the second half of summer, especially in autumn, these animals diligently collect blades of grass and twigs of bushes with leaves, lay them out on stones to dry, and then carry the hay under a shelter made of stones.
The unique natural conditions of life in the mountains affected appearance animals that constantly live there, on their body shapes, lifestyle and habits. They have developed characteristic adaptations that help in the struggle for existence. For example, mountain goats, chamois, and American snow goats have large, mobile hooves that can move widely apart. Along the edges of the hooves - from the sides and in front - there is a well-defined protrusion (welt), and the pads of the toes are relatively soft. All this allows animals, when moving along rocks and steep slopes, to cling to barely noticeable irregularities and not slip when running on icy snow. The horny substance of their hooves is very strong and grows quickly, so the hooves never “wear out” from being abraded by sharp stones. The structure of the legs of mountain ungulates allows them to make large jumps on steep slopes and quickly reach rocks where they can hide from persecution.

Siberian mountain goat.

During the day, rising air currents predominate in the mountains. This favors the soaring flight of large birds - bearded vultures, eagles and vultures. Soaring in the air, they search for carrion or live prey for a long time. The mountains are also characterized by birds with fast, swift flight: Caucasian mountain grouse, mountain turkey, swifts.
In the summer it is cold high in the mountains, so there are almost no reptiles there: after all, most of them are heat-loving. They only penetrate higher than others viviparous species reptiles: some lizards, vipers, and in northern Africa - chameleons. In Tibet, at an altitude of more than 5 thousand m, the viviparous round-headed lizard is found. Roundheads living on the plains, where the climate is warmer, lay eggs.
The lush plumage of mountain birds and the thick fur of animals protect them from the cold. The snow leopard, which lives in the high mountains of Asia, has unusually long and lush fur, while its tropical relative, the leopard, has short and sparse fur. Animals living in the mountains shed much later in the spring than animals on the plains, and in the fall their fur begins to grow earlier.
Hummingbirds in the Andean highlands of South America nest in caves in large groups, which helps keep the birds warm. On cold nights, hummingbirds fall into torpor, thus minimizing energy expenditure on heating the body, the temperature of which can drop to +14°.
One of the remarkable adaptations to life in the mountains is vertical migrations, or migrations. With the onset of autumn, when it becomes cold high in the mountains, snowfalls begin and, most importantly, it becomes difficult to obtain food, many animals migrate lower down the mountain slopes.
A significant part of the birds living in the mountains of the northern hemisphere fly south at this time. Most birds that remain to winter in the mountains descend to the lower zones, often to the very foothills and surrounding plains. Very few birds, such as the mountain turkey, winter at high altitudes. It usually stays near places where aurochs graze. The snow here is sometimes dug up by their hooves, and it is easier for the bird to find food. The loud, alarming cry of a wary snowcock warns the aurochs of danger.

Mountain partridge partridges.

Deer, roe deer and wild boars, found in the mountains up to alpine meadows, in the fall they descend into the forest. This is also where most chamois go for the winter. Mountain goats migrate to the forested part of the mountains and settle here on steep rocky slopes. Sometimes they move to the southern slopes, where the snow melts on alpine meadows in the very first hours or days after a snowfall, or to steeper windward slopes, where the snow is blown away by the winds.

Bearded vulture.

Following the wild ungulates, the predators that hunt them migrate - wolves, lynxes, snow leopards.
Diversity natural conditions in the mountains allows animals to find places for wintering near the areas where they live in the summer. Therefore, the seasonal migrations of animals in the mountains, as a rule, are much shorter than the migrations of animals and birds on the plains. In the mountains of Altai, Sayan and North-Eastern Siberia, wild reindeer make seasonal migrations of only a few tens of kilometers, while their relatives living in the Far North, in order to reach their wintering place, sometimes travel a distance of five thousand kilometers or more.
In the spring, as the snow melts, the animals that have descended migrate back to the upper zones of the mountains. Among wild ungulates, adult males are the first to rise, followed by females with recently born, not yet strong enough babies.
Chamois, mountain goats, wild sheep and other ungulates living in the mountains often die in winter and in early spring during snow avalanches. In the Alps in the winter of 1905/06, one of the avalanches buried a herd of chamois - about 70 heads.
When there is a lot of snow in the mountains, it is very difficult for wintering ungulates: the snow prevents them from moving and getting food. In the mountains of the Western Caucasus in 1931-1932. It was a very snowy winter. The layer of snow in some places exceeded 6 m. Many deer, roe deer and other animals migrated to the lower parts of the mountains, where the snow cover was less. This winter, roe deer ran into villages and were easily captured. They were caught and kept in barns along with livestock until the snow in the mountains melted and the roe deer were no longer in danger of dying from starvation. At the end of December 1936, snowfall in the Caucasus Nature Reserve continued for four days. At the upper border of the forest, the layer of new loose snow reached a meter. The reserve's scientific staff, while in the mountains, noticed a deep path leading down the slope. They skied down along this trail and soon overtook a large auroch. Only a head with horns was visible from the snow.

