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Zoology in the Middle East Volume 48, 2009 ISSN 0939-7140 Kasparek Verlag, Heidelberg Covered in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE). Admitted to ISI Master Journal list and covered by the BioSciences Information Service (Biosis Previews) and Biological Preview (abstract/cover page)s, the Zoological Record and many other review organs. Price per article: Euro 10.00 (plus Euro 2.00 postage/handling) |
Adwan H. Shehab, Mohamed Asaad, Ibrahim Mamkhair
Morphology and distribution of the Asian Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus Wagner, 1840, in Syria (Rodentia: Gliridae)
Preview (abstract/cover page). Five adult specimens of the Asian Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus Wagner, 1840, were collected near Deir az-Zor, along the Euphrates river in the north-eastern part of Syria. The external morphology and biometric measurements are discussed. Skull, phallus and baculum shapes are illustrated. The distribution of E. melanurus in Syria is mapped based on the recent and previously documented records. Some ecological and biological aspects are discussed.
Key words. Asian Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus, Gliridae, Rodentia, Syria, Middle East.
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 3-12. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Mohammad S. Farhadinia, Alireza Mahdavi, Fatemeh Hosseini-Zavarei
Reproductive ecology of the Persian Leopard, Panthera pardus saxicolor, in Sarigol National Park, northeastern Iran (Mammalia: Felidae)
Preview (abstract/cover page). According to our surveys carried out between April 2005 and March 2008 in the Sarigol National Park, northeastern Iran, the mating season of the Persian Leopard, Panthera pardus saxicolor, extends from mid-January to a peak in mid-February. Males and females associate briefly, and just after the short mating period they separate. We never found the leopards to raise more than two cubs. Most observations on leopard families were made in areas of high prey density. Our data, verified by camera trapping, indicate that track size alone is not reliable for the accurate identification of leopard age/sex categories.
Key words. Persian Leopard, Panthera pardus saxicolor, reproduction, Sarigol, Iran.
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 13-16. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Yuksel Coskun, Alaettin Kaya, Gokhan Yurumez
Chromosomal forms of the Mole Rat, Nannospalax nehringi (Satunin, 1898), from the Van Lake Basin in Eastern Turkey (Mammalia: Rodentia)
Preview (abstract/cover page). Two different chromosomal forms of the Mole Rat, Nannospalax nehringi (Satunin, 1898), have been found in the Van Basin, Eastern Turkey: a population around the city of Van with 2n=48, NF=72 and NFa=68, and a population around the city of Bitlis with 2n=54, NF=74 and NFa=70. Both populations are confined to well-defined distribution areas. While both populations are separated in the south by Mt Süphan, an extinct volcano over 4000 m high, there is no geographic barrier between both populations in the north, and there seems to be a secondary contact zone. The Van population constitutes a new chromosomal form of Mole Rat in Turkey, and could be regarded as a sibling species. However, no taxomomic decision is taken until more evidence on the evolution of these forms has become available.
Key words: Rodentia, Spalacidae, Nannospalax nehringi, karyotype, Turkey.
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 17-24. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Recep Karakas, Ferdi Akarsu
Recent status and distribution of the Great Bustard, Otis tarda, in Turkey (Aves: Otidae)
Preview (abstract/cover page). The records of the Great Bustard, Otis tarda (Linnaeus, 1758), in Turkey from the period 1989-2008 were compiled and analysed to update a previous assessment published in 1989. Despite a sharply increased birdwatching activity in Turkey, only 106 records could be found from published and unpublished sources for this 20-year period. 870 of the total of 1066 individuals were recorded during the breeding season and 196 in the non-breeding season. The population is split into two subpopulations; one focused in Inner Anatolia and the other in East and South-east Anatolia, with the latter exceeding the Inner Anatolian population in numbers. Both subpopulations have declined significantly since the 1989 assessment, although, in the absence of comprehensive field surveys, it is not possible to quantify the degree. As several breeding sites have been abandoned, the size of the distribution area has shrunk in recent decades. In particular, the species is no longer present at several sites situated at the edge of the distribution area. The species winters in south-eastern Anatolia and in small numbers also in the large river deltas on the Black Sea and Mediterranean coasts. However, the winter population is also sharply decreasing. The Turkish Great Bustard population is much smaller than predicted, and apparently comprises 200-300 breeding pairs at the most.
Key words: Great Bustard, Otidae, conservation, population decline, distribution, conservation management, habitat, Turkey.
