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Zoology in the
Middle East Volume
65, 2019 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 |
Zoology in the
Middle East, Volume 65, Issue 4
Inter-dependent movements of
Asiatic Cheetahs Acinonyx jubatus
venaticus and a Persian Leopard Panthera
pardus saxicolor in a desert environment in Iran (Mammalia: Felidae)
Farid Cheraghi, Mahmoud Reza Delavar, Farshad
Amiraslani, Kazem Alavipanah, Eliezer Gurarie, Houman Jowkar, Luke Hunter,
Stephane Ostrowski and William F. Fagan
We investigated the
simultaneous and sympatric movements of a coalition of two Asiatic Cheetahs (Acinonyx
jubatus venaticus) and a Persian Leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor), two
rare and highly mobile large felids in Bafq Protected Area, Iran. The animals
were tracked with GPS collars for 4.5 to 9 months at a temporal resolution of
eight hours. The cheetahs used lower elevations areas (average: 1600 m), and
remained more distant to the surrounding highways of (average: 14.5 km) than
the leopard (average: 1.8 km and 12.3 km, respectively). The leopard’s home
range (408 km²) was almost entirely within the larger home ranges of the
cheetah coalition (1,137 km²). We found that the leopard approached more
closely to either of the cheetahs in the rare occasions when they were
separated, though whether that was the response of the cheetahs to the leopard
or vice versa is unknown. This interaction eventually culminated in the leopard
killing one of the cheetahs, the first documented proof of lethal competition
between cheetah and leopard in Iran. The combined risks of larger home ranges
beyond the protected areas with higher probability of encounters with humans,
of highway crossing, and predation by Persian Leopards contribute to the
particularly precarious situation of the Asiatic Cheetah.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(4), 2019:
283-292.
Phylogeographic analysis of Iranian
wildcats (Felis lybica / Felis silvestris)
as revealed by mitochondrial cytochrome b gene
Marzieh Mousavi, Hamid Reza Rezaei and Saeid
Naderi
The wildcat (Felis
lybica/Felis silvestris) is widely distributed in Africa and Eurasia. Iran
is situated at the intersection of the distributions of the European Wildcat F.
silvestris with the African Wildcat F. lybica. The genetic
relationships of the Iranian wildcat population with either group remain
unclear. We examined sequence variation of 1,140 bp of mitochondrial DNA
cytochrome b gene from 23 wildcat samples collected across Iran. The
analyses revealed two subclades, of which one is related to the Asian Wildcat (F.
lybica ornata) and the other to the African Wildcat (F. lybica lybica)
and the Domestic Cat (F. catus). Sixteen closely related haplotypes were
identified for the entire country, with two geographically distinct subclades
for western and eastern Zagros Mountain Range and overlapping in some
localities. The analyses of fixation index (FST) and molecular
variance (AMOVA) demonstrated significant genetic structuring among the two
subclades(FST=0.63). Analysis of mismatch distribution
and multimodal graph indicated that the Iranian wildcat population is in a
condition of demographic equilibrium.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(4), 2019:
293-306.
What caused the strong increase of the
winter population of the Dalmatian Pelican, Pelecanus
crispus, in Iran in the last two decades?
Abbas Ashoori, Hamid Amini, Abolghasem
Khaleghizadeh, Aris Manolopoulos and Giorgos Catsadorakis
The Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus is listed globally as
“Near Threatened”. We used the results of the International Waterbird Census
from 1998 to 2017 to find trends in wintering numbers. Of the 102 sites
examined, 29 were classified as regular, 18 as irregular and 55 as occasional
wintering habitats for the species. Both the population size and the geographical
distribution increased in the second half of the study period. The Anzali
Wetland Complex, Gomishan Marsh, Gorgan Bay and Miankaleh Wildlife Refuge,
inlets and mangroves east of Jask, the east coast of Chabahar and inlets and
mangroves west of Konarak were identified as the most important wintering areas
of the Dalmatian Pelican in Iran. Wintering numbers increased from 300 to 1,100
in the 1970s and from c. 800 in the 1980s to c. 1,800 by 2006 and up to c.
10,000 in 2017. Thus, more than 37% of the global population of the species
overwinters in Iran. A combination of a series of warm winters and delayed
timing of cold spells appears to be responsible for the increase of the
wintering population.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(4), 2019:
307-318.
A new species of Eirenis (Ophidia: Colubridae) from highland habitats in southern
Iran
Behzad Fathinia, Eskandar Rastegar-Pouyani and
Arya Shafaeipour
A new colubrid snake of the
genus Eirenis, Eirenis yassujicus sp. n., is described
from highlands of central Zagros in Kohgilouyeh & Boyer-Ahmad Province,
southern Iran, and increases the number of Eirenis species to 21.