Lama.

Some species of butterflies, bumblebees and wasps that live high in the mountains have thick pubescence on their bodies - this reduces heat loss. The latter is also facilitated by the shortening of the body appendages - antennae and legs.
Strong winds in the mountains make life difficult for flying insects. The wind often blows them onto snow fields and glaciers, where they die. As a result of long-term natural selection in the mountains, species of insects arose with greatly shortened, underdeveloped wings, which completely lost the ability for active flight. Their closest relatives, living on the plains, are winged and can fly.
At high altitudes, insects are found only in places, where living conditions are most favorable for them.

Tundra partridge.

The animals of the mountains have not yet been sufficiently studied; many interesting pages from their lives have not yet been read and await young, inquisitive naturalists. The following reserves provide exceptional opportunities for observing the life of wild animals in the mountains: Caucasian, Crimean, Teberdinsky, Aksu-Dzhabaglinsky (Western Tien Shan), Sikhote-Alinsky, etc.

Living conditions in the mountains are very different from those on the plains. As you ascend into the mountains, the climate changes: the air temperature drops, the wind strength increases, and often the amount of precipitation increases, and winter becomes longer. High in the mountains the air is thin and it is difficult to breathe. The nature of the vegetation from the foot of the mountains to the peaks changes over just a few thousand meters, counting vertically (see article “Vegetation of the High Mountains”).

Natural conditions in the mountains change not only with height, but also when moving from one slope to another. Sometimes even neighboring areas of the same slope differ in climate and vegetation. It all depends on the position of the site in relation to the cardinal points, the steepness of the slopes and their openness to wet or dry winds.

Dagestan tour.

Diverse life conditions in the mountains, their fauna is rich and diverse. In the middle mountain zone, where the climate is not yet too harsh and there are forests, as a rule, it occurs significantly more types animals than on the same area of ​​the adjacent plain. The fauna is rich in the relatively narrow strip of the upper limit of the forest, especially on the subalpine edges. At higher levels, the number of animal species begins to decrease noticeably. The tops of the high mountains, where eternal snow lies, are almost devoid of life.

In the Alps, traces of chamois were seen on the top of Mont Blanc (4807 m). Mountain goats, some types of sheep and yaks come very high into the mountains - almost up to 6 thousand meters. Occasionally, after them, a snow leopard or snow leopard rises here. Of the vertebrate animals, only vultures, eagles and a few other birds penetrate even higher. The bearded vulture was seen in the Himalayas at an altitude of 7.5 thousand meters, and the condor was seen in the Andes at an even higher altitude. When climbing Chomolungma (Everest), climbers observed alpine jackdaws at an altitude of 8100 m. A snow partridge nest with a clutch of eggs was found in the Nepal Himalayas at an altitude of almost 5.7 thousand m.

Often the same animals are found in several mountain zones, but, as a rule, their numbers are significant only in one of them, the most suitable for the life of a given species. Big number species outside one or two of their most characteristic zones are rarely or not found at all, and only a few can be seen in different zones mountains Therefore, each mountain zone has its own animal world. It consists, as a rule, of a number of species close or identical to those found in the fauna of the corresponding latitudinal zone Earth. For example, in the tundra belt of mountains southern Siberia, called here char, you can observe reindeer, tundra partridge and horned lark, characteristic of the northern tundra.

Snow goat.

The fauna of the Alpine belt of the mountains of Europe, Asia, North America and, to a lesser extent, North Africa is generally homogeneous. This is explained by the fact that in the highlands Northern Hemisphere living conditions are similar, and the core of the mountain fauna comes from common centers of speciation - the mountains Central Asia and some other mountainous regions.

Many mountain animals live only where there are rocks. Mountain goats, bighorn sheep, argali, as well as goral and musk deer escape from predators in the rocks. Birds - rock pigeon, swifts and red-winged wallcreeper - find convenient nesting places there and hide from bad weather. The wall climber crawls along steep rocks like a woodpecker along a tree trunk. With its fluttering flight, this small bird with bright crimson wings resembles a butterfly.

