21 Wild Animals in Russia

Want to know more about the animals in Russia? Here’s a list of 21 Russian animals that you can see in the wild:

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Sibirian tiger

The Siberian tiger is the largest cat in the world, and is one of the most famous animals in Russia.

They live mainly in the Sikhote Alin mountain region in the southwest Primorye Province in Russian Far East.

Siberian tigers are recognized by their reddish/yellow-rusty fur, white underparts and black stripes over the body. They have a body length of around 150-200 cm (60 in-77 in)  and a tail of about 1 m (39 in). A Siberian tiger can weight around 200 kg (450 lb).

• Name: Siberian tiger
• Scientific name: Panthera tigris tigris
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Endangered

Brown bear

There are various species of brown bear, where several of them are found in Russia.

The brown bear is a big animal that can grow 2-3 m tall and weigh around 220 kg (478 lb).

They mainly feed on vegetation, fish and small mammals, but can occasionally hunt bigger mammals.

Brown bears not a big threat towards humans since they prefer to stay away, however a mother brown bear will do anything to protect her cubs if feeling threatened.

• Name: Brown bear
• Scientific name: Ursus Arctos
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

Edible dormouse 

The edible dormouse is a large species of dormouse and is found in the Zhiguli Mountains in Russia.

They can grow 14-19 cm (5.5-7.5 in) in head-body length and have a 13-cm (5.1 in) long tail. An edible dormouse normally weights around 120-150 g (4.2-5.3 oz).

The edible dormouse got its name from the Romans who used to eat this mouse as a delicacy.

• Name: Edible dormouse 
• Scientific name: Glis glis
• Diet: Herbivore
• Threatened: Least concern

Grey wolf

The grey wolf has gotten its name from its beautiful silver grey coat, and is one of the largest wolfs in the world. They live all over the country except on some Russian islands and in the taiga thickets.

Grey wolfs live in packs, which makes them so powerful and dangerous. When they attack, animals and humans don’t stand a chance. The only threat towards these wolfs are tigers and humans with weapons.

Attacks towards humans are not common, but if it would happen, climbing a tree would be your biggest chance of surviving.

A full grown wolf can grow up to 160 cm (63 in) in body length, 85 cm (33 in) at the shoulder, and weight around 30-80 kg (66-176 lb).

• Name: Wolf
• Scientific name: Canis lupus
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

Northern fur seal

The Northern fur seal is an eared seal that lives in the North Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk.

They’re the largest members of the fur seal subfamily and can grow up to 2 m (6.5 ft) in body length and weight 270 kg (595 lb).

In Russia they’re mainly found in the Commander Islands, as well as the Kuril Islands and Tyuleniy Island off the coast of Sakhalin in the southwest Sea of Okhotsk.

• Name: Northern fur seal
• Scientific name: Callorhinus ursinus
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened:  Vulnerable

Polar bear

Polar bears are one of the most dangerous animals in Russia, and kill their prey in the blink of an eye.

However, even though they’re dangerous animals, attacks towards humans are rare. They only attack if feeling threatened or if their habitats are destroyed.

A full grown polar bear can weight around 350-700 kg (772-1543 lb) and can grow up to 3 m (9 ft) in body length.

• Name: Polar bear
• Scientific name: Ursus maritimus
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Vulnerable

Common northern viper

The common northern viper is one of the most poisonous animals in Russia and is famous for killing Prince Oleg, one of the founders of the Old Rus state.

With todays modern medicine, a bite from this snake is not lethal to a healthy person over 60 kg, but could kill a small person, a child, or older people with weak heart.

Their fangs are just 4 mm long and cannot bite through jeans or shoes, so that’s what you want to wear when going out in the Russian wilderness.

When getting close to this snake it will hiss loudly to warn you, and then retreat from the location.

This snake can grow up to 60 cm (24 in) in length.

• Name: Common European adder
• Scientific name: Vipera berus
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

Lynx

The lynx are mainly found in Siberia and is about the same size as a big dog.

They hunt their preys from above and target the neck. So if you happen to be out in a forest in Russia don’t forget to look up every once in a while.

Attacks towards humans are not common, but could happen if you cross paths with a very hungry lynx.

• Name: Eurasian Lynx
• Scientific name: Lynx lynx
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

Wolverine

The Wolverine is a mammal that looks like mix between a bear and a dog. In Russia, they live in Siberia and the western part of the country.

It’s a stocky and muscular animal that’s very strong for its size. It has been seen killing preys that are many times larger than itself.

Wolverines are about the same size as a medium sized dog – around 65-107 cm (26-42 in) in body length and a tail of around 17-26 cm (6.7-10.2 in). They weight around 5.5-25 kg (12-55 lb), but a full grown male can also weight up to 32 kg.

• Name: Wolverine
• Scientific name: Gulo gulo
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

Eurasian Otter

Also known as the European otter, common otter, and Old World otter, the Eurasian otter is one of the most common members of the otter subfamily.

They’re found in big parts of Russia where they inhabit lakes, streams , rivers, and ponds where there’s unpolluted fresh water.

Their diet mainly consists of fish, but can also eat insects, birds and small mammals during the cold winter months in Russia.

• Name: Eurasian otter
• Scientific name: Lutra lutra
• Diet: Carnivores
• Threatened: Near threatened

Amur Leopard

The Amur Leopard is a leopard subspecies that are native to the Primorye region of southeastern Russia and northern China. It’s today critically endangered and is one of the rarest cats on this planet.

They have a thick cream-colored fur, which differs from most other leopard subspecies. They are quite small leopards and can grow up to 136 cm (54 in) in body length with a 90 cm (35 in) long tail and weight up to 48 kg (106 lb).

They’re one of the most beautiful animals in Russia, as well as one of the rarest to see in the wild.

