Corresponding author: Jindřiška Bojková (
Academic editor: B. Price
An initial checklist of mayflies (
Bojková J, Sroka P, Soldán T, Namin JI, Staniczek AH, Polášek M, Hrivniak Ľ, Abdoli A, Godunko RJ (2018) Initial commented checklist of Iranian mayflies, with new area records and description of
In comparison to Europe, the mayfly fauna of the Middle East is less known and data from some regions are still fragmentary. Extensive research on mayflies has been mainly focused on the Arabian Peninsula (
Iran, the second largest (more than 1.6 million km²) country of the region after Saudi Arabia, has been studied only occasionally so far. Only 19 species of mayflies have been reported in 16 short taxonomic contributions published in international entomological journals. They include mostly simple faunistic records of species already known from neighbouring countries (
Other sources of information on the mayfly diversity in Iran are some ecological studies on benthic macroinvertebrates over the last decades in order to assess water quality.
As a first step to achieve this ambitious goal, in May 2016 we collected mayflies at 38 localities in the Gilan and Ardabil Provinces in the north western Iran, the areas of presumably high
Mayflies were collected at 38 localities in the Gilan and Ardabil Provinces in 2016 (Fig.
Map of the localities sampled in May 2016 with a list of provinces of Iran.
List of localities studied in the Gilan and Ardabil Provinces in May 2016 (
Stream types | Site no. | Stream name | Stream | Location | Nearest town | Latitude | Longitude | Altitude | Sampling date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
rivers in the coastal plains | 5 | Sefid Rud | about 55 km from its mouth | SE of Sangar | Sangar |
|
39 | 12/05/2016 | |
rivers in the coastal plains | 13 | Shakhzar | about 32 km from its mouth | NE of Fuman | Fuman |
|
5 | 15/05/2016 | |
rivers in the coastal plains | 27 | Chelvand | about 2.5 km from its mouth | W Chelvand (S of Lavandvil) | Lavandvil |
|
-6 | 19/05/2016 | |
rivers in the coastal plains | 36 | Karganrud | about 7 km from its mouth | in Talesh | Talesh |
|
36 | 22/05/2016 | |
rivers in the coastal plains | 37 | Navrud | about 5 km from its mouth | in Asalem | Asalem |
|
34 | 22/05/2016 | |
clear forest rivers | 6 | Zilaki River | in Mush Bijar (E of Shahr-e Bijar) | Shahr-e Bijar |
|
125 | 13/05/2016 | ||
clear forest rivers | 11 | Shafa Rud | about 20 km from its mouth | W of Punel | Punel |
|
218 | 15/05/2016 | |
clear forest rivers | 15 | Machian | Lunak waterfalls (S of Siahkal) | Siahkal |
|
484 | 16/05/2016 | ||
clear forest rivers | 17 | Shamrud | south of Tushi (S of Siahkal) | Siahkal |
|
252 | 16/05/2016 | ||
clear forest rivers | 32 | Semoosh | SW of Rahimabad | Rahimabad |
|
88 | 21/05/2016 | ||
clear forest brooks | 2 | Eshkaraab | S of Paein Khara Rud (S of Pashaki) | Sangar |
|
198 | 12/05/2016 | ||
clear forest brooks | 7 | Sefidab | in Divarsh (NE of Shirkuh) | Tutkabon |
|
273 | 13/05/2016 | ||
clear forest brooks | 8 | Chulak waterfall | NE of Khulak (W of Oskolak) | Oskolak |
|
201 | 13/05/2016 | ||
clear forest brooks | 10 | Sangdeh | W of Punel | Punel |
|
218 | 15/05/2016 | ||
clear forest brooks | 16 | unnamed brook | Lunak waterfalls | Lunak waterfalls (S of Siahkal) | Siahkal |
|
495 | 16/05/2016 | |
clear forest brooks | 28 | unnamed brook | SW of Amlash | Amlash |
|
184 | 21/05/2016 | ||
clear forest brooks | 30 | unnamed brook | in Bolurdekan | Amlash |
|
282 | 21/05/2016 | ||
clear forest brooks | 31 | unnamed brook | SW of Amlash | Amlash |
|
287 | 21/05/2016 | ||
clear forest brooks | 33 | unnamed brook | NE of Masuleh | Masuleh |
