Animals in Russia

Below you can find a complete list of Russian animals. We currently track 151 animals in Russia and are adding more every day!

Russia is the largest country in the world by landmass. There are more than 125,000 different species of animals in Russia. This number is so high because of the diverse ecosystems found in Russia, including polar deserts, tundra, forest-tundra, taiga, mixed and broad-leaved forests, forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert, and subtropics. There are over 250 threatened animal species in the country. Many different factors threaten these species, like industrial waste, oil and gas exploration, climate change, and land degradation. There are some facts about wildlife in Russia.

The Official National Animal of Russia

The official national animal of Russia is the Eurasian brown bear. It is also the national animal of Finland and Croatia. Officials chose this symbol because it shows many different characteristics. People living in Russia view it as a strong animal that is resilient and preservers. You can find the largest Eurasian brown bear population in the world in Russia’s Ural Mountains range. Climate change, human development, and other factors cut down on their number annually. While the Russian military often portrays this symbol as fierce, the government uses this symbol as other times as cute stuffed bears.

Where To Find The Top Wild Animals in Russia

There are many places you can find wild animals in Russia. Some of them are cute, so you may want to consider planning a trip to see the cute ones.

  • Arctic Fox– One area where you can see arctic foxes in the wild is the Bering Sea’s Commander Islands.
  • Wild Boar– People introduced wild boars into the Ural Mountains range in the 1930s, and it is still a unique place to see them.
  • Red Deer– Find the largest red deer herds in Russia on the Taymyr Peninsula.
  • Eurasian Lynx– See this unique animal in coniferous forests from the western borders up to Kamchatka and Sakhalin.
  • Siberian Tigers– There are many Siberian tigers in Russia’s birch forests. In particular, look in the Sikhote-Alin Range in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk provinces to see these unique animals.
  • Polar Bears – Wrangel Island has the highest density of polar bear dens in the world. One of the reasons for this fact is that the area is very undeveloped. This region in Russia’s Arctic Far East is often called the polar bear maternity wing.

The Most Dangerous Animals In Russia Today

While most wildlife in Russia is not dangerous, there is some wildlife that you need to try to avoid contact with to stay safe. Keeping these facts in mind can help save your life.

  • Ticks – Ticks can carry encephalitis and Lyme disease. This can lead to swelling of the brain, seizures, and the inability to move.
  • Northern Viper – The Northern viper can grow up to 31.5 inches long and have fangs up to 1.5 inches long. While it prefers to avoid human contact, it will bite if startled. That bite can be deadly.
  • Eurasian Brown Bears – About 50% of all brown bears in the world live in Russia. These powerful bears can kill with a single swipe of their paw. Most bear attacks are by single bears, with many occurring when something wakes the bear up during winter hibernation.
  • Grey Wolves – As habitat has disappeared, grey wolves have moved into neighborhoods, which has led to more grey wolf attacks. While facts show that they often hunt in packs, but single attacks have occurred. The grey wolf prefers to dine on fish, but overfishing has lowered that number.
  • Wild boars – Wild boars use their tusk as their primary weapon. Since they cannot see well, they often attack anything that they deem a threat to them. These animals can run up to 30 miles per hour and have maintained that speed for over 1 mile.
  • Karakurt spider – Normally found in the Astrakhan Region, the Karakurt spider can migrate north when temperatures rise. If you get bitten by this spider that lives typically in ravines, then you can hold a hot match to the bite to remove the poison. In all cases, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
  • Lynx – Lynxes often hang out in trees, where they jump down on their prey. They usually target the neck.

Endangered Animals In Russia

Hunting, poaching, industrialization and other factors continue to increase the number of endangered animals in Russia annually. Some of the top endangered animals include:

Russian Animals

Alabai

The Alabai’s genes indicate that this breed has been around for more than 5,000 years.

Amur Leopard

The Amur leopard may be the rarest big cat on Earth!

Angora Goat

Each adult Angora goat produces about 12 inches of mohair annually while kids have about 8 inches.

