Iranian journal of animal biosystematics
Volume:18 Issue: 2, Summer-Autumn 2022

Armada nilotica A. Bang-Haas, male specimen is described for the first time and illustration of adults genitalia are presented. This species is also recorded as new record for the fauna of Iran and diagnosis and description of the newly recorded species are given. Bionomics and distribution of Iranian Armada species are presented and an identification key is provided. The tribe Armadini comprises nine genera worldwide, all found in the arid and semiarid zones. The genus Armada is represented in Iran by seven species: A. heliothidia (Hampson, 1896), A. dentata (Staudinger, 1884), A. nilotica A. Bang-Haas, 1912, A. fletcheri Wiltshire, 1961, A. maritima Brandt, 1939, A. panaceorum (Ménétries, 1848) and A. clio (Staudinger, 1884). Of these, A. Panaceorum and A. clio have wider distribution rang in Iran (the former is widespread throughout Iran) while the remaining species are restricted, in the range, to the arid regions of the south and southeast.

Agroecosystems containing edaphic Mesostigmata mites are considered important predators of nematodes, collembola, and insects, and those living on plants may be effective at controlling pests like spider mites. In the present research study, we provide new information about the Edaphic Mesostigmata mites known from the Isfahan metropolis in the central Iran based on the new field collection in 2019. In totally, thirty-two edaphic species belong to 13 families, and 25 genera collected and identified from Isfahan province (central Iran), of which four species are new records for the fauna of Iran (indicated by an asterisk). Twelve new provincial distribution records viz., Asca aphidioides (Linnaeus, 1758), Blattisocius tarsalis (Berlese, 1918), Cosmolaelaps claviger (Berlese, 1883), Gaeolaelaps neoaculeifer (Hrischmann, 1966)*, Gymnolaelaps obscuroides (Costa, 1968), Hypoaspis quadridentatus (Allred, 1970)*, Hypoaspisella asperatus (Berlese, 1904)*, H. patagoniensis (Sheals, 1962)*, Neoseiulus bicaudus (Wainstein, 1962), Parasitus mycophilus (Karg, 1971), Pogonolaelaps canestrinii (Berlese, 1903) and Polyaspis berlesei (Camin, 1954) are presented.

Capricornis sumatraensis Bechstein, the only sub-species of Serow found in Nepal, is a threatened species distributed across protected mountainous areas. In this study, we conducted a preliminary systematic survey to record the presence or absence of C. sumatraensis, and used satellite imagery, topo-maps, and field data to analyze habitat suitability and vegetation preference using MAXENT and ArcGIS. We also conducted focus group discussions, questionnaire surveys, and key informant surveys to assess the severity of various threats. The results showed that 18.3% of the total area was highly suitable, 16.8% was moderately suitable, and the remaining 64.76% was less suitable habitat. C. sumatraensis preferred a Quercus semecarpifolia and Rhododendron arboreum-dominated forest, where Drepanostachyum falcatum and Girardinia diversifolia were the dominant shrubs and Anaphalis busua and Tracheophyta were dominant herbs. The major threats to C. sumatraensis were poaching and hunting, open grazing, illegal resource collection, climate change, and development activities. Our findings can inform conservation efforts for this species and benefit conservation area managers, researchers, and academicians.

Two families of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae, that are symbiotically associated with Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria, are one of the effective biological control agents of insect pests. Native isolates can probably be more efficacious to control insect pests than exotic ones due to their adaptability to indigenous environmental conditions. In this study, Steinernema feltiae isolate FUM221, was recovered from soil samples collected from the Ardabil Province, Iran. Morphological and morphometric investigations of the first and second-generation adults, infective juveniles, and molecular characterizations were given based on ITS and 18S rDNA genes. Besides, molecular analysis based on the 16S rRNA region and phenetic data recognized Xenorhabdus bovienii as its symbiont bacterium. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images verified the identification of this isolate. The molecular characterization using two loci and phylogenetic analyses provided more evidence for the classification of this steinernematid and its difference of the same species from other countries. Moreover, molecular and phenetic characterizations of its symbiotic bacterium were provided with low variations compared to other isolates. Herein, the comprehensive taxonomic data of this steinernematid and its symbiont bacterium, is presented from Iran.