|
820 | 22/05/2016 | ||
clear forest brooks | 34 | unnamed brook | NE of Masuleh | Masuleh |
|
697 | 22/05/2016 | ||
polluted forest rivers | 1 | Khara Rud | S of Paein Khara Rud (S of Pashaki) | Sangar |
|
81 | 12/05/2016 | ||
polluted forest rivers | 3 | Kalardeh Rukhan | left fork of Khara Rud | in Madarsara (S of Pashaki) | Sangar |
|
103 | 12/05/2016 | |
polluted forest rivers | 4 | unnamed brook | right fork of Khara Rud | in Golestansara (S of Pashaki) | Sangar |
|
186 | 12/05/2016 | |
polluted forest rivers | 9 | Reshteh Rud | NE of Khulak (W of Oskolak) | Oskolak |
|
185 | 13/05/2016 | ||
polluted forest rivers | 18 | Choshal | E of Ezbaram (S of Lahijan) | Lahijan |
|
146 | 16/05/2016 | ||
polluted forest rivers | 35 | Masuleh Rudkhan | about 50 km from its mouth | E of Masuleh | Masuleh |
|
369 | 22/05/2016 | |
streams above 1000 m in Gilan Prov. | 12 | unnamed brook | NW of Sangdeh | Sangdeh |
|
1337 | 15/05/2016 | ||
streams above 1000 m in Gilan Prov. | 14 | Kakrud | in Ishku-ye Bala (SW of Deylaman) | Deylaman |
|
1356 | 16/05/2016 | ||
streams above 1000 m in Gilan Prov. | 29 | unnamed brook | N of Chaldasht | Amlash |
|
1250 | 21/05/2016 | ||
streams above 1000 m in Ardabil Prov. | 19 | unnamed brook | small brook below Alvares ski areal | in Alvaresi (W of Sarein) | Sarein |
|
2237 | 17/05/2016 | |
streams above 1000 m in Ardabil Prov. | 20 | Bulakhlar chayi | left fork of the river | NW of Nir | Nir |
|
1622 | 17/05/2016 | |
streams above 1000 m in Ardabil Prov. | 21 | Bulakhlar chayi | NW of Nir | Nir |
|
1622 | 17/05/2016 | ||
streams above 1000 m in Ardabil Prov. | 22 | unnamed brook | in Sardabe (W of Vakilabad) | Vakilabad |
|
1927 | 18/05/2016 | ||
streams above 1000 m in Ardabil Prov. | 23 | unnamed brook | below Sardabe (W of Vakilabad) | Vakilabad |
|
1901 | 18/05/2016 | ||
streams above 1000 m in Ardabil Prov. | 24 | Hakim Geshlaghi chayi | SW of Almas (SW of Ardabil) | Ardabil |
|
1433 | 18/05/2016 | ||
streams above 1000 m in Ardabil Prov. | 25 | Bulakhlar chayi | in Nir | Nir |
|
1602 | 18/05/2016 | ||
streams above 1000 m in Ardabil Prov. | 26 | unnamed brook | E of Kadijan (E of Sarab) | Sarab |
|
1717 | 18/05/2016 | ||
streams above 1000 m in Ardabil Prov. | 38 | pond | pond on brook 22 & 23 | SE of Jomadi (E of Vakilabad) | Vakilabad |
|
1589 | 18/05/2016 |
Studied localities belong to the Euxino-Hyrcanian Province of the Euro-Siberian subregion of the Palaearctic Region (
Published records of mayfly species/genera in Iran were excerpted from available literature and summarised in Table
Commented list of
Species/genus | Records from Iran | Notes to the global area and distribution | Remarks to records in Iran |
---|---|---|---|
|
|||
* |
Qazvin Prov.: Shahrud | Holarctic genus, with the area extension to Central America and Oriental Region. The only Euro-Siberian species is |
Unidentified species reported by |
|
|||
* |
Isfahan Prov.: Zayanderud, | Holarctic genus, including subarctic areas. Twelve species known from the West Palearctic Region. | Unidentified species reported by |
|
|||
„117 km south of Rasht“ | Holarctic genus. In the West Palearctic Region, the only species |
Unidentified species reported from unclear locality 117 km S of Rasht by |
|
|
|||
Isfahan Prov.: Zayanderud | Holarctic and Oriental genus. Five species known from the West Palearctic Region, additional species known from Central Asia. | Unidentified species reported by |
|
