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ENDANGERED SPECIES OF TRITON IS DISCOVERED IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JUNE 8. ARMINFO. An isolated population of tritons (Triturus
vittatus) has been discovered in Armenia outside their traditional
habitat, Head of Hydrobiology Department of the Institute of
Hydroecology and Ichthyology of Armenia's National Academy of Sciences
Evelina Ghoukassyan says in an interview to ARMINFO.
She says that the prehistoric triton lives in fresh reservoirs near
town Shamlukh, Lori region. Besides, when biologists asked the
Ministry for Nature Protection to do something to protect the triton
they were threatened against advertising the discovery. Goukassyan
says that the Ministry's argument was that should local residents
happen to know about the rarity of this species they will start
catching it without any control. Some sources say that the triton is
not only well known in Armenia but is actively smuggled to United Arab
Emirates where local residents are ready to pay big money for exotic
species.
The herpentologist of Zoology Institute of the National Academy of
Science of Armenia Aram Agasyan says that the triton was first
registered in Armenia in 1937. In 1985, 1992 and 2002 scientists asked
the Armenian authorities to recognize the triton as an endangered
species but the latter failed to mention the amphibian in Armenia's
Red Book edition of 1988. If ever published the new edition will
certainly mention the triton, says Agassyan.
The triton belongs to the order of salamanders. During the period of
coupling male tritons acquire very bright coloring - an attraction for
collectioners.
YEREVAN, JUNE 8. ARMINFO. An isolated population of tritons (Triturus
vittatus) has been discovered in Armenia outside their traditional
habitat, Head of Hydrobiology Department of the Institute of
Hydroecology and Ichthyology of Armenia's National Academy of Sciences
Evelina Ghoukassyan says in an interview to ARMINFO.
She says that the prehistoric triton lives in fresh reservoirs near
town Shamlukh, Lori region. Besides, when biologists asked the
Ministry for Nature Protection to do something to protect the triton
they were threatened against advertising the discovery. Goukassyan
says that the Ministry's argument was that should local residents
happen to know about the rarity of this species they will start
catching it without any control. Some sources say that the triton is
not only well known in Armenia but is actively smuggled to United Arab
Emirates where local residents are ready to pay big money for exotic
species.
The herpentologist of Zoology Institute of the National Academy of
Science of Armenia Aram Agasyan says that the triton was first
registered in Armenia in 1937. In 1985, 1992 and 2002 scientists asked
the Armenian authorities to recognize the triton as an endangered
species but the latter failed to mention the amphibian in Armenia's
Red Book edition of 1988. If ever published the new edition will
certainly mention the triton, says Agassyan.
The triton belongs to the order of salamanders. During the period of
coupling male tritons acquire very bright coloring - an attraction for
collectioners.