The soil acari fauna of Citrus orchards of Baghdad in Jadiriya area was studied in a total
of forty-eight samples. Twenty-two species were recorded during the present study of which
eight species were first records to Iraq. The ordinal composition of the soil acari fauna was
predominantly Mesostigmata.
This fauna represents diverse trophic groups. The most abundant groups were the
predacious and the Microphytophagus, while the less abundant groups were the predacious/
Microphytophagus, Macrophytophagus, and Panaphytophagus. The most abundant and
frequent species were Rhizoglyphus sp. Tyrophagus putrescentiea (Scrank), Pachylaelaps
longisetis Halbt. and Stratiolaelaps miles Berl.

Shiranish formation has been divided into two microfacies units: 1 - Many biowackestone facies and 2 - maly packstone using planktonic foraminifera and other carbonate components in the rock cutting and core slides. Microfacies reflect marin deep shelf margin in the lower part of the formation, the upper part was deeper. The thickness of the formation is determined, depending on addition to the presence of echinoderm framents debris and spines. This is in disagreement with the 195 ft thickness reported by the Oil Exploration Company The age of the formation is estimated depending on the recognized biostratigraphic zone using the index fossils to be Upper - Middle Mastrichtion.

The kestrel Falco tinnunculus specimens coIldeted in Iraq are found infected with one or more species of the following helminthes; Physaloptera alata (Nematoda), Cladataenia globifera (Cestoda), Prosthogonimus cuneatus (Trernatoda), and Sphaeriorostris sp. (Acanthocephala) with a total infection rate of 30.56%. The results are compared and discussed with the pertinent literature.

    Examining of 80 feces samples showed that 31 samples of the house and stray cats harbored either single or mixed infection with eight species of parasites and protozoa with a total infection rate 38.75 %.The results on parasite classes are: Toxocara cati (5%), Ancylostoma tubeforme (3.75%), Capillaria felis(3.75%), Isospora sp.(10%), Cryptosporidium parvum(3.75%), Cryptosporidium muris (6.25%), Toxoplasma gondi (3.75%), Giardia sp.(2.5%) infection from feces of cats that showed single, double and triple infections. Our findings revealed the risk for public health, thus preventive measures should be implemented.

This study was conducted on species composition, morphology, ecological characteristics, biotope distribution, ecological groups, biodiversity indicators and zoogeography of leeches and gastropods distributed in the lower Ak-Buura River. According to the results, it was found that 7 species of leeches belonging to 4 families and 6 genera and 10 species of fresh-water gastropods belonging to 3 families and 6 genera live in the lower Ak-Buura River. In the river, it was observed that leeches are mainly distributed in muddy biotopes, and gastropods are widespread in muddy, stony and sandy biotopes with a lot of plants. Biodiversity indices of leeches and gastropods in the Ak-Buura River were analyzed using the Shannon index. As a result, it

Cosmochthonius reticulatus Grandjean, 1947 (Acari: Oribatei: Cosmochthoniidae) and Rhysotritia ardua ardua C. L. Koch, 1841 ( Acari : Oribate : Euphthiracari¬dae), are two species of oribatids mites first recorded in Iraq from a woodland in the central part of Iraq. The two species are described and illustrated.

    A total of 533 specimens were collected in survey of Brachyceran species from different regions of Iraq during February to November 2014 .This study was reported 16 species belonging to 13 genera and 7 families, the results showed that Dicranosepsis Duda, 1926 (Family; Sepsidae) is  recorded the genus  for the first time in Iraq.

     The nigra scale, Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner, 1861) (Hemiptera, Coccidae) recorded as a new insect pest attacking fig trees, Ficus carica (Moraceae) in Iraq. It was observed during April 2014 in residential garden at Al-Hurriyah district in Baghdad.

This work reports thirty three Iraqi species and one subspecies of Hydrophilidae, distributed in eleven genera under four subfamilies. Of them two species namely Laccobius gracilis Motsch and Laccobius syriacus Guilleb. Are new records for Iraq. The locality data were mentioned for each species.

As a part of the survey discovering the land snail fauna of Can Tho City, Vietnam, this study recorded snails for the first time in the city and an additional data on Amphidromus inversus annamiticus (Crosse & P. Fischer, 1863) for the plains of the Cuu Long River Delta. A. inversus annamiticus found in the study area has two types of shell spiraling, both dextral and sinistral, with or without a blackish brown spiral streak from the apex. All of the shells without that streak are sinistral and bigger in size compared to the ones with the color streak. Snail individuals were hibernating on the branches and trunks of landscape trees that include, Dipterocarpus alatus, Samanea saman, Khaya senegalensis, and Erythrina fusca.