Morphologically, E. yassujicus sp. n. is assigned to the subgenus Eirenis (Eirenis) characterised by 17 mid-body scales. The lowest genetic
distance between the new species and its closest relative, E.
punctatolineatus, is 12% in the mitochondrial Cytb gene. An updated
key for the species of Eirenis spp. in Iran is provided.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(4), 2019:
319-329.
Knipowitschia ephesi Ahnelt, 1995, a junior synonym of Gobius ricasolii Di Caporiacco, 1935
(Teleostei: Gobiidae)
Erdoğan Çiçek, Ronald Fricke, Soheil
Eagderi, Sevil Sungur and Stefano Vanni
Gobius ricasolii was described in 1935 by Di Caporiacco from the lower Küçük Menderes River
drainage in Turkey. This species has not yet been listed as a freshwater fauna
of Turkey. Ahnelt (1995) described Knipowitschia
ephesi from the same locality based on materials collected by Curt Kosswig
in 1948. We examined the type
materials of G. ricasolii to
clarify its taxonomic status and identified it as a member of the genus Knipowitschia. Since morphological,
morphometric and meristic characteristics of K. ephesi overlap largely
with those of K. ricasolii,
we consider K. ephesi as a
junior synonym of K. ricasolii. A revised diagnosis of this species is
presented.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(4), 2019:
330-335.
A new species of the genus Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda:
Niphargidae) from the south-western part of the North Caucasus
Ivan Marin and Dmitry Palatov
A new endemic species of the
genus Niphargus is described from the
vicinity of Apsheronsk, Krasnodar region, North Caucasus. Genetic and morphological
studies show that the new species is related to the West European
representatives of the genus, most close to Niphargus
puteanus from Italy, widely distributed N.
virei and N.
“sphagnicolus-dolenianensis-thuringius” species complex. No direct relatives
are known from the subterranean habitats of the Caucasus. The new species is
well distinguished from the Caucasian species of the genus by morphology and
genetically.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(4), 2019:
336-346.
Expanding the Anagyrus pseudococci species complex (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae): a
new species emerges from Trabutina
serpentina (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on tamarisk on the Dead Sea shore
Sharon A. Andreason, Serguei V. Triapitsyn,
Zvi Mendel, Alexei Protasov, Ben Levi and Thomas M. Perring
A new species of the
encyrtid wasp genus Anagyrus Howard
(Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), Anagyrus
trabutinae Triapitsyn & Andreason, is described and illustrated. Its
type series was reared from the mealybug Trabutina
serpentina (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on tamarisk, Tamarix spp. (Tamaricaceae), on the Dead
Sea shore at an elevation of 402 m below sea level. Using a combination of
morphological methods and genetic analyses, the new taxon is separated from the
other species comprising the Anagyrus
pseudococci species complex. Its relationship to the complex is discussed.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(4), 2019:
347-360.
Diving beetles of the genus Yola Gozis, 1886 from Oman, with
description of a new species (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)
Jiří Hájek and Antonín Reiter
Two species of the genus Yola Gozis, 1886 were recently collected
in Al Dakhiliyah Province, north Oman, both members of the Yola bicarinata species group: Yola
porcata (Klug, 1834), previously known in the Arabian Peninsula only from
Saudi Arabia, is recorded from Oman for the first time; Yola unguicularis sp. n. is described and illustrated. The new
species is unique within the members of the genus with modified protarsal
claws. The number of known Yola species
hereby increased to 48; six species are presently known from the Arabian
Peninsula. The total number of Dytiscidae species occurring in Oman increased
to 30.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(4), 2019:
361-366.
Description of a new species of Lithostege Hübner, 1825 and of the male
of L. samandooki (Rajaei, 2011)
(Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from Iran
Hossein Rajaei, Saeideh Shahreyari-Nejad and
Mehdi Esfandiari
A new species of Lithostege Hübner, 1825 is described from Iran and the external morphology
and genitalia of the male
of Lithostege samandooki Rajaei, 2011 are described for the first
time. The diagnostic characters separating L.
kiabii sp. n. and L. smandooki
from their closest relatives are discussed. All relevant characters are illustrated and an updated checklist
of Lithostege of Iran is presented.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(4), 2019:
367-376.
