Scale morphology variability in cyprinid fishes and its significance in taxonomy using light and scanning electron microscopy: A case study of the genus Garra Hamilton, 1822 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) Sima Aslan Faal, Hamid Reza Esmaeili, Azad Teimori, Gholamreza Shahhossein, Ali Gholamhosseini, Bettina Reichenbacher Microscopy Research and Technique, 2024 To evaluate scale morphological variability (shape, size, topological macro‐ and microstructures, ornamentation patterns) of cyprinid fishes, nine species of the genus Garra were selected and their scales from five different body regions were studied by using light and scanning electron microscopy. The scales of the examined species were thin with a central or antero–centrally positioned focus, with no cteni in the posterior part. In addition to these typical characteristics, some morphological variation was observed in the overall shape (irregular round, true oval, round‐triangular, irregular pentagonal, hexagonal, irregular hexagonal, pentagonal, ovoid), and the focus shape. These variations were mainly dependent on the fish lengths and the flank region. Morphological analysis clustered the examined species into two distinct groups. Group I consisted of G. amirhosseini and G. gymnothorax, while Group II has three subgroups, which include G. persica and G. mondica (subgroup I), G. meymehensis, G. rossica, G. nudiventris, G. hormuzensis (subgroup II), and G. rufa (subgroup III). The grouping of the studied Garra species based on the current scale morphological characters and the molecular data was only consistent for G. rossica and G. nudiventris. In addition, in the phylogenetic tree, G. persica, G. mondica, G. amirhosseini, and G. hormuzensis formed a distinct clade. However, these species did not represent close relationships in the dendrogram obtained from the scale morphology. A possible explanation why the grouping of the studied Garra species based on their scale morphological characters does not match their phylogenetic relationships is that most of the scale morphological traits vary depending on the fish size and the location of the scales on the flank. Therefore, except for some traits, that is, central or antero–centrally positioned focus, having no cteni, a specific sectioned form so called “tetra‐sectioned” type, the other examined variables are not useful enough to be used in the taxonomic study of the examined cyprinid fishes. Therefore, scale morphological characters should be used carefully for taxonomic purposes.Research Highlights Shape, size, topological macro‐ and microstructures, and ornamentation patterns of nine species of the genus Garra were studied by using light and scanning electron microscopy. The scales were thin with a central or antero–centrally positioned focus, with no cteni in the posterior part. Morphological variation was observed in the overall shape (irregular round, true oval, round‐triangular, irregular pentagonal, hexagonal, irregular hexagonal, pentagonal, and ovoid), and the focus shape. The grouping of Garra species based on the current scale morphological characters and the molecular data was only consistent for G. rossica and G. nudiventris.
Predicting climate change impacts on the distribution of endemic fish Cyprinion muscatense in the Arabian Peninsula Ali Gholamhosseini, Masoud Yousefi, Hamid Reza Esmaeili Ecology and Evolution, 2024 Freshwater fishes are facing considerable threats in the Arabian Peninsula which is considered as a highly stressed region in the Middle East. It is predicted that northern Oman is likely to face decreasing rainfall and increasing temperature in coming decades. In this study, we focused on an endemic cyprinid fish Cyprinion muscatense, as a model to investigate impacts of climate change on the mountain fishes inhibiting in this arid region. This species is expected to be strongly affected by climate change because of its limited distribution range in a montane area surrounded by lowlands and sea, limiting the species in shift to other areas. We used an ensemble approach by considering two regressions‐based species distribution modeling (SDM) algorithms: generalized linear models (GLM), and generalized additive models (GAM) to model the species habitat suitability and predict the impacts of climate change on the species habitat suitability. Based on the distribution models, the montane area located in northeastern Oman was identified as the most suitable habitat for this species. Our results indicate that, even under the minimum greenhouse gas emissions scenario (RCP 2.6), climate change will produce a high reduction in its potential future habitats. According to the results of percent contribution, elevation and annual minimum temperature were the most important variables in predicting the species suitable habitats. Results also showed that only a small percentage of suitable habitats for the species within boundaries of protected areas. Therefore, the impact of climate change on the species appears particularly alarming. Although our study was restricted to a single cyprinid freshwater species, decreases in potential habitats are likely predicted for other cyprinid fish species restricted to the mountains of this region, suggesting severe consideration is needed for aquatic systems in future conservation planning, especially for endemic freshwater fishes.
