Bioecology of Nannospalax xanthodon (Nordmann, 1840) in Bitlis province (Mammalia: Rodentia)

This study is based on 8 specimens of Nannospalax xanthodon collected from Bitlis province between September 2020 and June 2021. Specimens were obtained in suitable habitats using a metal tube-type live trap. In order to reveal the ecological, biological, and taxonomic characteristics of Nannospalax xanthodon habitat, feeding behavior, fur color, hair morphology, karyology, baculum characteristics with internal and external character measurements were recorded. It was determined that the diploid chromosome number of Nannospalax xanthodon is 54. In Nannospalax xanthodon, the part of the guard hairs close to the root is "serrate coronal scale", the body part is "simple coronal scale" and the hair tip is "erose coronal scale". In addition, individuals belonging to the order Siphonaptera (fleas) were identified as external parasites in one sample.