Zoology in the
Middle East, Volume 65, Issue 3
Limiting factors of Striped Hyaena, Hyaena hyaena, distribution and
densities across climatic and geographical gradients (Mammalia: Carnivora)
Hila Shamoon and Idan Shapira
Few previous studies on the factors
that affect Striped Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena Linnaeus, 1758) occurrence and
densities were done on geographically unrelated populations using different
methodologies. In Israel, hyaenas occur throughout the country’s steep climatic
and geographical gradients, presenting a unique opportunity to study densities
and habitat use across adjacent ecosystems using a unified methodology and test
previous conceptions regarding the species’ habitat selection. We collected
hyaena abundance-absence data using 1440 camera traps placed at 80 sites
(2012–2016). Site location ranged from hyper-arid deserts to dense
Mediterranean shrubland. We assessed the effect of climate, habitat structure,
elevation, geomorphological attributes (proxy for den availability), and anthropogenic
development (proximity to settlements and agriculture) on hyaena densities
using N-mixture models. Hyaena densities were negatively affected by
anthropogenic development, and were limited by den availability. Hyaena
densities did not follow a climatic or geographic gradient. Densities were
highest at hyper-arid deserts and Mediterranean coastal shrublands. Despite the
former conception that hyaenas prefer semi-arid open habitats and avoid extreme
deserts and dense vegetation, we show that hyaenas use and even thrive in these
habitats when geomorphological conditions are suitable and resources are
available.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(3), 2019:
189-200.
Confirmation of Acrocephalus scirpaceus
avicenniae (Aves: Acrocephalidae) from mangroves on the Red Sea coast near
Jazan, southwest Saudi Arabia
Jem Babbington, Christopher Boland, Guy M. Kirwan, Abdullah Alsuhaibany,
Hadoram Shirihai and Manuel Schweizer
Members of the Eurasian (or Common) Reed Warbler
complex, Acrocephalus scirpaceus, are widespread across much of
Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. With its relatively complex
taxonomy, the identity of several local (and sometimes remote) populations
remains somewhat unresolved. In Saudi Arabia, populations of reed warblers were
first identified in mangroves at Yanbu’ on the Red Sea coast in 1984, with
several subsequent records up to 900 km further south toward the Yemen border.
We took morphological data from 51 individuals and genetic material from three
individuals captured near Jazan in southwest Saudi Arabia. Both genetic and
morphometric data confirmed that these birds belong to the taxon A. scirpaceus
avicenniae, sometimes referred to as the Mangrove or Red Sea Reed Warbler.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(3), 2019:
201-207.
The species identity and biogeography of
Blanus (Amphisbaenia: Blanidae) in Lebanon
Daniel Jablonski and Riyad A. Sadek
The genus Blanus Wagler, 1830 represents limbless,
burrowing reptiles of the family Blanidae with disjunct circum-Mediterranean
distribution. The recently described species Blanus alexandri Sindaco, Kornilios, Sacchi & Lymberakis, 2014
is known from south-eastern Turkey with a presumed occurrence in the Levant and
Iraq. We provide here records from Lebanon and confirm the affiliation of
Lebanese populations to this species by mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Blanus
alexandri comprises at least seven deeply evolved phylogenetic clades with
up to 11% of uncorrected p-distances
in their mitochondrial DNA. This suggests a probably older than the Miocene
origin of some of these clades. Populations from Lebanon form a different clade
with a genetic diversity that is close to populations from southern Turkey.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(3), 2019:
208-214.
The occurrence of two xanthochromic fish,
Epiniphelus marginatus (Serranidae) and Diplodus vulgaris (Sparidae)
(Osteichthyes) in the eastern Mediterranean
Daniel Golani, Maria Corsini-Foka and Yaron Tikochinski
Xanthism in fishes has a
genetic basis that causes abnormal skin colouration of yellow to orange-gold.
Xanthochromic specimens are rare in nature. We report two cases of adult
xanthochromic specimens from the Mediterranean Sea: Epinephelus marginatus from
Israel and Diplodus vulgaris from Greece and discuss the reason for the
paucity of reports of xanthochromic fish from the Mediterranean.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(3), 2019:
215-220.
Taxonomic status of the loaches Paracobitis
vignai and P. rhadinaea (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) in Iran
Golnaz Sayyadzadeh, Hamid Reza Esmaeili and Soheil Eagderi
The crested loaches of the
genus Paracobitis from the Sistan basin (Iran) are reviewed based on
morphological and mitochondrial cytb and COI sequences characters to
check the status of taxa in phylogenetic trees. Paracobitis rhadinaea
(Regan, 1906) and P. vignai Nalbant & Bianco, 1998 were known
only based on minor morphological differences (presence or absence of scales,
caudal fin shape, colour pattern and fish size). We failed to find any
diagnostic molecular and morphological characters between them. Therefore, we
regard P. vignai as a junior synonym of P. rhadinaea.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(3), 2019:
221-229.
A new species of Polydrusus (Polydrusus)
Germar (Coleoptera:Curculionidae) from the Kurdistan region of Iraq
Halgurd Rashed Ismael Akrawi and Talal Tahir Mahmoud
Polydrusus (s.
str.) akreanus sp. n. is a new record of Curculionidae found in
Iraqi Kurdistan. The new species is described, illustrated and compared with Polydrusus
(s. str.) kadleci
Borovec & Germann, 2013 known from Turkey and Iran, which is
morphologically similar to the new species.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(3), 2019:
230-235.
