Biodiversity Data Journal :
Research Article
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Corresponding author: Farhad A. Khudhur (farhad.khudhur@univsul.edu.iq)
Academic editor: Ben Price
Received: 01 Feb 2021 | Accepted: 16 Mar 2021 | Published: 25 Mar 2021
© 2021 Farhad Khudhur, Pavel Sroka
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Khudhur FA, Sroka P (2021) Updated check-list of the mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) of Iraq. Biodiversity Data Journal 9: e63830. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.9.e63830
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Based on a recent field survey in Iraqi Kurdistan and a critical evaluation of previously published data, 37 mayfly species are listed as occurring in Iraq. We collected and identified nine species as new for the country and corrected some previously published records. For several species scarcely treated in the literature, we provide information allowing their identification in the larval stage to promote the acquisition of reliable faunistic data from Iraq in the future.
aquatic biodiversity, mayflies, Ephemeroptera, Middle East, Iraq
Faunistic studies of mayflies occurring in some parts of the Middle East are still sparse. Existing studies have mainly focused on the Arabian Peninsula (
The stream network of Iraq includes the Tigris River basin which has several sub-basins (Khabur, Greater Zab, Lesser Zab, Adhaim and Diyala) and the Euphrates River basin (
Most of the published data concerning the mayflies of Iraq are restricted to the northern region of the country.
Most of the studies dealing with Iraqi fauna have been undertaken using the morphological approach only. The barcoding fragment of mtDNA (COI) was acquired for some locally-collected species by M. Al Saffar, but remains mostly unpublished (some of these sequences were incorporated in
Recent ecological studies or attempts to incorporate molecular data into mayfly research in Iraq are potentially very useful. They are, however, also hampered by a lack of suitable literature allowing accurate species identifications. Therefore, the samples are often identified using inappropriate literature sources, which might result in considerable confusion regarding faunistic data in the future (see
The samples were collected semi-quantitatively by a D-frame net using the kick-sampling method, sweeping through roots and submerged plants or picked manually from rocks and pebbles. All of the material was collected by F. Khudhur from January to October 2019. The samples were collected from 24 sites (one sample per site) which were selected to cover the mountainous region of the northern part of the country. For the list of localities, see Table
Locality code |
Specification |
Latitude (N) |
Longitude (E) |
IRQ 19/01 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Sulaimaniyah Province, Dukan area, Chami Razan stream, the upstream, leg. Khudhur, 22.1.2019 |
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IRQ 19/02 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Sulaimaniyah Province, Dukan area, Chami Razan stream, the downstream, leg. Khudhur, 22.1.2019 |
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IRQ 19/03 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Erbil Province, Choman Town, Choman Stream, rocky creek behind Halgurd resort, leg. Khudhur, 28.4.2019 |
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IRQ 19/04 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Erbil Province, Choman Town, Warda Village, rocky creek near the village, leg. Khudhur, 29.4.2019 |
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IRQ 19/05 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Erbil Province, Choman Town, Gondazhor Village, creek located NW to the village, leg. Khudhur, 29.4.2019 |
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IRQ 19/06 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Erbil Province, Choman Town, Shewalok Village, creek near the village, leg. Khudhur, 29.4.2019 |
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IRQ 19/07 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Erbil Province, Barzan area, creek near to Shandar cave, leg. Khudhur, 1.5.2019 |
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IRQ 19/08 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Sulaimaniyah Province, Sharbazher area, Upper Dere Village, creek close Gmo Mt. plain, leg. Khudhur, 9.9.2019 |
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IRQ 19/09 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Sulaimaniyah Province, Sharbazner area, Suraze Village, Twlwe Brook, leg. Khudhur, 9.9.2019 |
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IRQ 19/10 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Sulaimaniyah Province, Shavbazner area, Upper Dere Village, Chami Marwe stream, leg. Khudhur, 9.9.2019 |
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IRQ 19/11 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Sulaimaniyah Province, Sharbazher area, Mawat Town, Brook down to the town leg. Khudhur, 13.9.2019 |