Twelve species from Brassicaceae family were studied using two different molecular techniques: RAPD and ISSR; both of these techniques were used to detect some molecular markers associated with the genotype identification. RAPD results, from using five random primers, revealed 241 amplified fragments, 62 of them were polymorphic (26%).

    ISSR results showed that out of seven primers, three (ISSR3, UBC807, UBC811) could not amplify the genomic DNA; other primers revealed 183 amplified fragments, 36 of them were polymorphic (20%). The similarity evidence and dendrogram for the genetic distances of the incorporation between the two techniques showed that the highest similarity was 0.897 between the va

    A total of 228 domestic and wild animals, including sheep, goats, cows, buffaloes, camels, horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, wild hares, Asiatic jackals, and red foxes were examined for ixodid ticks in the central region of Iraq. Nine species of ixodid ticks belong to two genera namely Hyalomma anatolicum Koch, 1844, H. excavatum Koch, 1844, H. turanicum Pomerantsef, 1946,  H. scupense Delpy, 1946,  H. dromedarii Koch, 1844, H. schulzei Olenev, 1931, Rhipicephalus annulatus (Say, 1821), R. turanicus Pomerantsef & al., 1940 and R. leporis Pomerantsef, 1946 were recovered. Their distribution among hosts and infestation rates were di

The current study reports the first record of Ammatomus rufonodis (Radoszkowski, 1877) for insect fauna of Iraq. Although this species shows morphological similarity to A. mesostenus (Handlirsch, 1888), it can be distinguished by the clear large diameter of the gastral punctures, which are similar in size to those on the mesopleuron. Thorough synonyms, diagnostic features, morphological descriptions, and distribution notes are given.

The present paper attempts to establish a distinction between Exochomus negripennis (Er.) and E. quadripustulatus L., depending on the characters of femoral line, male genitalia and spermatheca.

Mammals are under threat worldwide due to deforestation, hunting, and other human activities. In Iraq, a total of 93 species of wild mammals have been recorded including species with global conservation concern. Bamo Mountain is situated within the Zagros Mountains in northern Iraq which is a suitable habitat for wild mammals. Due to scarcity of the field survey efforts and cryptic behavior, monitoring of the wild mammals fauna in Zagros Mountain seems challenging. Therefore, we used a camera trap which seems to be an ideal way to determine species diversity of wild mammals in Bamo Mountain. Moreover, interviews with local villagers were performed. The mammalian diversity of Bamo Mountain is not fully explored but seemed threatened by lo

This study deals with Aphid predators of the genus Coccinella L. recognized in different
regions of the world. They have been arranged systematically according to Korschefsky’s
catalogue (1931). The list includes sites of study and the reference (works) that consider
Coccinellids as predator. The study has revealed that there are thirteen Aphid predator species
belonging to the genus Coccinella L. in different places of the world, although there might be
other species that were not recorded by this work.

The study of Shiranish Formation rocks in southern part of Iraq at Ansab area well (KH-6)
were carried out. The formation is tongued with tayarat formation, which bounded from top
and bottom, the upper tongue at thickness 49m. and tongued at depth (476-525m.) the lower
tongue at thickness 4m. tongued at (541-537m.).
The rocks of this formation were divided into three sedimentary microfacies:
1- Dolomitized formininferal Wackestone facies.
2- Dolomitized formininferal Mudstone facies.
3- Dolostone facies.
34 slides were investigated depending on mineralogical, compositional and biological
processes and compared diagenesis which reflect open marine shelf at lower part of formation
(F.Z.2) (S.M.F.8), but at the

Duration of each developmental stage of the house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus together with the mortality percentage were observed at a combination of five different temperatures namely 20C°, 22.5C°, 25C°, 27.5C° and 30C° and four different humidities namely 55%, 75%, 85% and 95% r. h. Results showed that temperature had the greatest effect on the life cycle period. The higher the temperature the shorter the life cycle was aid versa verea. On the other hand, humidity seems to be less effectiveness, though at the higher temperature and humidity no development was occured. Mortality among all temperatures and humidities appeared nearly the same, but at higher temperature and higher humidity and because of mould g

Haemoproteus burhinus is described from the stone curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus saharae (Reichenow) from Al-Attariya, 45 km SE Baghdad city middle of Iraq. It is related to but differs from H. peireci in that it hypertrophied the erythrocyte and the erythrocyte nucleus is always laterally displaced in microgametocytes.

