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Zoology in the
Middle East Volume
63, Issue 3, 2017 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
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A new chromosomal race (2n=44) of Nannospalax xanthodon from
Turkey (Mammalia: Rodentia)
Teoman Kankılıç, Atilla Arslan,
Perinçek Seçkinozan Şeker, Tolga Kankılıç, Kubilay Toyran and Jan
Zima
A new
karyotype for blind mole rats was recorded in Tunceli province in Eastern Turkey.
The karyotype contained 44 chromosomes, including 13 biarmed pairs, 7 acrocentric
pairs, and one heteromorphic pair with a submetacentric and an acrocentric homologue
in the autosomal complement (FNa=69). The X chromosome was submetacentric and
the Y chromosome medium-sized subtelocentric (FN=73). Distinct dark centromeric
C-bands were observed on most of the biarmed and three pairs of the acrocentric
autosomes. The NORs were detected on short arms of three subtelocentric pairs
and one acrocentric pair of autosomes. The diploid number of chromosomes and
the karyotype characteristics observed are obviously unique among hitherto
studied populations of blind mole rats and the complement can be evaluated as a
new chromosome race of Nannospalax
xanthodon. The distribution ranges of individual chromosome races of the
species recorded in Eastern Anatolia are revised and possible interracial
hybridization is discussed in respect of the finding of a new race.
Zoology in the Middle East
63(3), 2017: 181-188.
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Behavioural and morphological characteristics of white
doves in Osmaniye, Turkey identify the population as Laughing Doves (Streptopelia senegalensis)
Lale Aktay, Özgün Sözüer, Joshua J. Horns,
Derviş Kökenek, Bilge Kağan Tomas and Çağan H.
Şekercioğlu
Observation
of an unusual population of white-plumaged doves in Osmaniye suggests that
these birds are conspecific with the Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis, Linnaeus,
1766) population in the town. The white-morph is not found outside the urban
area. Aside from colouration, the white doves shared identical morphological
characteristics with wild-type brown Laughing Doves. Additionally, the white
doves and wild-type Laughing Doves formed mixed flocks and readily paired.
Based on the observations of four inter-morph pairings, the white morph appears
to be a recessive, single autosomal locus mutation. It appears that the white
colouration may have originated from one or more hybridization events between
Laughing Doves and feral white Barbary Doves (Streptopelia risoria). This
study not only identifies an anomalous population of birds in an urban setting,
but highlights the importance of traditional knowledge in understanding
biodiversity.
Zoology in the Middle East
63(3), 2017: 189-193.
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Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus
roseus): Important wintering sites and
breeding records in the United Arab Emirates
Shahid B. Khana, Salim Javed, Shakeel
Ahmed, Junid N. Shah, Abdulla Ali Al Hammadi and Eissa Ali Al Hammadi
Greater Flamingo
(Phoenicopterus roseus) monitoring was undertaken in the United Arab Emirates from
2003 to 2015 at 36 permanent sites to find key wintering and breeding sites.
Bul Syayeef Marine Protected Area with monthly mean of 6553 (±3594) flamingos followed
by Al Wathba Wetland Reserve with 1228 (±1190) flamingos topped the list. In
addition, Shahama Wetland and Al Aryam Mudflats in Abu Dhabi Emirate form a
complex of four nearby sites that hold the majority of nearly 15,000–20,000
birds wintering in the country. Lagoons (Khors)
in the northern emirates are the other key wintering sites, that suffer habitat
destruction and high disturbance. Breeding has been sporadic and infrequent
since the first breeding attempt in 1993. Greater Flamingos have bred
successfully only in the Abu Dhabi Emirate on 10 occasions at three sites with
the highest eight breeding attempts at Al Wathba and one each at Shahama and
Bul Syayeef. A total of 1,972 young have fledged with a high overall breeding
success of 43%. The highest number of 801 young fledged at Bul Syayeef in 2009
followed by 420 at Al Wathba in 2015 and 350 at Shahama in 2007. Successful
breeding occurred both in summer and winter seasons, breeding attempts were
more (58%) in summer compared to winter. Flamingos have bred regularly at Al
Wathba Wetland Reserve since 2011, this was made possible due to the provision
of an artificial island to aid nesting and better control of predators. Breeding
is successful at sites that maintain higher bird numbers and are free from
disturbance.
Zoology in the Middle East
63(3), 2017: 194-201.
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Population size and structure of the African Softshell
Turtle, Trionyx triunguis, in Dalaman, southwestern Turkey
Salim Can Akçınar and Ertan
Taşkavak
We assessed
the size of the population of the African Softshell Turtle, Trionyx triunguis, in Dalaman
(Muğla, Turkey), which is considered to be the largest population of the
species in the Mediterranean, by using the Jolly-Seber mark-recapture method. A
total of 415 individuals were caught during the summer months of 2009 to 2011,
of which 148 were recaptures. From 267 marked individuals, 148 (55%) were male,
69 (26%) were female and 50 (19%) were juveniles and subadults of indeterminate
sex. The male:female ratio was calculated to be 2.14:1. By using Model A' of
the Jolly-Seber mark-recapture method, which includes deaths but no
immigration, the mean population size in Kükürt and Küçükdalyan (Kargın) lakes,
together with Tersakan and Taşlıçay creeks, were estimated to be
396±36. Based on this estimation, the population density was calculated to be
14 turtles/ha. Approximately 67.4 % of the estimated population was marked. The
mean capture probability (p) and mean
survival ratio (Φ) were 0.094±0.009 and 0.957±0.076, respectively. Our
results showed that the species’ population size is larger than previously
estimated based on visual counts. The status “Vulnerable” C2a of the IUCN Red
Data Book categories seems therefore more appropriate for the Mediterranean
subpopulation of Trionyx triunguis
than “Endangered” C2a.
