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Zoology in the Middle East Volume 60, Issue 4, 2014 0939-7140 (Print), 2326-2680 (Online) © Taylor & Francis 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), the Zoological Record and many other review organs. ZME is published by Taylor & Francis Group. Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig |
A new cytotype (2n=46) of Nannospalax xanthodon from Turkey
Atilla Arslan, Jan Zima, Tarkan Yorulmaz, Emine Arslan
A new cytotype was found in a population of mole rats Nannospalax xanthodon from south-eastern Anatolia, Turkey. The karyotype contained 46 chromosomes and 66 autosomal arms (11 biarmed and 11 acrocentric autosomal pairs). The X chromosome was submetacentric and the Y chromosome small subtelocentric. Distinct dark C-bands were observed on all the biarmed chromosomes and on three pairs of acrocentric autosomes. The NORs were detected on the short arms of two subtelocentric pairs of autosomes. The published data indicate considerable chromosomal variation between populations of mole rats in south-eastern Anatolia. The finding of a karyotype with a unique chromosomal number in the karyologically well-studied region of south-eastern Anatolia indicates that the karyotype structuring between mole rat populations may be even more complex than previously realised.
Zoology in the Middle East 60(4), 2014: 283-287. | Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig
Genetic structure and differentiation of four populations of Afghan Pika (Ochotona rufescens) in Iran based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene
Olyagholi Khalilipour, Hamid Reza Rezaei, Afshin Alizadeh Shabani, Mohammad Kaboli, Sohrab Ashrafi
The population genetics of the Afghan Pika (Ochotona rufescens) was studied in Northern Khorasan Province, Iran. For prediction of the genetic differentiation of four populations, the DNA of mitochondrial cytochrome b of 32 individuals from four areas was sequenced and a Bayesian analysis based on the HKY model was constructed. In total, 15 polymorphic sites, 1125 conserved sites (98.7%) and 14 different haplotypes were found. The phylogenetic tree resulting from the Bayesian analysis and network analysis showed that all samples were clustered in two major groups and the haplotypes of the four populations did not separate geographically. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that a large majority of the genetic variance was due to the variance within populations. The results of fixation indices showed significant genetic structure among populations in both methods. The pairwise Fst revealed that two northern populations have a significant genetic differentiation from two southern populations, but no significance pairwise Fst value was demonstrated between the closed populations. Nei’s genetic distances between closed populations were not significant, while significant values occurred between distant populations. It seems that there is not a major discontinuity between populations of Afghan Pika based on cyt-b mitochondrial gene. However, phylogenetic analysis did not separate populations and a large majority of the genetic variance was found within populations. However, AMOVA analysis showed a significant level of genetic structure among populations (p<0.001) and between groups (p<0.5). It seems that these results suggest shallow genetic differentiation between populations of different geographic groups.
Zoology in the Middle East 60(4), 2014: 288-298. | Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig
Post-nesting migrations patterns of Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) from the Egyptian Red Sea
Omar Attum, Andrew Kramer, Tamer Mahmoud, Moustafa Fouda
In order to identify the migratory pathways and foraging grounds of post-nesting Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Red Sea, we attached satellite transmitters to four females immediately after egg deposition and tracked them between 207 and 647 days. We identified four geographically distinct post-nesting habitat areas and migration paths from Zabargad Island, Egypt which was remarkable given our small sample size. Our shortest migration was 140 km and the longest 940 km, with the migrations and post-nesting habitat encompassing the boundaries of four of the seven Red Sea countries (Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Saudi Arabia). The post-nesting habitats were located in shallow coastal habitat and three consisted of near-shore archipelagos. Two turtles moved past areas of suitable post-nesting habitat that was occupied by other turtles, which suggests that these turtles may be exhibiting fidelity to certain feeding and nesting sites. Our results suggest that regional and multi-national cooperation will be needed to protect sea turtles that nest on Zabargad Island, a nesting site that is important for Egypt and other Red Sea nations.
