Microspilotus Research Articles

Rediscovery of Neurergus derjugini derjugini Nesterov 1916 (Amphibia: Caudata: Salamandridae) in Western Iran

In June 2013, we rediscovered Neurergus derjugini derjugini in Kurdistan province in west of Iran in elevation of 1682 m above sea level — during biodiversity survey after its first description report by Nesterov in 1916. Some specimens, both adult and larvae were found and some characteristic including some of the salamander morphological characteristics and environmental factors like description of current situation at mentioned locality and surrounding areas were reported. The comparison of morphological characteristics of new specimens with the first description of this species revealed no obvious differences. This is the first study that informs the exact locality and population of N. d. derjugini in Iran.

Food habit of the endangered yellow-spotted newt Neurergus microspilotus (Caudata, Salamandridae) in Kavat Stream, western Iran

Diversity and abundance of macroinvertebrate fauna were simultaneously determined in selected benthic samples and in regurgitated stomach contents in Neurergus microspilotus in Kavat Stream (western Iran) during April and May 2012. The aim of this study was to determine the degree of reliance of this species to benthic macroinvertebrates during their reproductive season in aquatic habitat. Twenty-one taxa of macroinvertebrates were identified in the benthic samples while 19 taxa were presented in the regurgitated stomach contents. Data obtained from benthic samples showed that the most abundant macroinvertebrate groups included Lumbricidae (27.2%), Mycetophilidae (20.06%), Gammaridae (12.19%), and Plananariidae (9.3%). Data obtained from 45 stomach contents indicated that on average the highest importance values combining number, frequency, and volume for prey categories consumed included Mycetophilidae (14.03%), Baetidae (13.68%), Corbiculidae (12.57%), Gammaridae (10.8%), and Lumbricidae (9.34%). N. microspilotus also consumed small stones, plant materials, and their own eggs (0.91%). The analysis of selectivity in feeding using Ivlev’s index showed that the prey taxa that appeared to be preferred (E i > 0.5) were generally rare in the environment. Comparison between benthic macroinvertebrates and those taken by the newt demonstrates that although high similarity (Sorenson index of 78.94%) exists between the two communities, the dominance of the items taken by N. microspilotus (Simpson index = 0.32) is higher than that of the benthic community (Simpson index = 0.20) indicating that the newts rely on fewer number of species with higher proportion of individual prey items. Feeding habits of 45 N. microspilotus have shown that the newts rely extensively on Mycetophilidae, Baetidae, Corbiculidae, Gammaridae, and Lumbricidae as important food items for N. microspilotus.

Captive breeding and trial reintroduction of the Endangered yellow-spotted mountain newt Neurergus microspilotus in western Iran

ESR Endangered Species Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials ESR 23:159-166 (2014) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00552 Captive breeding and trial reintroduction of the Endangered yellow-spotted mountain newt Neurergus microspilotus in western Iran Mozafar Sharifi*, Somaye Vaissi Razi University Center for Environmental Studies, Department of Biology, Baghabrisham, 6714967346, Kermanshah, Iran *Corresponding author: sharifimozafar2012@gmail.com ABSTRACT: The yellow-spotted mountain newt Neurergus microspilotus (Caudata: Salamandridae) is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In spite of its conservation status and laws protecting it, the species continues to decline in the wild. A captive breeding program was successfully established to support the species’ recovery. To learn more about the species’ ecology and winter mortality, 24 juveniles reared in captivity were released on 4 occasions in a small spring enclosure from July to September 2012 and monitored until December, when they disappeared for overwintering. In 12 visits to the site before and after overwintering, a total of 31 individuals were identified. Based on an average diurnal detection probability for this newt (0.61 ± 0.19 SD), the observed newts during the pre-overwintering period were estimated to represent 6.5 to 41.0% of the reintroduced newts. The newts observed after overwintering were 13 to 28% of the reintroduced newts. This study demonstrates that post-metamorph captive-bred N. microspilotus released into the wild can survive to the second growing season, and provides a choice of life stage for a reintroduction plan. KEY WORDS: Neurergus microspilotus · Endangered species · Captive breeding · Trialreintroduction Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Sharifi M, Vaissi S (2014) Captive breeding and trial reintroduction of the Endangered yellow-spotted mountain newt Neurergus microspilotus in western Iran. Endang Species Res 23:159-166. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00552 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in ESR Vol. 23, No. 2. Online publication date: March 10, 2014 Print ISSN: 1863-5407; Online ISSN: 1613-4796 Copyright © 2014 Inter-Research.

