A faculty member at the Faculty of Education at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Prof. Dr. Dr. Şakir Önder Özkurt and the scientists in his research group have made significant contributions to the scientific community. A comprehensive study conducted by the faculty members Prof. Dr. Dr. Şakir Önder Özkurt, Prof. Dr. Ferhat Matur, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Sözen, and Prof. Dr. Ercüment Çolak on blind shrews (Nannospalax) living in Anatolia has revealed a significant revision regarding species diversity.

By integrating chromosomal, molecular, morphological, and behavioral data, this study reveals that many populations previously considered conspecific are actually evolutionarily distinct lineages. The research demonstrates that chromosomal rearrangements play a fundamental role in speciation by triggering reproductive isolation, facilitating the emergence of new species even in the absence of distinct morphological differences. In this context, 17 new species of blind mole rats in Anatolia were identified for the first time, all of which were established as endemic to the region. Furthermore, these findings strongly support the 'cytotype = species' approach, which proposes that chromosomally distinct populations should be classified as separate species.

The findings indicate that Anatolia is a significant center of biodiversity not only in terms of surface ecosystems but also regarding the evolution of its subterranean biota. The study reveals that classification based solely on external morphology may be insufficient for subterranean mammals, and that genetic and chromosomal data are of critical importance for species identification. This comprehensive revision offers a new perspective on mammalian evolution studies while also strengthening the scientific foundation for the conservation of biological diversity in Anatolia.