New record of the butterfly Euchrysops cnejus (Fabricius) from Oman, with notes about phylogeographic
patterns of E. cnejus and E. osiris (Hopffer) (Lepidoptera:
Lycaenidae)
Zdenek Faltynek Fric,
Lukas Besta, Vladimir Hula, Pavel Vrba, Meenakshi Irungbam, Jatishwor Irungbam,
Nikolai Ignatev and Jana Maresova
We document the occurrence
of the Oriental butterfly species Euchrysops cnejus in northern Oman. It
is very similar to E. osiris whose distribution extends from the
Afrotropical region into Dhofar, southern Oman. Oman is thus the only country
where both species co-occur. The two species differ in genitalia and in
molecular data. We show that based on the COI marker, E. cnejus and E. osiris are
sister species and the Oman populations of E.
osiris are closely related to the population from continental Africa.
Haplotype diversity is lower in E.
cnejus, than in E. osiris.
Genetic differences were found between the Australian, Oriental and Oman populations
of E. cnejus but available data were
not sufficient to clarify the origin of the Oman population.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(3), 2019:
236-244.
Population genetic structure and
phylogeography of the oak gall wasp Andricus
chodjaii (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in
Turkey as inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences
Serap Mutun, Serdar Dinç and Erhan Çimen
Sequence data of
mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and nuclear ITS2 region were used to assess
genetic diversity, intraspecific phylogeography and population genetic
structure of the oak gall wasp Andricus
chodjaii from Turkey. We examined 293 individuals from 21 localities which
generated 57 cyt b haplotypes and 8 ITS2 alleles. The average genetic diversity
was 0.575 for cyt b and 0.202 ITS2, and the average nucleotide diversity 0.015
for cyt b gene and 0.001 for the ITS2 region. Phylogenetic analyses of cyt b
haplotypes produced mostly similar topologies with geographically significant
groupings. The ITS2 data provided less resolution without robust and apparent
geographic structure. Population demographic analysis indicated that some
eastern populations expanded, however, some others underwent either expansion
or decline resulting in genetically structured populations. Molecular clock applied
to the mtDNA data indicated that ingroup haplotypes diversified from the
outgroup haplotypes around Early Pliocene. Further diversification events
throughout Pleistocene resulted in major clade formations. It appears that
geographic formations and glacial and interglacial cycles of Pleistocene were
crucial for shaping the phylogeographic structure of A. chodjaii in Turkey.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(3), 2019:
245-255.
Two new species of Campopleginae
(Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from Iran
Matthias Riedel, Abbas Mohammadi-Khoramabadi and Mohammad Khayrandish
We describe two new species
of the subfamily Campopleginae, Cymodusopsis
persicus sp. n. and Dusona rufigaster
sp. n. from Iran. Differential diagnoses, detailed descriptions and
illustrations of the main characters are given. The genus Cymodusopsis Viereck is newly reported from the Palaearctic region.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(3), 2019:
256-260.
Zercon kadiri sp. n., a new oligophagous mite from Eastern Anatolia
(Acari: Mesostigmata: Zerconidae)
Mehmet Karaca
A
new species of the family Zerconidae, Zercon kadiri sp. n., is described based on female, male,
deutonymph and protonymph specimens. The material was collected in litter and
soil under stone pines (Pinus pinea) in the Malatya Province of Turkey.
The similarities and differences between the related species within the same
genus are discussed.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(3), 2019:
261-267.
Description of a new pseudoscorpion species
of the genus Amblyolpium Simon
(Pseudoscorpiones: Garypinidae) from north-western Iran
Mahrad Nassirkhani and Mojtaba Mohammad Doustaresharaf
A new species of pseudoscorpion, Amblyolpium atropatesi n. sp. is described and illustrated on the basis of the
adult specimens extracted from soil by Berlese funnel.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(3), 2019:
268-273.
A survey of running crab spiders (Araneae:
Philodromidae) in Iran
Maryam Torabi, Majid Moradmand and Christoph Muster
Nine species and four genera
of Philodromidae are identified and recorded from various parts of Iran
including Pulchellodromus medius (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) (genus and
species new to Iran) and Thanatus setiger (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872)
(new to Iran). The male of Rhysodromus hierosolymitanus (Levy, 1977),
which was previously known only from females, is described and diagnosed here.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(3), 2019:
274-279.
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS
Confirmed sightings of the Killer Whale, Orcinus orca, in Iranian waters
(Mammalia: Cetacea)
Nazanin Mohsenian, Hamed Moshiri, Amin Tollab, Hamid Reza Bargahi, Gill
T. Braulik, Georgina L. Gemmell and Tim Collins
Zoology in the Middle East 65(3), 2019:
280-282.