Zoology in the Middle East 60(4), 2014: 299-305. | Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig
New locality records for four rare species of vipers (Reptilia: Viperidae) in Turkey
Bayram Göçmen, Konrad Mebert, Naşit İğci, Bahadır Akman, Mehmet Zülfü Yıldız, Mehmet Anıl Oğuz, Çağatay Altın
We report new localities and range extensions for four vipers from Turkey. The distribution of Montivipera wagneri is extended substantially southwards into Muş province, showing that this species is not endemic to the Aras valley as previously stated in the literature. Similarly, an unverified photograph of Montivipera albizona from Erzincan province, at its currently known eastern limit, was confirmed with new material, and its range is extended substantially southwards to the Anamos (Nur) Mountains in Hatay province. Smaller range extensions are reported for Vipera ammodytes transcaucasiana and V. darevskii.
Zoology in the Middle East 60(4), 2014: 306-313. | Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig
Distribution and male reproductive system of the Bridled Mabuya, Trachylepis vittata (Olivier, 1804) (Reptilia: Scincidae), in Lebanon
Fida Nassar and Souad Hraoui-Bloquet
The distribution of the Bridled Mabuya, Trachylepis vittata, in Lebanon is described and the male reproductive cycle was studied in a population living at 2000 m a.s.l. on Mount Sannine. Males emerge from hibernation in March, one month earlier than females. They show a short seasonal testicular cycle in which spermiogenesis occurs in spring, followed by testicular regression and subsequent recrudescence in summer. Hibernation starts in October and lasts 5 months. The development of secondary sexual characteristics was in synchrony with the testicular cycle. There was a significant difference between the reproductive stages and the testicular volume. The species is assigned to an associated reproductive cycle with short vernal spermiogenesis.
Zoology in the Middle East 60(4), 2014: 315-319. | Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig
Re-evaluation of the taxonomic status of sand boas of the genus Eryx (Daudin, 1803) (Serpentes: Boidae) in north-eastern Iran using sequences of the mitochondrial genome
Eskandar Rastegar-Pouyani, Naeimeh Eskandarzadeh, Jamshid Darvish
The sand boas of the genus Eryx (Daudin, 1803) comprise four species in northeastern Iran: E. tataricus (Lichtenstein, 1823), E. miliaris (Pallas, 1773), E. elegans (Gray, 1849), and E. jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758). Based on a morphological study of the Eryx species in the area, a high similarity between E. tataricus and E. miliaris on the one side, and E. jaculus and E. elegans on the other side has been well documented, so that they are hardly distinguishable from each other. We analysed sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of 29 individuals of morphotypes of this species complex in north-eastern Iran to clarify the phylogenetic relationships. Based on the branch pattern of the phylogenetic trees, the amounts of genetic distances within and between major clades and considering the morphological data, we concluded that the traditional grouping of species within the genus Eryx in north-eastern Iran should be fundamentally revised. We believe that E. elegans is conspecific with E. jaculus, and E. tataricus is conspecific with E. miliaris. Considering the principle of priority, the northeastern populations of Eryx in Iran should be classified into only two distinct species: E. jaculus and E. miliaris.
Zoology in the Middle East 60(4), 2014: 320-326. | Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig
Shell selection behaviour and spatial distribution of three species of intertidal hermit crabs from Hormuz Island, Persian Gulf (Crustacea: Paguroidea)
Jafar Seyfabadi, Nabiallah Kheirabadi, Fereidoon Owfi, and Alireza Mahvary
Shell selection behaviour and spatial distribution of three hermit crab species, Diogenes avarus, D. karwarensis, and Areopaguristes perspicax, were studied at six sites along the intertidal zones of Hormuz Island in the Persian Gulf. 1025 specimens were collected occupying altogether 31 shell species (D. avarus 28 species, A. perspicax 22 species, and D. karwarensis 8 species). Diogenes avarus was found to be by far the most abundant of these three crab species, and Cerithidea cingulata the dominant shell occupied by these hermit crabs. The distribution of the hermit crabs significantly varied (p<0.05) among the sites. The number and the wide diversity of shells occupied in different sites show that the main factor in shell selection for these hermit crabs is the abundance and distribution of shell species in the field.
