Zoology in the Middle East

Volume 63, Issue 2, 2017

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). 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

 

 

 

Reconstructing historical baselines for the Persian/Arabian Gulf Dugong, Dugong dugon (Mammalia: Sirena)

Dalal Al-Abdulrazzak and Daniel Pauly

Retrospective estimates of historic abundances and distributions of marine organisms are crucial to understanding the anthropogenic impacts on the structure and species of coastal ecosystems, especially in the case of vulnerable species such as the Dugong (Dugong dugon). The Persian/Arabian Gulf is home to the second largest Dugong population in the world, yet little is known about their current or past abundance, distribution, and ecological role. Here, we examine historical changes in dugong distribution and estimate perceived changes in their abundance. We create a ‘dugong discovery curve’ and compile global density estimates as proxies for the overall health of the population in the Gulf. We find that since 1950 dugong range may have contracted by one quarter, and despite their large population, their overall densities in the Gulf are far lower than in other areas within their range. Basic understanding of historical trajectories for Dugongs is needed in order to develop appropriate management plans and conservation targets, particularly in light of large and wide-spread coastal development projects in the region.

Zoology in the Middle East 63(2), 2017: 95-102.    |   Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig

Autumn migration of the White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, and the Black Stork, C. nigra, over the Bosphorus (Aves: Ciconiidae)

Zeynel Arslangündoğdu, Ergün Bacak, Vedat Beşkardeş, Cem Dalyan, Luke Smith, Margaret R. Payne and Ümit Yardım

The Bosphorus is one of the main migration routes for soaring birds in Europe. Migrating White Storks and Black Storks have been counted at Büyük Çamlica hill in the four autumn seasons of 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 for 78 days each year. The numbers recorded are significantly lower than those counted in the1970’s, and it is discussed whether this decline could be related to a change in migration routes caused by an increase in the size of the urban area of the City of Istanbul. The population of Istanbul has increased from 3.0 million in 1970 to 13.2 million in 2010.

Zoology in the Middle East 63(2), 2017: 103-108.    |   Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig

Description of a new species of Lytorhynchus (Squamata: Colubridae) from Iran

Farhang Torki

A new species of the genus Lytorhynchus is described from the Kabir-Koh Mountains, southwestern Iran. Known from a single specimen, it is readily distinguished from its congeners by the form of the rostrum, the number of scales, and the colouration and colour pattern.

Zoology in the Middle East 63(2), 2017: 109-116.    |   Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig

Taxonomy and distribution of sand boas of the genus Eryx Daudin, 1803 (Serpentes: Erycidae) in Iran

Mohammad Zarrintab, Konstantin D. Milto, Naeimeh Eskandarzadeh, Bahman Zangi, Mohammad Jahan, Haji Gholi Kami, Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani, Eskandar Rastegar-Pouyani and Mahdi Rajabizadeh

We review the distribution, morphology and taxonomic status of Eryx elegans, E. jaculus, E. miliaris, E. tataricus and E. johnii in Iran and examine four metric and 10 meristic characters of 94 specimens from different parts of the country. There are significant morphological differences between Eryx tataricus, E. jaculus and E. elegans, mainly in snout vent length, tail length, and number of ventrals, subcaudals and dorsal scales. Eryx jayakari and E. johnii can easily be distinguished based on their morphological traits and limited distribution in Iran. The occurrence of E. miliaris in Iran was not confirmed. The Iranian populations of Eryx jaculus are assigned to the subspecies E. j. turcicus. E. jaculus specimens from southwestern Iran had higher ventral scales than other populations, so evaluating their taxonomic status needs genetic studies in the future. A distribution map and a revised key to the genus Eryx in Iran are presented.

Zoology in the Middle East 63(2), 2017: 117-129.    |   Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig

Food composition of the Near Eastern Fire Salamander, Salamandra infraimmaculata Martens, 1885 (Amphibia: Urodela: Salamandridae) from Eastern Anatolia

Kerim Çiçek, Mustafa Koyun and Cemal Varol Tok

This study presents data on the food composition of the Near Eastern Fire Salamander, Salamandra infraimmaculata, from Bingöl, eastern Turkey. A total of 139 prey items was determined in the food content of 28 individuals (14 juveniles, 7 males, and 7 females). Insecta (N%= 37.4), Gastropoda (27.3%), and Isopoda (25.9%) constitute together 91% of the food items. The most frequent prey groups in the diet are Coleoptera (F%=50.0%), Isopoda (57.1%), and Gastropoda (46.4%). Coleoptera (V%= 34.6%), Gastropoda (28.0%), and Isopoda (23.5%) had the highest prey volumes. No significant difference was found between the sexes in food composition. The species generally feeds upon poorly flying or slow-moving invertebrates, but is opportunistic in taking up more mobile prey species as well. Diptera, Odonata and Hemiptera were found

Zoology in the Middle East 63(2), 2017: 130-135.    |   Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig

First record of Pristipomoides multidens (Day, 1871) from the Gulf of Aqaba, with a note on the species of Pristipomoides in the Red Sea (Actinopterygii: Lutjanidae)

Avi Baranes, Nir Stern and Menachem Goren

The snapper Pristipomoides multidens is reported for the first time from the Gulf of Aqaba. A comparison of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) with available data revealed a high similarity with a sample from Mauritius and a lower similarity with samples from the China Sea. The status and distribution of the Red Sea species of Pristipomoides are summarised.

