FIRST RECORD OF A FORAMINIFERA PSEUDOEPONIDES ANDERSENI WARREN, 1957 (ROTALIIDA, EPISTOMARIIDAE) FROM AL HAMMAR MARSH (SOUTHERN IRAQ) AND IMPORTANCE AS AN INDICATOR OF COASTAL MARINE MARSH ECOLOGY DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE

Abstract

    The present study is the first to provide a comprehensive analysis of the vertebral column, fin structure, and tail skeleton of Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758 and Leuciscus vorax (Heckel, 1843) (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), which were collected from Al-Tharthar on the Euphrates and from the Tigris River at Az Zubaydiyah City, Wasit Province-middle of Iraq, respectively. Radiographic imaging was used to investigate various traits of the vertebral column and caudal skeleton. These characteristics were verified for the two species studied. The outcomes disclose that osteological data vary among the two species examined, emphasising that the construction of the vertebral column and caudal skeleton can be deliberated as important gears in the taxonomic classification of C. carpio and L. vorax. This new set of anatomical characteristics contributes to an improved comprehension of the taxonomy and systematics of the two species in question. The functional or evolutionary significance of the osteological traits examined in these species is discussed.