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It is thought that Spalacidae (Rodentia, Mammalia) originated in Anatolia. They are widespread among Neogene-aged faunas in Anatolia and they are used as zonal fossils because of their strong evolutionary dynamics. Only one fossil species (S. odessanus, Middle Pliocene) has been identified from the genus Spalax, which has more than 14 species presently. There are no fossil findings of this genus in Anatolia. Early Pleistocene-aged Spalax denizliensis sp. nov. from the Denizli Basin is the youngest fossil Spalax species and it will be helpful to understand the evolution of recent Spalax species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We performed this study on the subterranean mole rat Nannospalax xanthodon (Nehring, 1898) in western Turkey and we analyzed karyotypes of 121 specimens from 54 localities. We determined that N. xanthodon has 2n = 36, NF = 70; 2n = 38, NF = 74; 2n = 40, NF = 72; 2n = 50, NF = 70; 2n = 50, NF = 74; 2n = 52, NF = 70; 2n = 56, NF = 72; and 6 different cytotypes of 2n = 60, NF = 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84 in the specimens analyzed from western Turkey. We filled most of the karyological gaps in western Anatolia and documented distributional areas of cytotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The material of 31 specimens of Nannospalax ehrenbergiwas collected from 11 different localities in the Hatay region in south Anatolia. The specimens were studied in respect to their morphological and karyological characteristics in detail. Some taxonomic characteristics and measurements of the body and skull were investigated. The data obtained from the specimens were compared with the results of previously published accounts and with samples collected from more than 16 other localities in Turkey, Israel, Jordan and Egypt. The karyotypes of the Yaylada&guml; populations have 2n = 48, NF = 74 and NFa = 70, whereas the karyotypes of the other Hatay populations have 2n = 52, NF = 74, and NFa = 70. The results show that this region's mole rat populations have morphological and karyological features different to those of other populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty two (12 males, 10 females) specimens of Nannospalax nehringi, collected from Northeast Anatolia (Turkey), were used for morphological and karyological studies. The specimens from the Kars population have foramina on the premaxillonasal suture. These foramina are absent in the Erzurum, Aĝri and Van populations. The diploid number of chromosomes in the Erzurum and Kars population is 2n = 50. The number of chromosomal arms (NF) is 70 and the number of autosomal arms (NFa) is 66. Their karyotypes consist of nine pairs of metacentric and submetacentric autosomes and 15 pairs of acrocentric autosomes. The Aĝri and Van populations have 2n = 48 chromosomes. The number of chromosomal arms (NF) is 68 and the number of autosomal arms (NFa) is 64. The autosomal set has nine pairs of blarmed, and 14 pairs of acrocentric chromosomes. The X chromosomes are large submetacentric and the Y chromosomes are small acrocentric in all populations, When these results are compared with previous studies, Nannospalax nehringi specimens from Northeast Anatolia have some differences in their skull and chromosome morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]