The present paper includes a study of color variation in Iraqi Collared dove Streptopelia decaocto. Three different populations have been recognized: the southern population which belongs to the Indian race, the northern population to the Eurasian race; the dark and light color variation occurs in the Baghdad population because of hybridisation between the two races, found infected with two cestodes,  Raillietina echinobothrida found  in most of our specimens, while the dark face found beside R. echinobothrida infected with Idiogenes sp. getting it probably from vertebrate sources. We believe that most of the Baghdad population was intermediate between north and south races.

A study of the Torymid collection of Iraq. resulted in undescribed species of the genus
Liodontonierus Gah. L. longicorpus sp. n. with 2 figures.

The predatory bush crickets Saga ephippigera Fischer Von Waldheim, 1846 is the largest Iraqi orthopterans and one of the most active and successful predators in the Kurdistan region. The nymphs and adults prey on all the stages of various species of insects. Twelve adult specimens were collected from Erbil Province during May 2018 and June 2021. Morphological structures of the adult insects were described and illustrated in details; important taxonomic characteristics of body regions with their appendages were chosen; and the results indicated the importance of morphological characteristics which confirmed the identification of this species correctly.

A total of 400 hard tick specimens (250 ♂♂, 150 ♀♀) were collected from 160 sheep Ovis aries Linnaeus, 1758 out of 200 samples examined in the different localities of Iraq, representing an infestation rate of 80% of the sheep. The results of the current research identified eight species of hard ticks belonging to two genera, Hyalomma C. L. Koch, 1844 and Rhipicephalus Koch,1844 and belonging to the Ixodidae family, as follows: Hyalomma anatolicum Koch, 1844, H. excavatum Koch, 1844, H. impeltatum Schulze & Schlottke, 1930, H. scupense Schulze, 1919, Rhipicephalus bursa Canastrini & Fanzago, 1878, R. camicasi Morel, Mouchet & Rodhain, 1976, R. sanguineus Latreille, 1806, and R. turanicus Pomerantsev, 1936. Molecular an

Due to the increase in tick-borne diseases globally, this investigation was proposed to investigate the distribution and intensity of the species belonging to Hyalomma C. L. Koch, 1844 that have been infesting livestock in Diyala Province, central of Iraq. The total percentage of infestation was 14.955% distributed as 19.600% for cow, 12.254% for sheep, and 29.411% for goat. The infestation varies among the districts of Diyala Province, and the highest infestation was in females compared with males, and it was distributed in different sites of animal bodies. The study concludes that the genus Hyalomma is widespread in all districts of the province and that there are six species belonging to this genus, including: Hyalomma anatolicum Koch

The present work aims to study the embryonic development of forebrain (Cerebrum) of a white-cheeked bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis (Gould, 1839) (Aves, Passeriformes, Pycnonotidae). Specimens for embryonic development were processed for paraffin embedding and stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histological study. The forebrain incubation consists of three layers, ependymal, mantle and marginal. The thickness of telencephalon was 43 μm while the thickness of diencephalon was 37 μm in an embryo of 48 hours incubation. The telencephalon consisted of two vesicles called cerebral hemispheres. The thickness of the telencephalon wall was 57 μm. The cerebral hemispheres in the embryo at 72 hours of incubation were differentiated, and the ave

This study aimed to identify and describe one of the bacterial feeder nematode Acrobeloides varius Kim, Kim and Park, 2017 (Rhabditida, Cephalobidae), which was isolated from soil samples that were collected from Baghdad, central of Iraq, and was classified using both morphological and molecular criteria. All specimens of A. varius were cultured, identified and described using morphometric criteria. Selected specimens (Zah. IRQ3 OR994579.1 isolate) of this species were characterized by having the body length of the male ranging from (184.94 – 221.72 μm), the body length of the female ranging (507.38 – 521.92 μm) and the body length of the juvenile ranging from (355.53 – 490.35 μm). Selected specimens of this species were molecul

    This paper presents the results of the slope failure analyses from fracture distributions and their relation to tectonic activity; the analytical results have indicated that the phenomena of plane failure, wedge failure and toppling failure can occur at almost of the survey sites within the study area.

