List of mammals of Ukraine 2020: additions and clarifications

Abstract

General issues of "taxonomic monitoring" of the mammal fauna of Ukraine are considered, including current changes and clarifications on the species composition of fauna, taxonomic ranks of species and superspecies groups, and current scientific and vernacular (Ukrainian) names. Analytical references and comments on the ranks and names of 24 taxa or taxonomic groups are presented, including 6 on Glires non-Muroidae, 7 on Muroidae, 5 on Chiroptera, 2 on Carnivora, and 4 on Ungulata. Most of the changes concern taxa ranks (especially genus / subgenus or family / subfamily) and, to a lesser extent, scientific and Ukrainian names. All changes are analysed as an update to the checklist approved by the Ukrainian Theriological Society (UTS) and published in 2012 in the Proceedings of the NMNH. In particular, this publication recognises the species status and correct use of scientific species names of Spalax graecus, Spalax arenarius, Apodemus (Sylvaemus) tauricus, and Myotis aurascens, as well as the Ukrainian vernacular names “hipsuh” (for Hypsugo) and “saiga” (for Saiga), scientific generic names Myodes (Ukr. “norytsia”) and Alexandromys (Ukr. “shaparka”), the family rank of long-winged bats (Miniopteridae), and the scientific name Cricetulus migratorius for the grey hamster as valid. The following provisions are adopted based on recent publications and trends in the development of classifications: 1) a new understanding of the volume and species name of Spermophilus planicola (little souslik) and Pipistrellus lepidus (Kuhl's pipistrelle); confirmation of the family status of birch mice, but with a new scientific name Sminthidae; correctness of scientific names Neogale vison (American mink) and Ovis gmelini (mouflon); 2) clarification of the Ukrainian vernacular name “molossovi” for Molossidae; 3) the genus coypu (Myocastor) is considered within the family of spiny rats (Echimyidae), whereas genera of voles (Microtus), red-backed voles (Myodes) and water voles (Arvicola) within the family of hamsters (Cricetidae); 4) lowering the ranks of several taxa, in particular Arvicolidae to subfamily Arvicolinae (within the family Cricetidae), Allactagidae to subfamily Allactaginae (within the family Dipodidae), Terricola to subgenus within the genus Microtus (s. l.), Bison to subgenus within the genus Bos (hence the bison is Bos bonasus), 5) the genus Sylvaemus is preserved at the same rank as the genus Apodemus. Trends in further changes of checklists and the need to align them with basic checklists and to adapt "thematic" lists, such as "red lists" for national or regional levels, game fauna lists, species lists in annexes to various international agreements (e.g. SITES), Bern Convention, EUROBATs, etc.) are considered.