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IRQ 19/12 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Sulaimaniyah Province, Hawraman area, Biyara Town, Water Canal East to the town, leg. Khudhur, 14.9.2019 |
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IRQ 19/13 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Sulaimaniyah Province, Hawraman area, Tawela Town, Awesar stream, leg. Khudhur, 14.9.2019 |
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IRQ 19/14 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Sulaimaniyah Province, BaKrajo area, KaniPan Village, Kandakawa stream, leg. Khudhur, 25.9.2019 |
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IRQ 19/15 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Sulaimaniyah Province, Sharbazher area, Qaiwan Village, creek near to the village, leg. Khudhur, 28.9.2019 |
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IRQ 19/16 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Sulaimaniyah Province, Sharbazher area, Kuna Masi Village, Kuna Masi stream, the upstream, leg. Khudhur, 28.9.2019 |
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IRQ 19/17 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Sulaimaniyah Province, Sharbazher area, Kuna Masi Village, Kuna Masi stream, the downstream, leg. Khudhur, 28.9.2019 |
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IRQ 19/18 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Erbil Province, Balisan Village, Water Canal of the village leg. Khudhur, 22.10.2019 |
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IRQ 19/19 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Duhok Province, Amedi Town, Solav Resort, Solav waterfall, leg. Khudhur, 23.10.2019 |
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IRQ 19/20 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Duhok Province, Amedi Town,, Anishke cave, brook near to the cave, leg. Khudhur, 23.10.2019 |
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IRQ 19/21 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Duhok Province, Bamarni Town, the water canal, leg. Khudhur, 23.10.2019 |
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IRQ 19/22 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Duhok Province, Bamarni Town, Dihe Village, stream north to the village, leg. Khudhur, 23.10.2019 |
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IRQ 19/23 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Duhok Province, Bamarni Town. KaniBlav, creek in the village leg. Khudhur, 23.10.2019 |
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IRQ 19/24 |
IRAQ, Kurdistan, Duhok Province , Amedi Town, Dereluk Stream, leg. Khudhur, 23.10.2019 |
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Literature published up to now contains records of 37 species occurring in Iraq. Table
No. | Species | Numbers of sampled sites | Distribution | Distribution in Iraq | First reference for Iraq |
Baetidae | |||||
1 | Baetis (Baetis) buceratus Eaton, 1870 | 1 | West Palaearctic | Duhok, Erbil, Mosul, Sulaymaniyah |
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2 | Baetis (Baetis) lutheri Müller-Liebenau, 1967 | 2, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17-24 | Europe, Turkey, Caucasus, Iraq | Duhok, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah |
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3 | Baetis (Baetis) cf. pentaphlebodes Ujhelyi, 1966 | 11, 15, 18, 21, 23 | West Palaearctic | Duhok, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah | New record for Iraq |
4 | Baetis (Baetis) samochai Koch, 1981 | 14 | Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Syria | Sulaymaniyah | New record for Iraq |
5 | Baetis (Baetis) vardarensis Ikonomov, 1962 | 19, 22 | Europe, Caucasus, Iraq | Duhok |
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6 | Baetis (Baetis) vernus Curtis, 1834 | - | Palaearctic | Erbil |
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7 | Baetis (Rhodobaetis) braaschi Zimmermann, 1980 | 1, 2, 7, 11, 15, 19-22, 24 | Central Asia, Caucasus, Crimea, Turkey, Iran | Duhok, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah | New record for Iraq |
8 | Baetis (Rhodobaetis) cf. gadeai Thomas, 1999 | 10 | Unclear | Sulaymaniyah | New record for Iraq |
9 | Baetis (Rhodobaetis) ilex Jacob & Zimmermann, 1978 | 3, 6, 8-13, 15, 18-23 | Caucasus, Iran | Duhok, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah | New record for Iraq |
10 | Baetis (Rhodobaetis) rhodani (Pictet, 1843) | 10, 21 | West Palaearctic | Duhok, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah |
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11 | Cloeon cf. dipterum (Linnaeus, 1761) | - | Holarctic | Baiji |
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12 | Cloeon simile Eaton, 1870 | - | Palaearctic | Baiji |
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Isonychiidae | |||||
13 | Isonychia arabica Al-Zubaidi, Braasch & Al-Kayatt, 1987 | - | Iraq | Mosul | |
Oligoneuriidae | |||||
14 | Oligoneuriella bicaudata Al-Zubaidi, Braasch & Al-Kayatt, 1987 | - | Iraq | Duhok |