    The statistical data show that the fracture orientation mainly develop in the E-W, N-S and NW-SE due to the influence of tectonic activity. The occurrence of them together with the rock slope surface orientation has formed plane failure on the slope surface of the 3B highway in the E-W direction and the types of wedge failure and toppling failure on the slope surface of the highw

Nineteen thrips species recorded in center of Iraq during 1999-2001, four of them was recorded by El-Haidari & Daoud, 1967; Thrips tabaci Lindeman, Retithrips syriacus (Mayet), Parascolothrips prieseri Mound, Anaphthrips sudanensis Trybom. Fifteen species are recorded for the first time in Iraq, Thrips meridionalis (Priesner), Microcephalothrips abdominals (Crawford), Scolothrips pallidus (Beach), Scolothrips sexmaculatus (Pergande), Scritothrips mangiferae Priesner, Frankliniella schultzie Trybom, Frankliniella unicolor Morgan, Frankliniella Tritici Bagnall, Retithrips aegypticus Marchal, Retithrips javanicus

The study aimed to evaluate the water quality of East Al-Hammar Marsh in Basrah, Iraq, by utilizing phytoplankton as a biological indicator and applying Palmer's Algal Pollution Index Phytoplankton samples were collected using a 20 μm mesh size net from three stations (S1 in Harir, S2 in Al Salal, and S3 in Al Barka) in East Al-Hammar Marsh between 2019 and 2020 during the winter months (December, January, and February) and summer months (June, July, and August). Palmer’s Index was used to evaluate the water quality of Al-Hammar Marsh based on both algae genus and species composition. The overall scores for the S1, S2, and S3 algae genera pollution index in the winter months were 35, 28, and 30 respectively. In summer, the scores for

    The Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) measures the reflected solar radiation in the ultraviolet and visible part in the spectral range that is between 270 and 500 nm, using two channels with a spectral resolution of about 0.5 nm. Ground-level tropospheric ozone is one of the air pollutants of most concern. In the troposphere, near the Earth's surface, human activities lead to ozone concentrations several times higher than the natural background level. To evaluate the ozone distribution over Iraq, the ozone data from OMI were analyzed using geostatistical techniques. Theoretical spherical models provided the best fit for all monthly experimental variograms. The parameters of these variograms (sill, range and nugget) wer

    The anatomical features of leaves and stems of seven species belonging to five genera of the Papaveraceae family were studied, including: Fumaria bracteosa Pomel, 1875; Glaucium grandiflorum Boissier & A. Huet,1856; Hypecoum pendulum Linnaeus, 1753; Papaver fugax Poiret,1804; Papaver macrostomum Boissier & A. Huet, 1867; Papaver rhoeas Linnaeus, 1753 and Roemeria refracta de Candolle,1821. The results showed that the anticlinal cell walls of the adaxial surface were more thickened in P. fugax, H. pendulum, P. macrostomum and R.refracta, while it was thin in P. rhoeas. The cur

This work deals with the reporting of four helminthes in the rook partridge Alectoris graeca collected in G'ara area west of Iraq. The infection rates of the cestodes, Raillietina alectori and R. tetragona and the nematode. Hartertia gallinarum, and the trematode. Postharmostomum gallinum were 6.38%, 40.43%, 10.63%, and 10.63% respectively. The host relationships were discussed.

The Aaliji Formation in wells (BH.52, BH.90, BH.138, and BH.188) in Bai Hassan Oil Field in Low Folded Zone northern Iraq has been studied to recognize the palaeoenvironment and sequence stratigraphic development. The formation is bounded unconformably with the underlain Shiranish Formation and the overlain Jaddala Formation. The microfacies analysis and the nature of accumulation of both planktonic and benthonic foraminifera indicate the two microfacies associations; where the first one represents deep shelf environment, which is responsible for the deposition of the Planktonic Foraminiferal Lime Wackestone Microfacies and Planktonic Foraminiferal Lime Packstone Microfacies, while the second association represents the deep-sea environme

Parasitological examination of gills of three species of sparid fishes in the territorial waters of Iraq was performed, two diplectanid monogenoids were isolated and described; Lamellodiscus indicus Tripathi, 1959 from both Haffara seabream Rhabdosargus haffara (Forsskål, 1775) and Goldline seabream R. sarba (Forsskål, 1775) and Protolamellodiscus senilobatus Kritsky, Jiménez-Ruiz and Sey, 2000 from King soldierbream Argyrops spinifer (Forsskål, 1775). The record of the parasites is considered new to the parasite fauna of Iraq. The redescription of L. indicus for the first time which is collected from a new distribution area (Arabian Gulf). R. haffara is considered a new host record .

