Zoology in the Middle East Volume 64, Issue 2, 2018 0939-7140 (Print), 2326-2680 (Online) © Taylor & Francis All articles, both print and online versions, are fully copyright-protected. Covered in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE). ZME is published by Taylor & Francis Group. For Access Options click here

The breeding biology of the White-spectacled Bulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos, at the northwestern edge of its distribution range

Aziz Aslan, Bekir Kabasakal, Matteo Griggio and Ali Erdoğan

The White-spectacled Bulbul, Pycnonotus xanthopygos, is an abundant and possibly invasive species in Turkey, where it has gradually expanded its distribution and breeding range in both western and southeastern directions. This study focused on its breeding biology, which is still poorly known. The breeding activity extends from February until September. The preferred nesting areas are mainly gardens and maquis groves, where 24 different nesting tree species have been identified. The clutch size is 3.3±0.8 eggs per pair, nesting success 68%, hatching success 94%, fledgling success 95%, and overall breeding success 89%. While nesting success differs significantly between the years, we found no significant differences in hatching, fledging, and overall breeding success between the years studied. Despite favourable climatic conditions in the Mediterranean region, the species makes only one brood per year in a relatively extended breeding season extending over seven months, and has a relatively a high reproduction rate per nest.

Zoology in the Middle East 64(2), 2018: 95–101.

Characteristics of Capoeta oguzelii, a new species of cyprinid fish from the Ezine Stream, Black Sea basin, Turkey (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Mahmut Elp, Mustafa İbrahim Osmanoğlu, Ali Eslem Kadak and Davut Turan

Four species of Capoeta (C. baliki, C. banarescui, C. sieboldii and C. ekmekciae) have been reported from Black Sea drainages, to date. We recognised an additional species in the Ezine Stream in the Southern Black Sea basin. Based on the analysis of 21 metric and 8 meristic data, we concluded that the Ezine Stream population forms a distinct, unnamed species, which we have described as Capoeta oguzelii sp. n. This species can be distinguished from all other Capoeta species by the following combination of characteristics: small size, presence of only one pair of barbels, absence of a keratinised edge of the lower jaw, a weakly ossified last simple dorsal fin ray, 7–10 gill rakers on the first gill arch and 7½ branched dorsal fin rays.

Zoology in the Middle East 64(2), 2018: 102–111.

The taxonomic status of the Black Sea and Marmara Sea populations of the Broadnosed Pipefish Syngnathus cf. argentatus Pallas (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) based on morphological and molecular characters

Adnan Çağlar Oruç and Semih Engin

As the Black Sea and Marmara Sea population of the Broadnosed Pipefish Syngnathus cf. argentatus show some morphological differences from the Mediterranean Sea populations, some authors regard it as an endemic species Syngnathus argentatus Pallas, 1814, while others consider it as a synonym of S. typhle Linnaeus, 1758. The aim of this study is to compare the populations of the Black Sea and Sea of Marmara with the Aegean Sea population, using a combination of morphological and molecular characters, in order to clarify their taxonomic status. Sampling was carried out at three stations in the Black Sea, two in the Sea of Marmara and three in the Aegean Sea, and a total of 24 morphometric and 6 meristic characters were examined. Metric data were analysed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and phylogenetic relationships between the populations were analysed using both cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene and cytochrome b (cyt-b) gene sequences. Although constant differences were observed in snout depths between the Black Sea/Marmara Sea and the Aegean Sea populations, other morphological features and genetic analysis did not enable these populations to be differentiated. These findings indicate that S. argentatus is a synonym of S. typhle.

Zoology in the Middle East 64(2), 2018: 112–123.

Molecular confirmation of the occurrence of Elysia cf. tomentosa (Mollusca: Heterobranchia) in the Persian Gulf

Mahshid Oladi, Ali Nasrolahi, Faraham Ahmadzadeh, Omid Alizadeh and Patrick J. Krug

The molluscan fauna of the Persian Gulf has recently been relatively well documented, yet there are few records of heterobranch sea slugs (opisthobranchs) from the Arabian parts and no report from the Iranian waters. Here we report for the first time the occurrence of one of these molluscs in the northern Persian Gulf (Bandar Abbas, Iran). Sacoglossan specimens were collected in association with the seaweed, Caulerpa sertularioides. Since morphological attributes were not adequately reliable for species identification, molecular approaches were carried out. Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian Inference analysis of partial DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) locus were used for DNA barcoding of large-bodied specimens of Elysia. All Persian Gulf specimens were genetically confirmed as Elysia cf. tomentosa sp. 5, one of at least five morphologically similar but genetically distinct species in the taxonomically challenging and unresolved E. tomentosa complex. This species has previously been recorded only from Australia and Thailand and our finding adds another distant point to the geographic distribution of this species.

Zoology in the Middle East 64(2), 2018: 124–130.

Description of a new species of Hyadaphis Kirkaldy (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from Turkey

Shalva Barjadze and Işil Özdemir

Apterous and alate viviparous females of Hyadaphis bupleuriphila sp. n. living on Bupleurum sp. (Apiaceae) and further undetermined Apiaceae are described from the Ankara province in central Turkey. The new species is morphologically similar to Hyadaphis coerulescens (Narzikulov, 1965), H. ferganica Mukhamediev & Akhmedov, 1979 and H. foeniculi (Passerini, 1860). A key to the apterous viviparous females of Hyadaphis spp. in Turkey is given.