Screes form in many mountains; The life of the mountain pika, also called the haymaker, the snow vole and some other rodents is associated with them. In the second half of summer, they all diligently collect blades of grass and twigs of bushes with leaves, lay them out on stones to dry, and then carry the hay under shelters made of stones.

Alpine goats.

The peculiar natural conditions of life in the mountains affected the appearance of the animals that constantly live there, their body shape, lifestyle and habits. They have developed characteristic adaptations that help in the struggle for existence. Mountain goats, chamois and American snow goats have large, flexible hooves that can move widely apart. Along the edges of the hooves - from the sides and in front - there is a well-defined protrusion (welt), and the pads of the toes are relatively soft. All this allows animals, when moving along rocks and steep slopes, to cling to barely noticeable irregularities and not slip when running on icy snow. The horny substance of their hooves is very strong and grows quickly, so the hooves never “wear out” from being abraded by sharp stones. The structure of the legs of mountain ungulates allows them to make large jumps on steep slopes and quickly reach rocks where they can hide from persecution.

During the day, rising air currents predominate in the mountains. This favors the soaring flight of large birds - bearded vultures, eagles and vultures. Hovering in the air, they can spot carrion or live prey from afar. The mountains are also characterized by birds with fast, swift flight: Caucasian mountain grouse, mountain turkey, or snowcock, swifts.

Yak. The long and thick fur on the belly and sides serves as a kind of bedding for it.

In summer it is cold high in the mountains, so there are almost no reptiles there: most of them are heat-loving. Only viviparous species of reptiles penetrate higher than others: some lizards, vipers, and in northern Africa - chameleons. In Tibet, at an altitude of more than 5 thousand m, the viviparous round-headed lizard is found. Roundheads living on the plains, where the climate is warmer, lay eggs. What has been said about reptiles is to a large extent true for amphibians, although they penetrate into the mountains a little higher - up to 5.5 thousand m. Of the amphibians common in our country, the Asia Minor frog and the gray or common toad penetrate the mountains higher than others . The upper limit of the vertical distribution of fish is about 5 thousand m.

Snow leopard, or snow leopard.

The lush plumage of mountain birds and the thick fur of animals protect them from the cold. The snow leopard, which lives in the highlands of Asia, has unusually long and fluffy fur, while its tropical relative, the leopard, has short and sparse fur. Animals living in the mountains shed much later in the spring than animals on the plains, and in the fall their fur begins to grow earlier.

Vultures.

Hummingbirds in the Andean highlands nest in caves in large groups, which helps keep the birds warm. On cold nights, they fall into torpor, thus minimizing energy expenditure on heating the body, the temperature of which can drop to 14°. One of the remarkable adaptations to life in the mountains is vertical migrations. With the onset of autumn, when it becomes cold high in the mountains, snowfalls begin and, most importantly, it becomes more difficult to obtain food, many animals migrate lower down the mountain slopes.

Condor.

A significant part of the birds living in the mountains of the Northern Hemisphere fly south for the winter. Most birds that remain to winter in mountainous areas descend to the lower zones, often to the very foothills and surrounding plains. Very few birds, such as the mountain turkey, spend the winter at high altitudes. In the Caucasus, it usually stays near places where aurochs, the closest relatives of mountain goats, graze. The snow here is sometimes dug up by their hooves, and it is easier for the bird to find food. The loud, alarming cry of a wary snowcock warns the aurochs of danger.

Deer, roe deer and wild boars, which are found in the mountains all the way to alpine meadows in the summer, descend into the forest in the fall. Many chamois also go here for the winter. Turs and other mountain goats migrate closer to the upper border of the forest, settling on steep rocky slopes. Some of them go down into the forest. Sometimes they move to the southern slopes, where the snow melts on alpine meadows in the very first hours or days after a snowfall, as happens in the Caucasus Mountains, or they go to steeper windward slopes, where the snow is blown away by the winds. In the mountains of Siberia, reindeer often spend the winter along the “vyduvai”, coming here from the forest. If the snow is too deep and dense and the ground lichens in the char are inaccessible to the reindeer, they go back into the forest and feed on tree lichens there.

Mountain turkey, or snowcock.

Following the wild ungulates, the predators that hunt them migrate - wolves, lynxes, snow leopards. The diversity of natural conditions in the mountains allows animals to find places to winter near the areas where they live in the summer. Therefore, the seasonal migrations of animals in the mountains, as a rule, are much shorter than the migrations of animals and birds on the plains.