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 25-34. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Torsten Wronski
Habitat preference and diurnal activity pattern in the Sand Partridge, Ammoperdix heyi heyi (Aves: Phasianidae)
Abstract. The habitat preference and activity patterns of the Sand Partridge, Ammoperdix heyi heyi Temminck, 1825, in the Ibex Reserve in central Saudi Arabia were determined. The species prefers flood banks and rocky wadi beds, while open gravel plains, riverine vegetation and scree slopes were avoided during the hot summer months. Moderate vegetation cover of 5-20% and a woody vegetation height of 2-3 m were preferred. Early morning activity was highest during the day and was strictly related to sunrise. Evening activity was less pronounced and twilight encounters not observed. The impact of recreational activities on the foraging behaviour of Sand Partridges may be considerable in Wadi Ghabah, but since this is the only wadi regularly frequented by the local community, the overall impact on the population may be negligible.
Key words. Habitat choice, Ibex Reserve, Saudi Arabia, desert, phasianid.
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 49-62. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Saif M. Al-Ghais
Nesting of Hawksbill Turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata, on the islands of the Arabian Gulf (Reptilia: Cheloniidae)
Abstract: The overall nesting population of Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata (Linnaeus, 1766)) on Jarnain and Bu Tinah islands of the United Arab Emirates in the Arabian (Persian) Gulf comprised 48 nests on Jarnain and 17 nests on Bu Tinah. The nesting season was short and extended from mid-March to mid-July, with peak nesting activity in April and May. The average clutch size was 58.6. Both percent hatching success and hatchling size showed a deceasing trend from the beginning to the end of the nesting season. This might be due to the adverse effect of increasing atmospheric temperature from 26 to 48°C and of nest temperature from 26 to 35°C.
Key words. Hawksbill Turtle, reproduction, nesting biology, ecology, Arabian (Persian) Gulf, United Arab Emirates islands.
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 43-48. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Dmitry A. Bondarenko, Evgeny A. Peregontsev
Peculiarities of landscape distribution of the Central Asian Tortoise, Agrionemys horsfieldii, in Iran (Reptilia: Testudines)
Abstract. The range of Agrionemys horsfieldii in Iran is outlined and known locality records are mapped, including seven new localities from northern and eastern Iran. New data on habitats and population densities in different landscapes are given. Population density varied between 0.7 and 2.15 ind./ha. An historical analysis of the habitat formation and divergence of the Horsfield tortoise on the Iranian Plateau is given. Information on morphology, ecology and parasitology of the populations from the environs of Mazdavand is presented. The morphometric characteristics of two populations were compared and some morphometric indices were found. The possible co-occurrence of Agrionemys horsfieldii and Testudo graeca zarudnyi is discussed. These two species show a preference for different conditions and rarely meet together in the same habitat.
Key words. Central Asian tortoise, Agrionemys horsfieldii, Iran, landscape distribution, population density.
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 49-62. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Corrigendum | Order article...
Brian W. Coad
Alburnus zagrosensis n.sp., a new species of fish from the Zagros Mountains of Iran (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae)
Abstract. Alburnus zagrosensis n. sp. is described from a stream in the Karun River basin of Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari Province in the Zagros Mountains of Iran. The new taxon is distinguished from other members of the genus Alburnus by a combination of characters including a low anal fin branched ray count (9-10), high frequencies of 7 branched rays in both the dorsal and pelvic fins, other meristic characters such as a high lateral line scale count (67-83), absence of a prominent mid-flank stripe, and small size.
Keywords. Alburnus, Cyprinidae, freshwater fish, new species, Iran.
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 63-70. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Mahmoud S. Abd El-Dayem
Two new species of the ground beetle genus Tachyura Motschulsky, 1862 from Egypt (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae: Bembidiini)
Abstract. Two new ground beetle species of the genus Tachyura Motschulsky from Egypt are described and illustrated . Tachyura akkadi n. sp. is based on a specimen preserved in the insect collection of the Ministry of Agriculture in Egypt; while T. fadli n. sp. is based on specimens collected from Salouga Island Protectorate at Aswan. T. akkadi and T. fadli are closely related to T. amabilis ornatus (Apetz, 1854) and to T. sudanensis Schatzmayr & Koch, 1934, respectively.
Key words. Tachyura akkadi, Tachyura fadli, ground beetles, Carabidae, Gebel Elba, Salouga Island, Aswan, Egypt, new species.
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 71-74. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Martin Lillig
Two new species of the genus Erodius Fabricius, 1775 from Oman and Syria (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Pimeliinae)
Abstract. Erodius (Dimeriseis) omanensis sp. n. from Oman and Erodius (Dirosis) pesvalgus sp. n. from Syria are described as being new to science and are illustrated.