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15 | Oligoneuriella tskhomelidzei Sowa & Zosidze, 1973 | - | Caucasus, Turkey, Iraq | Erbil |
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Heptageniidae | |||||
16 | Anapos kugleri (Demoulin, 1973) | - | Israel, Iraq, Turkey | Duhok |
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17 | Ecdyonurus (Ecdyonurus) ornatipennis Tshernova, 1938 | 2, 17 | Caucasus, Turkey, Iran | Sulaymaniyah | New record for Iraq |
18 | Electrogena pseudaffinis (Braasch, 1980) | 8, 9 | Caucasus, Turkey, Iran | Sulaymaniyah | New record for Iraq |
19 | Heptagenia (Heptagenia) sulphurea (Müller, 1776) | - | Palaearctic | Erbil |
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20 | Epeorus (Caucasiron) nigripilosus (Sinitshenkova, 1976) | 8, 9 | Caucasus, Turkey, Iraq | Erbil, Sulaymaniyah |
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21 | Epeorus (Epeorus) zaitzevi Tshernova, 1981 | 2, 15-17 | Caucasus, Turkey, Iran, Iraq | Erbil, Sulaymaniyah |
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22 | Rhithrogena expectata Braasch, 1979 | - | Caucasus, Turkey, Iraq | Erbil |
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23 | Rhithrogena semicolorata (Curtis, 1834) | - | Europe | Erbil |
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Leptophlebiidae | |||||
24 | Choroterpes picteti (Eaton, 1871) | - | Europe | Baiji |
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25 | Habrophlebia fusca (Curtis, 1834) | - | West Palaearctic | Erbil |
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Ephemeridae | |||||
26 | Ephemera cf. romantzovi Kluge, 1988 | 2 | Caucasus | Sulaymaniyah | New record for Iraq |
Palingeniidae | |||||
27 | Mortogenesia mesopotamica (Morton, 1921) | - | Iraq, Iran | Amara |
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Ephemerellidae | |||||
28 | Ephemerella ignita (Poda, 1761) | - | Palaearctic | Erbil |
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29 | Torleya major (Klapálek, 1905) | - | West Palaearctic | Erbil |
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Caenidae | |||||
30 | Brachycercus harrisella Curtis, 1834 | - | Palaearctic | Erbil |
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31 | Caenis horaria (Linnaeus, 1758) | - | Palaearctic | Erbil |
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32 | Caenis luctuosa (Burmeister, 1839) | 2, 11, 24 | Palaearctic | Duhok, Sulaymaniyah | New record for Iraq |
33 | Caenis macrura Stephens, 1836 | 1, 22 | Palaearctic | Duhok, Erbil, Mosul, Sulaymaniyah |
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34 | Caenis pseudorivulorum Keffermüller, 1960 | - | Palaearctic | Baiji |
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35 | Caenis rivulorum Eaton, 1884 | - | Palaearctic | Erbil |
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36 | Caenis robusta Eaton, 1884 | - | Palaearctic | Erbil |
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Prosopistomatidae | |||||
37 | Prosopistoma helenae Bojková & Soldán, 2015 | - | Iraq | Mosul |
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List of extra-limital mayfly species, reported from Iraq, based on misidentifications.
No. |
Species |
Numbers of sampled sites |
Distribution |
Reference for Iraq |
1. |
Baetis bicaudatus Dodds, 1923 |
- |
Nearctic |
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2. |
Baetis intercalaris McDunnough, 1921 |
- |
Nearctic |
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3. |
Baetis tricaudataus Dodds, 1923 |
- |
Nearctic |
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4. |
Cinygmula subaequalis (Banks, 1914) |
- |
Nearctic |
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5. |
Epeorus longimanus Eaton, 1883 |
- |
Nearctic |
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6. |
Heptagenia elegantula (Eaton, 1885) |
- |
Nearctic |
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7. |
Serratella tsuno Jacobus & McCafferty, 2008 |
Japan |
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8. |
Caenis tardata McDunnough, 1931 |
- |
Nearctic |
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Here, we list and illustrate the most pronounced diagnostic characters of several species (including species we report as new for the country) to facilitate accurate identification and to prevent the publication of confusing faunistic and ecological data, especially for non-taxonomists. Most of these species are not included in available identification keys, focusing on European fauna (e.g.
Baetis (Rhodobaetis) braaschi Zimmermann, 1980
The species belongs to the subgenus Rhodobaetis Jacob, 2003. Its subgeneric placement can be readily confirmed by the presence of a row of articulated setae (spatulas) on the posterior margin of the abdominal terga. It mostly lacks spine-like setae on the margins of the gill plates, thus being easily recognisable from B. rhodani and B. ilex, other Rhodobaetis species frequently co-occurring in the region and always equipped with such setae. Furthermore, B. braaschi is distinct from all other Baetis species in the region by the presence of two rounded pale spots on the abdominal terga (Fig.
