Iranian journal of animal biosystematics
Volume:6 Issue: 2, Summer-Autumn 2010

Sequence data of a recent COI barcoding study on fish from the Nayband National Park in the Persian Gulf showed relatively high sequence divergence among nominal Gerres filamentosus specimens. The sequences grouped into two clusters، signaling the possible existence of cryptic species. The clustering pattern was corroborated by results of 16S rDNA sequencing. We investigated the hypothesis that G. filamentosus specimens represent cryptic species by inspecting sequences of Cyt b، an additional mitochondrial gene، and 28S rDNA a well-conserved nuclear marker. Based on sequence data of four genes (COI، 16S rDNA، 28S rDNA and Cyt b)، we propose that nominal Gerres filamentosus specimens from Nayband National Park represent a species complex comprising two distinct but closely related species. The observation of a large deletion in the highly conserved 28S rDNA gene of a representative specimen of one of the G. filamentosus clusters was considered particularly informative. G. filamentosus occurs through vast ranges of the Indo-Pacific، from the east coast of Africa to Japan and Australia. More comprehensive sampling and additional morphological and molecular analysis of members of this nominal species is required.

The population genetic structure of the Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) in the Sefidrud and Gorganrud River watersheds was analyzed based on the characterization of microsatellite markers. One hundred fin clip samples of Persian sturgeon from the two regions were collected. Four microsatellite loci (Ls68, Spl168, Spl173, and Afu68) were analyzed for molecular characterization, resulting in polymorphic patterns. DNA bands were analyzed using Biocapt and GenAlex software packages. In total, 109 alleles were observed. The maximum number of alleles (17) was found in locus Spl168 in sturgeon from the Sefidrud watershed and the minimum number of alleles (10) in locus Ls68 in sturgeon from the Gorganrud watershed. No significant differences between samples of the two regions, either in average number of alleles per locus or in heterozygosities, were observed (P>0.05). However, based on AMOVA, the calculated Fst (0.07) and Rst (0.17) between the two regions were significantly different (P<0.01), showing that the two populations differ genetically. Spl173, Afu68, and Spl168 loci in samples from the Sefidrud watershed and Afu68 and Spl168 loci in samples from the Gorganrud watershed demonstrated Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The genetic distance between samples of the two areas was 0.4, which represents a significant difference. We conclude that the Persian sturgeon of two regions of the southern Caspian Sea are genetically differentiated and therefore fisheries management of this unique stock for restocking and conservation of gene pools is strongly recommended.

This report presents a new record of Iranolacerta brandtii brandtii from 30 km south of Tekab City, West Azarbaijan Province and 130 km south of the previously known distribution range of the subspecies; a new record of Iranolacerta zagrosica in Kaljonun mountain peak, Lorestan Province, about 70 km northwest of the type locality; a new record of Apathya cappadocica urmiana in the Manesht protected area in Ilam Province, which is the southernmost known locality of the subspecies; and a new record of Apathya yassujica in Pire Ghar, south of Farsan city in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province, about 200 km northwest of the type locality.

Wood mice of the genus Apodemus are widespread in temperate areas of the Palaearctic region. Dental shape variation and morphological differences among three species of Apodemus (A. witherbyi, A. hyrcanicus, A. uralensis) were investigated using outline-based geometric morphometrics of the second upper molar (M2/) and a morphological study of 92 museum specimens belonging to five populations of Apodemus in northern Iran (East Azerbaijan, Khorasan, Tehran, Golestan, and Noor) were analyzed and identified. All species were distinguishable by the shape of the second upper molar (M2/). The Noor population was identified as A. hyrcanicus, and the Khorasan, Tehran, East Azerbaijan populations overlap with specimens of A. witherbyi and are differentiated from A. uralensis and A. hyrcanicus. Two species (A. hyrcanicus and A. witherbyi) were detected in the population from Golestan. Morphological traits could not separate A. uralensis from A. witherbyi, and according to the results of canonical variate analysis (CVA), only A. hyrcanicus is separate from the other two studied species.

The house mouse (Mus musculus) is a polytypic species, with its geographic distribution largely the result of human migrations during the Late Glacial and Holocene. This study used geometric morphometry (GM) on upper and lower molars to discriminate among the three subspecies of the house mouse present in Iran. Moreover cranial remains of this species were uncovered on several archaeological sites of the Iranian Plateau. The GM results were applied to sub-fossil lower molars from Isfahan (Qaleh Bozi), Kordestan (Kani Mikaiil), Qazvin (Zagheh), and Jiroft (Konar Sandal). The present-day Iranian populations that have been previously separated into three subspecies (M. musculus musculus, M. musculus domesticus, and pro-castaneus type) by molecular studies can also be distinguished by dental geometric morphometrics. These subspecies are distinguished by variation in the shape of the first and second upper molar (M1/, M2/) and the first lower molar (M/1). Comparison of these results to the Late Glacial/Early Holocene material from the above mentioned fossil bearing localities shows marked similarity with the extant house mouse of the southeastern Iranian Plateau, the pro-castaneus type.

