For two years, from January 1995 till December 1996, a survey on helminth parasites of aquatic birds of Bahr Al-Najaf depression, mid Iraq, was achieved. A total of 663 birds, belonging to 11 species, were captured and examined for helminth parasites. These birds were infected with seven trematodes (Notocotylus gibbus, Cyclocoelum mutabile, Echinostoma chloropodis, Patagifer parvispinosus, Psilochasmus oxyurus, Diplostomum spathaceum and Apharyngostrigea cornu), seven cestodes (Paricterotaenia porosa, Dicranotaenia tsengi, Diorchis brevis, D. inflatus, Tatria acanthorhyncha, T. decacantha and Diplophallus polymorphus) and four nematodes (Capillaria sp., Eustrongylides tubifex, Con

One eighth of the bird species in the world is considered globally threatened; the avifauna of Iraq comprises 409 species and is considered as the major indicator of the health of Iraq’s biological resources. The Iraqi geography falls into five main regions among which is the desert and semi-desert areas which cover much of the country area. Al-Najaf desert is still one of the poorly known regions from the biodiversity point of view. Birds of conservation concern are detected in Al-Najaf desert during 31 field trips to 20 sites conducted from August 2018 to April 2020, (citing literature records, and personal interviews with locals).The factors caused the bird numbers to decline in Al-Najaf desert include hunting and trapping, logging,

    The Love Creek Nature Center, one of the three nature centers located within the boundaries of Berrien County, is owned and operated by the county for public enjoyment and instruction of nature. The 44.5 ha study area, located seven km east of Berrien Springs, and two km southwest of Berrien Center, on Huckleberry Road, in T6S, R17W, sections 16, 17 (Lat. 41° 56' N; Long. 86° 18' W) is made up of deciduous woods and abandoned fields at various stages of succession. It is bounded on the east by the Berrien County Dog Pound and Huckleberry Road, to the north by cultivated Berrien County land and the Berrien General Hospital, to the west by the recently closed Berrien - Oronoko Township Landfill Dump; and to the south b

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.

This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of seven calliphorid species of third- instar larvae that were collected from central Iraq. The purpose was to morphologically characterize these species and develop an identification key to differentiate them from closely related species. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) graphical images and high-resolution traditional optical microscopes were used to analyze the morphological characteristics of the species Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus, 1758), C. vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, Chrysomya albiceps (Widemann, 1819), Ch. rufifacies (Macquart, 1844), Ch. megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830), and L. sericata (Meigen, 1826). An identification key was constructe

    As Albizia lebbeck is one of the important species in Iraq and the region, its wood has subjected to investigation through the assessment of differences in its element dimensions and specific gravity under Baghdad conditions. Variations of fiber length, fiber width, cell wall thickness, vessel diameter, and density of wood were examined along the stem and horizontally.  Results showed that fiber lengths were within the normal range, but their widths were narrower than common range of hardwoods. There were little increase in fiber length, width, wall thickness as the height position increased. Vessel diameter has been affected contrarily. No significant effects of  height on specific gravity could be

    An investigation was provided in this work for the host range of brown soft scale Coccus hesperidum Linnaeus in Baghdad Province.  Five plant species were found infected by this insect, three of these species, Citrusaurantium L. (Rutaceae); Nerium oleander L. (Apocynaceae); Ficuscarica L. (Moraceae) reported earlier, and the remaining two, Dahlia pinnata Cav. (Asteraceae) and Myrtuscommunis L. (Myrtaceae) are recordedhere for the first time as host plants for this pest.

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

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 present study was carried out on forty eight epididymis of sexually mature dogs to elucidate light microscope features and the presence of testosterone receptors inside epididymis in different seasons. Twenty four dogs aged 3 years were used during the periods from 1/2/2015-1/2/2016. The epididymis were carefully dissected from the testis after orchidectomy operations and fixed, dehydrated, clarified and embedded in paraffin. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid schiff. As well as, paraffin embedded cytoimmunochemistry technique was used for detection of testosterone receptors. Muscular coats showed no significant differences during different seasons or among segments. Epithelial heigh

Twelve species of Tubuliferous thrips, of the family Phlaeothripidae had been reported from Iraq. Two of these were reported previously, Haplothrips cerealis Priesner, by El-Haidari and Daoud 1971 and Haplothrips tritici kurdjumov by Al-Ali 1977 and the rest were recorded for the first time: these are 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). Number of insec