Ant diversity and species assemblages along an elevational gradient in the arid area of Central Iran Maryam Hajian, Saber Sadeghi, Zohreh Eslami Barzoki, Majid Moradmand, Ali Gholamhosseini, Mehregan Ebrahimi Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics, 2024 Ants (Hym., Formicidae) have been recognized as vital components of arid ecosystems. Determining the diversity patterns of ants and the ecological factors behind these patterns is expected to improve our understanding of the functioning of arid ecosystems. Here, we explored patterns of ant species diversity and community composition along an elevational gradient (800 to 2800 m) in the arid area of Central Iran. The elevational gradient in ant diversity and the effects of environmental factors on various indices of ant diversity and species composition were investigated using generalized linear mixed models and variance partitioning analysis. We recorded 34 ant species of 12 genera and 8 tribes from 120 surveyed quadrats. Climate variables were the most important predictors of ant community structure. Indices of ant alpha diversity including Hill numbers and taxonomic diversity increased with elevation. Hill numbers were negatively influenced by temperature, while they were positively affected by precipitation. The observed diversity pattern could be explained by the diversity-productivity hypothesis. In our study area, the maximum primary productivity and consequently the maximum species diversity occurred at high elevations, where precipitation is high and temperature is lower than the extremes that could limit plant productivity. Ant assemblages are expected to become increasingly composed of warm-tolerant species in response to warmer and drier conditions driven by climate change. The distribution of species with lower heat tolerance will be limited to high-elevation areas in Central Iran. These areas could act as refuges for ants and should be considered priorities for conservation
Hidden taxonomic characters in otoliths of blenniid fishes (Teleostei: Blenniidae) from the Iranian coasts of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea ecoregions: A scanning electron microscopy approach Hamidreza Mehraban, Hamid Reza Esmaeili, Ali Gholamhosseini, Mahvash Seifali Acta Zoologica, 2023 In the present work, the morphological characteristics of sagitta were described and analysed for 10 species of combtooth blennies (Blenniidae) inhabiting the intertidal region of the Persian Gulf and Makran zone of Oman Sea to see the taxonomic usefulness of otoliths, especially their hidden characters for species identification. Based on the obtained results, sagitta morphology could be considered as diagnostic characters distinguishing the genera Alticus, Antennablennius, Istiblennius, Omobranchus and Parablennius showing differences related to general shape, that is, elliptic/oval to triangular; shape of antirostrum and its degree of development; the degrees of convexity of ventral and dorsal margins, and shape of ostium. The common/general otolith characters shared in the all studied combtooth blennies, is the heterosulcoid condition, which is a shared character with Perciformes and Gobiiformes. The type of sulcus is ostial, and it can be considered as a plesiomorph character shared with a basal group of actinopterygian fishes. The obtained results could be useful in taxonomical, paleontological, ecological and food and feeding habits studies.
Morphology and morphometry of two hybridizing buntings at their hybrid zone in northern Iran reveal intermediate and transgressive morphotypes Ali Gholamhosseini, Mansour Aliabadian, Till Töpfer, Glenn-Peter Sætre Avian Research, 2023 The closely related Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala, a western Palearctic lineage) and Red-headed Bunting (Emberiza bruniceps, an eastern Palearctic lineage) hybridize and replace each other south of the Caspian Sea. The parental species have distinct phenotypes and therefore morphology is useful for assessing hybridization in the contact zone. In the years of 1940 and 1977, quite a few hybrids were collected and studied morphologically. Since then, the hybrid zone appears to have expanded westwards, but there has been a time gap in the collection of morphological data. Here we reanalyze bunting specimens morphologically and compare the historical data with recent data. Morphometric and phenotypic traits from three time periods (1940, 1977 and recent) were studied to assess phenotypic variation of hybrids, pattern of hybridization, and transgressive traits in the hybrid zone. Our results show that most of the birds in the hybrid zone exhibit intermediate phenotypes (both colors and morphometric characters), ranging from the pure phenotype of either of the parental species. However, hybridization has also produced novel phenotypes not seen in any of the parents. Using a canonical discriminant function analysis, the morphometric characters separated each parental species and the hybrids quite well. Our results showed morphometric intermediacy of hybrids in accordance with phenotypes. We observe a time trend in which recent hybrids are more similar to Red-headed Buntings phenotypically compared to historical samples. This pattern is likely a signature of a westward expansion of the Red-headed Bunting into the breeding range of the Black-headed Bunting.
