Showing 30 results for Type of Study: Short Communication
Mohammad Amin Tollab, Mohsen Rezaie-Atagholipour, Haleh Ali Abedi, Majid Askari Hesni, . Ehsan Abedi, Farideh Ahmadi, Koen van Waerebeek,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Abstract
The world's second-largest dugong, Dugong dugon (Müller), population after that of Australia forages among rich seagrass meadows along the Arabian coast of the Persian Gulf; however, the relatively seagrass-poor Iranian coast is considered an exceptional habitat for the species. The last modern dugong records along the Iranian Persian Gulf occurred two decades ago, which, however, are unsupported. Here we present two new documented records of D. dugon from an area in the Iranian coastal waters of Bushehr Province, near the Mond River estuary (Mond Protected Area), northeastern Persian Gulf. These include one individual, probably female, of ca. 2.5–3 m body length found floating, in moderate decomposition, in offshore waters of the Motaf fishing ground on 30 April 2021, and one ca. 3 m female encountered entangled in a set gillnet in inshore waters of the same area on 29 December 2022, and which was successfully released alive. The potential of the area as a possible historical habitat for dugongs, and further implications, are discussed.
Seyed Mahmood Ghaffari, Musa Mahmoudi, Hasan Salehi, Alireza Sari,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (6-2023)
Abstract
Karyological studies were conducted using bone marrow cell preparations from four species of Lacertidae and Scincidae from Iran: Eremias persica Blanford, Eremias kopetdaghica Szczerbak, Ophisops elegans Ménétries (Lacertidae), and Eumeces schneiderii princeps (Eichwald) (Scincidae). Eremias persica was diploid with 2n = 38 chromosomes. The karyotype consisted of eighteen pairs of acrocentric macrochromosomes and two microchromosomes. Eremias kopetdaghica was also diploid with 2n = 38 comprising one pair of metacentric macrochromosomes, seventeen pairs of acrocentric macrochromosomes, and one pair of microchromosomes. The chromosome count for these two species is reported for the first time herein. The chromosome count for Ophisops elegans (2n = 38) was in agreement with a previous report and was the first for the herpetofauna of Iran. Eumeces schneiderii princeps showed 32 macro- and microchromosomes, representing the first report for this subspecies.
Raju Vyas, Kartik Upadhyay,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (6-2023)
Abstract
The blackbuck Antilope cervicapra (Linnaeus) is a grassland antelope widely distributed in Pakistan, Nepal, and India. Here we present a review of the known horn anomaly in the species followed by two new examples: a male with an abnormal right 'curled' horn and a female with a horn at the Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar, Bhavnagar District, Gujarat State, India. We also provide a photographic record of a female with horns in captivity.
Soheila Shafiei Bafti, Mohammad Ebrahim Sehhatisabet, Naeim Moradi,
Volume 5, Issue 3 (10-2023)
Abstract
One juvenile specimen of the desert Cobra (Walterinnesia morgani) was obtained from Kerman Province, southeastern Iran. Three further localities of the species were recorded during 2010–2020. The farthest locality is situated about 270 km northeast of easternmost limit of the range. These records indicate a wider distribution of Walterinnesia morgani on the Iranian Plateau than previously thought. Results indicated that Walterinnesia morgani has a compatible distribution pattern with the zoogeographical region of Khuzestan Plain and the Persian Gulf Costs. In addition, information of pholidosis and habitat is presented.
Shahbaz Ahmed Khan, Anil Kumar Nair, Sujnan Mohan Kumar, Ali Jabran, Shubham Prakash Bhise, Ekta Shekhawat,
Volume 5, Issue 3 (10-2023)
Abstract
We report the first record of the White-bellied flying squirrel Petaurista albiventer (Gray, 1834), within the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, which is part of the Terai Arc Landscape in India. This marks a new geographical distribution for P. albiventer within the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This study contributes to the understanding of the geographical distribution, habitat ecology and taxonomy of the genus Petaurista (Link, 1795), shedding light on its presence in various ecologically significant regions and emphasizing the importance of preserving its habitat and promoting further research.