The current survey was conducted on occurrence and distribution of long-tailed marmot, Marmota caudata, in Badakhshan Province, situated in the northeast of Afghanistan. Marmota caudata is one of the largest rodents in the cold desert habitats, and an important prey for endangered carnivores. Line transect method was used to collect specimens in the study area. A total of 761 individuals of long-tailed marmot, were observed in this region during 2020 and 2021. The presence of marmots was recorded by direct observation and their symptoms. The results indicate all individuals were occurring in the areas between the snow line and the timberline to near livestock grazing area. The maximum number of observations was in Arghanjkhah with 56 individuals (7.3% of all observations) and the lowest was in Kashim with 5 (0.6%). The highest population density per districts was in Arghanjkhah (11.2±2.5 per Km2) and the lowest was in Kashim (1±0.2 per Km2). Marmots were founded in all regions of Badakhshan with more abundance in eastern part of the province. This study was the first study on this species in the region and in Afghanistan.

Geographical diversity appears in the phenotype of different populations of a given species and specific geographical factors are directly or indirectly involved in this variation. Due to their wide distribution range, snakes of the genus Platyceps Blyth, 1860 are wonderful case studies for morphological evaluation. In this study, 49 specimens of the Platyceps rhodorachis-ventromaculatus species complex in four different geographic areas from Iran were examined using morphological characters. The results of statistical analysis did not show any sexual dimorphism except in the character of Gular scales (P value = 0.038), but did show significant variation in the number of scales and in other morphological characters among populations in this group. Generally, four morphological clusters were distinguished with Sistan and Baluchistan population being the most distinct from the others. Additionally, there was a visible slope of changes in some morphological characters associated with latitude, so that body size of the specimens increases with increasing latitude.

Habitat eradication and loss of animal species have created a new international hazard for wildlife conservation. National parks are considered as suitable places that can serve dual functions of biodiversity conservation and ecotourism. As recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), microsatellites have been used for animal biodiversity assessment. For this reason, Iranian urials population genetic diversity was studied by analyzing of 10 microsatellite markers in 75 skeletal muscle samples that were collected from Tandooreh National Park, Northeastern of Iran. Species of samples validated by sequencing of the control region from mtDNA. Allelic frequencies for each locus in the population and different measurements of within-breed genetic variations were computed by the POPGENE32 software. The number of alleles per locus counted from 5 to 8, with an average of 6.1. The polymorphism information content was calculated between 0.66-0.74 with the average of 0.7. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.223 (MaF214) to 0.776 (OarFCB128) with an average about 0.584 while the average expected heterozygosity for all studied loci was 0.785 ranging from 0.765 (BM8125) to 0.807 (MaF36). High levels of expected heterozygosity can be attributed to some factors such as low level of inbreeding, low selection pressure, and high allele number. However, findings of the present study of the high variability of the Iranian urials showed the presence of a possible ‘hot spot’ genetic diversity for wild urial population in the Northeast of Iran. In conclusion, values of genetic diversity revealed that the Iranian urial population harbor unique and appreciable reservoirs of diversity.

The genus Trapelus Cuvier, 1817, belonging to the subfamily Agaminae, is described with 13 species. There are absolutely four species in Iran: T. agilis, T. ruderatus, T.sanguinolentus and T. persicus. Within the vast distribution range of Trapelus, current and past climate and vicariance events have significantly influenced their diversification patterns and distributions. Recently, the first and the most comprehensive assessment based on molecular genetic analyses within T. ruderatus in western Asia including Iran, Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, has shown that Iranian populations have slight divergence whereas are undoubtedly isolated from Turkey's population. Also, this study introduced the populations of southern Iraq as belonging to T. persicus. In this review, we have tried to have a complete examination and comparison based on all of the available relevant literature about the taxonomy, phylogeny, evolutionary history, and biogeography of the genus Trapelus in the Iranian plateau and neighboring regions, as well as we examined the controversial nomenclature changes and their reasons in some species and subspecies of this genus. We will also give a brief overview of our unpublished dissertation on comparative morphology and dimorphism in the genus T. ruderatus. In the end, we present an identification key based on the latest changes in the classification and taxonomy of the genus.