This article was downloaded by: [Pennsylvania State University] On: 15 March 2013, At: 03:29 Publisher: Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Zoology in the Middle East Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tzme20 Morphology and distribution of the Asian Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus Wagner, 1840, in Syria Adwan H. Shehab a , Mohamed Asaad a & Ibrahim Mamkhair a a General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research, Douma, P.O. Box 113, Damascus, Syria Version of record first published: 28 Feb 2013. To cite this article: Adwan H. Shehab , Mohamed Asaad & Ibrahim Mamkhair (2009): Morphology and distribution of the Asian Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus Wagner, 1840, in Syria, Zoology in the Middle East, 48:1, 3-12 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2009.10638360 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms- and-conditions This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages
Transcript
This article was downloaded by: [Pennsylvania State University]On: 15 March 2013, At: 03:29Publisher: Taylor & FrancisInforma Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH,UK
Zoology in the Middle EastPublication details, including instructions for authorsand subscription information:http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tzme20
Morphology and distribution ofthe Asian Garden Dormouse,Eliomys melanurus Wagner,1840, in SyriaAdwan H. Shehab a , Mohamed Asaad a & IbrahimMamkhair aa General Commission for Scientific AgriculturalResearch, Douma, P.O. Box 113, Damascus, SyriaVersion of record first published: 28 Feb 2013.
To cite this article: Adwan H. Shehab , Mohamed Asaad & Ibrahim Mamkhair (2009):Morphology and distribution of the Asian Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus Wagner,1840, in Syria, Zoology in the Middle East, 48:1, 3-12
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2009.10638360
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE
Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes.Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan,sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone isexpressly forbidden.
The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make anyrepresentation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up todate. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should beindependently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liablefor any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages
whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connectionwith or arising out of the use of this material.
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Penn
sylv
ania
Sta
te U
nive
rsity
] at
03:
29 1
5 M
arch
201
3
Morphology and distribution of the Asian Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus Wagner, 1840, in Syria
(Rodentia: Gliridae)
Adwan H. Shehab, Mohamed Asaad, Ibrahim Mamkhair
Abstract. Five adult specimens of the Asian Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus Wagner, 1840, were collected near Deir az-Zor, along the Euphrates river in the north-eastern part of Syria. The external morphology and biometric measurements are discussed. Skull, phallus and baculum shapes are illustrated. The distribution of E. melanurus in Syria is mapped based on the recent and previously documented records. Some ecological and biological aspects are discussed.
Introduction Two species of dormouse are known in Arabia: the Forest Dormouse, Dryomys nitedula Pallas, 1778, and the Asian garden dormouse, Eliomys melanurus Wagner, 1840 (HARRISON & BATES 1991). The Asian Garden Dormouse has been recorded from the neighbouring countries of Syria, including Jordan (QUMSIYEH 1996, AMR, 2000, ABU BAKER & AMR 2003, 2004, AMR et al. 2004), Palestine (FILIPPUCCI et al. 1988a, 1988b, QUMSIYEH 1996, MENDELSSOHN & YOM TOV 1999), Lebanon (LEWIS et al. 1967), Iraq (NADACHOWSKI et al. 1978, 1990) and Turkey (MISONNE 1957, KRYŠTUFEK & VOHRALIK 2005, SÖZEN & KARA-TA� 2006). In Syria, this species has been recorded from several localities. AHARONI (1917) collected it at Dschebé (= Jebel al-Geba), north of Qaryatein; however, the skull of this specimen turned out to be a Graphiurus species (NADER et al. 1983). KAHMANN (1981) examined several specimens from Mt. Hermon and from the occupied Golan Heights (1200-2100 m) at Mas’ada Forest (1000 m), Birket Bab el-Haoua (900 m), Ein Qunya, and Dan. AL HUSSIEN (1985) collected specimens from several localities in Daraa governorate in south-western Syria. GOLEMANSKY & DARWISH (1993) reported on endoparasites of E. melanurus collected from Damascus. KRYŠTUFEK & KRAFT (1997) recorded it from Halabyieh. OBUCH (2001) reported on dormice in the diet of owls in the Middle East and mentioned the pres-ence of E. melanurus at four localities in Syria: Halabyieh, Yabroud, Buransk and Palmyra. Finally, the species was reported from 2 km SW Qal’aat Sukkara, Jebel Abd al-Aziz (SHE-HAB et al. 2004).