Zoology in the
Middle East, Volume 65, Issue 2
Geographic distribution patterns of
melanistic Arabian Wolves, Canis lupus arabs (Pocock), in Saudi Arabia (Mammalia: Carnivora)
M. Zafar-ul Islam, Ahmed Boug, Abdullah Shehri and Lucas Gonçalves da
Silva
Melanism is a common colour polymorphism in carnivores, and may have
adaptive relevance in certain ecological scenarios. This coat colour variation
is present in Arabian Wolves Canis lupus arabs, a widely distributed species
in the Arabian Peninsula, especially in western Highlands of Saudi Arabia. Data
collection involved field surveys conducted between 2010 and 2017 including
active searches for black wolf carcasses, records of live animals encountered
during field surveys, and by using >100 camera traps. Niche models were
generated for non-melanistic and melanistic wolves based on environmental
predictors aiming to discover geographic patterns of distinct phenotypes
distribution in this area. In this study, melanistic wolves were recorded at 12
locations from western highlands ranges. Niche model predicts suitability for
melanistic and non-melanistic wolves mainly in western highlands and found that
melanistic wolves were encountered in regions where moisture is high,
predicting a close relationship between humidity and the presence of black
animals.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(2), 2019:
95-103.
Low genetic diversity in the vulnerable
Goitred Gazelle, Gazella subgutturosa (Cetartiodactyla: Bovidae),
in Iran: potential genetic consequence of recent population declines
Rasoul Khosravi, Mansoureh Malekian, Mahmoud-Reza Hemami, Teresa Luísa
Silva and José Carlos Brito
The Goitered Gazelle, Gazella subgutturosa, is the most
widespread gazelle species in the Middle East and central Asia inhabiting
desert and semi-desert habitats. Today it is threatened and its geographic
range and population size have experienced significant decline in the last
decades. In Iran, the remnant populations are confined to fragmented habitats.
We aimed to characterise genetic diversity and phylogenetic status of the
populations of Goitered Gazelle in Central Iran and to evaluate the potential
effect of a historic population bottleneck on the genetic variation of today’s
population. We used noninvasive sampling to uncover structure and level of
genetic variation in a fragment of the cytochrome-b gene from 170
samples. Genealogical analyses were performed using HKY+I model and
phylogenetic trees reconstructed using Bayesian inference and maximum
likelihood. We found extremely low levels of genetic variation, with altogether
only five haplotypes in samples from different populations. Overall haplotype
diversity was 0.081 and nucleotide diversity 0.0003. The mean observed mismatch
between any two sequences was 0.093 with the largest peak for small numbers.
The mismatch distribution fit the model of population expansion and suggested
that gazelles had experienced a sudden expansion. An unrooted median-joining
network analysis of mtDNA haplotypes showed a star-like structure which few
mutations steps separating the haplotypes from other regions. Our findings
strengthen the urgency of preserving the species’ genetic diversity to prevent
local extinction.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(2), 2019:
104-115.
Hope for the White-headed Duck, Oxyura leucocephala (Aves: Anatidae) in Turkey despite a declining
breeding population and abandonment of its traditional wintering area?
Arzu Gürsoy-Ergen
The development of the breeding and non-breeding populations of the
White-headed Duck, Oxyura leucocephala,
in Turkey was analysed based on all available records from the period 1966–2016
from 99 different areas. Breeding is confined to Inner Anatolia and the eastern
parts of the country. The breeding population had been estimated as 200–250
pairs in the period 1996–2001 but recent observations show that it does now not
exceed 80–125 pairs which is a decline of about 50% within two decades. The
non-breeding winter population comprises approximately 8,500–10,000
individuals. Burdur Lake has traditionally housed more than 90% of the
population but is no longer a significant resting place. The numbers started to
decrease from more than 10,000 birds at the beginning of the 1990s to a few
hundred in the early 2000s. Now only very small numbers overwinter there. The
reason seems to be a combination of water pollution and decreasing water level.
After a period of more than 10 years, the numbers in Turkey started to increase
again, and most birds are now concentrated at Manyas Lake in Western Anatolia.
In 2016, the population reached a winter maximum of approximately 6,000. In the
post-breeding season, up to 4,000 individuals were recorded in Eastern Anatolia
in October 2014 which is far more than has ever been recorded in this season
before.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(2), 2019:
116-127.
