River pearl oyster

River pearl oyster (Margaritifera of margaritifera), the sufficiently important representative of fresh-water mollusks, only from the mollusks in Latvia, who is capable to form pearl. (Shell of adult mollusk it has a length of approximately 10 c[m].). In all probability, in 16-18 centuries the valuable pearls, obtained from the Latvia rivers, was supplied to the highest courts of Sweden and Russia. The intensive catching of pearls in the ancient times and the pollution of rivers during our days they became the reason for the extinction of river pearl oyster not only in Latvia, but also in entire Baltic sea. By Wednesday the inhabiting of river pearl oyster are presented special requirements - oligotrophic type small fast flowing rivers with the cold water, the sandy bottom of river without the silt and the algae, and also the covered with forest shore. Are at present in Latvia known only five rivers with the bottom, which is suitable for the cultivation of pearls. In the last 100 years their quantity was reduced five. Latvia is unique fact that river pearl oyster here it was preserved in the plains rivers, while in other places these forms can be revealed only in the clean mountain rivers. This is one additional proof of the fact that the environment of Latvia is less contaminated than in the majority of the countries of Europe. Amphibious The amphibious include frog, toad and the tritons. These essences are conducted in the abundance. Frog concert is in spring almost from each reservoir audible; in summer toad and tritons hunt for the insects and the mollusks, and in the shoal other tritons are heated in the sun. The presence of amphibious also testifies about the quality of environment, since they avoid the contaminated regions.

Wolf

Latvian people experiences to the wolves (Canis of lupus) contradictory feelings. From one side, legend and popular belief, described in the ancient manuscripts, they attest to the fact that wolf they read a little as deity or servant of God. In many folk songs of wolf they call the dog of god. It is considered that when the wolf [voet], it appeals to the god; consequently, the wolves it cannot be hunt and ridiculed them. There are many incantations as to avoid encounter with the wolves or to force them to turn into the flight. From the other side, the introduction of Christianity, war, epidemic they forced to change relation to the wolves. Began to be composed legends about the werewolves, i.e., people, which can be converted into the wolves, and then again assume human appearance. They indicate that it is possible to become werewolf, if we into the plenilune at night undress ourselves stark naked and to creep under the coming out roots of trees; such roots are formed, when soil under the tree is washed or blown away by wind. It is necessary to tie from behind the beam of grass; the greater the beam of grass, the thicker the wolf tail. In order to again become man, it is necessary to creep under the roots in the opposite direction; however, if someone touched the dropped clothing, it is possible to remain wolf forever.

The large part of Eurasia and North America initially was the region of the inhabiting of wolves. Then for different reasons (for example, intended of destruction for the purpose of the protection of the domestic animal and freely grazed herbivorous animals, and also the absence of the suitable living environment), a quantity of wolves strongly decreased, and in some places they entirely disappeared.

Wolves appeared in the territory of Latvia in the early post-glacial period. The efforts of hunters for the destruction of all wolves were not crowned with success. Wolves were encountered rarely only in the various historical periods. The population of wolves grew during wars and epidemics of plague; possibly, because vagrant dogs were joined to the flocks of wolves, since these two individuals can be crossed between themselves.

In Latvia were in 1998 counted approximately 1 000 wolves; to 65 square kilometers or for each of 28 square kilometers of forest it came on one wolf (scaffolding they cover approximately 44% of territory of Latvia). It is not worthwhile to fear encounter with the wolf in the forest, since this careful animal avoids man. To see wolf is possible, after going on its track, or in [Ligatne] (Ligatne), where the wolves for the safety are contained after the fence.

Noble deer

Lynx is the representative of the fauna of taiga, and its territory of inhabiting includes the taiga zone of North America. At one time these enormous cats lived almost on entire Europe; however, now, the area of their inhabiting considerably decreased and it became more crushed. In some European Countries, such as France, Switzerland and Austria the population of lynx was restored; however, in the case of a deficiency in the fodder, lynx attacks the herds of sheep and large cattle. In Latvia is not registered the attack of lynx on the domestic animals - in all likelihood, rabbits, deer, beavers, rodents and birds are sufficient to it. Despite the fact that lynx dwells in the forest, not in each large forest it is possible to meet. Similar to wolf, lynx avoids encounter with the man. Very few people they can brag by the fact that they saw lynx. In 1998 were counted 700 lynxes. To the lynxes is permitted the hunting also during recent years yearly they kill on 100 animals. Moose (Alces of alces) - the quite important representative of the family of moose. Adult moose- male can weigh to 400 kg. in moose short body, long feet with the large hooves, large head with the curved nose and the long upper lip, powerful withers gives clumsy form to it, but in reality moose moves very easily and gracefully even along the deep snow of marshland. Moose love to float in the rivers and the lakes; they sometimes even swim in far to sea. Moose are conducted on entire Latvia and live in this region already by centuries. Archaelogical excavations showed that the moose appeared in the territory Of immediately after the end of glacial period. The dimensions of the population of moose are distinguished depending on the intensity of hunting, quantity of predatory beasts and spread of diseases. In 1998 the population of moose counted approximately 8 000 individuals. Noble deer (Cervus of elaphus) - beautiful animal - with the proudly raised head, the large ears, the proportional body, reddish-brown , black hooves and nose. Adult male can weigh to 240 kg.

Individuals

Noble deer appeared in the territory of Latvia approximately 8 000 years ago, but to the first century of our era it disappeared. The population of noble deer, which exists at present, was introduced artificially in 17 century. The first left deer were placed into the so-called deer parks, since it was considered that they cannot survive under the wild conditions. However, into [kontse]19 of the century several deer were escape and reproduced posterity. In 1998 a quantity of noble deer in Latvia was about 20 000 individuals. Roe Roe (Capreolus of careolus) is the smallest representative of the family of deer in Latvia. Its weight rarely reaches 40 kgf - i.e., as much, large dog as weighs. The roe has ordered body, long thin feet, small head and large ears.