Qazvin Prov.: Shahrud; Alborz Prov.: Kordan riv., Haraz riv., Tehran Prov.: Jajrud, Bareghan riv.; Mazandaran Prov.: Tajan riv., Dalir riv., Chatan riv., Firuz Abad riv.; Ardabil Prov.: Gharasou riv.; Kermanshah Prov.: Kavat riv.; Isfahan Prov.: Zayanderud; and 50 km SE of Khorramabad, 1500 m a.s.l. | Cosmopolitan genus except for South America. Very diverse in the West Palaearctic Region, at least 64 species known from Europe. | Unidentified species reported by |
|
Gilan Prov.: 7, 33, 34 | Its distribution not known in details, reported from two disjunctive subareas in Lebanon and Iran ( |
||
* |
Tehran Prov.: Jajrud | Holarctic species, in Palaearctic Region reported from Altai, Mongolia and Russian Far East ( |
A species close European representatives to the |
|
Gilan Prov.: 5, 13, 27, 28, 32, 37; Ardabil Prov.: 24, 38 | Widely distributed from Europe to Central Asia including Near East, Iraq ( |
Iran falls within its known distributional range. |
|
Mazandaran Prov.: brook above Yalrud 36°06'17"N / 51°50'14"E, 2 larvae; brook above Molla Kala, 4 larvae (coll. M. Svitok, unpublished) | Recently described from Jordan ( |
|
|
Gilan Prov.: 14; Ardabil Prov.: 21–24, 26, 38 | Known from Europe and Turkey ( |
Iran represents easternmost limit of its area. Material shows some morphological differences from European material and requires more detailed examination. The synonymy of |
„Southern Persia“New recordsGilan Prov.: 1, 6, 13, 18, 27, 32, 36 | Transpalaearctic species. Doubtfully distinguishable species from West Palaearctic species |
||
|
Gilan Prov.: 1–7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 27, 28, 32, 35–37; Ardabil Prov.: 23, 24 | Widely distributed from Europe to Caucasus, Turkey ( |
Iran represents the easternmost limit of its area. Larvae of |
|
Gilan Prov.: 2, 5, 13, 14, 18,–28, 32, 36, 37; Ardabil Prov.: 26 | Widely distributed from Europe to Caucasus and Turkey ( |
Iran represents the easternmost limit of its area. |
|
Gilan Prov.: 13 | Known from Turkey ( |
Iran represents the easternmost limit of its area. |
Mazandaran Prov.: Chatan riv.New recordsGilan Prov.: 12, 19, 29, 35, 36; Ardabil Prov.: 21, 22 | Widely distributed from North Africa (confirmation needed), Europe, Russia and Turkey to Caucasus and Central Asia (eastern Kazakhstan, |
In Iran, reported first from Chatan riv. in Mazandaran Prov. by |
|
|
Gilan Prov.: 13 | Distributed in the Alps, Carpathians, Caucasus, reported also from Tajikistan ( |
Iran falls within its known distributional range. |
|
Gilan Prov.: 9, 14; Ardabil Prov.: 22, 24–26 | Occurs in neighbouring countries, reported from Eastern Ukraine to Crimea, Turkey, Caucasus and Central Asia ( |
Iran represents the easternmost limit of its area. |
|
Gilan Prov.: 7, 10–12, 14, 29, 31, 33; Ardabil Prov.: 19, 23 | Probably undescribed species, closely related to |
Material from Iran morphologically similar to species identified as |
|
Tehran Prov.: brook in Younza Pass, 35°59'18"N / 51°43'13"E, 5 larvae; brook 36°00'54"N /E 51°47'18‘‘, 7 male imagines (coll. M. Svitok, unpublished); Gilan Prov.: 12, 33; Ardabil Prov.: 19, 20, 22 | Poorly known species, so far considered endemic to the Caucasus ( |
Only 20 larvae known from the Caucasus to date ( |
West Azerbaijan Prov.: Zarrinehrud; Alborz Prov.: Karaj riv.New recordsGilan Prov.: 1–7, 9–14, 27, 28, 30, 32–37; Ardabil Prov.: 16–23, 25, 26, 38 | Widely distributed in the Western Palaearctic region. Records from the East Palaearctic appear rather unlikely (Bauenrfeind and Soldán 2012). | Reported from Zarrinehrud in West Azerbaijan Prov. ( |
|
Alborz Prov.: Kordan riv.; Mazandaran Prov.: Tajan riv., Valasht lake | Almost cosmopolitan, including some remote oceanic islands. About 15 species from three subgenera known from the West Palaearctic Region. | Unidentified species reported by |
|