An integrative insight into the diversity, distribution, and biogeography of the freshwater endemic clade of the Ponticola syrman group (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot Fatah Zarei, Hamid Reza Esmaeili, Reza Sadeghi, Ulrich K. Schliewen, Marcelo Kovačić, Keyvan Abbasi, Ali Gholamhosseini Ecology and Evolution, 2022 Freshwater habitats of the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot represent a center of endemism for the gobiid genus Ponticola Iljin, 1927. Hitherto, large‐scale molecular studies, owing to restricted taxon and geographical sampling, have failed to give an elaborate picture of diversity and evolutionary history of these species. Here, to contribute to filling this gap, we assessed taxonomic diversity, phylogeography and evolutionary history for the south Caspian populations of Ponticola presently classified as P. iranicus and P. patimari, using an integrative taxonomic approach comprising an entire geographic range sampling, and analyses of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes, the head lateral line system, otolith shape, and meristic and morphometric variation. All freshwater samples of the P. syrman group belong to a monophyletic clade with two main subclades: a small subclade confined to the upper Sefidroud sub‐basin including the type locality of P. iranicus and a large subclade with three geographically constrained haplogroups (Hg1, Hg2, and Hg3), comprising the rest of the distribution. Hg1 showed an eastern distribution including the type locality of P. patimari, while Hg2 and Hg3 are sister groups with central and western‐central distributions, respectively. The freshwater clade diverged from P. syrman during the Tyurkyanian low stand (~150 m b.s.l. lasting ~0.1 Myr), while the divergence of P. iranicus and P. patimari and radiations within P. patimari took place during the Bakunian high stand (up to 50 m a.s.l. lasting ~378–480 kya). Species delimitation analyses indicated two distinct species, corresponding to each main subclade. Although the otolith shape and lateral line analyses did not reflect with phylogeographic pattern, PCA and DFA plots of meristic and morphometric data showed a clear separation of the two major subclades corresponding to P. iranicus and P. patimari, suggesting the presence of significant morphological variation meriting formal taxonomic recognition. Overall, our findings (i) reveal the presence of two freshwater endemic species in the P. syrman group, and pending further investigation, hypothesize the presence of a third cryptic species; (ii) revise and document a narrow distributional range and low diversity for P. iranicus, in contrast to a wider distributional range and high diversity for P. patimari; (iii) suggest that the climatic oscillations of the Pleistocene were associated with the cladogenesis within the P. syrman group; and (iv) allowed for the recognition of conservation units and proposition of management measures.
Drought-driven breeding failures of greater flamingos in an important bird area, in semi-arid southern Iran A Gholamhosseini, M Jafari, A Béchet Ornithology Research 34 (1), 20 , 2026 2026
The global invasion: Distribution, invasion mechanisms, and ecological impacts of the Eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) F Zare, HR Esmaeili, A Gholamhosseini, R Khosravi Journal of Ornamental Aquatics 12 (4), 1-10 , 2025 2025
Bird diversity in the zoology section of the natural history and technology museum of Shiraz university and suggestions for increasing efficiency and attracting more visitors A Gholamhosseini Experimental animal Biology 13 (3), 63-74 , 2025 2025
DNA barcoding confirms the presence of a cryptic fish species, the floral blenny Petroscirtes mitratus (Teleostei: Blenniidae: Blenniinae) at Qeshm Island, Persian Gulf HR ESMAEILI, G SAYYADZADEH, F AGHAJANI, V SHOLEH, ... Iranian Journal of Ichthyology 12 (4) , 2025 2025
Species on the move: Impacts of climate change on the spatial range of endemic fishes of the eco-sensitive semi-arid area of the Arabian Peninsula AH Masoumi, HR Esmaeili, R Khosravi, A Gholamhosseini, M Korkmaz, ... Science of the Total Environment 947, 174095 , 2024 2024 Citations: 12
Scale morphology variability in cyprinid fishes and its significance in taxonomy using light and scanning electron microscopy: A case study of the genus Garra Hamilton, 1822 … SA Faal, HR Esmaeili, A Teimori, G Shahhossein, A Gholamhosseini, ... Microscopy Research and Technique 87 (9), 2212-2240 , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