In this study we revise the published information on the taxonomy and distribution of the Asian Garden Dormouse in Syria and report further new specimens.
Table 1. External, cranial and dental measurements (mm) for the Asian Garden Dormouse, E. melanurus, collected from Ain Abu Joumaa, Deir ez-Zor, Syria.
Material and methods Live specimens of E. melanurus were collected in 2007 from Ayn Abu Juma’a, a village located about 13 km west of Deir ez-Zor along the Euphrates River, 210-230 m a.s.l. (35°25’N, 40°01’E).
Sherman traps baited with bread and peanut butter were set before sunset on rocks at the foot of high cliffs situated about 1 km from the southern bank of the Euphrates River, and were checked in the early morning. Animals were sacrificed by diethyl-ether overdose and processed according to standard practice.
Five external and fifteen cranial measurements were taken. The measurements were taken to the nearest 0.1 mm using a caliper of 0.02 mm accuracy. We followed HARRISON & BATES (1991), but the list of cranial measurements was extended.
Animals were prepared as museum specimens (skins and skulls), and housed in the collection of the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria (GCSARZM 1833-1837).
The distribution of E. melanurus is mapped based on records mentioned in the literature and the recent records.
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Penn
sylv
ania
Sta
te U
nive
rsity
] at
03:
29 1
5 M
arch
201
3
Mammalia 5
Fig. 1. The Asian Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus, from Ain Abu Joumaa, Syria.
Results Five adult specimens of the Asian Garden Dormouse E. melanurus, were collected from Ayn Abu Juma'a: one adult male was collected on 14.2.2007 and four adults (3 �, 1 �) were collected on 14.3.2007. We failed to trap additional specimens from the same locality during the following trips (17.7.2007, 13.11.2007, 4.3.2009). External, cranial and dental measure-ments for adult specimens are given in Table 1.
Only one right mandible of E. melanurus was recovered from owl pellets, collected under pine trees on 15.6.2004 at Sarghaya Agricultural research station, 50 km NW Damascus (33°47’N, 36°08’E). We did not find any remains of this species from the other 95 localities from which we investigated owl pellet material. External characters. The Asian Garden Dormouse is a mouse-sized, squirrel-like rodent (Figs 1-2). The tail is bushy throughout its length with harsh black hairs covering the termi-nal three-quarters of its length. Its length does not exceed the length of head and body. The pelage is soft and dense, and the coloration is greyish-brown on the back and flanks, white on the under parts. The hair bases are greyish-black. There is a distinct demarcation line extending along the muzzle and the flanks. There are bold black spectacles surrounding the eyes and extending beneath and slightly behind the ears which give the appearance of a mask. A small tuft of white hair at the anterior margin of each ear is followed by a black stripe along the medial margin of the pinna.
The ears are relatively large with a rounded external edge. The eyes are conspicuous. The vibrissae are generally black and long, but do not exceed the central distance of the head and
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Penn
sylv
ania
Sta
te U
nive
rsity
] at
03:
29 1
5 M
arch
201
3
6 Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009
Fig. 2 (left). Torpid Asian Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus. – Fig. 3 (right). Right hind foot (left) and
right fore foot (right) of Asian Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus. body. The extremities are relatively long and modified for arboreal life. The hind feet are slender and relatively long, with five digits; the thumb is very short. The soles are com-pletely naked, with one central and five anterior pads (Fig. 3). The claws are white, short, pointed and curved. The forefoot has four long toes, and the thumb is rudimentary. The palms are naked, with six pads (Fig. 3). The phallus and baculum characteristics. The phallus is up to 21 mm long and about 4 mm wide. The glans penis is covered with white spines, and has a naked pointed tip and a naked longitudinal stripe on the dorsal, ventral and each lateral side (Figs 4-5).