New distinguishing genus, Oxybelochardus gen. nov., belonging to the tribe Oxybelini
(Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), with the type species Oxybelochardus iraqensis sp. nov. from Iraq, have been described and illustrated. The diagnostic characters and differences from the close genera that were distributed and listed in the Palearctic Region are presented.

Eleven species of parasitic insects were recovered from puparia of house fly Musca domestica L. developing in animal dung in Baghdad during 1985-1987. Of the parasites obtained, representatives were found in five families of Hymenoptera and one family of Coleoptera. The most prevalent parasites were Spalangia cameroni Perkins, S. nigroaenea Curtis and S. endius Walk. Average parasitism for the two year was 11.30 %, the highest number of parasitism occurred in May and October.

Macrocheles glaber (Müller) is one of several mites that feeds on eggs, newly hatched &
small larvae of house fly Musca domestica L. This mite was reared in the laboratory on house
fly frozen eggs at constant conditions of 28°C±1 and 90% relative humidity using sterilized
horse dung substrate. The predation rate of adult female and male on frozen eggs was (18, 3)
eggs/mite/day respectively, the number of frozen eggs destroyed by adult female through its
life was 185.6 eggs.
The mean duration of adult female from egg to adult stage was 2.67 days, the longevity of
female was 27.8 days, the mean daily egg production was 2.7 egg with total egg productivity
of 72.1 egg.

Leeches are a group of segmented worms that play important roles in aquatic environment
based on diversity, and abundance feeding habits. A total of 144 specimens of the leech were
collected from two sites in Babylon Province on the Euphrates River including S1 in Al-
Musayyib city site and S2 in Shatt Al-Hillah site, during the period from March 2023 to May
2024. Specimens were examined morphologically and by molecular analysis of genomic
DNA, using to amplification of the conserved 18S rRNA encoding gene and universal primers
ITS1 and ITS4, some environmental variables were measured, including water and air
temperature (°C), pH, Electrical conductivity EC (μs ̸ cm), Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) and
Turbidity,

The study aimed to survey mushroom species from fields among herbs, palm trunks, and
trees in central Iraq and to identify them on the basis of morphological and molecular
characteristics. As a molecular identification result with polymerase chain reaction six
species were recorded (with eight isolates): Agaricus bitorquis (Quéllt) Saccardo. 1887
(SHA14); Candolleomyces candolleanus (Fr.) D. Wächter & Melzer, 2020 (SHA15);
Cyclocybe cylindracea (D.C.) Vizzini & Angelini, 2014 (SHA13); Leucoagaricus hesperius
Vellinga, 2010 (SHA16); Volvariella sp. (SHA17), and Volvopluteus gloiocephalus (D. C.)
Vizzini, Contu & Justo, 2011 (SHA10, SHA101 and SHA12), belonging to four families of
Basidiomycetes: Agari

We examined morphological variations in Carabus granulatus L., 1758 (Coleoptera,
Carabidae) populations across different habitats in the Kaluga Region. Discriminant analysis
revealed subtle but significant morphological differences between populations, with pronotum
length being the key discriminating trait. Morphological variability was primarily driven by
historical microevolutionary processes rather than direct phenotypic adaptation to specific
habitats. Local ecological factors, such as microclimate and resource availability, had a
greater influence on morphometric traits than the general habitat type. Populations in the
eastern part of the Kaluga Region exhibited smaller body sizes due to intensive forest use.

A survey and identification were made of edible mushrooms from Salah Al Din Province,
central of Iraq, were conducted. The species were identified according to macroscopic
characteristics, such as the size, shape, color, and surface texture of the cap; the color of the
gills and their attachment to the stipe, if any, the number of pores per millimeter; and the color,
size , and surface texture of the stipe. Other features noted included the presence or absence
of the annulus and volva; Microscopic characteristics were also examined, including the size
of the basidium and the number of its spores; the color, size, and shape of the spores; the size,
shape, and type of cystidia, and whether cystidia were present or abse

   Molecular barcoding was widely recognized as a powerful tool for the identification of organisms during the past decade; the aim of this study is to use the molecular approach to identify the diatoms by using the environmental DNA. The diatom specimens were taken from Tigris River. The environmental DNA(e DNA) extraction and analysis of sequences using the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) method showed the highest percentage of epipelic diatom genera including Achnanthidium minutissimum (Kützing) Czarnecki, 1994 (21.1%), Cocconeis placentula Ehrenberg, 1838 (21.3%) and Nitzschia palea (Kützing) W. Smith, 1856 (16.3%).

