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Which animals live on the Eurasian Steppe?

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Map showing the extent of the Eurasian steppes, highlighted in green, stretching from eastern Europe through Ukraine and southern Russia, across Kazakhstan, and into Mongolia and northern China. The map labels the Western Steppe and Eastern Steppe regions and includes major geographic features, countries, and ancient sites within the steppe zone. — the Steppe Extent of the Eurasian steppes.

The Eurasian Steppe is a vast, open grassland that has historically supported a variety of wildlife adapted to its semiarid climate and lack of cover. Because the landscape offers few places to hide, many native herbivores evolved to be adept at running and possess sharp senses.1

Herbivores and Predators

The region is home to several notable large mammals, including the horse, the gazelle, and the wild Bactrian camel. The saiga antelope, a medium-sized hoofed mammal, is particularly well-known for its unique, swollen snout that helps it survive in treeless steppe environments. Predators that inhabit these grasslands include the Caspian Sea wolf and the corsac fox.12

Rodents and Birds

The steppe also supports a diverse population of smaller animals. Common rodents include the bobak marmot, hamsters, field mice, and jerboas. Bird life is abundant, featuring birds of prey such as eagles, falcons, hawks, and kites, as well as ground-dwelling or migratory species like bustards, quail, gray partridge, and larks.13

Many of these species face significant conservation challenges due to overgrazing, poaching, and the conversion of wild grasslands into agricultural land.12