Monitoring migrating raptors is among the most cost-effective and simple methods for forecasting shift in the ecosystem and environment. The Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Accipitriformes, Accipitridae) represents a widely wintering, on-passage raptor over Iraq's southern Mesopotamian marshlands. However, recent information related to this species’ population trend, as well as its spatial and temporal migration patterns, is not fully known. From October 2021–June 2022, nine ornithological field surveys were undertaken in the Central Marshes (UNESCO Site, RAMSAR Site, and Iraq's National Park). Three transect lines were chosen, and the surveying plot covered 40,000 hectares (400 Km2). Our recent surveys rec

Heliotropium curassavicum L., 1753 belongs to the Boraginaceae family, and it was recorded for the first time to the Flora of Iraq in Basrah Province, Iraq. Its morphological characteristics have been described with photos; as well as a taxonomical key has been suggested to separate it from other species of Heliotropium that grow in Basrah Province. The geographical distribution of the species was determined, and the results showed that it was grown in five different locations along the southern parts of Shatt Al-Arab. Pollen morphology and anatomy of leaves were studied by using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which showed that the species has psilate and hexa-heterocolpate pollen grains, and the leaves wer

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

This study examines the Al-Ashaali drainage basin, a watershed in the southern Iraqi desert,
which constitutes a hydro-geomorphological system within the lower valleys region according
to Iraq's geomorphological classification. The study uses a digital elevation model to classify
the landforms of the watershed. Landform maps from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission
(SRTM) were combined with topographic maps to understand the formation of landforms.
Geospatial simulation models were developed to create a simplified geomorphological base
map. The data was analyzed utilizing ArcGIS software, which included color mapping tools,
topographic maps, as well as geological and hydrological maps. The study aims to enhance
t

Phenomena of an abnormal genitalia was among some specimens of Cicindela aulica Dej.
Collected from Iraq. The fore tarsi of male were asymmetrical having its basal three segments
dilated and clothed beneath with fine bristles as in normal male. While those of the right leg
were found simple as in normal females. Dissection of the genialia of these specimens
showed that they were of two types of both male and female structures.

Micromorphological characters of petals in 8 genera representing 12 taxa of Bignoniaceae from Egypt were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate their taxonomic importance in petal epidermal micromorphology, including epidermal cell types (areolate, papillose conical, and areolate mixed with papillose conical), trichome types (non-glandular; funnel shape, flexible and stiff-bristly, and glandular; peltate, capitate, cupular, stipitate, and patelli-form), trichome ornamentation (striate, verucate, and smooth, and stomata on both the abaxial and adaxial surfaces. Stomata are present in all species except Jacaranda acutifolia Humb. & Bonpl., 1806 and Markhamia zanzibarica (Bojer ex DC.) K. Schum., 1895. We used

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

An extensive survey of citrus leaf miner (CLM) , Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton parasites
and predators was conducted during 1998 and 1999 in citrus orchards and nursuries in
Baghdad, Diyala and Wasit .Five eulophid parasites were recorded for the first time on citrus
leaf miner larvae , prepupae and pupae viz. Cirrospilus sp, Pnigalio sp ., Ratzburgiola
incompleta , Tetrasticus sp. and, Neochrysocharis formosa . Parasitism rate was ranged from
15% to 63% Chrysopa carnea , Orius albidipennis , Amblyseius sp . Were observed as
predators on CLM .

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

Twelve species of philodromid crab or running crab spiders (Philodromidae) have been recorded in Armenia. Nine species are new to the spider fauna of this country: Philodromus cespitum (Walckenaer, 1802); Philodromus emarginatus (Schrank, 1803), Philodromus rufus Walckenaer, 1826; Rhysodromus histrio (Latreille, 1819), Thanatus atratus Simon, 1875; Thanatus formicinus (Clerck, 1757); Thanatus imbecillus L. Koch, 1878; Thanatus vulgaris Simon, 1870 and Thanatus pictus L. Koch, 1881.