   Five species of diatoms: Achnanthidiu

By using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the pollen grains and foliar epidermal morphology of four species and two varieties of Egyptian Oxalis Linnaeus, 1753 belonging to three sections of the subgenus Oxalis Linnaeus, 1753 were studied. The objective was to determine the importance of pollen and foliar epidermal characters as taxonomic evidence. The current study revealed that the pollen grains of all taxa examined are monads, radially symmetric, isopolar, and of medium size; the shape varied from sub-spheroidal to subprolate. The pollen apertures were tricolpate with ornamented colpal membranes (rugulate, warty, congregated granules). Exine is semi-tectate, with micro-reticulate to reticulate ornamentatio

The snappers (Lutjanid fish) are an important food source for the Iraqi people. Three
species of lutjanid fishes- the Blackspot snapper Lutjanus ehrenbergii (Peters, 1869), Dory
snapper L. fulviflamma (Forsskål, 1775) and L. indicus Allen, White & Erdmann, 2013 were
caught from Iraqi marine waters in the Arabian Gulf during 2024. The Blackspot snapper L.
ehrenbergii and the Dory snapper L. fulviflamma were found to be infested with both
Euryhaliotrema adelpha Kritsky & Justine in Kritsky, 2012 (reported here as a new host) and
E. spirotubiforum (Zhang, 2001) Wu, Zhu, Xie & Li, 2006. L. indicus was infested only with
E. spirotubiforum which is reported here for the first time from this host species and th

A collection of 118 specimens of Iraqi phasianid birds belong to four species was examined
for haematozoa. Results show that 21.2% of them were infected with one or more of four
species of blood parasites; Haemoproteus danilewskyi, H. santosdiasi, Plasmodium sp. and
microfilaria. Haemoproteus danilewskyi is reported here for the first time in Iraq.

    The genus of Androctonus is widely distributed in Asia and Africa .It is found in Egypt, Palestine, Iran, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The present study is the first taxonomic study to describe Androctonus crassicauda (Oliver,1807) in Iraq .The genus Androctonus recognized by three main characters which are: color it is ranges from light brown to raddish to blackish brown to black, pedipalp (Chelae) is narrower than patella in adults, and  pedipalp fingers with many denticles. Among other characters by which the genus can be distinguished by body hairs and, the rows of denticles on pedipalp fingers. The main morphological characters of the species are figured of And

Keys to four genera and twelve species of the subfamily Phlaeothripinae (Phlaeothripidae) were constructed, these are: Haplothrips; Karnyothrips; Phlaeothrips; and Dolicholepta ,and the species are: Haplothrips cerealis Priesner; Haplothrips tritici kurdjumov, Haplothrips hukkineni Priesner; Haplothrips subtilissimus (Haliday) ؛ Haplothrips reuteri Karny; Haplothrips jasonis Priesner; Haplothrips sallloumensis Priesner ; Haplothrips pharao Priesner ; Phlaeothrips sycomri Priesner ; Karnyothrips flavipus (Jones); Karnyothrips melaleucus (Bagnall) ; Dolicholepta micrurus (Bagnall). These were collected from Baghdad

A total of 30 specimens of house sparrow Passer domesticus biblicus Hartert, 1904 (15 females and 15 males) were collected from gardens of some houses in Baghdad city; all birds were dissected to identify the parasites in vesicle, gizzard, intestine, gall bladder and caecum. One species of trematodes Brachydistomum microscelis (Yamaguti, 1933) was found in the gall bladder and two species of cestodes Anonchotaenia globata (von Linstow, 1879) and Raillietina tetragona (Molin, 1858) were found in the small intestine of house sparrow. Morphologic and morphometric measurements were considered.

   The genus Brachydistomum Travassos, 1944 is being recorded for the first time in Iraq in the gall bladder of house sparr

In the 1970s, the world knew the long-tailed nesokia Nesokia bunnii (Khajuria, 1981) (Rodentia, Muridae) from the Mesopotamian marshes of Garden of Eden in Southern Iraq. This distinct rodent was known from only five voucher specimens collected at the confluence of Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in southern Iraq while its occurrence in Southwestern Iran had
never been reported. In the 1990s, a large extent of its natural habitat was catastrophically desiccated and the animal was last seen in the 1970s. Since then, the status of this elusive rodent was shrouded in mystery. In 2007, an extraordinary photograph of a carcass of this species came to the light from Hawizeh Marsh which was interpreted as concrete evidence of the species’ pers