Kazakhstan
Most distinctive of the mammals found solely in Kazakhstan is the Desert Dormouse (GBIF) (iNaturalist) (SZMN WM) which sometimes is placed in its own family, the Seleviniidae. Other endemic mammals include the Kazakh Pika (iNaturalist) (Google Books), the Pallid Pygmy Jerboa (ARKive WM), the Greater Fat-tailed Jerboa (geophoto.ru WM) (GBIF), the Zhetysu Birch Mouse Sicista zhetysuica (mme.hu), the Talgar Birch Mouse Sicista talgarica (fig. 8 at PeerJ), and the Kazakhstan Blind Mole Rat (p. 22 of nncooi.kz WM pdf) (GBIF). The Karatau Argali (BioLib) (Zoo Institutes) is sometimes considered a full species.
The Altai Viper Vipera altaica (Reptile Database) (ResearchGate) is an endemic reptile.
Freshwater fish exclusive to Kazakhstan include the Seven River's
Minnow (IUCN),
Severtsov's Stone Loach (IUCN),
the Markakol Grayling Thymallus
brevicephalus (ru.russiansalmon.org)
(Springer),
the
loaches
Triplophysa herzensteini
(fishbiosystem.ru
WM)
and Barbatula
markakulensis (fig. 6 at Munis
pdf) (IUCN),
and
the Blackspot Goby Mesogobius
nigronotatus (fig. 2e at ResearchGate)
which is known only from a single specimen. The Ashik-Kul Marinka Schizothorax saltans
(fishingkz) (IUCN)
is apparently extinct.
Butterflies unique to Kazakhstan include a meadow brown Hyponephele
dzhungarica (insecta.pro
WM),
a fritillary Melitaea
alatauica (iNaturalist)
(Oleg
Kosterin WM), Oeneis
fulla (rusinsects.com),
Cupido tusovi
(fig. 63 at BHL),
and a ringlet Erebia
tianschanica (rusinsects.com).
Endemic moths include the owlet moths Pseudohadena
anatine (iNaturalist)
and Victrix akbet
(ResearchGate),
a cossid moth Deserticossus
doroshkini (GBIF),
and an
endemic family, the Ustyurtiidae (ResearchGate).
Other endemic insects include the longhorn beetles Dorcadion cephalotes (iNaturalist) and Anoplistes galusoi (ZooKeys), a tiger beetle Microdaccus glasunovi (p. 30 of Zoomet.ru pdf), the ground beetles Carabus lindemanni (zin.ru) and Leistus tatianae (zin.ru pdf), an earth-boring dung beetle Lethrus aequidentatus (iNaturalist), a dung beetle Aphodius dzhungaricus (SZMN WM), a click beetle Anostirus pullatus (Elateridae), a rove beetle Quedius kungeicus (GBIF), a water scavenger beetle Helophorus salinus (ResearchGate), a minute brown scavenger beetle Dienerella katarzynae (GBIF), a weevil Notaris temreshevi (ResearchGate), the bees Chiasmognathus scythicus (ResearchGate) and Seladonia wollmanni (Atlas Hymenoptera WM), a potter wasp Brachypipona kurzenkoi (ResearchGate), a cuckoo wasp Hedychridium alatum (ResearchGate), the ants Myrmica inucta (p. 14 of AntWiki pdf) and Cardiocondyla littoralis (AntWiki), a katydid Glyphonotus coniciplicus (OSF), a grasshopper Mesasippus tarbagataicus (SZMN WM), and a cockroach Tartaroblatta karatavica (iNaturalist).
Other
endemic invertebrates include the jumping spiders Dendryphantes secretus
(iNaturalist) and Synageles charitonovi
(iNaturalist),
an orb-weaver Hypsosinga
kazachstanica (iNaturalist),
a wolf spider Karakumosa
alticeps (iNaturalist),
an ant spider Lachesana
dyachkovi
(KMK
pdf), a ladybird spider Eresus
tristis (ResearchGate),
a harvestman Redikorcevia
platybunoides
(ResearchGate),
a scorpion Anomalobuthus
lowei (p. 23 of Euscopius
pdf),
a solifuge Galeodes
turkestanus
(solpugid.com
WM),
the centipedes
Escaryus
alatavicus (ResearchGate)
and Dzhungaria gigantea
(ResearchGate),
a woodlouse Hemilepistus
pavlovskii (GBIF),
a brine shrimp Artemia
amati (ResearchGate),
the freshwater snails Lymnaea
almaatina (fig. 2E on p. 67 of ZMMU
pdf) and Martensamnicola
kazakhstanica (p. 32 of zin.ru
pdf), and
the land snails Pseudonapaeus bacillus
(Femorale
WM),
Laevozebrinus
lenis (b-cabinet),
and Fruticicola
tzwetkovi
(Femorale
WM) (iNaturalist).
Among about 444 vascular plant species found nowhere else (Appendix 1
of PhytoKeys)
are
Tulipa lemmersii
(Montarano
WM),
Tulipa regelii
(plantarium.ru),
Tulipa annae
(plantarium.ru),
Fritillaria kolbintsevii
(plantarium.ru),
Allium kujukense
(plantarium.ru),
Allium iliense
(plantarium.ru),
Phlomoides iliensis
(plantarium.ru),
Lepidolopha karatavica
(Montarano
WM),
Oxytropis almaatensis
(plantarium.ru),
Astragalus balchaschensis
(plantarium.ru),
Prangos equisetoides
(plantarium.ru), Rhaponticoides zaissanica
(ResearchGate),
Parrya longicarpa (plantarium.ru),
Hedysarum tarbagataicum
(plantarium.ru),
Thymus karatavicus
(Montarano
WM),
Jurinea robusta (plantarium.ru),
Scutellaria subcaespitosa
(iNaturalist),
Euphorbia yaroslavii
(plantarium.ru),
Echinops pubisquameus
(plantarium.ru),
Atraphaxis teretifolia
(plantarium.ru),
Sergia sewerzowii
(plantarium.ru),
Delphinium pavlovii
(plantarium.ru),
and
Salvia trautvetteri
(Montarano
WM).
Endemic
vascular plant genera include Cancriniella (plantarium.ru),
Botschantzevia (plantarium.ru),
Karatavia (plantarium.ru),
Tschulaktavia
(plantarium.ru),
Spiraeanthus
(plantarium.ru),
and Sauria
(POWO).
Niedzwedzkia (plantarium.ru) (IUCN)
is sometimes considered distinct from
the more widely distributed Incarvillea.
Pseudomarrubium
(redbook.ucoz.kz
WM )
(GBIF)
has recently been considered a synonym of the more widely distributed Phlomoides (ScienceDirect).
Portions of Kazakhstan are included in the Mountains of
Central Asia biodiversity hotspot (Biodiversity
Hotspots WM).
Important ecoregions include the Kazakh
Upland (EoE),
the Kazakh Semi-desert (EoE),
and the Caspian Sea (FEOW
WM)
(zin.ru).