In the Altai, Sayan and northeastern Siberia wild reindeer make seasonal migrations within 10-20 km, and their relatives living in the Far North travel several hundred kilometers in order to reach their wintering grounds. In the spring, as the snow melts, the animals that have descended migrate back to the upper zones of the mountains. Chamois, mountain goats and other ungulates living in the mountains often die in winter and early spring during snowfalls.

Alpine insects: on the left - glacier flea; on the right is a springtail.

From mountain animals to different time and in different parts man domesticated the goat, in Asia - the yak, in South America- llama and alpaca. The yak and llama are used in the mountains mainly for transporting goods in packs; female yak produce very rich milk. The alpaca, like the llama, belongs to the group of New World camels (American camels); it produces fine wool, superior in quality to sheep.

We have not yet said anything about invertebrate animals - insects and spiders, however, it is they, and not animals and birds, that are permanent inhabitants of high altitudes. Scientists from India and other countries discovered in the Himalayas at an altitude of 3500 to 6000 m above sea level several hundred species of resident arthropods living here - flies, springtails, beetles, aphids, butterflies, mayflies, locusts, ticks, centipedes, etc. In 1924 when attempting to climb Chomolungma, expedition members discovered active jumping spiders at an altitude of 6600 m. This is so far the highest limit at which living invertebrate animals have been found in the mountains.

Strong upward air currents bring masses of plant pollen, especially juniper and other conifers, spores, seeds, as well as aphids, winged ants, midges, mosquitoes, butterflies, etc. from the lower zones of the mountains and from the plains. There are known cases of aphids being transported over a distance by the wind up to 1280 km. According to the observations of the Indian entomologist Mani V in the spring and summer months on Mount Pir-Pindzhal in the Himalayas at an altitude of 3.5-4 km, at least 400 dead arthropods were deposited in a section of a snow field with an area of ​​about 10 m2 in 20 minutes different types. Especially a lot of organic residues accumulate at the foot and in the cracks of rocks. Many high-altitude insects and spiders live on them. In particular, they feed on coniferous pollen. small insects Podurs, or glacial fleas, living directly on snow and firn fields.

Groups of invertebrate animals that exist due to organic remains brought by mountain breezes are called aeolian (Aeolus is the god of the winds in ancient Greek mythology). By the nature and origin of their food, coming from other vertical zones, they are similar to deep-sea groups of animals, which ultimately exist due to organic remains that sink to the bottom of the oceans from the upper layers of water (see article “Animal world of the seas and oceans”) .

Insects in the mountains often live under rocks; In summer, during sunny hours, the stones become very hot, and the air temperature near them is higher than in other places. Insects also use cracks in the ground and crevices in rocks, rare spots of carpets of alpine plants, soil, small bodies of water and even snow as shelters. Most mountain insects are small in size, living under stones - a flat body shape, thanks to which they can more successfully find shelter. Particularly many insects are found near the edge of melting snow, where the air and soil are moister and where it is easiest to find food - organic remains carried away by melt water. The low density of the atmosphere and the associated low oxygen content in it do not have a noticeable negative effect on insects.

Insects spend the long winter under thick snow cover. In summer they are usually active during hours when the sun shines brightly; therefore, they often alternate periods of intense life and rest several times during the day. But some insects were observed in an active state even when snow began to fall in the mountains and the thermometer showed several degrees of frost. Poduras are unusually resistant to cold. On the plains, moth butterflies are active at dusk and at night; in the highlands they are diurnal: at night the air is too cold for them.

Many insects in the mountains are dark in color and highly pigmented (spotted). This better protects insects from excessive radiation ultraviolet rays, very intense in the mountains. Some species of butterflies, bumblebees and wasps that live high in the mountains have densely pubescent bodies - this reduces heat loss. The latter is facilitated by the shortening of the antennae and legs. High in the mountains, bees and bumblebees are extremely rare, and here flies and other dipterans and butterflies play the main role in flower pollination.

Strong winds in the mountains make life difficult for flying insects. The wind often blows them onto snow fields and glaciers, where they die. As a result of long-term natural selection in the mountains, species of insects arose with greatly shortened, underdeveloped wings, completely losing the ability for active flight. Their closest relatives, living on the plains, are winged and can fly.