Structure Organization of Urinary System in the Yellow Spotted Mountain Newts (Salamandridae:Neurergus microspilotus)

This study deals with the histomorphology of the mesonephros in male and female Neurergus microspilotus. The slender and narrow kidneys are positioned in the retro peritoneal position up against the ventral aspect of vertebral column and may extend the length from the esophagus-stomach junction to cloaca. The kidney in both sexes is composed of sexual(anterior) and pelvic(posterior) parts. The duct of sexual kidney is a narrow duct which is lying alongside its lateral edge. In the female, it is connected to the ureters and then the duct of defi nitive kidney. Before entering the cloaca, two ureters are joined together and open to the apex of the cloaca. In the male, after entering the sexual kidney, the sperm leave the testis through efferent ducts, then these ducts join together and eventually form Bidder’s duct. The Bidder’s duct joins the Bowman’s capsule of the nephrons in the sexual kidney and the nephrons make collecting ducts which are fi lled with both sperm and urine. After leaving the kidney, all the collecting ducts are connected to the Wolffi an duct. Wolffi an duct joins the ureters(merge from defi nitive kidney) just before entering the cloaca. Based on serial paraffi n sections, nephrons consist of a fi ltration unit, the Malpighian corpuscle, and a renal tubule, which can be divided into 4 morphologically distinct segments: proximal tubule(first and second segment), distal tubule, and collecting tubule. Collecting tubules merge and form a branch system that opens into collecting ducts.

Sexual Size Dimorphism in the Yellow-Spotted Newt, Neurergus microspilotus Nesterov, 1916 (Caudata: Salamandridae), from Kermanshah Province, Western Iran

We investigated sexual dimorphism of the Kurdistan newt, Neurergus microspilotus (Nesterov, 1916), using a sample of 20 males and 12 females originated from the north-western part of Kermanshah Province, western Iran. Ten morphometric characters were measured. Almost all measured characteristics were significantly different between males and females.

The Comparison of Cranial Osteology of Neurergus microspilotus and Salamandra infraimmaculata semenovi (Amphibia: Salamandridae)

Cranial osteology characters of Neurergus microspilotus collected from Kavat River, Paveh, KermanshahProvince and Salamandra infraimmaculata semenovi from Sarvabad, Kurdistan Province, western Iran, have been described and compared based on 10 dry skull preparations. Individual characters within each of these two species discussed and compared together. Prominent differences between skulls of the two species observed are as follows: individual bones thickness, maxillary dentition, shape of the frontal, parietal and premaxillary bones, morphology of the palatines and associated structures. In S. i. semenovi the most parts of skull are not being completely ossified and have a membranous structure and even in the ossified parts the elements have nosolidity this may due in part to more evolutionary primitive status of compare to Neurergus . The frontal bone in N. microspilotus is ossified with a projection towards the orbit which creates a ring by cartilaginous part asfrontosquamosal ring. However, the frontosquamosal bone structure is absent in S. i. semenovi . Almost all skullelements of N. microspilotus are mineralized but this is not the case with S. i. semenovi .

A newly found locality for the critically endangered Yellow Spotted Newt, Neurergus microspilotus (Nesterov, 1917) nourishes hope for its conservation

A new and significant extension to the known range of the Yellow Spotted Newt, Neurergus microspilotus (Nestorov, 1917), in the northwest of Iran is described. Two adults and two larvae of N. microspilotus were collected from a new locality near Mahabad in West Azerbaijan province. The species was found at an altitude of 1833 m a.s.l., which is higher than previously known sites.