Determination characters of selected species: A. Baetis braaschi, colouration of abdominal terga; B. Baetis ilex, posterior margin of abdominal terga; C. B. ilex, labrum; D. B. ilex, labial palp; E. Baetis samochai, apical part of left mandible; F. B. samochai, apical part of right mandible; G. B. samochai, middle section of femur with short setae on posterior margin (arrow); H. B. samochai, posterior margin of abdominal terga; I. Epeorus zaitzevi, section of abdomen ventrally with lateral protuberances (arrow); J. E. zaitzevi, details of abdominal terga; K. Ecdyonurus ornatipennis, setae on basal part of hind femur; L. E. ornatipennis, setae on distal part of hind femur; M. E. ornatipennis, colouration of abdominal sterna; N. Electrogena pseudaffinis, part of thorax with rounded posterior corners of pronotum (arrow); O. E. pseudaffinis, colouration of abdominal terga; P. E. pseudaffinis, setae on basal part of middle femur; Q. E. pseudaffinis, setae on distal part of middle femur; R. Caenis luctuosa, setae on forefemur.
Baetis (Rhodobaetis) ilex Jacob & Zimmermann, 1978
The species represents another member of the subgenus Rhodobaetis, easily distinguishable by the presence of setae on the posterior margins of the abdominal terga (Fig.
Baetis (Baetis) samochai Koch, 1981
The species is distinct from all other Baetis species occurring in the region in several characters: i) a very broad outer tooth of the mandibular incisors, distinctly separated from the inner part of the incisors (Fig.
Epeorus (Epeorus) zaitzevi Tshernova, 1981
Despite the species being relatively widespread and common in the region, existing descriptions are scattered and sometimes confusing. In the original description,
E. zaitzevi larva is similar to European Epeorus assimilis Eaton, 1883-88, sharing the absence of paracercus and not having an enlarged gill I. Nevertheless, it can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: i) long and pointed posterolateral projections on the abdominal terga (Fig.
Ecdyonurus (Ecdyonurus) ornatipennis Tshernova, 1938
The morphology of this species is poorly known. In the original description,
Electrogena pseudaffinis (Braasch, 1980)
The species was described, based on larvae and the original description (
Caenis luctuosa (Burmeister, 1839)
The species is very similar to C. macrura, which is widely distributed in the region (being a dominant Caenidae species in neighbouring Iran, see
We listed the records of 37 species for Iraq. From the nine species, we report as new for the country, all of these findings being expected, since these species occur in neighbouring regions and have not been previously mentioned from Iraq only because the area is understudied. The taxonomy of several species we collected is not clear (identified as "cf." in Table
The occurrence of some earlier reported species we consider as highly unlikely and resulting from erroneous identification. This concerns, in particular, the Nearctic species Baetis tricaudatus Dodds, 1923 and Caenis tardata McDunnough, 1931 (reported in
A different identification procedure was used by
The species composition of the area which we sampled in Iraqi Kurdistan is similar to that of the neighbouring mountainous areas of NW Iran and SE Turkey and exhibits some affinities to the Caucasian mayfly fauna. This is evidenced by the occurrence of B. ilex, B. braaschi, E. ornatipennis, E. pseudaffinis and E. nigripilosus. These represent Caucasian species, sometimes with a territorial extension to the Middle East and Central Asia. On the other hand, some typically Middle Eastern species have also been recorded, such as B. samochai (known from Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Iran). We have also collected common Palaearctic or west Palaearctic species, some of which have unclear taxonomy and our specimens might actually represent separate Middle East lineages, different from the European ones (B. cf. pentaphlebodes, B. cf. gadeai, C. cf. dipterum).
The future prospects of mayfly research in Iraq include widening the sampling into the southern part of the country, with more affinities to the Levant and Arabian Peninsula. As for the taxa of the mountainous area in the north, it would be useful to include the material from Iraq in more general revisions of Caucasian taxa with complicated taxonomy (such as genera Baetis or Ecdyonurus).
This study was financed from the institutional support of Institute of Entomology RVO: 60077344 (Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences) for PS. We are grateful to Chris Steer for the English language correction and to the reviewers and editor for their help in improving the manuscript.