Zahra Rahimi, Reyhaneh Hajian, Hossein Javanbakht,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (10-2023)
Abstract
Blood parasites of the order Adeleiorina (protozoan phylum Apicomplexa) are a diverse group of haemoparasites reported from almost all vertebrate classes. The most commonly recorded haemoparasites of anurans are species of Dactylosoma Labbé, 1894. To date, six Dactylosoma species have been described from anurans and fishes. In the present study, we used molecular characterization to identify haemoparasites detected by microscopy in blood smears of Pelophylax ridibundus, a frog in the north of Iran. Blood samples were examined from four adult individuals. Smears were prepared and stained with Giemsa. Microscopy investigation revealed that one individual was positive for blood parasites. According to morphological characteristics, it was identified as belonging to genus Dactylosoma. In genetic analyses, the blast of obtained partial 18S rRNA gene sequences showed 100% identity with Dactylosoma sp. and D. ranarum (Kruse, 1890). Phylogenetic analysis showed the Dactylosoma sp. of the present study as a monophyletic group in Dactylosoma species, clustered with Dactylosoma sp. and D. ranarum (support > 80%). This study is the first report of a dactylosomatid parasite in Pelophylax ridibundus.
Cyrell Ann Ruales, Christian Tripole, Joshua Donato, Marian Dara Tagoon, Elsa May Delima-Baron,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (10-2023)
Abstract
Published data on bats in green spaces in Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines, remains scarce. This study provides an additional account of fruit bats of the family Pteropodidae occurring in green spaces both in the center of Davao City and its fringe communities. Our survey ran from January to April 2019. Mist nets were installed in possible flyways within select green spaces of bats and were checked from 6:30 pm to 4:30 am. Eight fruit bat species were documented, four of which are endemic to the Philippines. Two species, Megaerops wetmorei Taylor, 1934 and Eonycteris robusta Miller, 1913, are currently listed as vulnerable (VU), while the rest are considered non-threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The site in the Carmen Baguio district (Site 5) had the highest number of captures (n= 31), while the Mt. Talomo-Lipadas site (Site 6) had the highest species richness among surveyed green spaces. The inventory suggests that fruit bats occur in urban green spaces and could be supported by these urban green fragments. More studies are needed to determine how fruit bats utilize and benefit from urban green space fragments of the city.
Ajaz Ansari, Nitika Khullar, Neeraj Sharma,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (3-2024)
Abstract
This communication reports the presence of the Himalayan brown bear in the twin mountainous protected areas of Bani Wildlife Sanctuary and Sudhmahadev Conservation Reserve in the Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir, India. With the established presence of Himalayan brown bear in the region, systematic surveys are needed to gain a better understanding of its behavior and population dynamics, as well as to make management decisions linked to its conservation in the region.
Bayarlkhagva Damdingiin, Bolortuya Ulziibat, Bayarmaa Gun-Aajav, Davaa Bazarsad, Munkhjargal Bayarlkhagva, Enkhbaatar Batmagnai,
Volume 6, Issue 2 (6-2024)
Abstract
Siberian ibex or Altain yangir, Capra sibirica Pallas from Central Asia is believed to be the most ancient species of the genus Capra. In Mongolia, it is distributed in the areas of the Mongolian Altai, Gobi-Altai, Dzungaria, Altai, Khan Khuhii, Khoridal Saridag, and Ulaan Taiga as well as in the desert and semi-desert steppe zones of Dundgobi and Dornogobi provinces. Capra sibirica, a near-threatened species, is affected by illegal hunting for meat and sport. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox-1) is used as a DNA marker to distinguish mammalian species for the investigation of illegal hunting. In this study, we sequenced a part of the cox-1 of eight Mongolian Capra sibirica individuals. Our DNA sequences were clustered in a clade of Capra which is distinct from other clades of mammalian species in the phylogenetic tree. Our findings suggest that the DNA sequences can be utilized for the investigation of illegal hunting.
Jahnvi Patel, Pratikkumar Desai, Vishal Patel, Nishith Dharaiya,
Volume 6, Issue 2 (6-2024)
Abstract
The study investigated the roosting patterns of Rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri) across six locations in the state of Gujarat, India. Roost sites included 383 trees, of which 228 were used for final roosting and 155 served as pre-roosting sites. The study was conducted over a period of four months from 2019 to 2020. A total of 20 different tree species were identified as roost sites, with Ficus benghalensis being the most utilized. Overall, 228 roosting trees, spread across 12 locations, hosted 50,161 parakeets, with the highest concentration occurring in gardens. Tree height and canopy cover significantly correlated with parakeet numbers, with taller trees (>15 m) and those with canopy cover >100 m² supporting the most parakeets. Pearson correlation analysis confirmed these relationships (R²= 0.1661 for height, R²= 0.3610 for canopy cover, both P< 0.01). No significant monthly variation in parakeet numbers was observed. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values ranged from 0.007 to 0.51, with a mean of 0.16 for roosting sites, suggesting suitable roosting areas are scattered in dense vegetation, predominantly on the city periphery. The study underscores the significance of tree height and canopy cover to parakeet roosting site selection.
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