Mitochondrial phylogeny and biogeography of
the genus Gobio (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in Turkey
Ismail Aksu and Yusuf Bektaş
Species of the cyprinid genus Gobio
Cuvier, 1816 are widely distributed in freshwater lakes and rivers in Turkey,
which is a hotspot for freshwater fish diversity and endemism. The
mitochondrial 16S, coxI and cytb genes were sequenced for 217 individuals representing 15
species of Gobio from Turkey. A total
of 23 haplotypes were identified for each mitochondrial gene. The genetic distance
matrices show that Turkish Gobio
species are clustered into three groups (northwestern, central and northeastern
Anatolia). Phylogenetic trees constructed with combined dataset by using
maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods revealed
that the Turkish Gobio species
belongs to three well-supported groups in accordance with their geographic
distribution: Group I comprises species found in Central Anatolia, Group II
species ranging from eastern Thrace to western Anatolia (northwestern Group)
and Group III contains only one species from Western Transcaucasia
(northeastern Group). The estimated divergence times between the three Gobio groups, calculated using a
conventional 1% rate of mutation for a fish mitochondrial cytb gene per million years, coincide with the late Miocene period
in which the tectonic uplift of Anatolia and global climate fluctuations
occurred. The relatively low genetic distance between Gobio species in the Turkish Lake District indicate that they are
not good species.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(2), 2019:
128-141.
Taxonomic status of the
Mediterranean-endemic goby Pomatoschistus
adriaticus Miller, 1973 inferred with
both morphological and genetic data
Dilruba Seyhan Öztürk and Semih Engin
Minor morphological differences between the Atlantic and Mediterranean
populations of Pomatoschistus pictus (Malm, 1865) resulted in the
description of two subspecies of this species by Miller (1973): Pomatoschistus pictus pictus and P. p. adriaticus. However, the similarity
of morphometric and meristic characteristics led to an ambiguity about their
status. Despite high morphological similarities between the Atlantic and
Mediterranean populations, we found that the population in the Sea of Marmara
(Erdek) differs from the Atlantic population in terms of the frequency of
papillae in the occipital rows g and h, the position of the suborbital row b and the colouration of the second
dorsal fin. Examination of the DNA sequence of the COI gene showed that the K2P
genetic distance between the population in the Atlantic and the Sea of Marmara
(Erdek) was 7.9%, while the minimum interspecific distance between any other Pomatoschistus species was determined as
4.3%. We concluded based on the combined genetic and morphological results that
the population in the Sea of Marmara represents a species that is distinct from
the Atlantic species P. pictus. It is
likely that it belongs to Pomatoschistus
pictus adriaticus described in the Adriatic Sea and should be given a
species rank.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(2), 2019:
142-150.
Two new species of Hedychrum Latreille from the Middle East and Pakistan (Hymenoptera:
Chrysididae)
Paolo Rosa
Hedychrum zenobia sp. n. is described from Syria and Iraq, and H. linsenmaieri sp. n.
from Pakistan. They belong to the H.
cirtanum species group hereby established, which includes some of the
largest Palaearctic Hedychrum
species, characterised by a modified metascutellum projecting over the
propodeum, a deep mid-tibial groove in the male and an apicomedial tooth on the
third metasomal sternum in the
female. Hedychrum cirtanum var. minusculum du Buysson, 1898 is
transferred to the genus Hedychridium
Abeille de Perrin, 1878 and elevated to species rank as Hedychridium minusculum
(du Buysson, 1898) stat. n.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(2), 2019:
151-162.
Biology, ecology and distribution of the
Date Stone Beetle, Coccotrypes dactyliperda (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Dirk H. R. Spennemann
This paper reviews the biology and ecology of the cryptic seed boring
beetle Coccotrypes dactyliperda. Hibernating
as an imago inside a seed, it can withstand mild winters, only to emerge in
spring, spawning up to five generations during spring and summer. Coccotrypes dactyliperda is a
comparatively long-lived Coleoptera species that has proven to be highly
adaptable at infesting seeds of a wide range of palm species and thus was able
to become naturalised in most subtropical and warm temperate environments.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(2), 2019:
163-182.
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The invasive sea urchin Diadema setosum provides shelter for coastal fish – first observations from
the Mediterranean Sea
Murat Bilecenoğlu, Mehmet Baki Yokeş and Murat Draman
Zoology in the Middle East 65(2), 2019:
183-185.
A newly identified breeding site in the
Aegean Sea and a status update for Audouin’s Gull Larus audouinii in Turkey
(Aves: Laridae)
Ortaç Onmuş and Onur Gönülal
Zoology in the Middle East 65(2), 2019:
186-188.
Zoology in the
Middle East, Volume 65, Issue 1
The hypogean invertebrate fauna of Georgia
(Caucasus)
Shalva Barjadze, Zezva Asanidze, Alexander Gavashelishvili and Felipe N.
Soto-Adames
Information about the cave invertebrates of Georgia, Caucasus, is
summarised, resulting in 43 troglo- and 43 stygobiont taxa reported from 64
caves. Species distribution analyses were conducted for 61 caves harbouring 58
invertebrate taxa, with the majority of caves (39) located in Apkhazeti
(north-western Georgia). In 22 caves from central-west Georgia (Samegrelo,
Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi regions of west Georgia) 31 taxa are reported.
Composition of cave fauna differed strongly between the caves in Apkhazeti and
the central-west of Georgia. Only two taxa of the total 86 were shared,
resulting in negligible similarity (Sørensen-Dice coefficient Ss=4.8%).
