ZIN Annual Reports - 1999
BIODIVERSITY & TAXONOMY


Nataliya I. Abramson
Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab.1, St.Petersburg, 199034, Russia

TAXONOMY AND ZOOGEOGRAPHY OF TRUE LEMMINGS (LEMMUS): EVIDENCE FROM CLASSICAL MORPHOLOGY AND mtDNA VARIATION DATA

There are a lot of contradictions in the question concerning the rank and number of forms, comprising the genus Lemmus. In the current paper the results obtained in the analyses of interpopulation variation of skull morphology, coat colour and mtDNA variation of lemming populations from across Eurasian Arctic are discussed. The levels of genetic and morphologic differentiation in studied lemming population are compared. The results of genetic and morphologic analyses well correspond in the number and composition of the groups distinguished, whereas the levels of morphologic and genetic differentiation differ significantly. On the base of synthesis of morphological, and mtDNA variation data the comprehensive taxonomic structure and probable history of distribution of the genus Lemmus is suggested.

 

Feodor N. Golenishchev*, Vladimyr G. Malikov*, Masoud Arbobi**, Nina Sh. Bulatova***, Olga V. Sablina****& Andrei V. Polyakov****
*Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab., St. Peterburg, 199034, Russia
**Plant Pests and Diseases Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, P.o.box 19359-1459, Tehran, Iran
***A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117071, Russia
****Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia

SOME NEW DATA ON TAXONOMY OF THE GENUS MICROTUS (RODENTIA, ARVICOLINAE) FROM IRAN

According to literature in Iran there are 3 subgenera of the genus Microtus: Microtus, Terricola and Sumeriomys. The taxonomic rank of some of these forms is still in question. In 1996-1998 we trapped some live grey voles from different localities of Iran, including M. irani and M. kermanensis from the type localities. M. kermanensis distinctly differs in morphology from all the other arvaloid voles and so, is undoubtly a separate species. However being interbred with M. rossiaemeridionalis they produce sterile males and fertile females. Diploid number of chromosomes - 54. Close relations of these 2 species as well as presumable history of the Quaternary landscapes shows that M. kermanensis is a relict arvaloid species and its contemporary geographic range is connected with the center of origination of this group. The most interesting data have been got while preliminary investigation of the voles belonging to the subgenus Sumeriomys. These voles got from the various localities considerably differ from each other in the pattern of the working surface of the molars and morphology of the baculum. M. socialis from Iran possesses 2n=62 chromotype identical to that known from other places. The voles belonging to the subgenus Sumeriomys trapped in the vicinities of Quzvin (Northern Iran) are of 2n=54 chromotype quite similar to that of M. guentheri which has not been known before. The hybrids produced by interbreeding of this form and M. socialis are sterile.

 

Alexander G. Kirejtshuk
Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab., 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia

SIKHOTEALINIA ZHILTZOVAE (LAFER, 1996) - RECENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE JURASSIC COLEOPTEROUS FAUNA (COLEOPTERA, ARCHOSTEMATA, JURODIDAE)

The systematic position of the genera Jurodes Ponomarenko, 1985 from the Jurassic and Sikhotealinia Lafer, 1996 from recent fauna is discussed. The first described as a type-genus of a palaeoendemic family of the suborder Adephaga (Jurodidae) and the second was regarded as alone member of a separate recent family (Sikhotealiniidae) with an unclear position between subordera Archostemata, Adephaga and Polyphaga. In the paper a placement of this family close to Ommatidae of the infraorder Cupediformia of the suborder Archostemata is grounded. The both families Jurodidae (Sikhotealiniidae syn. n.) and Ommatidae having a more representation in the past (Triassic-Cretaceous) and recent remnants of ancient diversity.

 

Vladimir G. Malikov*, Marina N. Meyer*, Alexander S. Graphodatsky**, Andrei V. Polyakov**, Olga V. Sablina**, Amir Sh. Vaziri***, Ferdoun Nazari*** & Jan Zima****
*Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab.1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia
**Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
***Plant Pests and Diseases Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, P.O.Box 19359-1459, Tehran, Iran
****Institute of Vertebrate Biology AS CR, Brno, Czech Republic

ON A TAXONOMIC POSITION OF SOME KARYOMORPHS BELONGING TO GENUS CALOMYSCUS (RODENTIA, CRICETIDAE)

