We quantified postnatal changes in body mass, length of forearm, length of total gap of the fourth metacarpal-phalangeal joint and changes in wing morphology, including the wingspan, wing area, handwing length, handwing area, armwing length, armwing area, aspect ratio and wing loading in Rhinolophus euryale in a maternity roost in Kerend cave, western Iran. Mean body mass of pups increased linearly until 23 days, when they achieved 74.29% of the mean mass of adult females (11.28±0.74 g, n=12). Rates of body mass gain and forearm growth during the early stage of postnatal growth were 0.36 g/day and 1.41 mm/day, respectively. Length of epiphyseal gap increased during the first 3 weeks and subsequently followed by a linear decrease until day 70 when it closed. Wing characteristics increased linearly until the age of the first flight, after which growth rates significantly declined (all p<0.05). Wing loading decreased linearly (−0.09 Nm−2/day) until 36 days of age and thereafter increased to a maximum of 6.56±0.30 Nm−2 at 80 days of age. We compare our results with data obtained from close-related bat species, particularly Rhinolophus mehelyi previously studied in a nearby area.

The species composition and distribution patterns of Nereididae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the north coast of Gulf of Oman were investigated. Specimens were collected from ten intertidal sites along the Iranian coast, including mangrove, muddy, boulder and rocky, coral and sandy-rocky shore habitats. Eight species of Nereididae were identified: Leonnates decipiens Fauvel, Nereis coutieri Gravier, Neanthes deplanata Mohammad, Perinereis nuntia (Savigny), Perinereis heterodonta Gravier, Perinereis cultrifera (Grube), Perinereis horsti Gravier and Pseudonereis trimaculata Horst. The eight species are redescribed and two Perinereis species, P. heterodonta and P. horsti, currently junior synonyms of P. nuntia and P. vancaurica (Ehlers) respectively, are raised from synonymy. All reported species are new records for the Gulf of Oman, bringing the known total number of species in the family to twelve; P. trimaculata is also a new record for the Arabian Sea–Arabian Gulf region. Nereidid diversity within the region is comparable to other Indo-Pacific coastal regions, and higher than other parts of the world.

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It has come to our attention that in the work referenced above we unintentionally referred to the body of water separating the Iranian Plateau from the Arabian Peninsula as the 'Arabian Gulf '(Abstract, line 9). The words 'Arabian Gulf' should be replaced with the words 'Persian Gulf', which is the name for this water mass recognised by the International Hydrographic Organization (1953) and endorsed by the UN Group of Experts on Geographical Names (2006). International Hydrographic Organization (1953). Limits of Oceans and Seas (special publication No 23). 3 rd edition.