Species composition and conservation of small mammals (Mammalia: Erinaceomorpha, Soricomorpha, Lagomorpha, Rodentia) in Vrachanska Planina Mountains

Abstract

A review on the composition of the small mammals in Vrachanska Planina Mts. was completed using published and author’s data. A total of 27 species occur within the territory. All of the species found are typical for the region. The species with the highest conservation status, the European ground squirrel Spermophilus citellus, disappeared from the region in the early 1950s. In the last years activities on its recovery were carried out. We analyze the threats for the small mammals and propose conservation activities to improve their conservation status.

Keywords

• Micromammalia
• threats
• conservation
• checklist
• Spermophilus citellus
• Bulgaria