• Name: Amur leopard
• Scientific name: Panthera pardus orientalis
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Critically endangered

Siberian crane 

This large migratory bird is native to Siberia in Russia, but is also found in Iran, India, and China.

It’s a beautiful and slender bird with a white snowy-colored body and black feathers on the wings that are visible when flying. This bird is also characterized by its long legs and black face and beak.

Two of the most common places to spot them is at the arctic tundra of western and eastern Russia.

• Name: Siberian crane
• Scientific name: Leucogeranus leucogeranus
• Diet: Omnivore
• Threatened: Critically endangered

Sable

This is a Russian animal that lives in the forests across Russia. It’s a species of marten and is a small mammal with a dark brown/black fur.

They can grow up to 56 cm (22 in) in body length with a tail of 12 cm (4.7 in). They normally weight around 880-1800 g (1.94-3.97 lb).

Sables live in burrows near riverbanks and usually in the thickets parts of the forest. They’re great diggers, as well as good climbers in both trees and cliffs.

• Name: Sable
• Scientific name: Martes zibellina
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

European mole

The European mole is a small mammal that lives in an underground tunnel systems that they build by using their long claws.

They mainly eat earthworms that they paralyze with their saliva. However, they also eat insects, mice, shrews, and centipedes.

An European mole can grow up to 16 cm (6.3 in) in length and weight around 130 g (4.6 oz). Their fur is dark grey and they have small ears and eyes that are hidden behind the fur.

If you see any of the iconic molehills in the wild, you know that there’s a mole around.

• Name: European mole
• Scientific name: Talpa europaea
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

Tundra wolf

The tundra wolf, also known as the Turukhan wolf, is a subspecies of grey wolf and is found in the northern arctic and boreal regions of Russia.

It’s a large wolf that can grow up to 137 cm (54 in) in body length and normally weights around 40-49 kg (88-108 lb).

They are characterized by their long, fluffy, and soft grey fur.

Tundra wolves are found in river valleys, thickets, and forest clearings. They mainly feed on reindeer, but also on hares, arctic foxes and other small mammals.

• Name: Tundra wolf
• Scientific name: Canis lupus albus
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

Walrus

Walruses are large marine mammals that lives in the western part of Arctic Russia.

They’re are recognized by their tusks and whiskers, as well as their big size. A full grown walrus can weight as much as 2000 kg (4400 lb), and grow up to 2.2-3.6 m (7.2-11.8 ft) in body length.

Walruses mostly live in shallow waters and spend a big part of their lives on the sea ice looking for benthic bivalve mollusks to eat.

• Name: Walrus
• Scientific name: Odobenus rosmarus
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Vulnerable

European hedgehog

The European hedgehog is an animal that are found all across Europe, including Russia.

They can grow up to 16 cm (6.3 in) in body length and have their backs covered with thousands of brown and white spines.

When the hedgehog is feeling threatened they roll up into spiky balls to scare the predators. Usually it works and the predators leave them alone.

• Name: European hedgehog
• Scientific name: Erinaceus europaeus
• Diet: Omnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

Least weasel

The least weasel is an animal that are found in Northern European Russia, Siberia and the Russian Far East.

It’s an animal that can vary in size, but all have slender bodies with short legs and tails. Most of its fur is brown in color, and the underparts are white.

They usually eat small rodents, but occasionally eat rabbits, birds, fishes, frogs, and other mammals as well.

• Name: Least weasel
• Scientific name: Mustela nivalis
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

Corsac fox

The corsac fox is a medium sized fox that lives in steppes, semi-deserts and deserts in Central Asia, Mongolia and northeastern China – but can also be found in the neighboring regions of Russia.

They have a head and body length of around 45-65 cm 818-26 in) and a tail of 19-35 cm (7.5-13.8 in). Adults normally weights around 1.6-3.2 kg (3.5-7.1 lb).

It’s characterized by its grey/yellowish fur with pale underparts and markings on the mouth, throat, and chin.

• Name: Corsac fox
• Scientific name: Vulpes corsac
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Least concern

Snow leopard

The snow leopard is one of the most beautiful animals in Russia and is found in the Altai mountains and Sayan Mountains in Russia.

They are characterized by their beautiful thick fur in grey/whiteish color with black spots. Their bellies have a white color and they also have a bushy tail and pale green/grey eyes.

Snow leopards live in cold mountainous environments where their broad paws helps them to easily walk on snow.

• Name: Snow leopard
• Scientific name: Panthera uncia
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Vulnerable

Killer whale

Killer whales are one of the marine animals in Russia that can be spotted along the coast.

They feed mainly on fish but can also eat other marine animals such as seals and other species of dolphins. Killer whales have even been seen to attack whale calves and adult whales in the wild.

Killer whales are alpha predators, which means that no other animals prey on them.

• Name: Killer whale
• Scientific name: Orcinus orca
• Diet: Carnivore
• Threatened: Not endangered

More about Russian animals

When exploring the wilderness of Russia you might be lucky to see a few Russian animals. Many of the animals in Russia are rarely seen in the wild, and therefore you have to be lucky.

However, there are a couple of responsible wildlife cruises and tours you can take to see both Siberian tigers, polar bears, walruses, bears, and whales in the wild.

What’s Russia’s most famous animal?

One of the most famous animals in Russia is the Siberian tiger – also known as the largest cat in the world.

The most dangerous animals in Russia

There are several animals in Russia that could be dangerous to humans. However, most of the animals are shy and prefer to stay away from people.

Both wolves, tigers, bears, polar bears and leopards could kill you, but this is not something that’s common. If you have knowledge, common sense, and respect towards these animals, you’ll be fine exploring the wilderness in Russia.

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Do you have any other questions about the wild animals in Russia? Leave a comment below!