Russian Desman
CR

Russian Desman

Desmana moschata

DecliningVUEUVUEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_desman

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Russian desman faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat degradation from dam construction and water pollution in river systems across European Russia. Overfishing and bycatch in fishing nets pose additional mortality risks, while climate change alters the aquatic ecosystems this semi-aquatic mammal depends upon. Competition from introduced species like muskrats and American mink further threatens remaining populations in fragmented habitats.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Russian desman inhabits slow-flowing rivers, streams, and associated wetlands across the Volga, Don, and Ural river basins in European Russia. It requires clean, oxygen-rich waters with muddy or sandy bottoms rich in aquatic invertebrates, typically in areas with overhanging vegetation and burrow sites along riverbanks.

Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSite/area managementHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies reintroductionLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Russian Desman classified as Critically Endangered?
Russian Desman is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Russian desman faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat degradation from dam construction and water pollution in river systems across European Russia. Overfishing and bycatch in fishing nets pose additional mortality risks, while climate change alters the aquatic ecosystems this semi-aquatic mammal depends upon. Competition from introduced species like muskrats and American mink further threatens remaining populations in fragmented habitats.
Where does Russian Desman live?
Russian Desman occurs in Belarus, Denmark, Germany, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, and Moldova (plus 6 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Russian Desman?
The main threats to Russian Desman are 11.1, 11.4, 2.1, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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