A biosystematics study on Bat (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) fauna from Western Iran (Kurdistan, Zanjan, Ardabil provinces)

To run the project, alive specimens will be obtained manually from different bat nests (caves, subterranean canals, old buildings’ ceilings, tomb domes, temple ceilings, under the bridges, Cracks and crevices in walls and cliffs), located in different areas of every state by invisible nets. The obtained specimens are then transported to the animal biosystematics laboratory in University of Zanjan to be studied morphologically (body color, nose leaf, Tragus, wings and thighs membranes, tail, Calcar, and posture of finger bones) and then to be examined in terms of morphometric (Head and body length, Tail length, back feet length, Forearm length, and ear length), 15 biometric factors of the skull and also chromosomal (Karyology) analysis, determining Diploid of chromosomes (2n), number of autosomal chromosome arms (NFa), and the total number of chromosome arms (NF). The results will then be analyzed by SPSS Software and identified using the key diagnosis of the two sub-order species (Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera) of order chiropteran, and thus the chiropteran fauna of Iran are reviewed and revised.

Keywords:

Biosystematic , Bat , Fauna , Kurdistan , Zanjan , Ardabil provinces