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Zoology in the Middle East Volume 55, 2012 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) |
Torsten Wronski, Khalid Alageel, Martin Plath, Mohamed A. Sandouka
Twenty years of monitoring a re-introduced population of Mountain Gazelles, Gazella gazella (Pallas, 1776), in the Ibex Reserve, Saudi Arabia
Abstract. In order to re-establish a population of Mountain Gazelles (Gazella gazella(Pallas, 1776)) in the Tuwayq Mountains, central Saudi Arabia, a re-introduction program was initiated in 1990, with 11 releases between 1990 and 2007. The number of gazelles in the Ibex Reserve initially increased during the 5 years after the first release but then diminished dramatically. After about 10 years the decrease levelled out and the population remained more or less stable at about 0.9-1.9 gazelles / km² (60-80 gazelles) in the two wadi systems into which gazelles were released. This population is likely to remain small due to limited food as a result of droughts and also to competition with livestock, both of which apparently lead to increased dispersal to sites outside the Reserve. This, in turn, results in increasing conflict with humans. Food and shelter availability and the effects on home range size, dispersal behaviour, and population density of the already existent population on further repatriation success, and population establishment are reviewed in more detail. Further releases of Mountain Gazelles into the Ibex Reserve need to be carefully considered. Improved protection of the naturally occurring Mountain Gazelle population is imperative for the survival of this species in Saudi Arabia.
Key words. Arabian Peninsula, dispersal, post-release ecology, re-introduction, antelopes.
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 3-18. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Maryam Ghadiri Khanaposhtani, Mitra Shariati Najafabadi, Mohammad Kaboli, Azita Farashi, David Spiering
Habitat requirements of the Black Woodpecker, Dryocopus martius, in Hyrcanian forests, Iran
Abstract. The relationships between the Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius (Linnaeus, 1758)) abundance and forest characteristics and the role of coarse woody debris for habitat selection were assessed. One hundred point counts were conducted 250 m apart in Hyrcanian forest in northern Iran from 21 April to 21 May 2009. There was a noticeable difference in forest structure between areas where the Black Woodpecker was present and absent, with the species preferring the later stages of forest succession. Tall and large diameter trees, high volumes of coarse woody debris, especially large snags, and dense canopy cover, all of which characterise mature forests, are significantly higher in areas where the Black Woodpecker occurs. Altogether, the conservation of the Black Woodpecker depends to a large extent on how the forests they inhabit are managed.
Key words. Black Woodpecker, Hyrcanian forest, structure, snag, habitat requirements.
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 19-26. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Grzegorz Kopij, Ifat Liven-Schulman
Diet of the Lesser Kestrel, Falco naumanni, in Israel
Abstract. The food of the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) was studied by means of pellet contents analysis. A total of 645 entire pellets was collected, 550 pellets from the urban area of Jerusalem, 71 pellets from a rural area (a farmland) in Alona Region, 12 pellets from a natural area in the Judean Desert and 12 pellets from a quarry near Rosh Hain. Grasshoppers (Orthoptera), beetles (Coleoptera) and sun spiders (Solifugae) constituted the bulk of the diet. Numerically, grasshoppers and beetles were almost equally important (38.5% and 42.2% respectively), while sun spiders were much less numerous (11.7%). However, in terms of biomass, grasshoppers (54.7%) were far more important than beetles (18.8%) and sun spiders (20.6%). Four beetle families, viz. Carabidae, Scarabaeidae, Curculionidae and Tenebrionidae, comprised together 76.8% of all beetle prey items and 81.6% of beetle biomass. Among grasshoppers, the most important family (64.6% by numbers of prey items, 70.4% by grasshopper biomass) was the locusts (Acrididae). Significant month-to-month variations in the proportion of the main prey groups have been recorded. From February to April the Lesser Kestrel fed mainly on beetles, while from May to July it fed mainly on grasshoppers and sun spiders. Beetles and sun spiders comprised a much lower proportion of prey in 1998 (low rainfall) than in 1999 (high rainfall), while the proportion of grasshoppers and other invertebrates (altogether) was higher in 1998 than in 1999.
Key words. Diet, Solifugae, Cetoniinae, variation in diet, Jerusalem.
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 27-34. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Nastaran Heidari, Hiva Faizi, Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani
Sexual dimorphism in Blanfords Fringe-toed Lizard, Acanthodactylus blanfordi Boulenger, 1918, from Southern Iran (Sauria: Lacertidae)
Abstract. Detailed investigations carried out on a population of Acanthodactylus blanfordi Boulenger, 1918, from Hormozgan Province, southern Iran, to clarify the presence of sexual dimorphism and determine clear-cut characters for distinguishing the two sexes showed that sexual dimorphism is significant (P<0.05) in some metric and pholidosis characters. Males have relatively longer snout-vent length and tail length than females. The results can be explained by intrasexual selection as well as by the fecundity advantage hypothesis. Differences in colour pattern and colouration between the two sexes are not obvious.