Zoology in the Middle East 63(2), 2017: 136-140.    |   Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig

A new genus and species of galeommatoid bivalve (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Montacutidae) from Kuwait Bay, Arabian Gulf

P. Graham Oliver, Valeriy A. Skryabin and Aws Y. Al-Ghunaim

Larissamya comta gen. n., sp. n., is described from Kuwait Bay, northern Arabian Gulf. The hinge is identical to that seen in Kurtiella and Montacutona but the spined dorsal margin is unique. Anatomically Larissamya differs from Kurtiella in retaining both gill demibranchs and from both Kurtiella and Montacutona in having greatly unequal adductor muscles. Co-occurrence and density data suggest that L. comta may be associated with the ophuroid Amphiura fasciata.

Zoology in the Middle East 63(2), 2017: 141-146.    |   Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig

Additions to the Pipunculidae fauna of Iran, with the description of a new species of Tomosvaryella (Insecta: Diptera)

Farzaneh Kazerani, Samad Khaghaninia and Christian Kehlmaier

We present new records of Pipunculidae from western and north-western Iran, including the description of Tomosvaryella subsylvatica sp. n. and another eleven species new to the national fauna, which currently comprises 33 species.

Zoology in the Middle East 63(2), 2017: 147-153.    |   Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig

Records of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) new to both Georgia and Transcaucasia revealed by DNA barcoding

Giorgi Kirkitadze, Martin Husemann, Robert J. Paxton, Rita Radzevičiūtė and George Japoshvili

Community composition of local pollinator assemblages, population dynamics and distribution patterns of many species are still poorly known, especially in little studied regions like Transcaucasia. We generated a total of 189 DNA barcodes from bees collected in 14 apple orchards in central and eastern Georgia to extend our knowledge of their distribution. Sequences (ca. 700 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene) were compared to the NCBI nucleotide database. Using a threshold of 98% similarity, analyses suggested that the sampled bees belong to 36 species of Apidae, Andrenidae, Halictidae, and Megachilidae. We report five bee species for the first time for Georgia: Andrena alfkenella Perkins, 1914, Halictus cochlearitarsis Dours, 1871, Nomada goodeniana (Kirby, 1802), Nomada ruficornis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Eucera nigrescens Pérez, 1879, four of which are also new for the Transcaucasia region. With these additions, the number of bee species known to occur in Georgia increases to 371.

Zoology in the Middle East 63(2), 2017: 154-160.    |   Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig

A new species of Limnia Robineau-Desviody, 1830 (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) from Iran

Mohammad Seddighi Sadr and Saeed Mohamadzade Namin

A new species of the dipteran family Sciomyzidae is described from Iran: Limnia kassebeeri sp. n., which is similar to L. unguicornis (Scopoli, 1763) and L. paludicola Elberg, 1965, but differs from them by the reticulate pattern on the anal cell, the presence of one small seta on the anepisternum, in addition to fine hairs and the features  of the genitalia.

Zoology in the Middle East 63(2), 2017: 161-165.    |   Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig

Taxonomic notes about Paropta Staudinger, 1899 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae)

Roman V. Yakovlev and Thomas J. Witt

In this study we allocate lectotypes for Cossus l-nigrum Bethune-Baker, 1894, Paropta pharaonis Bang-Haas, 1910 and Cossus frater Warnecke, 1929. New synonymies are established: Paropta Staudinger, 1899 = Alcterogystia Schoorl, 1990, syn. n.; Cossus l-nigrum Bethune-Baker, 1894 = Paropta paradoxus (Herrich-Schäffer, [1851]), syn. n.; Paropta pharaonis Bang-Haas, 1910 = Paropta paradoxus (Herrich-Schäffer, [1851]), syn. n. It has been proved that Cossus frater Warnecke, 1929 belongs to the genus Paropta Staudinger, 1899.

Zoology in the Middle East 63(2), 2017: 166-171.    |   Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig

A new Palliduphantes Saaristo & Tanasevitch, 1996 from the Elburz Mountains, Iran (Araneae: Linyphiidae)

Andrei V. Tanasevitc

A new linyphiid spider, Palliduphantes elburz, sp. n., is described, based on material of both sexes taken from high altitudes in the Elburz Mts, northern Iran. The male of the new species is easily distinguished not only from the single Iranian congener, P. sbordonii (Brignoli, 1970), but also from other species of the genus by the strongly modified palpal tibia, the peculiar shape of the lamella characteristica, as well as the form and armature of the embolus. The epigyne of P. elburz, sp. n. seems to be most similar to P. stygius (Simon, 1884) from the western Mediterranean, but differs well by the much longer stretcher.

Zoology in the Middle East 63(2), 2017: 172-175.    |   Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig

Short Communications

Breeding biology of the Common Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, at natural nesting sites in the north of Iran (Aves: Falconiformes)

Sina Anushiravani and Zahra Sepehri Roshan

Zoology in the Middle East 63(1), 2017: 176-177.    |   Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig

First record of Aequorea vitrina Gosse, 1853 (Hydrozoa) from the Sea of Marmara: a potential invader for the Mediterranean Sea

I. Noyan Yilmaz, Melek Isinibilir, Denizhan Vardar and Fuat Dursun

Zoology in the Middle East 63(2), 2017: 178-180.    |   Access Options: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tzme20/current#.UZ8U1Z3wCig

 

 

 

home
Zoology in the Middle East