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.

    A mounted specimen of a mustelid animal deposited in the Kurdistan Museum of Natural History, Salahaddin University, Erbil proved to be Mustela erminea (Linnaeus, 1758) and represents a new record for the mammalian fauna of Iraq. Its measurements and some biological noted are provided. Also, two passerine birds; the Red-headed bunting, Emberiza bruniceps Brandt, 1841(Family, Emberizidae) and the Variable wheatear, Oenanthe picata (Blyth, 1847) (Family, Muscicapidae) were recorded for the first time in Iraq. Furthermore, the tree frog Hyla savignyi Audouin, 1829 was found in two locations north east of Iraq with spotted dorsum and having interesting behavior in having the capabil

Aniera desert/cola was found new to science and to the Iraqi fauna. The description was
mainly based on external features and male genit

    This study is considered the first effort of its kind in Iraq and in the Middle East towards studying the Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris that was carried on in Hor Al-Dalmaj, southern Iraq. The findings of this effort illustrate its importance as it paves the way for further study and observation for the bird and this important wetland itself. This study tackles the all possible aspects of the ecological and biological statuses of Marbled Teal (Threatened –Vulnerable bird species – IUCN Redlist) by means of field surveys and systematic monitoring that were conducted along the four seasons over the years 2013-2014 in one of the ecologically important and prominent and poorly-known wetlands in the

    Basrah province is situated at the extreme south of Iraq,  it has an interesting reptile fauna (Squamata and Serpentes) and represents a land bridge between three different zoogeographical regions ( Oriental, Palaearctic and  Ethiopian).

     This situation gave Basrah province a topographic specific opportunity for raising its own faunal diversity including reptiles; in this study Basrah province was divided into four main zones: the cities and orchards, marshes and wetlands (sabkha), the true dessert, the seashore and Shat Al-Arab.

Forty nine reptile species were recorded including snakes, sea and fresh water turtles, and Lizards; brief notes and descriptions for the rare

The orogenic gold deposit of Tamilouw – Haya is hosted by slate and metapelitic rocks within Tehoru metamorphic complex. Gold and polymetallic sulfides mineralization at study area is predominantly formed in the form of veins, stockwork and breccia although minor dissemination is slightly appeared in the rock float samples. They are trapped and controlled by NE-SW and NNE-SSW trending geologic structure occurred during orogeny process from Late Miocene to Pliocene. The common ore minerals assemblage at Tamilouw – Haya deposit are dominated by native gold, chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite, galena, pyrrhotite, tetrahedrite-tennantite (sulphosalt), marcasite,realgar, kalininite and arsenopyrite as hypogene minerals and accompanied by co

    This study identified the genus Coelastrella Chodat, 1922 which was isolated from a sediment sample taken from the Tigris river in Baghdad Governorate, Iraq. The alga was isolated and cultured in modified Chu 10 media and the morphological features of the isolated algae were observed in light microscopy (LM); it showed some characteristic features of this genus, such as its ellipsoidal or lemon- shaped cells, a visible pyrenoid and the chloroplast parietal. To ensure correct identification of the isolated alga, a molecular analysis using 18S rRNA gene and DNA sequencing revealed a match with C. terrestris (Reisigl) Hedewald & N. Hanagata 2002. This species is a new record in Iraq

    Ten blue swimming crabs Portunus segnis (Forskål, 1775) were collected from the north west of the Arabian Gulf off the Iraqi marine waters from October to November 2017 at 29ᵒ 37′ N to 48ᵒ 47′ E.

     The barnacle Octolasmis angulata (Aurivillius, 1894) was found on the gills of the present species of crab, the mean incidence of infestation was 30%, while the mean Intensity of infestation was 12.3. The barnacle have a long and slim shaped calcareous plate with the presence of carina and the absence of tergum, in addition to the elongated shape of carina and scutum. The current study represents the first record of the barnacle O. angulata in the Ar

The purpose of this study is to elucidate the microfacies and the biozones present in the studied rocks as well as to determine their environments or deposition. The study depends mainly on the benthonic foraminiferal assemblages identified from (27) rock thin sections made available from an outcrop at Wadi Banat Al-Hassan area in the Upper Euphrates Valley. X-Ray diffraction was also used to determine the type of carbonate minerals present in the studied rocks.