Tehran Prov.: Jajrud | Holarctic species, reported from Central America as well ( |
Reported from Jajrud near Tehran ( |
|
Tehran Prov.: JajrudNew recordArdabil Prov.: 38 | Widely distributed in the Palaearctic Region, known also from the Nearctic Region (Quebec and Ontario, see |
Except our record known from Jajrud near Tehran ( |
|
West Azerbaijan Prov.: Zarrinehrud | Transpalearctic species, missing in Japan. | Reported from Zarrinehrud in NW Iran ( |
|
Isfahan Prov.: ZayanderudNew recordsGilan Prov.: 28, 31 | Holarctic genus, with an area extension into the Oriental Region. Two West Palaearctic species: |
Our records represent undescribed species related to |
|
|
Gilan Prov.: 7, 27 (type locality), 36 | So far known from the type locality in Iran only. | |
|
|||
Mazandaran Prov.: Tajan riv., Firuz Abad riv., Poleocean riv.; Isfahan Prov.: Zayanderud | Palaearctic genus, ten species known from the West Palaearctic Region. In the Near East, seven species known from Turkey ( |
Unidentified species of the genus |
|
Mazandaran Prov.: mountain stream, Gazanak, 1400 m a.s.l.New recordsGilan Prov.: 11, 17, 27, 36, 37 | Caucasian species described from Georgia ( |
||
|
|||
* |
Isfahan Prov.: Zayanderud | Holarctic genus, in the Palaearctic Region evidently boreomontane element. One species, |
Unidentified species reported by |
Mazandaran Prov.: Tajan riv.; Qazvin Prov.: Shahrud; Alborz Prov.: Karaj riv.; Isfahan Prov.: ZayanderudNew recordsGilan Prov.: 14; Ardabil Prov.: 19–22, 25, 26 | West Palaearctic genus, about 42 species known. | Unidentified species were reported by |
|
„117 km south of Rasht and 50 km SE of Khorramabad, 1500 m a.s.l.“ | Described from Azerbaijan, known throughout Caucasus and from Turkey ( |
First records from Iran by |
|
Chalus, Mazandaran Prov. (type locality) | Known only as the holotype male subimago (!) described by |
Single record from the type locality ( |
|
|
Gilan Prov.: 1–4, 6, 7, 10–12, 15–18, 27, 28, 30–32, 35, 36 | Caucasian species described from the Russian part of Caucasus ( |
Common and often abundant species in streams studied in the Gilan Prov., preferring forest streams and rivers at lower altitudes. |
|
Gilan Prov.: 10–12, 16, 28, 29, 31–35 | Caucasian species known from Georgia (Braasch 1978, |
Common and often abundant species in streams studied in Gilan Prov., preferring forest streams and rivers with no apparent altitude preference. At lower stream sections syntopic with |
Gilan Prov.: Rasht | Type locality in Turkey, paratypes (one male imago and one male subimago) known from Iran ( |
Single record from the type locality, no record since then. | |
Tehran Prov.: Jajrud, Bareghan riv.; Alborz Prov.: Karaj riv.; Mazandaran Prov.: Haraz riv., Tajan riv.; Isfahan Prov.: Zayanderud | Holarctic and Oriental genus, not recorded from North Africa. Nine species known from the West Palaearctic Region. Five species known from the Near East. | Unidentified species reported by |
|
Golestan Prov.: Gorgan | Known from eastern Europe to Asia Minor. Recorded from Georgia, Crimean Peninsula, Russia, Armenia, Israel, and Iran. | Reported from Iran sub |
|
Alborz Prov.: Kordan riv.; Mazandaran Prov.: Tajan riv.; Ardabil Prov.: Gharasou riv. | Holarctic genus, with an extension to Neotropics and Oriental Region. Representatives of three subgenera, |
Unidentified species without an affiliance to either subgenera were reported by |
|
* |
Tehran Prov.: Jajrud, Bareghan riv. |
Subgenus |
Unidentified species reported by |
* |
Tehran Prov.: Jajrud |
Subgenus |
Unidentified species reported by |
Gilan Prov.: 12, 17, 27, 30 |
Subgenus |
Species recorded in low abundace in Gilan Prov.; deserves further examination. | |