The baculum looks like an elongated isosceles triangle in dorsal and lateral views, with base about 25% of the total length of the baculum (7.9 mm long and 1.9 mm wide at base); two slight lateral expansions are present in the centre (1.4 mm width). In lateral view the baculum is slightly bent dorsally and is thin throughout its length except at base (Fig. 6). Cranial and dental characters. The skull is small and flask-shaped, but larger than that of Dryomys nitedula. The nasals are long and project in front of the incisors. The zygomatic arches are delicate. The braincase is smooth and broadly ovate when seen from above. The tympanic bullae are delicate and much expanded, but their mastoid portions surpass the exoccipital condyles (Fig. 7a-c).
The incisive foramina are small and located at the centre between the incisors and cheek-teeth. The mandible is delicate and the angular process has a large perforation. The incisors are smooth and pigmented yellowish-brown anteriorly. The crown of the upper premolar is triangular in outline. Habitat and biology. The Asian Garden Dormouse occurs in rocky areas with different habitats and at different elevations in Syria (Fig. 8). Nests were not seen in the study area,
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Penn
sylv
ania
Sta
te U
nive
rsity
] at
03:
29 1
5 M
arch
201
3
Mammalia 7
A B C
Fig. 4 (left). Phallus of Asian Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus, from Syria: (A) dorsal view, (B) ventral view, (C) lateral view. – Fig. 5 (right). Glans penis of Asian Garden Dormouse: (A) dorsal view, (B) ventral view, (C) lateral view.
and only those traps set on rocks succeeded in capturing E. melanurus. We trapped one specimen on 14 February 2007 when the temperature was below 3°C.
Interrupted torpor for a short period is not unusual. In captivity, a daily torpor during win-ter was observed when the dormouse slept as a ball during the night and the morning and consumed its food in the afternoon. It is also worth mentioning that a torpid Asian Garden Dormouse in captivity takes about one hour to become active again, and that is similar to the behaviour of Dryomys nitedula that we observed previously (SHEHAB et al. 2003) (Fig. 2).
All the collected specimens were mature. The female was not pregnant but with a good quantity of fat, while males had 16-21 mm length testes.
We investigated pellets regurgitated by different owl species from more than 95 localities and representing different ecosystems in Syria, with special attention to searching for the remains of dormice. Only pellets of Tyto alba from Kharabow yielded remains of D. nitedula (SHEHAB et al. 2003), and recently we found one right mandible of the Asian Garden Dor-mouse, E. melanurus, from pellets of Striated Scops Owl (Otus brucei (Hume, 1873)) col-lected from Surghaya. We collected hundreds of owl pellets from Ayn Abu Juma’a cliff, which yielded remains of Gerbillus sp., Meriones sp., Mus sp. and Nesokia indica, but no remains of E. melanurus. This may suggest that this species is a difficult target for owl pre-dation due to its movement between the rocks.
Interspecific predation among Asian Garden Dormice was observed in captivity. Four dormice were kept in two cages in our laboratory for two days, and a partial hibernation was observed. One of the caged animals was eaten completely by the other one, except for the tail, the hind feet and the skull although the brain was completely consumed, in spite of the availability of vegetable food. This may have happened during the torpid time of the pre-dated dormouse, whilst the other was seeking to ensure its nutritional needs.
A B C
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Penn
sylv
ania
Sta
te U
nive
rsity
] at
03:
29 1
5 M
arch
201
3
8 Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009
Fig. 6. Baculum of Asian Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus, from Syria: (A) dorsal view, (B) ventral view, (C) lateral view, (D) base in caudal view.
