The fauna of the region is quite rich and peculiar, due to the peculiarities of its geographical location and climate, diversity and contrast of landscapes. According to preliminary estimates, the region is home to more than 15 thousand species of invertebrates and about 500 species of vertebrates, including about 9 thousand species of insects, 80 species of fish, 8 species of amphibians, 15 species of reptiles, 300 species of birds and 80 species of mammals.
A wide range of environmental conditions and a rich set of habitats from marsh to semi-desert, interspersed in the main background of the steppe landscape, provide an opportunity for the existence of animals with different types of habitats and environmental requirements for habitat
Most steppe and semi-desert animals are inhabitants of open spaces.
Among mammals, the most diverse and numerous representatives of the order of rodents. Typical representatives of the steppe fauna of gopher are small, the speckled ground squirrel, mole lemming, common vole, common Mysovka steppe, great jerboa, steppe lemming, and hare hare (the only representative of the order of lagomorphs), eared hedgehog and shrews (neg. Insectivorous.) The life of almost all steppe predators - steppe polecat, Fox, Korsak-is connected with the builders of burrows.
Some species of mammals live only in part of the region. So Volga is the Western border of the area of the white-bellied white-toothed, yellow gopher. Small groups of saigas sometimes enter the region from the South and East.
Of the birds are typical inhabitants of open spaces are larks (field and grassland), diurnal birds of prey (Falcon, common Kestrel, black kite, long-legged Buzzard, steppe eagle, etc.), galliformes (partridge and quail), cranes (Demoiselle), drofyne (bustard, little bustard).
Among reptiles, the most common sand lizard, colorful lizard, snakes; widespread, although more rare, steppe Viper;
of invertebrates - millipedes, spiders, gamesave and armoured mites, beetles, bugs, Orthoptera, etc.
The fauna of forests and artificial plantations is much richer and more diverse. However, due to the fact that the area occupied by forests is relatively small, the number of most forest animals is small. Among the mammals are typical inhabitants of forests are the hedgehog and shrew - small white-toothed shrew, forest Dormouse, mouse-baby, raccoon dog, polecat forest, forest and field mice, bats, common wild boar and elk; birds - woodpeckers, Shrikes, thrushes, warblers, flycatchers, Tits, owls, owls etc.
Limnophilic birds play a significant role in the functioning of aquatic and near-water ecosystems.they make up more than 30% of the total number of birds found in the region. More often than others, our reservoirs are inhabited by river ducks - Mallard, Teal, and from diving ducks - red-headed and white-eyed. Ubiquitous also toadstool (big and Ceramica), numerous and variable (grey Heron, Heron, bittern). Among amphibians the most common inhabitant of ponds is a lake frog reptiles bog turtle and snakes (ordinary and water).
The rich and diverse fauna of reservoirs, within which there are 78 species belonging to 15 groups, among which the greatest species diversity differ carps constituting a significant part of fish catches. In the waters of the don pool are such valuable fish species as sturgeon Donskaya, saber fish, vimba, Zope; in the basin of the Volga Russian sturgeon, Beluga, sterlet, stellate sturgeon, Volga herring, whitefish. The most common species are the black sea-Caspian sprat (the most numerous fish in the Volgograd region), bleak, bream, silver carp, goby, bream, river perch and gorchak. The ichthyofauna of the region includes a number of species acclimatized and settled through irrigation channels from other basins (white carp, mottled and white silver carp, big-mouthed Buffalo, paddlefish, pilengas, etc.).
The fauna of aquatic invertebrates is particularly rich and includes more than 1,200 species belonging to 19 classes and more than 60 orders. The vast majority of the fauna species common to the fresh waters of the European part of Russia (leeches; bivalves and gastropods; twistesee and copepods, mizidy, amphipods, crayfish; the larvae of dragonflies and chironomids, water bugs grabski, gladyse, water striders, water beetles water scavenger beetles,diving beetles, Plavnieki, whirligig beetles).
Fishing and hunting are the most important types of nature management. In reservoirs of the Volgograd region about 30 species of fish are extracted; the main objects of trade are bream, bream, silver carp, roach, silver carp, pike, sinets, carp, sabrefish, catfish, pike, ASP.
The total area of hunting grounds of the region is about 1 million 172 thousand hectares. Production of hunting animals is planned on the basis of data on the number with the calculation of the preservation of livestock needed to expand reproduction. Hunting animals include more than 20 species. Main target species - brown hare, Fox, muskrat, the Fox, wild boar, teals, Pochards, coot, grey goose.
Ploughing of land, radical changes in the hydrographic network, deforestation, road construction, unregulated fishing and poaching, as well as increasing recreational load significantly change the living conditions of many species. One of the generally accepted forms of biodiversity protection is the inclusion of species in the Red book. As of January 1, 2004 134 species of animals are listed in the Red book of the Volgograd region.