IRANIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL BIOSYSTEMATICS
Year:2009 | Volume:5 | Issue:2|Papers Count:9

In this study species richness of earthworms in the Central Elburz Mountains is reported for the first time based on samples collected from 33 localities along the Haraz and Chalus rivers. Twelve species were identified representing seven genera from family Lumbricidae (Rafinesque-Schmaltz 1815): Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny 1826), A. rosea (Savigny 1826), A. jassyensis (Michaelsen 1891), Dendrobaena byblica complex (Rosa 1893), D. octaedra (Savigny 1826), D. hortensis (Michaelsen 1890), D. veneta (Rosa 1886), Dendrodrilus rubidus (Savigny 1826), Eisenia fetida (Savigny 1826), Eiseniella tetraedra (Savigny 1826), Octolasion lacteum (Orley 1881), Perelia kaznakovi (Michaelsen 1910). All the reported species were common, with Eiseniella tetraedra being dominant in both areas.

The Lernaeopodidae is a cosmopolitan family of copepods parasitic on both elasmobranchs and teleosts in marine and freshwater habitats. Trichiurus lepturus L. is a commercially valuable bentho-pelagic fish inhabiting continental shelves and slopes worldwide. In the present study 74 specimens of T. lepturus were caught in the Persian Gulf, 12 of which were infected with female Brachiella trichiuri Gnanamuthu, 1951. They were attached firmly to the branchial arches of the host, and had a mean body length of 4.56±0.30 mm. Prevalence, mean intensity (±SE) and mean abundance (±SE), of infection were 16.2%, 0.38±0.14 and 2.33±0.61, respectively. This is the first record of B. trichiuri from the Persian Gulf.

This study provides new data on chromosomal characteristics of two cyprinid fish species found in Iran, Alburnoides bipunctatus and Alburnus filippii. The chromosomes of these species were compared using Giemsa staining and silver-staining (Ag) techniques to describe the karyotypes. Both species possess 2n=50 chromosomes with no detected sex heteromorphism. The karyotypes were distinct, composed of 7 pairs of metacentric, 10 pairs of submetacentric, and 8 pairs of subtelo-acrocentric chromosomes in A. bipunctatus and 6 pairs of metacentric, 9 pairs of submetacentric, 4 pairs of subtelocentric, and 6 pairs of acrocentric chromosomes in A. filippi. Both species possessed a single pair of Agstained nucleolar organizer region (NOR) -bearing chromosomes, but the species differed in its location and chromosomal type. In A. bipunctatus, Ag-NORs were located on the telomeres of two submetacentric chromosomes, and in A. filippii, on the telomeres of the short arm of a subtelocentric chromosome pair. The NOR patterns were nearly identical with those found in other representatives of Eurasian cyprinids and support the phylogenetic relationships proposed for species in the Leuciscinae. The results of cytogenetic studies of related species, mainly in the Leuciscinae, are compared and discussed.

The Calomyscidae is a small family of Rodentia that has recently been classified into 8 species in a single genus, Calomyscus. Currently 5 species are reported in Iran: C. elburzensis,, C. bailwardi, C. grandis, C. urartensis and C. hotsoni. Species discrimination based on morphological characteristics is difficult, so this study re-evaluated the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic status of the morphotypes within Calomyscus using PCRRFLP as a molecular marker. Forty-seven samples of Calomyscus spp from 9 geographically separated regions of Iran were analyzed. The cytochrome b gene was amplified by PCR, digested using 3 restriction enzymes, HinfI, HincII and HaeIII, and the patterns separated electrophoretically. Species of long tailed hamster were discriminated from one another. A phylogenetic analysis of the dataset produced well distinguished clades.

A review of the known Iranian species of the genus Asaccus is presented. The genus Asaccus is divided into two distinct geographical lineages. The nominotypical group is endemic to the Mesopotamian region (western Iran, eastern Iraq, Turkey and Syria), and includes Asaccus elisae, A. griseonatus, A. kermanshahensis, A. kurdistanensis, A. nasrullahi and A. saffinae, all restricted to the Zagros Mountains and neighboring regions. The second group, occurring in the northern Oman Mountains as well as some areas in the United Arab Emirates, includes A. caudivolvulus, A. gallagheri, A. montanus and A. platyrhynchus.Historical and biogeographical events in the Middle East have had a major impact on the distribution and subsequent evolution of Asaccus. A key to all species of Asaccus is provided.

We report observations on the natural history of lizards in the Gando Protected Area, within the Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran. The identity of the lizards is recorded, along with remarks on some meristic characteristics. Brief descriptions of their habitats are also given with a distribution map. Lizards (n=132) were collected and photographed in 2008-09. Twelve species belonging to 9 genera and five families were found: Agamidae: Laudakia melanura lirata, Trapelus agilis, Laudakia fusca; Gekkonidae: Bunopus tuberculatus, Cyrtopodion scabrum, Hemidactylus persicus, Hemidactylus flaviviridis; Lacertidae: Mesalina brevirostris, Mesalina watsonana, Acanthodactylus blanfordi; Scincidae: Eumeces schneiderii zarudnyi; Varanidae: Varanus griseus caspius. This is the first record of Mesalina brevirostris in southeastern Iran.

Western Iran in general and Ilam province in particular, has unique geographical and climatic conditions that support a rich flora and fauna. In view of the lack of in-depth studies of lizards of the region, an investigation was initiated in most areas of Ilam Province for an inventory of lizard species and their habitats. A total of 189 specimens were collected and identified from May 2005 to August 2009. Twenty one species belonging to 18 genera and 8 families were represented, including Agamidae: Laudakia nupta, Trapelus lessonae (formerly T. ruderatus), Trapelus ruderatus (formerly T. persicus); Eublepharidae: Eublepharis angramainyu; Gekkonidae: Bunopus tuberculatus, Cyrtopodion scabrum, Cyrtopodion heterocercum, Hemidactylus persicus, Stenodactylus affinis, Tropiocolotes helenae; Lacertidae: Acanthodactylus boskianus, Apathya cappadocica, Mesalina brevirostris, Ophisops elegans; Phyllodactylidae: Asaccus elisae; Scincidae: Ablepharus pannonicus, Eumeces schneiderii, Trachylepis aurata, Trachylepis vittata; Uromastycidae: Uromastyx loricatus; Varanidae: Varanus griseus griseus, Varanus griseus caspius. Comparing this list to the data provided by Anderson (1999), several lizards are reported for the first time in this region. With six species represented, gekkonids have the highest species diversity in the area.

A geometric morphometric study of the genus Erodiontes was carried out using the Elliptic Fourier method to demonstrate the effect of vicariance on populations of these psammophilous species. Four populations of Erodiontes, comprising E. aelleni and E. pfaundleri, were sampled from Chartaghi, Aboozeidabad, Meser and Hojatabad. Differences between the shapes of the conspecific populations are minute, suggesting that the separation of conspecific populations is recent. In contrast, populations of E. pfaundleri showed significant differences in pronotum size whereas it was similar in size in populations of E. aelleni. This difference is believed to be due to environmental factors such as temperature and nutrition.

Pristurus Ruppel, 1835 is a gekkonine genus having many adaptations in common with the New World sphaerodactyline gecko, viz., diurnal habits, sexual dichromatism, round pupil, eyelid formed by circumorbital ring of tissue, simple undilated digits as in Gonatodes, small adult size, lack of preanal pores, lack of cloacal sacs and bones, and loss of splenial (Kluge, 1967; 1983). Its distribution is on islands and coastal regions of eastern Africa, Arabia, and Southeast Asia bordering the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf (Anderson, 1999).