Geographic distribution of Bee-eaters (Genus Merops)(Coraciiformes: Meropidae) in Fars province, southern Iran based on ecoregions F Baharlu, A Gholamhosseini Experimental animal Biology 13 (1), 97-104 , 2024 2024
Predicting climate change impacts on the distribution of endemic fish Cyprinion muscatense in the Arabian Peninsula A Gholamhosseini, M Yousefi, HR Esmaeili Ecology and Evolution 14 (7), e11720 , 2024 2024 Citations: 6
Ant diversity and species assemblages along an elevational gradient in the arid area of Central Iran M Hajian, S Sadeghi, ZE Barzoki, M Moradmand, A Gholamhosseini, ... Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics 10 (1), 143–159-143–159 , 2024 2024 Citations: 2
Hidden taxonomic characters in otoliths of blenniid fishes (Teleostei: Blenniidae) from the Iranian coasts of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea ecoregions: A scanning electron … H Mehraban, HR Esmaeili, A Gholamhosseini, M Seifali Acta Zoologica 104 (3), 296-308 , 2023 2023 Citations: 12
Insights into mitochondrial phylogeny and molecular systematics of mullids (Teleostei: Perciformes: Mullidae) from the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea S Echreshavi, HR Esmaeili, A Gholamhosseini, SMA Jufaili, M Safaie, ... Marine Biodiversity 53 (3), 37 , 2023 2023 Citations: 2
Experimental Animal Biology F Baharlu, A Gholamhosseini Animal Biology 13 (49), 97-104 , 2023 2023
Morphology and morphometry of two hybridizing buntings at their hybrid zone in northern Iran reveal intermediate and transgressive morphotypes A Gholamhosseini, M Aliabadian, T Töpfer, GP Sætre Avian Research 14, 100150 , 2023 2023 Citations: 5
Phylogeography and population structure of Ponticola gorlap (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in an evolutionary distinctive and ecologically threatened Caspian Sea sub-basin F Zarei, HR Esmaeili, R Sadeghi, B Reichenbacher, UK Schliewen, ... Aquatic Sciences 85 (1), 15 , 2023 2023 Citations: 4
Molecular systematics and morphological variation in the Mesopotamian spiny eel Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Teleostei: Mastacembelidae) A Gholamhosseini, M Razbanian, HR Esmaeili, S Eagderi The European Zoological Journal 89 (1), 546-555 , 2022 2022 Citations: 11
An integrative insight into the diversity, distribution, and biogeography of the freshwater endemic clade of the Ponticola syrman group (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in the … F Zarei, HR Esmaeili, R Sadeghi, UK Schliewen, M Kovačić, K Abbasi, ... Ecology and evolution 12 (9), e9300 , 2022 2022 Citations: 10
Taxonomic significance of vertebral column and caudal skeleton of clupeid fishes (Teleostei: Clupeiformes) of Iran L Purrafee Dizaj, HR Esmaeili, L Jawad, M Ebrahimi, A Gholamhosseini, ... Acta Zoologica 103 (2), 206-219 , 2022 2022 Citations: 12
Distribution modeling of the hybrid sister taxa in red-headed bunting and black-headed bunting, Order Passeriformes. S Rahmati, M Gholamalifard, A Gholamhosseini, SM Ghasempouri Environmental Sciences (1735-1324) 19 (4) , 2021 2021 Citations: 1
Can geometric morphometrics and traditional methods work for evaluation of body shape plasticity of exotic fishes? A case study of topmouth gudgeon, Pseudorasbora parva … Z GANJALI, HR ESMAEILI, S EAGDERI, A GHOLAMHOSSEINI Iranian Journal of Ichthyology 8 (3), 250-270 , 2021 2021 Citations: 3
Avian diversity of Fars province (Southwestern Iran) with note on the zoogeographical composition A Gholamhosseini Iranian Journal of Animal Biosystematics 17 (1), 89-100 , 2021 2021 Citations: 3
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Diversity, mitochondrial phylogeny, and ichthyogeography of the Capoeta capoeta complex (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) H Zareian, HR Esmaeili, A Gholamhosseini, B Japoshvili, M Özuluğ, ... Hydrobiologia 806 (1), 363-409 , 2018 2018 Citations: 31
Fishes of the Persis region of Iran: an updated checklist and ichthyogeography HR ESMAEILI, S BABAI, A GHOLAMIFARD, A PAZIRA, ... Iranian Journal of Ichthyology 2 (3), 201-223 , 2015 2015 Citations: 31
The ichthyofauna of Kor and Helleh River basins in southwest of Iran with reference to taxonomic and zoogeographic features of native fishes A Teimory, HR Esmaeili, A Gholamhosseini Iranian Journal of Animal Biosystematics 6 (1), 1-8 , 2010 2010 Citations: 31
Sympatry and possible hybridization among species of the killifish genus Aphanius Nardo, 1827 (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae) in Southwestern Iran M Masoudi, HR Esmaeili, A Teimori, Z Gholami, A Gholamhosseini, ... Limnologica 59, 10-20 , 2016 2016 Citations: 24