Tehran Prov.: stream in Darband Valley, 2100 m a.s.l., (type locality).Mazandaran Prov.: Dalir riv., Firuz Abad riv., Haraz riv., Koshk Sara riv.New recordArdabil Prov.: 19 | Recently known only from the Alborz mountain range. Larva and nymphal protopenis bear features proposed for subgenus |
Recorded from Tehran Prov. ( |
|
|
Gilan Prov.: 2–4, 7, 8, 10–12, 15–17, 27, 29, 30, 33–35 | Widely distributed in Caucasus and Asia Minor. Known from Turkey ( |
The most common |
|
Gilan Prov.: 14 | Described from Armenia as imago, larva described by |
Species recorded from one locality in the Alborz Mts. Iran represents the easternmost limit of its known distribution. |
* |
Qazvin Prov.: Shahrud | Unidentified species reported by |
|
Tehran Prov.: Jajrud, Bareghan riv.; Alborz Prov.: Kordan Riv.; Mazandaran Prov.: Tajan Riv.; Isfahan Prov.: Zayanderud;New recordGilan Prov.: 19 | Holarctic genus, including North Africa, with the area extension to the Oriental Region. Very diverse genus (more than 150 species) in the West Palaearctic Region. | Unidentified species reported by |
|
|
Gilan Prov.: 10–12, 15, 17, 18, 27, 33, 34, 35–37 | Widely distributed throughout the Caucasus, known also from the Talysh Mts. in Azerbaijan ( |
Common species in the Gilan Prov. |
Shesavar (type locality), likely referring to Shahsavar | Known only as the holotype (male imago) and paratypes (two female subimagines) described by |
Insufficient localisation of the type locality. | |
Tehran Prov.: Sefid Khok, Alborz Mts., 2200 m a.s.l. (type locality) | Only holotype (imago male) and paratypes (four female imagos and two larvae) from a single locality known ( |
Known only from the Alborz Mts. | |
|
|||
Alborz Prov.: Kordan riv. | Holarctic genus, six species known from the West Palaearctic Region. | Unidentified species reported by |
|
„50 km SE of Khorramabad, 1500 m a.s.l.“ | Widely distributed in Europe (from Fennoscandia to Mediterranean), in northeast reaching to Ural and W Siberia (e.g., |
The only record from Iran with insufficient localisation ( |
|
|
Gilan Prov.: 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, 16, 27–29, 31, 33–35. | Widely distributed in Europe (not in Fennoscandia), in east from Greece and Turkey to Armenia and Azerbaijan ( |
Common in small forest brooks in the Gilan Province. |
|
Gilan Prov.: 1, 8, 31 | West Palaearctic species, known from North Africa, Europe, Caucasus and Turkey. | Only small-instar larvae found in the Gilan Prov. |
* |
Mazandaran Prov.: Tajan riv. | Holarctic genus, with extension to transitory Palaearctic-Oriental area in China. Only two West-Palaearctic species, |
Unidentified species reported by ( |
Razavi Khorasan Prov.: Mashhad (Kopedag Mts.) | Described from the Kopetdag Mts. in Turkmenistan ( |
According to |
|
|
|||
Mazandaran Prov.: Tajan riv.; Alborz Prov.: Karaj riv. | Holarctic and Oriental genus, three species known from the West Palaearctic Region. | Unidentified species reported by |
|
* |
Mazandaran Prov.: Siah Bisheh riv. | Mediterranean species known from two disjunctive areas, Balkan (Macedonia, Bulgaria) and west Mediterranean (Spain, France). Occurrence in Iran is unlikely.According to |
Recorded from Iran as |
Mazandaran Prov.: Shahrud; Isfahan Prov.: Zayanderud | Holarctic and Oriental Regions. Generic classification of species is unstable in the literature. | Unidentified species reported by |
|
Gilan Prov.: Gilan River (?) at Lanak Waterfall, 37°00'N, 49°52'E (type locality); Havigh River, 20 km south of AstaraNew records1–4, 6, 7, 11, 15–18, 27, 28, 32, 35, 36 | Described from the Gilan Province by |
