hamzeh oraie

This study presents the first molecular evidence for Varanus bengalensis from southeastern Iran. Molecular analyses based on mitochondrial Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences confirmed that the specimens from southeastern Iran belong to the V. bengalensis lineage. The results provide convincing evidence that the V. bengalensis individuals in southeastern Iran belong to a haplotype that is widespread in India, despite the large geographical distance between the two regions.

The ant Cataglyphis bazoftensis Khalili-Moghadam Salata & Borowiec, 2021 has been recently described in Iran. Here, new materials of C. bazoftensis were collected from five new localities in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces, Iran. All the specimens examined were morphologically consistent with the description of C. bazoftensis. At the molecular level, based on a phylogenetic trees obtained from the mitochondrial Cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene (COI), C. bazoftensis appears as the sister taxon of Cataglyphis kurdistanica Pisarski, 1965, separated from each other by a genetic distance of 9.79 %

Cataglyphis nodus (Brullé) is one of the fairly known ants of Iran. Here, we present new data on a morphotype from Chaharmahal-o Bakhtiari province (Cheri - Mavarz) closely related to C. nodus. The examined specimens were morphologically had very similar characters with the original description of C. nodus. In order to explore the phylogenetic position of Iranian specimens, a fragment of the mitochondrial Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (COI) was used. The Iranian specimens belong to a clade containing C. holgerseni Collingwood & Agosti; C. niger (André), C. nodus and C. savignyi (Dufour). Surprisingly, it was clustered with C. holgerseni, indicating existence of a possibly undescribed species. The final taxonomic conclusion and description of the possible new species postponed until examination of the type specimens of both C. nodus and C. holgerseni.

Isopods of the genus Tylos occur in the supralittoral sandy beaches from tropical and subtropical coasts around the world. Tylos maindroni Giordani Soika, 1954, is an oniscoid isopod, which commonly found in sandy beaches throughout the Oman Sea and the Persian Gulf.In this study, we document the first record of T. maindroni from Faroor Koochak Island. Morphological study reveals that there were no clear morphological differences between Faroor Koochak, Kuwait and Oman populations.In addition, new 16S-rDNA sequences, combined with already available GenBank sequences of some Tylos species were used to hypothesize their relationships.The analyses of 16S rDNA clearly support the existence of only T. maindroni species along the coastal zone of the Persian Gulf area, and a sister taxon relationship between this species and T. exiguus Stebbing, 1910, from the Red Sea coasts and Socotra Island.Keywords: Persian Gulf, Genetic diversity, Molecular phylogeny, Isopoda, Tylos maindroni

The Geometric morphometric method is a novel method in the studying of Amphipoda morphological characters, especially for the discrimination and separation of the different Gammarus species. Hence, this research was conducted to study the different populations related to G. lordeganensis in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province using geometric morphometric method. For this purpose, the third epimeron were used to investigate the separation of populations from five different localities, including Barm, Gerdebishe, Sileh and Sardabe Rostamabad springs in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province. For better conclusion, G. parthicus from Sarab Abbasabad spring in Markazi province was added to this study. Photographs were taken from the third epidermal plate (Ep3) to extract morphological data. Then, two landmarks and 10 semi-landmarks were digitized on the posterior, anterior and inferior margins of the Ep3 using the TpsDig2 software. After generalized procrustes analysis, landmark data were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA) and Cluster Analysis by PAST software. The results showed significant differences among the studied populations in terms of the shape of the third epidermal plate (P<0.001). They were completely separated from each other. The shape of the third epimeral plate is a useful discriminating character for the identification of morphologically similar Gammarus species. According to the results of this study, it could be stated that the other examined populations attributed to G. lordeganensis in this study are not belong to this species, and there are clearly different Gammarus species.

AbstractThe purpose of the present study was to assess the phylogenetic affinity and taxonomic status of a population of Zagrosian lizard (Timon princeps) from Lordegan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, by analyzing a 560 bp fragment of mtDNA Cytochrome b. To this end, a dataset was created using our sequences (five specimens from Lordegan) together with additional 17 sequences (T. princeps, T. kurdistanicus) downloaded from the GenBank. Based on the results, The Lordegan's specimens clustered along with other T. princeps. Sister-group relationships between T. princeps and T. kurdistanicus was recovered with the highest support. Based on the haplotype network analysis, most recovered haplotypes are restricted to a specific geographical region. Due to the fact that the central haplotype is related to the southernmost known distribution record of T. princeps in Iran (Dashte Arjan), a possible scenario could be that older haplotypes of T. princeps belonged to these areas and then after last glacial period spread northward.

The first record of Montivipera kuhrangica from outside of its type locality is introduced from a high elevation area of Isfahan province, Iran. The specimens are morphologically consistent with the type-specimen's description, except for the Loreal and Infralabial scales.

The Bedraiga's skink gecko, Teratoscincus bedriagai, is among the fairly known lizards of Iran. Phylogenetic relationships among five distant populations of Teratoscincus bedriagai were estimated based on the mitochondrial COI sequences. This study highlights very low genetic divergences among examined populations despite the noticeable geographic distance between them. We assumed that the current distribution pattern of haplotypes is shaped as a consequence of climate changes and glaciations in the Quaternary.

The Alburnus chalcoides is of the species of teleost fish of the Caspian Sea. Sampling was done randomly on days 1 to 5 and days 7, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 75, 90 after hatching, pre-puberty and puberty. The digestive enzymes studied in this fish include pancreatic enzymes (trypsin, chtotripsin, lipase, amylase) and intestinal enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and N-aminopeptidase). During the growth of fish, trypsin, kumotrypsin and N-aminopeptidase enzymes had an increasing trend which is caused by a high-protein diet. The phosphatase enzyme also has a rising trend up to one month of age and is then fixed under the effect of the pH of the environment. Amylase and lipase enzymes have an incremental reduction peak which shows that the fish diet has low sugar and fat compounds. Significant differences were observed for all enzymes (P≤0.05) which has been the start of a significant difference for the trypsin and chomitripsin from the third day, lipase enzyme from the second day, amylase enzyme from the seventh day and the alkaline phosphatase and N-aminopeptidase from day five. All the digestive tract enzymes studied in this fish on the day of onset of active feeding has had incremental peak.