A Cytogenetic Study on Spermophilus Xanthoprymnus (Bennett, 1835) in Isparta Province

This study was conducted to explain the karyological characteristics of S. xanthoprymnus from Gencali in Turkey. The chromosomes of the specimens were traditionally stained and examined according to standard procedures. The chromosomes were determined according to centromere positions by examining the photographs of metaphase cells. The karyotype of S. xanthoprymnus contained 42 chromosomes (2n=42) and fundamental number of chromosomal arms NF=81 and the number of autosomal arms NFa=78. The karyotype includes four metacentric chromosomes ranging from large to small, three pairs of large and medium-sized submetacentric autosome, twelve ranging from large to medium size subtelocentric, and a pair of acrocentric autosomes. The X chromosome was determined as large subtelocentric and Y chromosome as small acrocentric. Due to there is no karyological information and geographical distribution of existentence cytotypes in Turkey, revelation of chromosomal structure in Anatolian ground squirrel populations will provide properly assessment of taxonomy of those rodents in further studies.

The rodent fauna from the Neolithic human settlement of Tepecik-Çiftlik (Niğde, Turkey)

The primary aim of this study was to establish for the very first time the results on the rodent fauna gathered from the ongoing Neolithic excavations at the Tepecik-Çiftlik site in southern Cappadocia (Niğde, Turkey). So far, the fauna being study is represented by species of arvicolines (Microtus cf. arvalis and Arvicola cf. amphibius), murines (Mus cf. musculus), sousliks (Spermophilus xanthoprymnus), hamsters (Mesocricetus brandti) and mole-rats (Spalax xanthodon), and their remains are described in detail. Paleoenvironmental assumption based on common preferences of the fauna elements indicates, at first sight, a rather dry steppe environment with sparse plant cover or perennial short grasses. On the other hand, the presence of Arvicola cf. amphibius points out streams and marsh-like vegetation cover with bodies of water . The predation or burn marks observed on some specimens and the presence of subterraneous rodents raise questions concerning their taphonomy.