The boundaries of the propagation of roe are first of all limited by the depth of the snow: in the majority of the cases the roe does not live in the places, where the depth of snow more than 40 cm. in connection with this of roe with difficulty they survive under the conditions of winter; them it also threatens the growing population of wolves, vagrant dogs, and also poachers. Roe appeared in Latvia in 7 century to our era, but their quantity was less than a quantity of other artiodactyls. Of the populations of roe, just as to the populations of moose and noble deer was substituted loss by hunters, predators and diseases. In Latvia were in 1998 counted pproximately 40 000 roe. Block (wild pig) Block or wild pig (Sus of scrofa) differs from domestic pig in terms of denser body; by powerful sinewy trunk, by large head and by long feet. The skin is covered with black or dark brown bristle. In block is in winter formed also thick underfur.

The archaelogical excavations of the dwellings of the Stone Age showed that most of all they hunted on Kabanov. In the 17th Century their number began to be reduced and despite the fact that to peasants it was forbidden kill Kabanov, by 1900 these animals disappeared.

The mysterious

Rarely it was possible to meet Kabanov only along the southern border of Latvia. In 1911 several Kabanov were brought from Poland and placed in the estates Of [zlekas] (Zlekas) and [Targale] (Targale). There they could freely be moved, and it is considered that the existing at present population of 18 000 Kabanovs occurs in essence from these brought animals. Usual otter The body of usual otter (Lutra of lutra) elongated and flexible, has a length of 80 cm and weighs from 5 to 10 kg. fur short and thick with very soft [podpushyu] and rough bristle. Animal is adapted for the stay in the water; in the water the ears and the nose of otters are shut by special valves. Otters feed by other water essences, such as fish, frog, crabs, and also by the planktonic birds, by ondatras and by water rats.

As a result the pollution of water, cutting down of forest and drying of soil the number of usual otters strongly decreased. Animal was in 1977 introduced into the Red Book of the disappearing forms of animals. Because of the fact that the otters obtained status of the guarded animals, also, as a result of the decrease of the volume of agricultural activity and decrease of the pollution of water, the number of their population was stabilized and its increase even is observed. In Latvia were in 1998 counted approximately 5 000-6 000 usual otters. Fungi Fungi - this is the mysterious, insufficiently studied group of the living organisms, which belong both to the plant and animal kingdom. Besides the fungi, which can be seen by the naked eye, there is a innumerable number of microscopic fungi, such as yeast(s) and a mould.

Life cycle

Scaffolding, meadows and fields and even city of Latvia abound with numerous fungi. Many of them are the rare and guarded forms, existence of which threatens the absence of the suitable living environment. As, for example, Aurantiporus of croceus, which in the larger degree than other forms, is located under the threat of disappearance in Europe. In Latvia it is possible to see it in different places. The large oaks (about 4 m in the circle), which grow or throw downed are necessary for this colored, bright orange fungus- polypore. In exactly the same manner for the usual hepatic fungus or of the usual (Fistulina of hepatica), the rare form of fungus, whose exterior view resembles on the form and the consistency I flay the liver, as the medium are necessary the oaks. [Grifola] curly or (Grifola of frondosa), consisting of many connected caps and connected with the root system of oak, can reach enormous sizes - it is sometimes more than 5 kg. To usual and can be revealed even in Riga.

The fungi rarely meeting in Europe are sufficiently extended in Latvia; for example, shining (Pycnoporellus of fulgens), which grows on the old perishing fir trees, rarely is encountered in the Scandinavian countries, but fairly often in such scaffolding of Latvia, where the foot of man barely stepped.Lichen Contaminated air brings large harm on lichens; especially by them is harmful the dioxide of sulfur. Consequently, a quantity and the variety of the forms of lichen on the trunks of old trees is the reliable index of quality of air. If we study trees in the rural old parks and the parks of the small cities of Latvia, on the trunks of trees it is possible to see the thick layer of lichen what is evidence of pure air. Lichen also grows on the earth, for example, reindeer moss (reindeer moss) (Cladina of rangiferina), and also other bushy forms, forming white carpet in the pine forest.

Some places

Some forms of lichen are encountered more rarely, since special conditions are required for them. Many of these lichens have so many small sizes, that they cannot be examined without the magnifying glass. More distinguished is [Lobariya] pulmonary (Lobaria of pulmonaria); it can be extended by width palm along the trunk of tree. It they call “pulmonary”, since dents are on its surface similar to the alveoli in the lungs of man. [Lobariya] pulmonary in the abundance grows in the broad-leaved scaffolding, where the high humidity is much light. It is possible to at present reveal in more than 400 places from entire Latvia. Very rare forms are Collema of spp. and Cetrelia of olivetorum, which can be revealed only in some places. Ferns occupy special position in the people popular beliefs. The fact that the fern does not happen to have colors, it gave birth to many fairy tales and legends. For example, there is a popular belief, that the fern flowers only on the eve of summer solstice, and that, who will see this flower, expects prosperity, the success in the love, and he will be able to pass through the closed doors and to understand the language of animals. Unfortunately, this only of legend; in reality, ferns, as fungi, multiply by disputes.

The ferns, which in Latvia can be seen in the forest or on the forest openings, the edges of the woods, in the shady hollows, on the cliffs from the sandstone, and also in the gardens and the parks, are unusually beautiful. Ferns are not rarity in Latvia, but some of their forms are encountered rarely and they are found under the protection.