Zoology in the Middle East 60(4), 2014: 327-334. | Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig
Remarks on the deep-sea decapod fauna of the Sea of Marmara (Crustacea: Decapoda)
Bülent Topaloğlu
A total of 1127 crustacean specimens was sampled from five stations in the deep-sea depressions of the Sea of Marmara (>1000 m deep). Calocaris macandreae Bell, 1853 was by far the dominant species at all stations. Polycheles typhlops C. Heller, 1862 and Sergestes robustus Smith, 1882 were found in low numbers.
Zoology in the Middle East 60(4), 2014: 335-338. | Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig
Ultrastructural analysis of the internal sac in several species of the weevil tribe Phyllobiini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae)
Mahmut Erbey, Selami Candan
The ultrastructure of the internal sac was comparatively studied in five species of the genus Phyllobius Germar, 1824, two species of the genus Oedecnemidius Daniel, 1903 and one species of the genus Parascythropus Desbrochers, 1875, all belonging to the weevil tribe Phyllobiini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae). Similarities and differences between the species investigated are discussed. The total shape of internal sac is similar, but the teeth that are located in the ventral part are different in all the species. The details of the internal sac under the scanning electron microscope are important for taxonomy and could be used for separating similar species.
Zoology in the Middle East 60(4), 2014: 339-344. | Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig
The genera Stegastopsis Kraatz, 1865 and Orostegastopsis Koch, 1962 with description of O. planioculata sp. n. from Oman (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Tentyriini)
Martin Lillig
The first Asian member of Orostegastopsis Koch, 1962 is described and figured: O. planioculata sp. n., which can be easily distinguished from the two Somalian species O. scorteccii Koch, 1962 and O. kaszabi (Bremer, 1985) comb. nov. by the shallow eyes. According to the shape of the clypeus, Stegastopsis kaszabi Bremer, 1985 is transferred from the genus Stegastopsis Kraatz to the genus Orostegastopsis Koch as was already indicated by Bremer (1985) who treated Orostegastopsis as a subgenus of Stegastopsis: Orostegastopsis kaszabi (Bremer, 1985) comb. nov. Keys to the species of Stegastopsis and Orostegastopsis are given.
Zoology in the Middle East 60(4), 2014: 345-352. | Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig
A new pseudoscorpion species of the genus Calocheiridius Beier & Turk (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Olpiidae) from Iran
Mahrad Nassirkhani
A new species of pseudoscorpion of the genus Calocheiridius Beier & Turk, Calocheiridius iranicus n. sp., is described from Markazi province, Iran. Illustrations and measurements of the species are given.
Zoology in the Middle East 60(4), 2014: 353-361. | Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig
New data on the spider fauna of Iran (Arachnida: Araneae)
Alireza Zamani, Zahra Nikmagham, Maryam Allahdadi, Fereshteh Ghassemzadeh, Omid Mirshamsi
We present the results of some spider surveys that were conducted in different parts of Iran. Faunistic records for 30 species which are new to Iran are presented here. Biogeographic data are provided for each species. Two families, namely Liocranidae and Mimetidae, are recorded for the first time from the country.
Zoology in the Middle East 60(4), 2014: 362-367. | Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig
Short Communications
First record of the goby Buenia affinis Iljin, 1930 (Gobiidae) from the Aegean Sea and Sea of Marmara
Semih Engin, Arif Can Keskin, Tolga Akdemir, Dilruba Seyhan
Zoology in the Middle East 60(4), 2014: 368-371. | Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig
Odonata fauna of Khuzestan province (Iran) with a note on an Oriental species Trithemis aurora (Burmeister, 1839) as a new record for the south-west of Iran
Yaser Bakhshi, Saber Sadeghi
Zoology in the Middle East 60(4), 2014: 372-374. | Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig
The first record of Ecrobia maritima (Milaschewitsch, 1916) from the Aegean coast of Turkey (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae)
Aydın Örstan and Martin Haase
Zoology in the Middle East 60(4), 2014: 375-376. | Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig
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Zoology in the Middle East