Faunistic and taxonomic study of Rodents from northwestern Iran

Abstract

The northwest Iran comprises parts of two major biodiversity hotspots; Irano-Anatoli<br><br>and Caucasus. It is a mountainous transition realm between Caucasus forest in the north,<br><br>Pontic forest of Turkey in the west and central deserts of Iranian Plateau. This study was<br><br>designed to determine rodent diversity in northwest Iran. Moreover, corridor and barrier<br><br>features of the region were investigated, as well. The samplings were done in different<br><br>localities of northwestern Iran. In addition, all specimens of the Zoology Museum of<br><br>Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (ZMFUM) attributed to the region were denoted. The<br><br>study shows that the specimens belong to 18 nominal forms attributing to 5 families:<br><br>Muridae (Apodemus witherbyi, Mus musculus domesticus, Mus macedonicus, Meriones persicus<br><br>rossicus, M. libycus erythrourus, M. vinogradovi and M. tristrami bogdanovi), Gliridae (Dryomys<br><br>nitedula pictus), Cricetidae (Microtus socialis, M. obscurus, M. qazvinensis, Chionomys nivalis<br><br>trialeticus, Arvicola amphibious persicus, Ellobius lutescens lutescens, Cricetulus migratorius pulcher and<br><br>Mesocricetus brandti brandti), Dipodidae (Allactaga williamsi schmidti) and Calomyscidae<br><br>(Calomyscus urartensis).