Iranian journal of animal biosystematics
Volume:1 Issue: 1, Winter-Spring 2005

Iran contains 33 named endemic fish species, which together with undescribed taxa,approximates one-third of the ichthyofauna. Endemism in relatively large species such asfishes, which are better known systematically than other taxa, can often serve to indicateareas in need conservation. An analysis of endemicity is given in terms of systematics,distribution and ecology.

A new and distinctive form belonging to the genus and subgenus Eremias Fitzinger,1834 is reported from the highlands of Alvand Mountains, Hamedan Province, westernIran at about 2700 m elevation. It is easily distinguished from all the other species of thetypical subgenus (E. velox, E. persica, E. strauchi, E. nigrolateralis, E. lalezharica, E.afghanistanica, E. regeli, E. suphani, and E. nikolskii) by having a variable number ofpostmentals (4-5 pairs), smaller size, and distinctive color pattern. Furthermore, it canbe distinguished by having a combination of characters against any of the species in thetypical subgenus. Further work, using both morphological and molecular techniques, isnow being carried out on this new form in order to determine its exact taxonomic andphylogenetic status. Systematics of the genus Eremias is shortly discussed.

The present study introduces, for the first time, the black tail tip three-toedjerboa from the east of the Iranian Plateau. This new species is different from itssympatric species, Jaculus blanfordi, considering the clear black color of the hairs ofits tail tip and the two large styles on the glans of the penis.

Total of 35 species of leucosiid crabs have been recorded by several authors and thecurrent survey from the Persian Gulf. Here, zoogeography of these species and theirzoogeographical affinities within Indo-West Pacific region are discussed. In addition,present taxonomic survey off the Iranian coasts of the Persian Gulf resulted in finding 14leucosiid crabs, of which Arcania erinacea and Pariphiculus mariannae are new records for the area.

The spiders of Iran are still very incompletely known. As a result of the study ofspider fauna in different localities of Khorasan Province and other studies whichhave been done by other workers a total of 26 families, 63 genera and 95 speciesare recorded from these areas. Distribution in Khorasan Province and in theworld, field and some taxonomic notes are given for each species. Availablebiological or ecological data are provided.

Three Threidiid spiders of the genus Latrodectus occur in Khorasan province:L.tredecimguttatus, L.pallidus, L.dahli. The three are described, their diagnostic featuresare illustrated, and taxonomic notes are given where possible. Spider bites are verycommon in these regions, so, further notes about the medical importance of thesespecies are given. A dichotomic key to the species of the genus Latrodectus ispresented.

The Afghan vole had not been reported from north-eastern Iran until for the first time itspresence was confirmed by examining the pellets of predatory birds from Dargaz, Kalat,Sarakhs and the vicinity of Mashhad through studying the molar teeth. By furthersampling, colonies of this species were found in the periphery of Tandoureh NationalPark in the Kopet-dag Mountains and also in alpine region of Zoshk near Mashhad in theBinaloud Mountains

In the present study, trapezoid crab, Quadrella reticulata was found for the first time inthe north of Kish Island, the Persian Gulf, Iran. Diagnostic characters of the species arefigured and its world geographical distribution in the Indo-West Pacific region isconsidered.