Labrotary experiment was conducted to study the effect of different levels of nematode population densities of Meloidogyne spp on seed germination percentage and seedling characteristics of Vigna sinensis, Ahelmoschus esculentus, Cicer arietinum, Helianthus annuus and Rap-hanus sativus. Four different levels of nematode populat-ion densities ranged from 1 to 4 prepared from radish in-fected roots and used as inoculating agent to infect all seed types in the experiment Seed germination percentage of Vigna sinensis and Ablemoschus eseulentus were highly reduced (at 0.01 level of significance) with increased nematode population level from 1 to 4. Seedling length of the remaining seed types were significantly reduced (at 0.01 level of signif

This note reported the first record of Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata (Pallas, 1764) (Passeriformes, Muscicapidae) from the state of Odisha, India. This species was recorded from the north and western part of the country as well as from the Western Ghats, but this note reports the first record from the Eastern Ghats of India.

Anatomy and morphology study of seeds for seven Lathyrus L., 1753 species in Iraq; the species were: L. annuus L.,1753, L. aphaca L., 1753, L. chloranthus Boiss., 1859, L. cicera L., 1753, L. sativus L., 1753, L. inconspicuus L., 1753 and L. sphaericus Retz.,1753. There are 17 species of the Fabaceae family that are distributed throughout the middle and northern regions of Iraq. Using a scanning electron microscope, the study's characteristics were examined to ascertain the taxonomic relationships, interactions, and issues that impeded the species' ability to be separated according to taxa.
The seeds were glossy in all species except L. sativus L. and L. sphaericus L. which were matt, the surface cells wall undulation, the wax covered

Data from the current study was used to analyse the impact of marine heat waves on the quantity and distribution patterns of Iraqi marine fisheries following the recent change in the climate of the northwestern Arabian Gulf. The average annual water temperature and salinity were 26◦C and 38.6 psu, respectively, higher than the averages recorded during previous decades. The dissolved oxygen average was 8.65 psu, and the pH was 8.23. Principal components analysis (PCA) showed that temperature and salinity accounted for 66.93% of the effect of the studied factors, while the percentage of dissolved oxygen was 32.81% and the pH was 0.27%. The results showed a decrease in the weight, numbers, and diversity of the fish during the summer compa

The present study introduces description of a new species of genus Arboridia Zakhvaticin 1946, based on a large collection of Cicadellids. External morphological characters particularly male genitalia were discussed and illustrated. The genus Arboridia Zalchvatkiia (Typhlocybinae: Erythroneurini) contains small slender, fragil and attractively coloured and patterned leafhoppers. It was erected by Zakhvatkin in 1946 (Zalchvatkin, 1946). The overall length of adults ranges from 2.5 to 3.4 mm. Members of this genus can be recognized by inner apical cell of forewing which is long with oblique base; Cu confluent with this base at a point near the middle of the length of inner apical cell; two prominent circular deep brown spots on vertex (Zal

During a survey on the helminthic parasites of three species of turtles in the north part of Iraq, five species of nematodes were recorded for the first time in Iraq. They were all found in the intestine. These are, Camallanus microcephalus (Dujardin, 1845) recorvered from the turtle Clemmys caspica; Spironoura japonensis (Yamaguti, 1935) from Triopyx eup¬hraticus and Angusticaecum holopterum (Rudolphi, 1819), and Tachygonetria nicollei (Seurat, 1918) from the turtle Testudo graeca. All of the localities and hosts are newly recorded in Iraq.

    The tentative list of the biodiversity (plants and vertebrates) of Bahr Al-Najaf depression is found to comprise 104 vertebrate species including 2 fishes, 14 reptiles, 73 resident and migratory birds and 15 mammals. The flora consists of 31 species, mainly of plants well adapted to desert conditions that dominate the area, besides few examples of water plants. The salinity was found, through chemical analysis of the lake water, to be of high value which reduces the diversity of aquatic animal and plant diversity.

In the region of the north of Iraq using the method of analyzing thin section microfacies to 38 of rockyslices which were gathered from a place near Aqra city. These slides are divided into seven microfacies depending on lithologcal component and fossils.

1) Dolostone facies.

2)Recrystallized bioclastic wackestone facies.

3) Bioclastic packstone microfacies

4)Sucrosic dolomite facies.

 5) Bioclastic grainstone in microfacies.

 According to water energy, these facies were divided to three zone:

1. a) Low energy environment.
2. b) Transitional zone.
3. c) High energy environment.