Discussion The external and cranial description of E. melanurus by HARRISON & BATES (1991) is in full agreement with the material of this study. The biometric measurements of our specimens correspond to those mentioned by MENDELSSOHN & YOM-TOV (1999) for the subspecies Eliomys melanurus melanurus, which is present on the occupied Golan heights and Mount Hermon. The baculum drawings of our specimen from Deir ez-Zor are generally similar to those given by KRYŠTUFEK & VOHRALIK (2005) for E. melanurus collected from Tadomr, Syria (Prague National Museum; 90,204)
The Asian Garden Dormouse is nocturnal and is found in forested and rocky habitats or small valleys near rocky or limestone hills in various climatic conditions in the Holy Land (OUMSIEYH 1996). This animal is probably restricted to rough rocky terrain on steep moun-tain slopes but undoubtedly occurs elsewhere in Lebanon as this type of habitat is wide-spread (LEWIS et al. 1967). It was collected from the rocky edge of a densely vegetated wadi at Al-Wisad area in the most southeastern corner of the lava desert in Jordan (ABU BAKER & AMR 2003) and in Wadi Rumm (ABU BAKER & AMR 2004).
In Syria, AL HUSSIEN (1985) collected live specimens from lava rocks in the Al-Lajat re-gion in southern Syria. OBUCH (2001) found remains of this species in pellets of the Barn Owl, Tyto alba, collected from Halabyieh Yabroud and Buransk, and also from pellets of Asio otus collected from Palmyra. Halabyieh is an archaeological site on the southern bank of the Euphrates, about 30 km west of Ayn Abu Jum’aa, where we collected the animals of this study. Yabroud is a high area about 80 km north of Damascus, located in the eastern series of the Lebanese mountains. Palmyra is located in the Syrian Desert. We found remains of E. melanurus only in pellets of the Striated Scops Owl collected on 15.6.2004 from Sourghayia agricultural research station, this locality being situated on the eastern slopes of the Lebanese anti-mountains.
The previous data suggest that E. melanurus is common at all elevations and in different habitats in Syria, with a preference for rocky areas.
The Asian Garden Dormouse is rarely preyed on by owls. Our previous intensive investi-gations into the remains of small mammals in owl pellets in Syria did not indicate the
A B C D
2 mm
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Penn
sylv
ania
Sta
te U
nive
rsity
] at
03:
29 1
5 M
arch
201
3
Mammalia 9
Fig. 7. Skull of Eliomys melanurus: (A) dorsal view, (B) ventral view, (C) right mandible in lingual view.
A B
C
10 mm
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Penn
sylv
ania
Sta
te U
nive
rsity
] at
03:
29 1
5 M
arch
201
3
10 Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009
Fig. 8. Distribution of Eliomys melanurus in Syria. Based on the new records: [Ayn Abu Juma'a, 13 km W Deir ez-Zor (2); Sarghaya, 50 km NW Damascus (7), recent study] and documented records: [Qal’aat Sukkara, 2 km SW of, Jebel Abdul Aziz, el –Hasakeh (1) SHEHAB et al. 2004]; [Halabiyyeh, S-bank Euphrates, 50 km W Deyr ez-Zur (3), OBUCH 2001], [KRYŠTUFEK & KRAFT 1997]; [Tadmur (Palmyra), Homs (4), OBUCH 2001, KRYŠTUFEK & VOHRALIK 2005]; [Dschebé = Jebel al-Geba, N of Qaryatein (5), AHARONI 1917]; [Yabrud, 60 km N Damasucs (6), OBUCH 2001]; [Damascus (8), GOLEMANSKY & DARWISH 1993]; [Mt. Hermon (9), BODENHEIMER 1935, KAHMANN 1981]; [Mas’ada Forest (10), Birket Bab el-Haoua (11), Ein Qunya (12), Dan (Tal Al Qadi) (13), Golan Heights (14), KAHMANN 1981]; and [Al Lajat, Daraa (15), AL HUSSIEN 1985]. presence of E. melanurus in this country (SHEHAB et al. 2000, SHEHAB 2004, 2005, SHEHAB & CHARABI 2006). However, owl pellet material collected from Sourghayia agricultural research station yielded one right mandible of this species (M = 18.9, MB = 16.4), represent-ing 0.44% of the total prey items. The results of OBUCH (2001) also show that E. melanurus in Syria constituted 1.82-2.47% of the total prey taken by Asio otus at Palmyra, 0.19%, and 1.47% and 2.04% of the total prey taken by Tyto alba at Halabyieh, Yabrod and Buransk, respectively.