Rarefaction indicated an increase in number of species with additional sampling
could increase species richness from 58 to 76 for caves in Apkhazeti and from
31 to 69 for caves in central-west Georgia. These findings suggest that the low
invertebrate species richness observed in caves of western Georgia is the
result of insufficient sampling. A pairwise approach to analysing species
co-occurrence showed ten positive spatial associations in 7 out of 86 cave
species, all from Kveda Shakurani and Tsebelda caves. The species co-occurring
in the same microhabitat require further study to understand their
relationships.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(1), 2019:
1-10.
Seasonal habitat selection and temporal activity
patterns determine the structure of bat assemblages in Dhana Biosphere Reserve,
Jordan (Mammalia: Chiroptera)
Omar A. Abed, Mohammad A. Abu Baker and Zuhair S. Amr
We measured species richness, diversity, and diel activity patterns of
insectivorous bats at four sites within Dhana Biosphere Reserve. A total of
seven species belonging to five families at varying species compositions were
recorded. Four to six species were present at these sites and total diversity
ranged between 0.32 at Ain Lahtha and 0.65 at Al Khararah. Overall frequency of
passes was highest at Shaq Kalbeh. The Common Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus
pipistrellus, was the most prevalent at three sites, followed by the
Arabian Horseshoe Bat, Rhinolophus clivosus, and Botta’s Serotine, Eptesicus
bottae. Natterer’s Bat, Myotis nattereri, and the European
Free-tailed Bat, Tadarida teniotis, occurred at low abundance. The
Lesser Horseshoe Bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros, occurred at a higher
abundance within Finan site (arid site at lower altitude), whereas the Egyptian
Mouse-tailed Bat, Rhinopoma cystops, was restricted to Finan. The
overall mean number of bat passes was not significantly different between
sites. Average seasonal species diversity was low during winter (none at Ain
Lahtha and Shaq Kalbeh) and highest during summer (0.68 at Al Kharrarah).
Seasonal activity patterns for each site in terms of frequencies of bat passes
on an hourly basis are given.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(1), 2019:
11-19.
Differences in shape and size of skull and mandible in
Talpa species (Mammalia:
Eulipotyphla) from Turkey
Ahmet Yesari Selçuk, Alaettin Kaya and Haluk Kefelioğlu
We analysed with
landmark-based images morphological differences between four species of Talpa which resemble each other
morphologically and are all highly adapted to underground life. Subtle shape differences
of the skull and mandibular bones were
found between all species. However, there is also broad overlap between all
species. Talpa caucasica had the
largest skull and mandibles, and Talpa
levantis the smallest.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(1), 2019:
20-27.
Daily movements and home range of Eastern Hermann’s
Tortoise, Testudo hermanni boettgeri (Reptilia:
Testudines)
Oguz Türkozan, Sezgin Karaman, Can Yılmaz and Celal Ülger
Understanding the movements
of animals in the wild is critical for providing important information
regarding their conservation and management. With this aim in mind, we studied
a population of Testudo hermanni in
their natural habitat using micro GPS devices. Additionally, using VHF
transmitters we tracked six individuals (four females and two males) from May
to August 2015. The overall home range size varied from 813 and 123,567 m2.
Home range size did not differ significantly between males and females, and was
also independent of the size of the individual (expressed as straight carapace
length). Individual movements were confined to short distances (males 25.7 m;
females 18.5 m). Activity levels were highest in July and August for males and
May and July for females.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(1), 2019:
28-34.
Year-Round Aggregation of Sandbar Shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus (Nardo, 1827), in Boncuk Cove in the southern Aegean Sea,
Turkey (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae)
Halit Filiz
The present study provided a
two-years assessment to understand the seasonal fluctuations of aggregation of
the Sandbar Shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus,
in Boncuk Cove in the southern Aegean Sea. Underwater Visual Censuses (UVC)
revealed that the species is present in the cove throughout the year but form
aggregations only between March and November. Aggregation in groups was
observed at a daily sea temperature above 18.1°C and this indicated a possible
lower threshold for aggregations for Boncuk Cove population.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(1), 2019:
35-39.
Community structure of the deep sea fishes in the
northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea (Osteichthyes and Chondrichthyes)
Maroof A. Khalaf, Shorouq S. Ma’ayta, Mohammad A. Wahsha, Riyad S.