The genus Calomyscus has long been considered monotypic and represented by the species C. bailwardi. Finally in the most recent revision, eight geographic species were recognized: C. bailwardi, C. baluchi, C. elburzensis, C. grandis, C. hotsoni, C. mystax, C. tsolovi, and C. urartensis. Since the taxonomic status of this genus remains somewhat controversial, karyological analysis may provide important information for evaluating the systematic position of Calomyscus. So far, within the range of the genus Calomyscus several distinct karyotypes have been identified. The karyotype of C. hotsoni has been undocumented until now but its karyotype recorded in this study from vicinity of type locality, Sistan va Baluchistan Province in the south eastern of Iran that was different with the karyotype of another species in this genus. Furthermore, three new karyotypes of Calomyscus were studied by conventional staining technique from Khorasan and Yazd Provinces of Iran that represent chromosomal variations in this genus. Chromosome studies show that Calomyscus specimens from Yazd Province should be belong to C. elburzensis. But more karyological, molecular and morphological studies would be necessary for confirming this decision.

Operophtera brumata (Linnaeus, 1758) is a winter moth with wingless females. It is a serious pest in forestry and fruit cultivation in Europe. We present the first report of its occurrence in Iran. Moths of both sexes and their genitalia are illustrated. The species is distinguishable from its sister species O. fagata (Scharfenberg, 1805) by a smaller male and the presence of two signa on the corpus bursae of female O. brumata. Potential host plants in Iran (mostly cultivated and forestry trees) are compared with those known in Europe. Natural enemies of O. brumata (mainly Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Hemiptera) are listed.

Among the rodent specimens deposited in the collections of Rodentology Research Department at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad، one specimen of Zarudny’s Jird was found which has been collected from Shirvan، in Northern Khorasan Province، Iran. This species is a new record for the fauna of Iran. The species Meriones zarudnyi Heptner، 1937 was recorded for the first time from Kushka in Turkmenistan (Fig. 1A) and is distributed in the arid steppes of northern Afghanistan and southern Turkmenistan (Musser & Carleton، 2005). Meriones zarudnyi is endemic in the Badkhiz region of southern Turkmenistan (semi-arid highland habitats)، but has not been reported in the Iranian Plateau. Meriones zarudnyi was considered a race of M. crassus by Ellerman & Morrison-Scotte (1966). Kuznetsov (1965) tentatively treated it as a distinct species، while Lay (1972)، based on additional evidence from Afghanistan، emphasized that it was distinct from both M. crassus and M. tristrami. The presence of this species in Afghanistan was confirmed by Hassinger (1973) who stated that M. zarudnyi is restricted to Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. The studied specimen collected from the Shirvan confirmed that this species is widely distributed towards W of Turkmenistan and NE of Iran. The diagnostic characters of M. zarudnyi are ambiguous and overlap with those of other species of Meriones; its distinction from other Meriones species is difficult and a detailed study of external and cranial morphology of this species might be appropriate. This species differs from M. tristrami in having a hairy hind foot. The underbelly is white; the upper part of the tail light gray and its lower part yellowish; the tail is longer than the head and body; the tuft of the tail is well developed as in M. persicus، and its proximal part is off-white in both the upper and lower areas and the extremity short، dark brown to maroon dark yellow. The sole of the hind foot is partially covered with fur and the heel is bare. Claws are yellow and its upper part is a mixture of brown and chestnut color with a tendency towards a dark sand-like color. The auditory bulla is remarkably similar to M. persicus، but its posterior edges are flattened (Fig. 1B). The auditory meatus lacks a curtain، is flat with the anterior edge of the meatus slightly curved; the suprameatal triangle is large، isosceles، and closed. Suprameatal space is large with an upper empty half. The upper part of the suprameatal triangle is equal to the lower suprameatal process. Zygomatic plate is rectilinear (Vinogradov & Argyrupola، 1968). Material examined: Zoological Museum، Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (ZMFUM-2288) (Skull، skin and tissue)، adult male، Shirvan (37° 36΄N، 57° 42΄E، 1089 m)، Northern Khorasan Province، Iran، 2011، leg. A. Mahmoodi. Morphometric data of material examined is given in Table 1.