The first case of golden jackal (Сanis aureus Linnaeus, 1758) appearance in Penza region 

Oleg A. Ermakov, Candidate of biological sciences, associate professor, associate professor of the sub-department of zoology and ecology, Penza State University (40 Krasnaya street, Penza, Russia), E-mail: oaermakov@list.ru
Denis V. Salagin, Head of the department of protection and state hunting supervision, Ministry of Forestry, Hunting and Nature Management of Penza Region (10 Lodochniy passage, Penza, Russia), E-mail: minlhpr@yandex.ru
Natal'ya V. Bystrakova, Candidate of biological sciences, associate professor, associate professor of the sub-department of zoology and ecology, Penza State University (40 Krasnaya street, Penza, Russia), E-mail: natvibys@mail.ru 

Background. In recent decades, the golden jackal (Canis aureus) has spread northward, including in the Volga region. Finding a species belonging to a desert faunal complex far from the main range is important for the study of biological diversity and monitoring of invasive species. Materials and methods. We used information about two cases of jackal’s appearance in Penza region, documented (the carcass of a hunted individual in the first case and a video recording in the second). Results and discussion. A female jackal was caught in the vicinity of the village of Elshanka Neverkinskiy district (52.67N, 46.62E) in March, 2022. The second individual was identified from a video recording made in February, 2019 in Maloserdobinskiy district (52.43N, 44.92E). Craniometric indicators and signs of wear of the teeth of the harvested female correspond to the age of about two years. Conclusions. The jackal is first recorded for the fauna of Penza region. The points of species’ appearances are currently the northernmost in the Volga region. 

European part of Russia, Volga region, expansion of area, new records 

Ermakov O.A., Salagin D.V., Bystrakova N.V. The first case of golden jackal (Сanis aureus Linnaeus, 1758) appearance in Penza region. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedeniy. Povolzhskiy region. Estestvennye nauki = University proceedings. Volga region. Natural sciences. 2022;(3):44–52. (In Russ.). doi:10.21685/2307-9150-2022-3-4