Common species at our streams studied; can occur at high abundance in eutrophicated streams. Found also at the type locality in Lunak (not Lanak in page 55 in |
|
West Azerbaijan Prov.: ZarrinehrudNew recordsGilan Prov.: 1–4, 6, 18; Ardabil Prov.: 21, 25 | Widely distributed species, known from North Africa and entire Europe, through Asia Minor, Near East to Mongolia, China and Korea. | Reported from Zarrinehrud in NW Iran ( |
|
Mazandaran Prov.: 13 km NW of Ghalekesh | Described from the Kabul River in Afghanistan ( |
The only record since its original description( |
|
|
|||
Isfahan Prov.: Zayanderud | Holarctic and Oriental genus, including single Palearctic species |
Unidentified species of the genus |
|
|
|||
West Azerbaijan Prov.: Zarrinehrud | West Palaearctic species, distributed in Europe and southeast to Turkey ( |
Reported from Zarrineh river in W Azerbaijan ( |
|
|
|||
Karkheh riv., Bsaitin (?) | Described and later confirmed by several records from Tigris river in Iraq (see references in |
||
Gilan Prov.: Hassankiade | Known from eastern Europe (E Slovakia, N Ukraine), Caucasus Mts., and northern Iran. | The only historical record by |
|
Aras riv. | South-Central European species. | The record is based on 5 male imagines collected on 20 June 1905 available in the collection of the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin. Material was revised by A.H. Staniczek and R.J. Godunko in February 2017. Previous determination “ |
|
Sistan and Baluchestan Prov.: Seistan (?) (type locality) | Known from two discrete areas; described from “Seistan” by |
The record from Iran is based on the type series only ( |
|
|
|||
Tehran Prov.: Jajrud, Bareghan riv.; Alborz Prov.: Kordan riv.; Mazandaran Prov.: Tajan riv., Haraz riv.; Isfahan Prov. Zayanderud | Almost cosmopolitan genus, except for Australia and remote oceanic islands. At least 22 species known from the West Palaearctic Region. | Unidentified species reported by |
|
Razavi Khorasan Prov.: Mashhad (Kopedag Mts.) | Described from the Kopetdag Mts. in Turkmenistan ( |
According to |
|
Mazandaran Prov.: Koshk Sara riv., Abbas Abad Dam, Valasht lakeNew recordsGilan Prov.: 1–4, 6, 8–11, 14–18, 27, 30–32, 35–37; Ardabil Prov.: 20–22, 24–26, 38 | Palaearctic species distributed from Fennoscandia east to Russia and Minor Asia. Known from Israel ( |
Records from Mazandaran Prov. provided by |
|
Isfahan Prov.: Zayanderud | Holarctic, Oriental and Neotropic genus. Single Palaearctic species, |
Unidentified species reported by |
|
Mazandaran Prov.: mountain stream in Gazenak, 1400 m a.s.l. | Described from India, paratypes from the Alborz Mts. ( |
No recent record from Iran. |
# Nearctic/Neotropic species and genera reported from Iran, which are definitely misidentifications:Jajrud near Tehran (
Karaj riv., Alborz Prov. (
Zarrinehrud, West Azerbaijan Prov. (
Kavat riv., Kermanshah Prov. (
Zayanderud, Isfahan Prov. (
Shapour riv., Fars Prov. (
Mayfly larvae were collected by T. Soldán, J. Bojková and J. Imanpour Namin from 12 to 22 May 2016, using metal strainers after kick-sampling. Sampling of larvae for about 30–60 minutes was supplemented by sweeping of imagines and subimagines from riparian vegetation by a standard entomological net. The material studied in the present contribution sums up to 9213 larval specimens and 245 subimagines and imagines. Most material is deposited in the collection of the Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic. Reference specimens for the species recorded are deposited in the collection of J. Imanpour Namin (Department of Fishery, University of Gilan). All specimens were preserved in 96% ethanol. Some specimens were mounted on slides