Zoology in the Middle East
63(3), 2017: 202-209.
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A new species of Diplecogaster
(Actinopterygii: Gobiesocidae) from the Mediterranean Sea
Murat Bilecenoğlu, Mehmet Baki
Yokeş and Marcelo Kovačić
Diplecogaster umutturali sp. n. is described from five
specimens, ranging from 9.5 to 26.9 mm in standard length. This clingfish is
known to occur only at three localities along the northern Levant coasts,
eastern Mediterranean Sea and is the third known species of the genus Diplecogaster in the Mediterranean and
Black Seas. The species is distinguished from all its congeners in having a
small snout, short caudal peduncle, large eyes, short anal fin and upper
attachment of gill membrane opposite the 7th-8th pectoral ray. Diplecogaster umutturali sp. n. shows a
5.3% genetic divergence from its close relative D. bimaculata at the cytochrome oxidase I locus (COI).
Zoology in the Middle East
63(3), 2017: 210-218.
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New record of Ptarmus
gallus Kossmann & Räuber, 1877
from the northern Red Sea (Teleostei: Aploactinidae), with a redescription of
the species
Ronald Fricke, Daniel Golani and Brenda
Appelbaum-Golani
The
aploactinid fish Ptarmus gallus is
redescribed and recorded from the Gulf of Suez (Egypt) for the first time. The
species is apparently endemic to the Red Sea. Identification keys to the genera
of aploactinid fishes, and to species of the genus Ptarmus are presented.
Zoology in the Middle East
63(3), 2017: 219-227.
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Re-description of Oxynoemacheilus
longipinnis from the Persian Gulf basin
(Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)
Golnaz Sayyadzadeh, Hamid Reza Esmaeili,
Soheil Eagderi, Arash Jouladeh-Roudbar, Mojtaba Masoudi and Saber Vatandoust
The monotypic
nemacheilid loach genus Ilamnemacheilus was erected based on morphological
features of a single individual described as Ilamnemacheilus longipinnis
Coad and Nalbant, 2005 from the Tigris River tributary in Iran. It was later
transferred to the genus Oxynoemacheilus based on molecular and morphological
studies without a description. Here, we re-describe O. longipinnis based
on additional specimens collected from near the type locality. It is
distinguished from the other oxynoemacheilid loaches of the Tigris River by
having a suborbital groove in males, the number of the dorsal-fin rays, the colouration
pattern of the body, and the shape of the upper lip and the caudal fin.
Zoology in the Middle East
63(3), 2017: 228-238.
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Discovery of the subfamily Microtypinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
in Egypt, with the description of a new species
Yusuf A. Edmardsah, Neveen S. Gadallah and
Kees van Achterberg
The subfamily
Microtypinae Szépligeti, 1908 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is recorded for the
first time for Egypt. The present study is based on specimens collected from
Gebel Elba, Wadi Allaqi, St. Catherine, and Fayoum, as well as specimens
deposited in various entomological collections in Egypt. Four species belonging
to the genus Microtypus Ratzeburg, 1848 (M. algiricus Szépligeti,
1908; M. desertorum Shestakov, 1932; M. vanharteni van
Achterberg, 2010 and M. aegypticus sp. n.) are reported for the first
time from Egypt.
Zoology in the Middle East
63(3), 2017: 239-249.
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New data on the genus Chrysotoxum Meigen (Diptera: Syrphidae) from North-East Turkey,
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran including descriptions of three new species
Ante Vujić, Zorica Nedeljković,
Rüstem Hayat, Ozan Demirözer, Ximo Mengual and Farzaneh Kazerani
New data and
records of the genus Chrysotoxum
Meigen, 1803 are reported, arising from taxonomic and faunistic examination of adult
specimens collected from 1920 to 2011 from four northeastern provinces of Turkey (Erzurum, Bayburt, Kars, and Artvin), and from the neighboring countries
of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran.
Three new species are described: Chrysotoxum
antennalis Vujić, Nedeljković & Hayat sp. n., C. clausseni
Vujić, Nedeljković & Hayat
sp. n. and C. persicum
Vujić, Nedeljković & Hayat
sp. n. The first two are known only from northeastern Turkey, and the third also occurs in Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Iran. These new species have in common an antenna with the
basoflagellomere being shorter than the scape and pedicel together.
Zoology in the Middle East
63(3), 2017: 250-268.
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Three new species of Zerconidae (Acari: Mesostigmata)
from Turkey
Raşit Urhan and Elif Hilal Duran
Three new
species, Zercon afyonensis sp. n., Zercon karacamehmeti sp. n. and Zercon soguticus sp. n., are described
and illustrated based on samples collected in the Inner Aegean Region. The
similarities and differences between the related species are discussed.
Zoology in the Middle East
63(3), 2017: 269-276.
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Short
Communications
New breeding sites of the Black-winged
Kite (Elanus caeruleus) in Turkey (Aves: Falconiformes)
Recep Karakaş and Murat Biricik
Zoology in the Middle East
63(3), 2017: 277-279.
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First Palaearctic record of the genus Pygophora Schiner, 1868 (Diptera:
Muscidae) from Iranian Baluchestan
Mehrdad Parchami-Araghi, Adrian C. Pont,
Ebrahim Gilasian, Farzaneh Basavand and Hosnieh Mousavi
Zoology in the Middle East
63(3), 2017: 280-282.
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Zoology in the Middle East