Within the genus Calomyscus the following karyotypes were described on the territory of the former USSR: 1) 2n=44, Fna=46 (C. mystax Kaschkarov, 1925 from the type locality) - Bolshoj Balkhan (the region of Nibitdag) and Ersaribaba (North -Western Turkmenistan); 2) 2n=44, Fna=58 - Central and Eastern Kopetdag, Western Badkhiz; 3) 2n=30, Fna=44 - Maly Balkhan, Western Kopetdag, the high altitudes of the Dushak Mountain near Ashkhabad. By now the following karyomorphs from the territory of Iran have been described: 1) 2n=37, Fna=44 - Kermanshah Province, 120 km to the west from Kermanshah-City, Shahu Mountains; 2) 2n=52, Fna=56 - Kerman Province, 30 km to the South-East from Kerman-City, the region of “Shah-Dad Tunnel”; 3) 2n=50, Fna=48 - Fars Province, Zagros Mountains, the region of Sivand; 4) 2n=44, Fna=46 identical to that of Turkmenian C. mystax from Bolshoj Balkhan and Ersaribaba - Tehran Province, Northern vicinities of Tehran-City; Khorassan Province, Hezar - Masjed Mountains, the region of Kapkan. According the results of experimental hybridization the karyomorph 2 is considered as a separate species and karyomorph 3 - as a subspecies of C. mystax. The diversity of chromotypes within the genus as well as the pattern of their distribution is supposed to be connected with the alpine glaciation while the Pleistocene.

 

Marina N. Meyer*, Feodor N. Golenishchev* & Nina Sh. Bulatova**
*Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab., 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia
**A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117071, Russia

PECULIARITIES OF GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF TWO KARYOMORPHS OF MICROTUS ARVALIS PALLAS, 1779 (RODENTIA, ARVICOLINAE) IN EUROPEAN RUSSIA

There are 2 chromosomal forms of the common vole Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1779 on the territory of the former USSR which have the same diploid number (2n=46) and morphology of macrochromosomes but differ by morphology of small autosomes and Y-chromosome. The Western, purely European form, was called “arvalis”, while the Eastern, an Eurasian one was called “obscurus”. In the chromotype of the “arvalis” karyomorph there are 13 pairs of small metacentric and only 4 pairs of acrocentric chromosomes, while in the “obscurus” form there are 10 pairs of acrocentric and 7 pairs of metacentric elements. The hybrid offspring produced by them in laboratory occured to be completely fertile. These 2 chromosomal forms have never been registered as sympatric as well as their hybrids in nature have never been found. As a result of the investigation the shortest distance between the extreme localities of these forms has been reduced from 350 to 6 km. There might be some behavioural barrier betweeen them owing to which these chromosomal forms avoid arranging the mixed settltments. So far as the representatives of both of the karyomorphs are supposed to be able to distinguish between stranger and native individuals while at the same time owing to extreme similiarities in their biology, fitness and competitive abilities can’t occupy any appropriate niches of 2 different kinds it is the parapatry which seems to be the only possible way of avoiding the contacts between the forms under consideration.

 

Anatoly A. Petrov
Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab., 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia

PHENETICAL APPROACH TO THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE FAMILY MONOCELIDIDAE (TURBELLARIA, PROSERIATA)

Taxonomy of the family Monocelididae, which has many monotypic and similar genera, was studied. To distinguish taxa two methods were used: phylogenetic (cladistical) and phenetical (taxonomic analysis according to Smirnov, 1969). The results of analyses by both the methods agree fairly well. The data obtained by the analysis lead to the following conclusions: 1) Monocelidinae are probably an artificial assemblage, as they show only plesiomorphic characters and include at least two independent evolutionary lines; 2) Archiloa genus complex together with the genus Promonotus, form a monophylum; they possibly originate from the subfamily Minoninae by reduction of an accessory ‘prostatoid’ organ; 3) the genus Monocelis is divided into two groups, distinguished by the structure of the musculature of pharynx and by the form of the rhabdites.

 

Sofia D. Stepanjants* & A. Svoboda**
*Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab. 1, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
**Facultaet fuer Biology, Ruhr-Universitaet, Universitaetsstrasse 150, Bochum D-44780, Germany

GENERA AND SPECIES OF ANTARCTIC CORYMORPHINAE WITH THE DISCUSSION CONCERNING STRUCTURE OF THIS SUBFAMILY

Six species of Corymorphinae: parvula, microrhiza, antarctica, ameriensis, cingulata (?) and Myriothela sp. are described from Antarctic and Subantarctic regions. Following K. Petersen (1990) we use 8 general morphological characters of taxonomic importance to distinguish the genera of this subfamily: parenchymatic structure of hydrocaulus (1); longitudinal gastrodermal canals of hydrocaulus (2); gastrodermal diaphragm, separated oral and aboral chamber of the polyp's head (3); constriction between polyps' head and hydrocaulus (4); solid papillae (5); rooting filaments (6); number and structure of polyps' oral tentacles (7) and number and structure of aboral tentacles (8). In our opinion it is necessary to add several other important characters: presence or absence of free medusae (9); type of gonophore reduction (10); pattern of gonophore distribution between oral and aboral tentacle whorls (11) and nematocysts (capsula types, size and pattern of their distribution (12). Analysis of these parameters allowed us to arrange all known Corymorphinae species into 3 groups and to attribute the antarctic species: ameriensis (as well as the arctic species crassicornis and ovboluta) to the genus Gymnogonos; parvula and microrhiza (and the arctic groenlandica and glacialis) to Lampra. The other known species of Corymorphinae from the World Oceans for present remain in the third group, in the genus Corymorpha.