Manasrah and Tariq H. Al-Najjar
The aim of this study was to
investigate the community structure of deep sea fishes in the northern Gulf of
Aqaba. Deep fish traps, short lines and long lines were deployed at depth
ranges from 60 to 700 m between June 2014 and May 2015. A total of 369 fish
individuals belonging to 37 species in 21 families were collected. The most
abundant family observed in deep fish traps and short line was the commercially
important family Sparidae, whereas the most abundant family in long line catch
was the commercially unimportant fish family Muraenidae. The most abundant fish
species sampled by deep fish traps and shortline was Blueskin Seabream, Polysteganus coeruleopunctatus. The most
abundant species in long line catch White-spotted Moray, Gymnothorax johnsoni. In
fish traps and with short line, the most commonly caught species was Blueskin
Seabream. White-spotted Moray was the most common long line catch. Depth
distribution for 37 deep fish species and GIS maps for the two main commercial
fish species Blueskin Seabream and Bigeye Hound Shark, Iago omanensis were documented.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(1), 2019:
40-50.
The taxonomic status of an introduced freshwater goby
of the genus Rhinogobius to Iran
(Teleostei: Gobiidae)
Reza Sadeghi, Hamid Reza Esmaeili, Fatah Zarei, Amirhossein Esmaeili and
Keivan Abbasi
The taxonomic status of
Iranian populations of an introduced freshwater goby of the genus
Rhinogobius is analysed. The populations
examined here had previously been considered as Rhinogobius similis or R.
cheni. Comparison of new material with a recent re-description of R. similis reviewing the morphological
characters available in the literature, and recent morphogenetic studies of
material collected in Iran, revealed that the introduced goby should be
designated as R. lindbergi. New
records show that the distribution of this species extends to the Tigris River
system (Persian Gulf basin) far outside of its native range. It has been
probably introduced accidentally.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(1), 2019:
51-58.
A new genus and two new species of freshwater
Gastropoda from the Ceyhan River Basin in the eastern Mediterranean (Mollusca:
Gastropoda: Truncatelloidea)
Mustafa Emre Gürlek
In a survey of the mollusc
fauna of the Ceyhan River Basin, including rivers, natural lakes, dam lakes and
springs between June 2008 and September 2014, a total of 20 species of
Gastropoda and 8 species of Bivalvia were identified. Two of these species are
new to science, and for one of them a new genus is erected: the hydrobiid Hemite ceyhanensis gen. n., sp. n., and
the bithyniid Pseudobithynia cocussusica sp. n.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(1), 2019:
59-65.
A new hypogean species of the genus Domene Fauvel, 1873 from Turkey
(Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae)
Sinan Anlaş
Domene bordonii sp. n. is described and illustrated from Geyik Mountains, Konya province,
central southern Anatolia. This
new hypogean species was collected with a subterranean pitfall trap in the mesovoid shallow
substratum.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(1), 2019:
66-69.
Scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) from Ardabil
province in Iran, with description of a new species of Megaselia Rondani
Roya Namaki Khameneh, Samad Khaghaninia and R. Henry L. Disney
our named species of scuttle
flies were collected from Ardabil province- Iran, during 2013–2014. A new
species of the genus Megaselia Rondani 1856, M. ardabilensis n.
sp., is described from the region and Megaselia producta (Schmitz) is
recorded from the country for the first time. Geographical distributions and
supplementary figures are given.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(1), 2019:
70-74.
New data on plume moths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae)
of Oman
Peter Ustjuzhanin, Vasily Kovtunovich, Aidas Saldaitis and Anna
Ustjuzhanina
This article provides a list
of Pterophoridae of the Oman fauna. Three more species are added to the
previously known 14. For Agdistis omani Arenberger, 2008, described on the basis of a female, we
give a description of the male genitalia and an image of the male. For Cosmoclostis
lanceata (Arenberger, 1985) we establish the junior synonym: Cosmoclostis
gorbunovi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, 2011 syn. n.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(1), 2019:
75-78.
The flattie spider family Selenopidae (Araneae) in the
Middle East
Alireza Zamani and Sarah C. Crews
The spider family
Selenopidae is currently represented by two species in the Middle East: Selenops
radiatus Latreille, 1819 and S. oculatus Pocock, 1898. We record the
former species for the first time in Iran and Saudi Arabia. The latter,
previously known only from the original description from Yemen, is
re-described. Additionally, a new species, Selenops bastet sp. n. (♀), is described from Egypt. All treated
species are illustrated, and S. sumitrae Patel & Patel, 1973 syn.
n. (from western India) is synonymised with S. radiatus.
Zoology in the Middle East 65(1), 2019:
79-87.
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Leopard (Panthera
pardus) reoccupying its historic
range in the South Caucasus: a first evidence (Mammalia: Felidae)
Elshad Askerov, Tariel Talibov, Karen Manvelyan, Nugzar Zazanashvili,
Parviz Fatullayev and Alexander Malkhasyan
Zoology in the Middle East 65(1), 2019:
88-90.
New records of the Iranian Vole, Microtus irani Thomas,
1921, from eastern Turkey (Mammalia: Rodentia)
Sadık Demirtaş and Ali Tümay Gürler
Zoology in the Middle East 65(1), 2019:
91-94.
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