Key words. Sexual dimorphism, Acanthodactylus blanfordi, metric, meristic, statistical analysis, southern Iran.
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 35-40. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Mario Freinschlag, Robert A. Patzner
Shrimp-gobies in the southern Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea) (Osteichthyes: Gobiidae)
Abstract. Nine shrimp-goby species (Amblyeleotris steinitzi, A. sungami, Cryptocentrus caeruleopunctatu0, C. cryptocentrus, C. lutheri, Ctenogobiops maculosus, Lotilia graciliosa, Tomiyamichthys latruncularius, Vanderhorstia delagoae) were found at the fringing reefs around Dahab and in Nabq National Park, Egypt. Abundances vary, depending on the size of the biotope and the number of available microhabitats at five investigated scuba-diving spots.
Key words. Shrimp-gobies, Red Sea, association, microhabitats.
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 41-46. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Murat Özbek
A new freshwater amphipod species, Gammarus katagani sp. nov., from Turkey (Amphipoda: Gammaridae)
Abstract. A new species of freshwater Amphipod, Gammarus katagani sp. n., collected from Domaniç in Kütahya province, Turkey, is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to the Gammarus balcanicus-group. The presence of an additional row of setae on the last two metasome segments in both sexes is the most diagnostic character for the species. A detailed morphological description and illustrations of the new species are given and differences from related species are discussed.
Key words. Gammarus, new species, freshwater, Kütahya, Turkey, Middle East.
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 47-54. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | OPEN ACCESS (free download)
Maximilian Fischer, Ahmed Beyarslan
New species of Synaldis Foerster and Idiasta Foerster, and further records of Turkish Alysiini (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae)
Abstract. Synaldis propeaplicatam n. sp., Idiasta rugosipleurum n. sp. and Idiasta adanacola n. sp. are described as new species from Turkey and are compared with the taxonomically closest species. Some further Alysiini new to the fauna of Turkey are discussed. Some morphological details are illustrated.
Key words. Synaldis, Idiasta, new species, Alysiini, Turkey, Hymenoptera, Braconidae.
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 55-64. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Sakine Hossein Nezhad, Shahrokh Pashaei Rad, Fateme Firouzi, Donat Agosti
New and additional records for the ant fauna from Iran (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Abstract. The ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in two provinces (Zanjan, Mazandaran) of Iran has been studied in 2008 and 2009: 10 additional species new for the Iranian fauna have been discovered. The ant fauna of Iran includes now 158 species records.
Key words. Formicidae, ants, fauna, new record, Iran, Middle East.
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 65-74. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | OPEN ACCESS (free download)
Janko Kolarov, Saliha Coruh
Stilbopinae, a subfamily new for the Turkish fauna (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)
Abstract. Stilbops (Stilbops) ruficornis (Gravenhorst, 1829) is redescribed, figured and reported for the first time from Turkey. A key for the Western Palaearctic species of Stilbops Förster, 1869 is given.
Key words. Western Palaearctic, Stilbops, key, Turkey fauna.
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 75-78. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Adrian C. Pont, Karine Harutyunova, Maria Harutyunova, Doreen Werner
The hunter-flies of Armenia. II. The genus Lispe Latreille, 1796 (Insecta: Diptera: Muscidae)
Abstract. Four species of Lispe Latreille, 1796 are currently known from Armenia: L. armeniaca Canzoneri & Meneghini, 1972, L. longicollis Meigen, 1826, L. nana Macquart, 1835 and L. tentaculata (De Geer, 1776). In this paper we record L. melaleuca Loew, 1847, L. pygmaea Fallén, 1825 and L. flavicincta Loew, 1847 as new to Armenia, give a key to species, and list new records based on our fieldwork in 2005, 2010 and 2011.
Key words. Diptera, Muscidae, Armenia, Lispe, key, new records
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 79-84. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | OPEN ACCESS (Free download)
Tarik Danisman, Zafer Sancak, Melek Erdek, Ilhan Cosar
A new species of the genus Hersiliola Thorell, 1870 from Turkey (Araneae: Hersiliidae)
Abstract. A new species of Hersiliola Thorell, 1870 is described from Antalya Province, Turkey. Differences between the new species and related species are discussed.
Key words. Hersiliidae, Hersiliola, new species, Turkey.