OBUCH (2001) investigated 3012 prey items recovered from owl pellets collected in Syria. Of these only 27 prey item (0.15%) belonged to dormice, to D. nitedula (10 items) and to E. melanurus (17 items).
Pellets of the Barn Owl which were collected from Ayn Abu Joumaa cliffs in 2007 yielded the remains of several rodent species: Nesokia indica Gray, 1830, Tatera indica Hardwicke,
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Penn
sylv
ania
Sta
te U
nive
rsity
] at
03:
29 1
5 M
arch
201
3
Mammalia 11
1807, Gerbillus dasyurus (Wagner, 1842), Meriones tristrami Thomas, 1892, Mus sp. and Allactaga euphratica Thomas, 1881. The cliff inhabiting bat, Taphozous nudiventris Cretzschmar, 1830, was also observed and collected.
More field work is needed in the coastal region, central and northern parts of Syria to inte-grate the recent distribution map of E. melanurus in this country. Karyotypic and molecular studies are also needed to confirm the taxonomic status of this species.
Acknowledgements. We are very grateful to Dr Boris KRYŠTUFEK for his valuable comments and corrections to the manuscript, and to Eng. Ibrahim ZAGHTITI from the GIS unit (General Commission for Scientific Agri-cultural Research, GCSAR) for his help in producing the map.
References ABU BAKER, M. & Z. AMR (2003): Rodent diversity in the northeastern desert of Jordan, with special
reference on the ecology of Gerbillus cheesmani (Mammalia: Rodentia). – Journal of the National Museum, Natural History Series 172: 141-152.
ABU BAKER, M. & Z. AMR (2004): The Rodents (Mammalia: Rodentia) of Wadi Rumm, Southern Jordan: New records and notes on distribution. – Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research 22: 9-20.
AHARONI, J. (1917): Zum Vorkommen der Säugetiere in Palästina und Syrien. – Zeitschrift des deut-schen Palästina-Vereins 40: 235-242.
AL HUSSIEN, K. (1985): Small mammals of southern west of Syria [in Arabic]. – Ph. D. thesis. AMR, Z. S. (2000): Jordan country study on biological diversity: Mammals of Jordan. – United Nations
Environment Programme, Amman, 100 pp. AMR, Z. S., M. BAKER & L. RIFAI (2004): Mammals of Jordan. – Denisia 14: 437-465. ATALLAH, S. I. (1978): Mammals of the eastern Mediterranean region: their ecology, systematics and
zoogeographical relationships. – Säugetierkundliche Mitteilungen 26: 1-50. BODENHEIMER, F. S. (1935): Animal life in Palestine. An introduction to the problems of animal ecol-
ogy and zoogeography. – Jerusalem, 506 pp. FILIPPUCCI, M. G., S. SIMSON, E. NEVO & E. CAPANNA (1988a): The Chromosomes of the Israeli
Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus Wagner, 1840 (Rodentia, Gliridae). – Italian Journal of Zo-ology (Bollettino di zoologia) 55: 31-33.
FILIPPUCCI, M. G., S. SIMSON, E. NEVO & E. CAPANNA (1988b): Evolutionary genetics and systematics of the Garden Dormouse, Eliomys melanurus Wagner, 1840. 2. Allozyme diversity and differentia-tion of chromosomal races. – Italian Journal of Zoology (Bollettino di zoologia) 55: 47-54.