Living conditions in the equatorial highlands of Africa are very unique - on Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 m), Rwenzori (5119 m), etc. If seasonal differences in air temperature in these mountains at an altitude of 4-4.5 km above sea level are insignificant, then the daily the fluctuations are exceptionally large. In the alpine desert zone, the air temperature at night almost always drops below zero, but during the day, at an air temperature of about 6°, the soil surface illuminated by the sun heats up to 70° and above. Therefore, almost all animals are active here only early in the morning and late in the evening, for a total of no more than 2-3 hours. For the rest of the day, all living things hide and hide in holes, cracks in the ground, under stones, and only in cloudy days active life lasts longer.

The color of mountain equatorial insects is usually dominated by faded, desert tones; In some insects, on the contrary, the chitinous surface of the body is shiny, silvery, facilitating reflection sun rays. Beetles are characterized by bright colors and rounded elytra, forming a kind of arch above the abdomen; an air gap under the arch of the elytra protects the beetle from overheating.

Thus, insects of the equatorial highlands combine adaptations to protect themselves from both very low temperatures and extremely high ones. Many interesting pages from the life of mountain animals have not yet been read and await young inquisitive naturalists.

Change vegetation zones from the foot to the top of the mountains is very similar to the change of vegetation on the way to the poles. The higher you climb into the mountains, the colder it becomes: every 90 m the air temperature drops by about 0.55 C. Below the mountains are covered with deciduous forests.

They are followed coniferous forests, then alpine meadows and bushes, and on the peaks there is only ice and stones. Animals living in the mountains are forced to endure low temperatures, squally winds and very bright sun. Many species of mountain inhabitants move higher into the mountains in the spring and return to warmer valleys in the winter. Some have adapted well to environment And all year round remain high in the mountains. Some insects, such as springtails, can survive in ice for up to three years.

mountain animals

Yaks

In the Himalayas, in the mountains and on the high plains at an altitude of about 4000 m, large, strong animals live - yaks. Thick fur protects them from the piercing cold. Yaks need a lot of water. In winter, they sometimes even eat snow. Since yaks were previously hunted very actively, wild yaks have practically disappeared. They are now kept as pets, providing milk, meat and hides. Herds of yaks graze in the high mountain meadows.

Mountain goats

On the border of snow high in the mountains, between the rocks, mountain goats feel at home. Here they are not threatened by any predators, such as wolves. Widely spread hooves with soft rims allow animals to hold on to bare rocks. Just a few days after birth, little kids can follow their mother up steep cliffs and jump from ledge to ledge.

Chamois, distant relatives of American snow goats, live among rocks in the mountains of Europe. Higher up the slope live bearded goats with long, curved back horns. Other mountain ungulates include the shaggy Himalayan tahr, a close relative of the bearded goat, and mountain sheep: mouflon in Europe and bighorn sheep in North America.

Puma

The puma is one of the largest felines on the American continent. Cougars live between British Columbia and South America. They are found in regions with completely different conditions life - from coastal forests and swamps to peaks about 4500 m high. Since at one time they were hunted uncontrollably in North America, pumas now prefer to live solitary lives in the Andes and the area around the Rocky Mountains. Cougars are solitary animals. They mark their hunting territory, which is about 400 sq km, and protect it from their relatives.

Gorilla

The mountainous regions near the equator have a completely different climate and different vegetation. Below the high alpine meadows are bamboo forests - the homeland of gorillas. Gorilla is one of the most large mammals tropical montane forests of West and Central Africa. There are only 500 to 1,000 free-living gorillas in the forests and the species is critically endangered. Many of the forests where these monkeys live are being uprooted for agricultural purposes, and the monkeys are also hunted illegally. Gorilla skulls, skins and hands are sold in African markets as souvenir trophies.

mountain birds

Some of the largest birds find shelter, roosts and nesting territories in the mountains. One of them, the Andean condor, whose wingspan reaches 3 m, breeds its chicks on inaccessible rocks from Venezuela to Tierra del Fuego. Condors are classified as American vultures. Feeding, like other vultures, on carrion, Andean condors often fly to the shores of the ocean, where they can find dead fish.

The California condor is only slightly smaller in size than the Andean condor. These days, this bird lives only in a nature reserve located in the coastal mountains of California. Poor reproduction (the female lays only one egg every two years), poachers and destruction of natural habitats have brought this species to the brink of extinction.

In the inaccessible mountainous regions of Europe, Asia and Africa, the bearded vulture, or vulture, struggles for survival. This bird not only looks unusual (its head is decorated with a beard - hence the name), there is also a lot of surprise in the way it feeds. You can often see a bearded man carrying a bone in his paws, like an osprey catching a fish. The bird breaks the bone by dropping it from a height and then descends to the ground to feast on the bone marrow.