Ant

First evolved 100 million years ago!

Antelope

Renew their horns every year!

Arctic Fox

Extremely thick winter fur!

Asiatic Black Bear

Known to eat 160 different tree-borne fruits in Thailand!

Avocet

Has a curved, upturned beak!

Barn Owl

Found everywhere around the world!

Bat

Detects prey using echolocation!

Bear

There are 8 different species!

Beaver

Builds a dam from sticks and leaves!

Beetle

There are more than 350,000 different species

Bird

Not all birds are able to fly!

Black Russian Terrier

Confident, calm and highly intelligent!

Black Widow Spider

They typically prey on insects!

Brown Bear

A dominant predator in it's environment!

Bumblebee

The most common species of bee!

Butterfly

There are thought to be up 20,000 species!

Camel Cricket

The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.

Cat

First domesticated by the Ancient Egyptians!

Caterpillar

The larvae of a moth or butterfly!

Catfish

There are nearly 3,000 different species!

Centipede

There are about 3,000 documented species!

Chicken

First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!

Chipmunk

There are 25 different species!

Cockroach

Dated to be around 300 million years old!

Common Buzzard

The most common raptor in the UK!

Common Raven

A group of ravens is called an unkindness or a conspiracy.

Cow

There are nearly 1.5 million worldwide!

Crab

There are 93 different crab groups

Crab Spider

Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings

Crane

Many are critically endangered species!

Deer

There are around 40 different species!

Dog

First domesticated in South-East Asia!

Donkey

First domesticated 5,000 years ago!

Dormouse

Found in Europe, Africa and Asia!

Dragonfly

It's larvae are carnivorous!

Duck

Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!

Eagle

Has exceptional eyesight!

Earwig

There are nearly 2,000 different species!

Eel

Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!

Elk

Adult males can jump eight feet vertically

Ermine

A very bold and ferocious predator!

Falcon

The fastest creatures on the planet!

Fly

There are more than 240,000 different species!

Flying Squirrel

Can glide up to 90 meters!

Fox

There are 12 different species in the world!

Frog

There are around 7,000 different species!

Glass Lizard

Can grow up to 4ft long!

Glow Worm

Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!

Goat

Most closely related to the Sheep!

Golden Oriole

Migrates between Europe and Asia!

Goose

There are 29 different species!

Grasshopper

There are 11,000 known species!

Green Bee-Eater

Mainly eats honeybees!

Hamster

Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!

Hare

Can reach speeds of over 40 mph!

Hedgehog

Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!

Heron

Inhabits wetlands around the world!

Honey Bee

There are only 8 recognized species!

Horse

Has evolved over 50 million years!

Horsefly

Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.

Horseshoe Crab

Changed little in over 500 million years!

Human

Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!

Ibis

Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!

Insects

There are an estimated 30 million species!

Kingfisher

Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!

Ladybug

There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!

Lizard

There are around 5,000 different species!

Locust

Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.

Long-Eared Owl

Ear tufts make it look bigger!

Lynx

Live in dens in rocks and under ledges!

Magpie

They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!

Marmot

A marmot spends 80% of its life below ground

Marsh Frog

Has bright green skin!

Mayfly

There are 2,500 known species worldwide!

Millipede

Some species have a poisonous bite!

Mole

Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!

Mongrel

Has characteristics of two or more breeds!

Moorhen

Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!

Moose

Renews it's enormous antlers every year!

Moth

There are 250,000 different species!

Mouse

Found on every continent on Earth!

Mule

The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!

Muskox

Muskox have several physical characteristics that allow them to survive in the Arctic climate.

Muskrat

The muskrat can stay underwater up to 17 minutes at a time

Neanderthal

Roamed Asia and Europe for around 100,000 years!

Newt

Able to regrow lost or damaged limbs!

Nightingale

Named more than 1,000 years ago!

No See Ums

There are more than 5,000 species.

Otter

There are 13 different species worldwide

Parrot

Can live for up to 100 years!

Peregrine Falcon

Fastest animal on Earth

Pheasant

Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!

