Abstract. Hassan FM, Mahdi WM, Al-Haideri HH, Kamil DW. 2022. Identification of new species record of Cyanophyceae in Diyala River, Iraq based on 16S rRNA sequence data. Biodiversitas 23: 5239-5246. The biodiversity and water quality of the Diyala River require screening water in terms of biological contamination, because it is the only water source in Diyala City and is used for many purposes. This study aimed to identify a new species record of Cynaophyceae and emphasize the importance of using molecular methods beside classic morphological approaches, particularly in the water-shrinkage-aqua system. Five different sites along Diyala River were selected for Cyanophyceae identification. Morphological examination and 16S rRNA sequen

The occurrence of two species of the genus Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) for the first time in Iraq from freshwater fishes.

    An investigation was provided in this work for the host range of brown soft scale Coccus hesperidum Linnaeus in Baghdad Province.  Five plant species were found infected by this insect, three of these species, Citrusaurantium L. (Rutaceae); Nerium oleander L. (Apocynaceae); Ficuscarica L. (Moraceae) reported earlier, and the remaining two, Dahlia pinnata Cav. (Asteraceae) and Myrtuscommunis L. (Myrtaceae) are recordedhere for the first time as host plants for this pest.

Fifty snails of Paropeas achatinaceum specimens were collected and classified from four areas in Baghdad-Iraq from the period between June and July, 2017. The snails were divided into two groups (each group contain 25 snails). Two environment conditions were used in this study. Natural environment considered as control and experimental environment contains Citrus sinensis (L.) roots as snail’s source food. The comparison result between snail weights in the nature and experimental environment was not significant (0.497, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01209–0.02309). Also, the comparison between snail weights in the nature environment and the food mean weight was significant (0.014, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.00591-0.04109), while the

  Two species of monogenetic trematodes of the genus Dactylogyrus were recorded in the present paper for the first time in Iraq from two freshwater fishes from Diyala river, Diyala province. The first species,  D. bocageii Alvarez Pellitero, Vicente et Gonzalez Lanza, 1981 was recorded from gills of Aspius vorax, the second species, D. lenkorani Mikailov, 1967 was recorded from gills of Barbus sharpeyi. The descriptions and measurements of these parasites as well as their illustrations were given.

  In 2010, the tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) was reported for the first time in Iraq. The larvae can feed on all parts of tomato plants and can damage all the growth stages. The main host plant is tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum, but it can also attack other plants in Solanaceae family. In this study it was found attacking alfalfa plants, Medicago sativa in Baghdad Province. This finding reveals that alfalfa also serves as a host plant for T. absoluta in Iraq.

Parasitological examination of gills of three species of sparid fishes in the territorial waters of Iraq was performed, two diplectanid monogenoids were isolated and described; Lamellodiscus indicus Tripathi, 1959 from both Haffara seabream Rhabdosargus haffara (Forsskål, 1775) and Goldline seabream R. sarba (Forsskål, 1775) and Protolamellodiscus senilobatus Kritsky, Jiménez-Ruiz and Sey, 2000 from King soldierbream Argyrops spinifer (Forsskål, 1775). The record of the parasites is considered new to the parasite fauna of Iraq. The redescription of L. indicus for the first time which is collected from a new distribution area (Arabian Gulf). R. haffara is considered a new host record .

The species of Opilio kakunini Snegovaya, Cokendolpher & Mozaffarian, 2018 was recorded for the first time in Iraq; as well as to four species belonging to this order which were recorded previously. In this paper, we added a new species to the checklist of Iraqi opilionid fauna with a description of the most important characteristics, along with genitalia, for both males and females are presented with digital photographs. Specimens of males and females were collected from Al- Rifai district northern of Dhi-Qar Province, southern of Iraq.
 

Tanqua anomala (von Linstow,1904) specimens were recovered, from the lining wall of the gastro-intestinal tract of the dice snake Natrix tessellate tessellate (Laurenti, 1768) collected in Baghdad city, central Iraq. Measurements of the males, females and a comparison of the nematode with other studies tabulated. Reporting of Tanqua anomala from this snake represents the first record for Iraq as well as a new host record.