Zoology in the Middle East 64(2), 2018: 131–136.

Which species of the genus Scaurus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) occurs in the Caucasus and the border areas of Anatolia?

Maxim Nabozhenko, Yakov Kovalenko and Mark Kalashian

A redescription of the male of Scaurus araxinus Richter, 1945 is given and the female is described for the first time. The species occurs in Azerbaijan (Nakhichevan Republic), Armenia (Tigranashen and Yeghegnadzor) and Eastern Turkey (first record in Iğdır province). It had been regarded as conspecific with S. syriacus Reitter, 1914 and S. puncticollis Solier, 1838 but clearly differs from both these species and is close to S. rugicollis Reitter, 1914 from the Mediterranean region. The female genital tubes of S. araxinus are figured, the first such illustration for the tribe Scaurini. The genus Scaurus has a small secondary bursa copulatrix, separated glandular, moderately short, spermatheca and a relatively short accessory gland, similar to those found in some genera of the tribe Helopini.

Zoology in the Middle East 64(2), 2018: 137–144.

Further records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Iran

Shahrokh Pashaei Rad, Brian Taylor, Roshanak Torabi, Ebrahim Aram, Giti Abolfathi, Rezvan Afshari, Fatemeh Borjali, Maryam Ghatei, Fouzihe Hediary, Farzaneh Jazini, Vala Heidary Kiah, Zeynab Mahmoudi, Fatemeh Safariyan and Maryam Seiri

Wide ranging surveys of the ant fauna of Iran have enabled us to add a further 30 named species to the country list. A review of almost all the published literature and of photographs of unidentified specimens within the public domain gives a grand total of 248 species, from seven subfamilies and 37 genera. In the majority of instances, our own specimens were compared with type images available from antweb.com. This has led us to propose new or revised status for Cataglyphis turcomanica Crawley 1920, Lepisiota integrisquama (Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929), Lepisiota surchanica (Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1929) and Messor obscurior Crawley 1920. We note that the total includes a number of what may be misidentifications and a small number of named species that seem unlikely to occur in Iran.

Zoology in the Middle East 64(2), 2018: 145–159.

Long-term effects of fire on ant communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Pinus brutia forests of south-western Turkey

Burçin Yenisey Kaynaş, Kadri Kıran and Celal Karaman

We studied how forest fire affects the structure of ant communities in the long term and how microhabitat variables that influence communities of ants in different succession stages change. For this purpose, we selected five sites burnt 3 to 26 years prior to the study and a control site unburnt for at least 50 years. Sampling of ants was conducted in four pit-fall traps in four transects in three replication plots at every successional site and in two plots at the control site. Microhabitat variables regarding the vegetation structure and litter layers were recorded and related to the abundances of ants. The results show that subshrubs, leaves, and needles were the most important microhabitat variables that affected the ant communities. In certain ant genera, significant changes depending upon successional gradient were determined. While the genera Aphaenogaster and Cataglyphis had non-linear relationships with successional gradient, negative linear relationships were found in Crematogaster and Prenolepis. Messor is the only genus caught in high numbers in the earliest successional stage. It showed a decrease with successional gradient. Significant changes in ant communities along the successional gradient were associated with the characteristics of vegetation and the litter layer.

Zoology in the Middle East 64(2), 2018: 160–168.

Limited polymorphism in two spittlebugs, Philaenus spumarius (Linnaeus) and P. signatus Melichar (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), in island populations from Western Turkey

Selçuk Yurtsever

Two colour polymorphic spittlebug species, Philaenus spumarius and Philaenus signatus were recorded for the first time in Gökçeada, Turkey. Three non-melanic – POP (populi), TYP (typicus), and VIT (vittata) – and three melanic MAR – (marginellus), FLA (flavicollis), and LCE (leucocephalus) – colour/pattern phenotypes of P. signatus were found. Philaenus spumarius was represented only by POP and TYP, which are expressed by a single pigmentation allele. The other six alleles were absent on this island, although they are found in most populations throughout the world. Stochastic events such as random genetic drift may be the reason for shaping the polymorphism of these two sympatric species in Gökçeada. Thus, the absence of pigmentation alleles possibly indicates the founder effect.

Zoology in the Middle East 64(2), 2018: 169–173.

Identification key to the species of Amblyolpium Simon (Pseudoscorpiones: Garypinidae), with first record of Amblyolpium bellum Chamberlin from Iran

Mahrad Nassirkhani

A key based on bibliographic sources is given for identifying the 15 extant known pseudoscorpion species of the genus Amblyolpium recorded from different localities throughout the world. Species of Amblyolpium mostly occur in the Mediterranean basin, the Near to Far East, and the genus is only recorded with one species from South America. Amblyolpium bellum is redescribed and illustrated based on four males and two females collected for the first time from southern Iran.

Zoology in the Middle East 64(2), 2018: 174–181.

Short CommunicationS

Evidence of seed germination in scats of the Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus in Iran (Mammalia: Carnivora)

Hadi Fahimi, Ali T. Qashqaei, Mehdi Chalani, Zeinab Asadi, Siamak Broomand, Nahid Ahmadi and Gholam Hosein Yusefi

Zoology in the Middle East 64(2), 2018: 182–184.

The first record of the Southwest Asian Badger Meles canescens (Mammalia: Mustelidae) from Afghanistan

Nasratullah Jahed and Stéphane Ostrowski

Zoology in the Middle East 64(2), 2018: 185–186.

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