with HydroMatrix (MicroTech Lab, Graz, Austria). Drawings for the descriptions of the new species were made using a stereomicroscope Olympus SZX7 and a microscope Olympus BX41, both equipped with a drawing tube. Photographs were made using a Canon EOS 1200D camera mounted on a Leica M205 C stereomicroscope. All photographs were subsequently enhanced with Adobe Photoshop CS5. For scanning electron microscopy, samples were gradually transferred to acetone, critical point dried and coated with gold by sputtering using a Baltec SCD050 Sputter Coater. Observations were taken on the scanning microscope Jeol JSM 7401F at 4 kV (BC CAS, České Budějovice). Eggs were dissected from a pharate female subimago.
(based on larvae and eggs). Labrum with pronounced medial notch, anterior margin laterally from medial notch strongly asymmetric; mandible incisor groups separated at distal third of their length; maxillary palps three-segmented, not thickened, length of segment III of maxillary palp reaches 0.5 × segment II length; fully developed hind wing pads; length of tarsal claws 0.44 × tarsus (forelegs); 0.55 × tarsus (middle and hind legs); lateral spines present on abdominal segments VIII–IX; single gill plates with rudimental dorsal lamella; inner margin of paraproct with approximately 8–11 large teeth; egg chorion without equatorial band of large papillae.
Oval shaped; 130–140 µm long, 65–75 µm wide. Chorionic surface covered with thick reticulated ridges forming irregular polygonal mesh (Fig.
Unknown.
All types deposited in the collection of the Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
The species name refers to the proximity of the type locality to the Caspian Sea.
Larvae were found in three different stream habitats, two eutrophic streams of different size (Chelvand and Karganrud rivers) in the Caspian Sea coastal plain relatively close to their inflow to the sea and one small, clear and cold brook in the forest. Chelvand at the type locality is a small river with coarse stony substratum rapidly flowing from the hills to the plain so it partially keeps its mountainous character also in low altitude (-6 m a.s.l.).
Within the subfamily
In this study, we follow
The new species is characterized by a relatively uncommon (within
Both
However, in contrast to
Broadening literature data with new material sampled in 2016, we conclude altogether 48 species records and 22 records at generic/subgeneric level of determination (Table
Excluding
(i) Holarctic and Transpalaearctic species form the minority of the mayfly fauna of Iran, encompassing six eurytopic species:
(ii) West Palaearctic species with southern area limit in the Middle East included 13 species. Most of them are widely distributed throughout the whole area:
(iii) West Palaearctic species with area disjunction to Central Asia,
(iv) Caucasian species with the distribution reaching Alborz Mts. and Azerbaijan Provinces in north Iran:
(v) Near and Middle East species include those described and known from Iran only:
Most studies and records on mayflies are available from northern Iran which belongs to Euxino-Hyrcanian Province of the Euro-Siberian subregion of the Palaearctic Region (
This list of
To fill evident gaps in our knowledge resulting from this review, we aim to work on a more extensive study of Iranian
We would like to thank the Faculty of Natural Resources of the University of Gilan and the Department of Environment, Natural History Museum and Genetic Resources, Teheran for support of our research. We are grateful to Farshid Ghorbani, Ehsan Asadi, and Milad Salehi for assistance in the field. We thank C. Belfiore for the information on