Tolga Kankiliç

Karyological comparison of populations of the Spalax leucodon Nordmann, 1840 superspecies (Rodentia: Spalacidae) in Turkey

Abstract One hundred and seventy-seven specimens of Spalax leucodon Nordmann, 1840 from 41 localities in Turkey were examined for their karyologicalfeatures. Nine karyotypic forms were recorded. 2n= 50, NF= 72, NFa= 68 was recorded from Bayburt, Erzincan, Giresun, and Rize, 2n= 54, NF= 74, NFa= 70 from Kırıkkale, 2n= 52, NF= 70, NFa= 66 from Bolu, and 2n= 56, NF= 72, NFa= 68 and 2n= 60, NF= 78, NFa= 74 from Isparta. Based on an extensive literature review, it was shown that the karyotypic form 2n= 60 has the widest distribution in the subspecies cilicicus, while the form 2n= 50 has the widest distribution in the subspecies nehringi. The subspecies nehringi was also found in the area of Kırıkkale in Inner Anatolia for the first time. A map of all the karyotypes is given, based on literature data and our own results.

Contribution to the distribution and karyology of some vespertilionid bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from Turkey

Abstract New records from 41 localities are given for six species of vespertilionid bats, namely Myotis myotis (Borkhausen, 1797), M. blythii (Tomes, 1857), M. capaccinii (Bonaparte, 1837), Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber, 1774), P. kuhlii (Kühl, 1819) and Barbastella barbastellus (Schreber, 1774). The diploid number of chromosomes (2n) and the total numbers of autosomal arms (NFa) were determined as 2n= 44, NFa= 50 for M. myotis, M. blythii, M. capaccinii, P. pipistrellus, P. kuhlii and as 2n= 32, NFa= 50 for B. barbastellus.

Macro-anatomical and karyological features of two blind mole rat subspecies (Rodentia: Spalacidae) from Turkey.

The morphometric and karyological analyses of 52 specimens belonging to the two subspecies of Nannospalax leucodon were examined from 14 localities in Turkey. Five karyotypic forms were recorded (2n = 60, the total numbers of chromosomal arms (NF) = 74, the numbers of autosomal arms (NFa) = 70; 2n = 60, NF = 76, NFa = 72; 2n = 60, NF = 82, NFa = 78; 2n = 56, NF = 72, NFa = 68; 2n = 38, NF = 74, NFa = 70). The morphological features of two subspecies were studied using both numerical taxonomy and traditional methods. Thirty skull measurements and four baculum measurements were subjected to discriminant function analysis to find morphometric criteria allowing subspecies identification. Two subspecies were clearly separated from each other by macroanatomical characterictics and numeric characteristics. The first upper molar has four alveoli cubicles in young specimens of Nannospalax leucodon anatolicus, while M1 has 1 cubicle in Nannospalax leucodon cilicicus. In the western subspecies (N. l. anatolicus, 2n = 38), urethra openness is surrounded by three lobes. However, in the eastern subspecies (N. l. cilicicus, 2n = 60), there are two lateral lobes.

Morphological and biometrical comparisons of the baculum in the genus Nannospalax Palmer, 1903 (Rodentia: Spalacidae) from Turkey with consideration of its taxonomic importance

The morphological variability of the baculum (os penis) of 147 adult specimens of species in the genus Nannospalax from 58 localities in Turkey was examined using morphological and numerical taxonomic methods. Significant differences among all of the Turkish species in the genus were determined by morphological and biometrical comparison of the bacula, and the results of this study showed that N. nehringi and N. xanthodon are separate species and that the names are not synonyms. Additionally, because the central Anatolian mole rat populations that were classified by previous studies as members of N. nehringi or N. xanthodon had highly different baculum morphologies, these populations were classified as a different species (N. labaumei) in this study. When compared to the other populations, the central Anatolian populations, which have greater diploid chromosomal sets (2n = 56, 58, 60), had very different baculum morphologies. Whereas individuals of the species N. labaumei had the smallest bacula, the largest baculum occurred in a representative of the species N. leucodon. From this study, the results indicate that 5 different blind mole rat species (N. ehrenbergi, N. leucodon, N. nehringi, N. xanthodon, and N. labaumei) live in Turkey, and in addition to these species, some of the chromosomal races (2n = 36, 40, 52) should be treated as distinct species.

Allozyme variation in Rattus rattus (Rodentia: Muridae) in Turkey, with particular emphasis on the taxonomy

Abstract The Turkish black rat “Rattus rattus” shows variation in coat colour corresponding to the occurrence of three subspecies with intermediate colour stages: Rattus rattus rattus, Rattus r. alexandrinus and Rattus r. frugivorus. Turkish black rat populations were divided geographically into six sub-populations: Rr1= Northwest Anatolia, Rr2= Central Anatolia, Rr3= Eastern Mediterranean, Rr4= Western Mediterranean, Rr5= Turkish Thrace, and Rr6= Black Sea region. Genetic variation was assessed using twenty two isoenzyme systems. Seven of twenty-two loci (Pgm-1, Hk, Me-M, G3pdh, Gpdh-1, Gpi, Fum-1 ) were found to be polymorphic. The mean value of F ST is found to be 0.073, indicating 7.3 % genetic variation among groups and suggesting the existence of a moderate differentiation between sub-populations of the Turkish black rat. Overall mean heterozygosity (Ho= direct count) for sub-populations was Ho= 0.020, ranging from 0.008 to 0.031. Nei’s measure of genetic distance showed that Rr2 and Rr6 were the most identical and sub-populations Rr1 and Rr5 had diverged the most.

Cranial Features and Karyotypes of Two Hedgehogs (Insectivora: Erinaceidae) from Iran

Karyological features of Erinaceus concolor and Hemiechinus auritus were studied from Zenjan (North Iran). The diploid number of chromosomes (2n), the total numbers of chromosomal arms (NF) and the numbers of autosomal arms (NFa) were determined as 2n = 48, NF = 92, NFa = 88 for E. concolor and as 2n = 50, NF = 98, NFa = 94 for H. auritus. Although the same dental formulae were established as 3.1.3.3/2.1.2.3 = 36 for both of species, they can be identified with some dental and cranial features from each other. Additionally, phallus of E. concolor was described.