Rodent fauna of the western Golestan Province in northeast Iran

• Main Authors: F. Ghorbani, J. Darvish, H.G. Kami, O. Mirshamsi
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad 2010
• Subjects: elburz mountains; hyrcanian forest; caspian sea; rodents; Zoology; QL1-991; Physiology; QP1-981; Rattus rattus
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.22067/ijab.v6i1.9156; https://doaj.org/article/7856919d6bff47b8b24ec49bb4945b63

Golestan province is located in northeastern Iran, southeast of the Caspian Sea, a region thought to be one of the most important refuge areas during glacial periods. During three years of fieldwork in the area, 13 species of rodents belonging to five families were identified including: Muridae (Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus, Mus musculus, Apodemus hyrcanicus, Apodemus uralensis, Apodemus witherbyi, Rhombomys opimus, Nesokia indica), Dipodidae (Allactaga elater, Pygeretmus pumilio), Gliridae (Glis glis), Cricetidae (Cricetulus migratorius), and Hystricidae (Hystrix indica). Standard external morphologic and morphometric characters, including cranial and dental, are given.