Hybridization between sister taxa versus non-sister taxa: a case study in birds A Gholamhosseini, M Vardakis, M Aliabadian, V Nijman, R Vonk Bird Study 60 (2), 195-201 , 2013 2013 Citations: 24
Predicted Changes in Climatic Niche of Alburnus Species (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in Iran Until 2050 HR Esmaeili, A Gholamhosseini, T Mohammadian-Kalat, M Aliabadian Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 18 (8), 995-1003 , 2018 2018 Citations: 21
Comparative ultrastructure and ornamentation characteristics of scales in gobiid species (Teleostei: Gobiidae) using the scanning electron microscope R Sadeghi, HR Esmaeili, A Teimori, M Ebrahimi, A Gholamhosseini Microscopy Research and Technique 84 (6), 1243-1256 , 2021 2021 Citations: 18
Genetic diversification, population structure, and geophylogeny of the Scarface rockskipper Istiblennius pox (Teleostei: Blenniidae) in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea H Mehraban, HR Esmaeili, F Zarei, M Ebrahimi, A Gholamhosseini Marine Biodiversity 50 (2), 20 , 2020 2020 Citations: 18
Karyotype Analysis of the King Nase Fish, Chondrostoma regium (Heckel, 1843)(Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae) from IranG L HR Esmaeili, H Zareian, A Gholamhosseini, M Ebrahimi, Z Gholami, ... Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 10 (4) , 2010 2010 Citations: 18
New records and geographical distribution of Alburnus hohenackeri Kessler, 1870 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in Iran H Zareian, HR Esmaeili, A Gholamhosseini, G Sayyadzadeh Check list 9 (4), 829 , 2013 2013 Citations: 13
Species on the move: Impacts of climate change on the spatial range of endemic fishes of the eco-sensitive semi-arid area of the Arabian Peninsula AH Masoumi, HR Esmaeili, R Khosravi, A Gholamhosseini, M Korkmaz, ... Science of the Total Environment 947, 174095 , 2024 2024 Citations: 12
Hidden taxonomic characters in otoliths of blenniid fishes (Teleostei: Blenniidae) from the Iranian coasts of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea ecoregions: A scanning electron … H Mehraban, HR Esmaeili, A Gholamhosseini, M Seifali Acta Zoologica 104 (3), 296-308 , 2023 2023 Citations: 12
Taxonomic significance of vertebral column and caudal skeleton of clupeid fishes (Teleostei: Clupeiformes) of Iran L Purrafee Dizaj, HR Esmaeili, L Jawad, M Ebrahimi, A Gholamhosseini, ... Acta Zoologica 103 (2), 206-219 , 2022 2022 Citations: 12
Molecular systematics and distribution review of the endemic cyprinid species, Persian chub, Acanthobrama persidis (Coad, 1981) in Southern Iran (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) A Teimori, HR Esmaeili, G Sayyadzadeh, N Zarei, A Gholamhosseini Molecular Biology Research Communications 4 (4), 189 , 2015 2015 Citations: 12
Molecular systematics and morphological variation in the Mesopotamian spiny eel Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Teleostei: Mastacembelidae) A Gholamhosseini, M Razbanian, HR Esmaeili, S Eagderi The European Zoological Journal 89 (1), 546-555 , 2022 2022 Citations: 11
Study of topography and climate effects on brown bear Ursus arctos (Linneaus, 1758): Carnivora, Ursidae distribution in south of Iran with use of Geographic Information System … A Gholamhosseini, HR Esmaeili, H Ahani, A Teimory, M Ebrahimi, H Kami, ... IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY 23 (2), 215-233 , 2010 2010 Citations: 11
The second specimen of the Iranian Eirenis rechingeri Eiselt, 1971 A Gholamhosseini, JF Schmidtler, H Zareian, HR Esmaeili Herpetozoa 22 (3/4), 189-90 , 2009 2009 Citations: 11
An integrative insight into the diversity, distribution, and biogeography of the freshwater endemic clade of the Ponticola syrman group (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in the … F Zarei, HR Esmaeili, R Sadeghi, UK Schliewen, M Kovačić, K Abbasi, ... Ecology and evolution 12 (9), e9300 , 2022 2022 Citations: 10
Life history traits and gonad histology of an endemic cyprinid fish, Mond spotted barb, Capoeta mandica from Southern Iran R Choobineh, HR Esmaeili, H Zareian, A Gholamhosseini Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences 15 (2), 97-112 , 2017 2017 Citations: 10
An expanding hybrid zone between Black-headed and Red-headed Buntings in northern Iran A Gholamhosseini, M Aliabadian, J Darvish, T Töpfer, GP Sætre Ardea 105 (1), 27-36 , 2017 2017 Citations: 9