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 75-88. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Hayriye Karabulut, Tuncay Türkes
Description of the females of the spiders Plesiophantes joosti Heimer, 1981 and Araeoncus clavatus Tanasevitch, 1987 from Turkey (Araneae: Linyphiidae)
Abstract. Plesiophantes joosti Heimer, 1981 and Araeoncus clavatus Tanasevitch, 1987 were originally described on the basis of single male specimens from Georgia and Armenia, respectively. The females of both species have not yet been described. We redescribe P. joosti based on a series of new specimens including 2 adult males and 6 adult females collected from two localities in the Artvin province of Turkey. A. clavatus is redescribed based on 3 adult males and 1 adult female collected from two localities in the Artvin and Ardahan provinces of Turkey. Both species are new records for the spider fauna of Turkey. Drawings of characteristic features, the female genitalia and the male palpal organs are presented.
Key words. Plesiophantes joosti, Araeoncus clavatus, Linyphiidae, description, Turkey.
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 89-94. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Matthew R. Graham, Viktoria Olah-Hemmings, Victor Fet
Phylogeography of co-distributed dune scorpions identifies the Amu Darya River as a long-standing component of Central Asian biogeography (Scorpiones: Buthidae)
Abstract. Although only distantly related, Anomalobuthus and Liobuthus are monotypic and sympatric scorpion genera with psammophilic phenotypes well-suited to the dune communities of the Karakum and Kyzylkum deserts of Central Asia. We predicted that this unique combination of phenotypic convergence and sympatry should have resulted in shared phylogeographic histories. We tested this hypothesis by using mitochondrial DNA data and molecular dating techniques to reconstruct the matrilineal genealogies of A. rickmersi and L. kessleri. We also developed current and late-glacial species distribution models and landscape interpolations of genetic distances to assess the influence of historical barriers and Pleistocene climates on the phylogeography of each species. Both genera exhibited signals of restricted gene flow across the Amu Darya River, supporting our prediction of mutual histories. Levels of initial genetic differentiation within each genus date to the Late Miocene to late Pliocene. Distribution models indicate that suitable habitat may have fragmented during the Pleistocene, generally in an east-west orientation. Although the observed genetic differentiation at the Amu Darya River could be a coincidental product of lineage sorting, the fact that both species display this pattern suggests that the river has been an important biogeographic element in the development of Central Asian biotas.
Key words. GIS, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Maxent, COI, 16S, mitochondrial DNA.
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 95-110. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | OPEN ACCESS (free dowload)
Aysegül Karatas, Muhammed Mouradi Garkheloo, Münir Ucak
Contribution to the distribution of the scorpions of Iran (Arachnida: Scorpiones)
Abstract. This study covers 16 species in three families collected from 20 different provinces (ostān) of Iran between the years 2005 and 2007, with a summary of previous studies on Iranian scorpions. C. petriolii is recorded for the first time from East Azerbaijan, Qom and Urumiyeh provinces; H. zagrosensis from Qazvin Province; I. krali from Qom Province; O. doriae from Hamadan Province. A second record of H. acanthocercus is given where the first record was from Khoozestan Province.
Key words. Scorpiones, Iran, scorpiofauna, records, distribution.
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 111-120. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Wilson R. Lourenco, Bernard Duhem
Two new species of scorpions from the Arabian Peninsula belonging to the genera Butheolus Simon and Compsobuthus Vachon (Scorpiones: Buthidae)
Abstract. Two new species of scorpion belonging to the genera Butheolus Simon, 1882 and Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 are described from the region of Khatan AlAtash Ridge in the border area between the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Species of Compsobuthus have already been cited from UAE, but this is the first record of the genus Butheolus from this country.
Key words. Scorpion, Buthidae, Butheolus, Compsobuthus, taxonomy, United Arab Emirates, Oman.
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 121-126. | Preview (abstract/cover page) (PDF) | Order article...
Short Communications
A new chromosomal form of Meriones tristrami Thomas, 1892 (Rodentia: Gerbillinae) in South-east Anatolia
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 127-129. | Order article...
Nuray Güven Veryeri
Postmortem examinations of stranded dolphins found on the Black Sea coast near Ordu, Turkey (Mammalia: Cetacea)
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 129-132. | Order article...
Vida Hojati, Afshin Faghiri, Abdolhossein Shiravi
Diet of the Grass Snake, Natrix natrix (Linnaeus, 1758) (Serpentes: Colubridae), in northern Iran
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 132-134. | Order article...
Yasar Özvarol, Mehmet Gökoglu
First record of the Indo-Pacific Milkfish, Chanos chanos (Forskċl, 1775), in the Turkish Mediterranean Sea
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 135-136. | Order article...
Fabio Cassola, Drew Gardner, Gary R. Feulner, Brigitte Howarth
Callytron monalisa (W. Horn, 1927) from the Arabian Peninsula (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae)
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 137-138. | Order article...
Mohammad Ali Akrami
A new species of the oribatid mite genus Berniniella Balogh, 1983 from Iran (Acari: Oribatida: Oppiidae)
Zoology in the Middle East 55, 2012: 139-140. | Order article...