Childrens Illustrated Animal Atlas

C

A

S

P

IA

N

S

E

A

The bobak digs

burrows up to 13–16 ft

(4–5 m) deep, where

it hibernates up to six

months each year.

Bobak

marmot

A secret toadhead agama stands alert.

KAZAKHSTAN

N

S

W E

Location

The Asian steppe stretches

from west of the Caspian

Sea, though central Asian

Russia, and as far east as

the Altai Mountains.

HABITAT KEY

Wetlands

Temperate

grasslands

Mountains

Coniferous

forests

Deciduous

forests

Cold desert

SCALE

200 kilometers

0

0

200 miles

Central Asian tortoise

Also called the steppe tortoise,

this animal’s shell is almost as

wide as it is long. It has claws

on each foot—and one on

its tail, too!

Peregrine falcon

These falcons normally hunt other

birds. When hunting, peregrines make

a steep dive called a “stoop.” During a

stoop, they can reach speeds of up to

150 mph (240 kph)!

UZBEKISTAN

CHINA

RUSSIAN

FEDERATION

KYRGYZSTAN

TAJIKISTAN

AFGHANISTAN

Astana

Bishkek

Tashkent

Dushanbe

Steppe polecat

Steppe

eagle

Pallas’s cat

Przewalski’s

Little wild horse

ground

squirrel

Onager

This nocturnal

animal can cover

11 miles (18 km)

a night in its

search for food.

This wild cat’s coat

turns from frosty gray

in winter to reddish

gray in spring.

This bird hovers above

its prey before swooping

down and grabbing it

with its powerful talons.

This squirrel digs two

types of burrows: one

for hibernation, and

one to hide in from

predators like eagles.

The onager looks like a

horse, but is smaller and

brays like a donkey.

Wild horses live in herds

of females and foals led

by a male, called a

stallion. Stallions fight

over who gets to lead.

Central Asian

deserts

There are different kinds of deserts here. Some

are salty and sandy. Others are rocky or have clay

soil. All are dry. Water is found mostly near desert

borders where rivers can overflow.

Asian steppe

A steppe is a high, grassy, mostly treeless plain.

Animals here live on grass and other plants—

or on the animals that do! They must be able to

survive freezing winters, hot summers, and harsh

wind, and to go long periods without water. On

the steppe, watering holes are in short supply.

US_064-065_Asian_Steppe_Central_Asian_Desert.indd 64 31/03/2017 14:49