Pig

Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!

Pigeon

They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.

Pike Fish

Apex freshwater predators with fearsome teeth!

Polar Bear

Could be extinct within the next 30 years!

Pond Skater

There are 500 different species!

Porcupine

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Puffin

Can remain in the water for up to 2 minutes!

Quail

Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!

Rabbit

There are more than 50 different species!

Raccoon Dog

The only hibernating canine!

Rat

Omnivores that eat anything!

Reindeer

Also known as the Caribou

River Turtle

Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!

Robin

There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!

Russian Bear Dog

The bite of a Russian Bear Dog is stronger than a lion’s bite.

Russian Blue

First brought to the UK in the 1800s!

Sable

Their fur has been considered a luxury item since the Middle Ages

Salamander

There are more than 700 different species!

Sand Lizard

Males turn green in spring!

Scorpion

There are around 2,000 known species!

Seahorse

Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!

Sheep

Around 35 million in the English countryside!

Shrimp

There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Siberian

An exceptionally agile jumper!

Siberian Tiger

Also known as the Amur tiger!

Skink Lizard

Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.

Slow Worm

Found widely throughout British gardens!

Snail

There are nearly 1,000 different species!

Snake

There are around 3,000 known species worldwide

Snow Leopard

Unlike other big cats, snow leopards don’t roar.

Snowy Owl

One of the largest owl species in the world!

Sparrow

There are 140 different species!

Squirrel

Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!

Stick Insect

There are more than 3,000 different species!

Stoat

Average adults weigh about 200 grams!

Swan

Populations have been affected by pollution!

Tawny Owl

The most widespread owl in Europe!

Termite

Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!

Thrush

The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.

Tiger

The largest feline in the world!

Tortoise

Can live until they are more than 150 years old!

Tree Frog

Found in warmer jungles and forests!

Vulture

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Wasp

There are around 75,000 recognised species!

Water Buffalo

Has been domesticated for thousands of years!

Weasel

The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!

White Tiger

None have been seen in the wild for 50 years!

Wild Boar

Males have a top tusk to sharpen the bottom one!

Wolf

Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!

Wolf Spider

Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.

Wolverine

Releases a strong smelling musk in defence!

Wood Bison

The reintroduction of wood bison into Alaska is considered one of the world’s best conservation success stories.

Woodlouse

Actually a crustacean, not an insect!

Woodpecker

There are 200 different species!

Yak

There are only a few left in the wild!

Yakutian Laika

The Yakute people were likely the first to use dogs to pull sleds, so the Yakutian Laika was probably among the first sled dogs.

Russian Animals List

Animals in Russia FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What animals are common in Russia?

There are many common animals in Russia. The most common type of animal is dogs. Russians have registered about 70,000 German spitzes, 45,000 Yorkshire terriers, 41,000 Chihuahuas, and 24,000 German shepherds. There are also many types of wildlife in Russia.

What is the rarest animal in Russia?

There are many rare animals in Russia. One of the rarest animals in Russia is the Amur leopard. There may be less than 80 of these rare animals left in the wild. Worldwide, it is the most endangered member of the leopard family. These rare animals can reach speeds up to 27 miles per hour, and they can jump straight up more than 16 feet. This leopard is also called the Far East leopard, the Manchurian leopard or the Korean leopard.

What is the most dangerous animal in Russia?

The most dangerous animal in Russia is the tick. They can make people sick before a person even knows that they have been bit. These blood-sucking animals carry Lyme and encephalitis. One of the reasons they are so dangerous is that they live in the same areas as people while most dangerous animals in Russia live in remote locations.

What is the biggest animal in Russia?

Polar bears are one of the biggest animals in Russia. It is the largest extant bear species and the largest carnivore on earth. Adult male polar bears weigh 1,763 pounds on average. They can stand over 13 feet tall when they are standing on their back legs. Despite being one of the biggest animals in Russia, they can run at speeds up to 31 miles per hour. A polar bear has swum 372 miles when there was no ice.