Comparative osteology of three endemic cichlids (Iranocichla spp.) (Actinopterygii, Perciformes, Cichlidae) from southern Iran

Iranian cichlids are isolated disjunct populations of the African cichlids group, restricted to the Hormuz Strait region in the Hormuz basin, and are a very important group from both zoogeographic and phylogenetic points of view. Thus, the osteological structures, as one of the most reliable structures, of the three nominal species of Iranian cichlid fishes, Iranocichla hormuzensis Coad, 1982, from the Mehran River, Iranocichla persa Esmaeili, Sayyadzadeh et Seehausen, 2016, from Khorgo hot spring, and Iranocichla sp., from the Kol River were described and compared. Ten specimens of each species were cleared and stained with Alcian blue and Alizarin red. A digital camera was used for taking pictures and CorelDraw X6 software for preparing drawings. The three species have some differences in the caudal fin skeleton, shape of the urostyle, neural spine of preural 2, hypural spines 2, and 3, anterior part of parhypural and hypurapophysis, the size of neural spines of preural 2 and 3, hypural 3 and 4, and epurals. Although there are some differences among the species, osteology of these species is very conservative and other traits like behavioral and molecular should be used.

A new species of Cephaloecetes (Bubocorophiina) from the Iranian coasts of the Gulf of Oman and the Hormuz Strait (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Siphonoecetini)

The first member of Cephaloecetes in the north-western part of the Indian Ocean, Cephaloecetes ungulatus sp. nov., is described from Chabahar Bay, the Gulf of Oman and Qeshm Island in the western Hormuz Strait, Iran. The new species is characterized from the other two species of genus Cephaloecetes by a unique claw-shaped ventral plate on antenna 2 article 2.

The Iraqi–Iranian Dispute and the Situation of Their Armies on the Eve of the War

The chapter deals with the Iraqi-Iranian dispute in the 20th century. Its origins and development and the superpowers involvement in this conflict. The continuous border clashes between the two countries and the Iranian growing involvement in internal Iraqi issues. It deals with the problem of control on the Shatt al-Arab river and the Iranian control of the Hormuz strait in the Persian Gulf. It describes the deterioration in the situation after the deposition of the shah and the establishment of the Islamic regime of Khomeini (February 1979). It describes also the status of the armed forces of both countries—ground forces, air and naval forces—on the eve of the war between them, and their strength and capabilities.

Annual breeding patterns of the intertidal barnacle Microeuraphia permitini (Chthamalidae, Euraphinae) in different habitats of the Persian Gulf

As the reproductive cycle of barnacles is regulated by different physical and biological factors, their annual breeding patterns can be locally adapted. This study aims to describe the breeding patterns of Microeuraphia permitini in the Persian Gulf, Iran, in three different habitats. Barnacles from three locations were examined monthly during one year. The results showed that M. permitini matures very rapidly in the Persian Gulf. This species reproduces year-round with peak breeding between May and August, and shows a decline in breeding between November and January. Although the Persian Gulf is restricted by the Hormuz Strait, the reproductive activity of the barnacle shows a decline coinciding with the Indian Ocean summer monsoon, as the brood percentage falls in that period. Additionally, comparison of mean breeding activity between the three sites revealed that breeding activity is different in the different habitats surveyed (mangrove swamp > exposed rocky jetty > sheltered rocky jetty).