Key words. Tenebrionidae, Erodius Fabricius, 1775, Oman, Syria, new species.
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 75-80. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Bruno Massa, Paolo Fontana
On some Drymadusini from the Middle East (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)
Abstract. A new record of Scotodrymadusa syriaca (Pictet, 1888) in Lebanon is given and the differences between this species and other Lebanese species, including, Scotodrymadusa ebneri Ramme, 1939, are pointed out. The previously unknown female of the Iranian Scotodrymadusa gedrosica Bey-Bienko, 1958, is described and suggests a close relationship of the species with Scotodrymadusa persica (Chopard, 1921). Finally, details are provided on the sexual appendages of the male of Exodrymadusa inornata (Uvarov, 1936) and its morphological variability.
Key words. Systematics, taxonomy, Lebanon, Iran, Cyprus, Middle East.
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 81-88. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Zubeyde Kumbicak, Serap Ergene, Saadet Saygideger
Chromosomal data on six araneomorph spiders belonging to the families Lycosidae and Gnaphosidae (Araneae: Araneomorphae)
Abstract. The karyotype and the course of meiosis in six species of araneomorph spiders of the families Lycosidae and Gnaphosidae are analysed, based on material from Israel, Turkey and the Czech Republic. The number of diploid chromosomes (2n) and the sex-determining system of males were determined as follows: Pardosa alacris (C. L. Koch, 1833) and Pardosa saltans (Töpfer-Hofman, 2000) (Lycosidae) 2n=28 (26+X1X2), Callilepis cretica (Roewer, 1928), Drassodes pubescens (Thorell, 1856), Drassylus pumilus (C. L. Koch, 1839) and Zelotes strandi (Nosek, 1905) (Gnaphosidae) 2n=22 (20+X1X2). Pardosa alacris and P. saltans have 13 autosomal bivalents and two univalent sex chromosomes at prophase and metaphase of the first meiotic division. In contrast to this, all gnaphosids have 10 autosomal bivalents and two sex chromosomes during these meiotic stages.
Key words. Karyotype, meiosis, spider, sex-determining mechanism.
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 89-96. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Rasit Urhan
Zercon honazicus sp. n., a new species of mite from Turkey (Acari: Zerconidae)
Abstract. A new species of zerconid mite, Zercon honazicus sp. n., is described and illustrated from Turkey. Diagnostic characters include an anterior margin of the ventro-anal shield which has two pairs of setae and dorsal cavities which are distinct, saddle-like and have an undulating anterior margin. On the podonotum, setae j2 are finely barbed and r3 thickened, prolonged, apically pilose, and terminating in a hyaline ending. The opisthonotal shield has a distinct reticulate pattern in the anterior region and a punctuate pattern in the posterior region. The new species is closely related to Z. zelawaiensis Sellnick, 1944 and Z. rafaljanus Blaszak & Laniecka, 2007. Diagnostic features are given in a table.
Key words. Acari, Zerconidae, Zercon, taxonomy, Turkey, Middle East.
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 97-100. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Short Communications
Mounir R. Abi-Said
First record of Wagner’s Gerbil, Gerbillus dasyurus (Wagner, 1842) (Mammalia: Rodentia), in Lebanon
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 101-102. | Order article...
Ferhat Matur
A cytogenetic study on the Taurus Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus taurensis Gündüz et al., 2007 (Mammalia: Rodentia), in Turkey
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 103-105. | Order article...
Saliha Coruh
Two little-known Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) from Turkey, including one new for the Turkish fauna
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 106-107. | Order article...
Yusuf Katilmis, Suat Kiyak
New records of oak gallwasps of the genus Andricus (Burgsdorf, 1783) from Turkey (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae)
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 108-109. | Order article...
Selcuk Altinsacli, Songül Altinsacli
The freshwater ostracod Potamocypris producta (Sars, 1924) new for Turkey (Ostracoda: Cyprididae)
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 1100-111. | Order article...
Oya Ozulug, Serpil Yaltalier
A new record for the Ostracoda fauna of Turkey: Candonopsis scourfieldi Brady, 1910 (Crustacea: Podocopida)
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 112-113. | Order article...
Murat Kaya, Elisabeth A. Herniou, Timothy G. Barraclough, Diego Fontaneto
A faunistic survey of bdelloid rotifers in Turkey
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 114-116. | Order article...
Aydin Orstan
An observation of the mating of Chondrus tournefortianus (Pulmonata: Enidae)
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 117-118. | Order article...
Tomas Pavlicek, Csaba Csuzdi, Yuksel Coskun
First earthworm records in Mesopotamia (Oligochaetae)
Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009: 119-120. | Order article...
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