GOLEMANSKY, G. & A. I. DARWISH (1993): Eimeria melanuri sp. n. (Coccidia, Eimeriidae), an intesti-nal parasite of Eliomys melanurus Wagner, 1840 (Rodentia, Gliridae) from Syria. – Acta Protozo-ologica 32: 269-270.
HARRISON, D. L. & P. J. BATES (1991): The mammals of Arabia. 2nd edition. – Sevenoaks (Kent), 354 pp.
KAHMANN, H. (1981): Zur Naturgeschichte des Löffelbilches, Eliomys melanurus Wagner, 1840 (Mammalia: Rodentia, Gliridae). Eine vorläufige Untersuchung. – Spixiana 4: 1-37.
KRYŠTUFEK, B. & R. KRAFT (1997): Cranial variation and taxonomy of garden dormice (Eliomys Wagner, 1840) in the circum-Mediterranean realm. – Mammalia 61: 411-429.
KRYŠTUFEK. B & V. VOHRALÍK (2005): Mammals of Turkey and Cyprus, Rodentia I: Sciuridae, Dipo-didae, Gliridae, Arvicolinae. – Koper (Slovenia).
LEWIS, R. E., J. H. LEWIS & S. I. ATALLAH (1967): A review of Lebanese mammals. Lagomorpha and Rodentia. – Journal of Zoology 153: 45-70.
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Penn
sylv
ania
Sta
te U
nive
rsity
] at
03:
29 1
5 M
arch
201
3
12 Zoology in the Middle East 48, 2009
MENDELSSOHN, H & Y. YOM-TOV (1999): Fauna Palaestina: Mammalia of Israel. – Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Jerusalem.
MISONNE, X. (1957): Mammifères de la Turquie Sud-Orientale et du nord de la Syrie. – Mammalia 21: 53-67.
NADACHOWSKI, A., B. RZEBIK-KOWALSKA & A. H. KADHIM (1978): The first record of Eliomys melanurus Wagner, 1840 (Gliridae, Mammalia), from Iraq. – Säugetierkundliche Mitteilungen 26: 206-207.
NADACHOWSKI, A., J. SMIELOWSKI, B. RZEBIK-KOWALSKA & A. DAOUD (1990): Mammals from the Near East in Polish collections. – Acta zoologica cracoviensia 33: 91-120.
OBUCH, J. (2001): Dormice in the diet of owls in the Middle East. – Trakya University Journal of Scientific Research 2: 145-150.
QUMSIYEH M. B. (1996): Mammals of the Holy Land. – Texas, 389 pp. SHEHAB A. H. (2005): Food of the Barn Owl Tyto alba in southern Syria. – Acta zoologica cracoviensia
48A(1-2): 35-42. SHEHAB, A. H. & M. S. CHARABI (2006): Food of the Barn Owl Tyto alba in Yahmol Area, Northern
Syria. – Turkish Journal of Zoology 30: 175-179. SHEHAB, A. H., A. DAOUD., D. KOCK & Z. AMR (2004): Small mammals recovered from owl pellets
from Syria (Mammalia: Chiroptera, Rodentia). – Zoology in the Middle East 33: 27-42. SHEHAB A. H., O. MOUHRA, M. ABU BAKER & Z. S. AMR (2003): Observation on the Forest Dor-
mouse, Dryomys nitedula (Pallas, 1779) (Gliridae: Rodentia), in Syria. – Zoology in the Middle East 29: 4-12.
SÖZEN, M. & A. KARATA� (2006): A review of the distribution of family Gliridae in Turkey. p. 69. – Abstract book of the 10th International Conference on Rodents & Spatium. C. PRIGIONI, L. NIEDER & L. COLLI (Eds). 24-28 July, University of Parma, Parma, Italy. – Hystrix, The Italian Journal of Mammalogy (n.s.), Supp. 2006.
Authors’ addresses: Dr Adwan H. Shehab, Mohamed Asaad, Ibrahim Mamkhair, General Commis-sion for Scientific Agricultural Research, Douma, P.O. Box 113, Damascus, Syria. – E-mail: [email protected].
