Biosystematic study of Calomyscus mystax (Rodentia, Calomyscidae) from north eastern Iran

Abstract

Calomyscus mystax is endemic to Great Balkhan Mountains in southwestern Turkmenistan. However there have been some inaccurate reports of existing this species in Koprtdagh Mts. and northern Iran, but these were considered as Calomyscus elburzensis and Calomyscus grandis. Phylogenetic analyses on Cytb gene clustered samples from Kopetdagh Mts. in northeastern Iran with one specimen of C. mystax belong to Turkmenistan, and so confirmed them as conspecific. Therefore known range of C. mystax has been extended to more southern regions. Morphometric and geometric-morphometric analyses described some cranium and dental characters which distinguished individuals of C. mystax in north east of Iran and North Khorasan province, in comparison to other analyzed samples from other Calomyscus species.