Geographic distribution of European Roller (Coracias garrulus) and Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) in Fars province and contact zones

The Rollers are found in warmer parts of the old world. Two species of Rollers of the genus Coracias are recorded from Iran. The European Roller (Coracias garrulus) is theonly member of the Roller family to breed in Europe. Its overall range extends into the Middle East, Central Asia, and Morocco. The Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)is found widely across tropical Asia from Iraq eastward across the Indian Subcontinent to Indochina. Breeding distribution of the two species is largely separated geographically; although, they come to close in southern Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Information about contact zones between the two species is scarce. In this study, the distribution of European Roller and Indian Roller and areas where the two species occur sympatrically were examined in Fars province during spring, summer 2017 and spring 2018. The results show that the European Roller is distributed in most parts of the province and the Indian Roller in the western and southern parts of the province. Also, some contact zones recognized between the two species in the southern and western of the province. Evolutionary biologists have always referred to the importance of documenting contact zones between closely related species.

Keywords:

Distribution , Roller , Sympatric , Coraciiformes