Of course, American vultures are not the only birds that live in the mountains. The golden eagle, whose flight is a breathtaking spectacle, is common in temperate zone in the Northern Hemisphere. The mountains are also home to many smaller birds, including the mountain finch and white-tailed partridge in North America, the Andean mountain star hummingbird in South America, the Mongolian snow finch and red-winged wallcreeper in Eurasia, and the malachite sunbird in Africa.

Golden eagles live in the mountains and plains of North America, Asia and Europe. These are the big ones predator birds, whose wingspan reaches 2 m. They are excellent glider pilots and know how to use rising air currents, soaring for hours at a height without flapping their wings. Golden eagles nest on high rocks or isolated trees. These birds have very keen eyes, which allows them to spot prey from afar.

Who lives in the mountains in winter

Some predators, including the Himalayan Snow Leopard, go down in winter, where it is warmer. Wapiti (the North American race of red deer) and many other large animals do the same. But not everyone makes such vertical migrations when winter comes. Voles, for example, remain in place and dig holes in deep snow. The temperature in such burrows is sometimes 40° higher than outside, and roots and other plant food provide the animals with food all winter. Hares are active almost throughout the cold season, as in summer. They feed on bark and branches and find shelter under snow-covered spruce or fir trees.

Where there are hot springs, animals take advantage of the benefits it provides. Bison in Yellowstone national park in USA, mountain sheep And Japanese macaques with the approach of cold weather, they move to hot springs and warmed areas of the earth around them. There they feed on green vegetation all winter and enjoy the surroundings. reminiscent of a steam room.

The third largest land area, almost 50 million square kilometers, on earth is occupied by mountains. Conditions in the mountains differ significantly from the plains: much colder, large quantity precipitation, long winter, there are frequent winds, thin air and little vegetation.

The main feature of the mountains is low pressure and lack of oxygen in the air, which is a very serious obstacle to the habitat of living creatures.

Starting from 4 thousand meters above sea level, most living beings, including humans, experience so-called oxygen starvation. A living organism deprived of sufficient oxygen cannot withstand normal stress, and in some cases can lead to death.

And yet, these places are by no means lifeless. In these extreme conditions life has not stopped, and enough people live in the mountains a large number of animals and birds adapted to these conditions.

On different continents, peculiar species live in the mountains. So in South America, in the Andes at an altitude of more than 4000 meters, alpacas, guanacos, and vicunas live. These are peculiar relatives of camels known to us. They have the same long legs and neck, but there are no humps, and they are smaller in size.

Several species of mountain goats and aurochs live in the mountains of Europe, Asia and America. These are wild animals and are mainly hunting species, now of course not commercial, but purely amateur. The mountain goat is considered honorable hunting trophy for most hunters.

In the mountains of Europe and Asia you can see snow leopards, beautiful and fast big cats, which, being predatory, find their prey there in the mountains. Because of its beautiful fur, the snow leopard has been a desirable prey for hunters for many years. Now this animal is on the verge of extinction and is listed in the Red Book.

Another one lives in the mountains of Tibet and Pamir amazing view mountain animals - . These huge, buffalo-like animals, covered with long fur, generally prefer to live only in mountainous areas. Their body is so different from lowland animals that they are unable to survive at lower altitudes.
Large lungs and heart, as well as a special blood composition with increased hemoglobin, provide oxygen supply to the yak’s body when it is deficient in the air. A thick layer of subcutaneous fat and the absence of sweat glands provide him with the ability to tolerate low temperature, but at the same time create overheating of the body at temperatures above 15°C. Under normal conditions, yaks are much hardier than ordinary bulls, and females, compared to cows, produce more milk with increased fat content.

People noticed the characteristics of mountain animals and their endurance a long time ago. One of the first people to domesticate a wild goat and began to receive fluff and milk from it. Several thousand years ago, Indians living in the South American Andes tamed llamas and used them as beasts of burden. Alpacas and vicuñas began to be bred in order to obtain excellent fur, which is mainly used for export; guanacos are mostly semi-wild and serve as a source of meat and wool for the local population.

Residents of Tibet and the Pamirs domesticated yaks and began to use them as beasts of burden and for meat, milk and wool. In order to impart special yak qualities to domestic cattle, yaks were crossed with Mongolian cows and a hybrid was obtained, the so-called hainak, which has the calm disposition of an ordinary cow and the endurance and productivity of a Tibetan yak. Hainaks can live in flat conditions, so they began to be bred in Russia, Buryatia and Tuva.