NEW DATA ON TWO SUBTERRANEAN SPECIES OF THE FAMILY NIPHARGIDAE FROM SPAIN, NIPHARGUS GALLICUS SCHELL., 1935 AND N. DELAMAREI RUFFO, 1954 (CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE AMPHIPODA 282)

Gordan S Karaman

doi:10.20903/csnmbs.masa.2015.36.2.72

Abstract

New data of two poorly known subterranean species of the family Niphargidae (Amphipoda Gammar-idea) from Spain are presented. Niphargus gallicus Schellenberg, 1935, known from southern France and Romania, is discovered in the subterranean waters of NE Spain and redescribed in detail. The variability of N. gallicus in Spain regarding the known taxonomical characteristics of this species from France and Roma-nia is discussed. Niphargus delamarei Ruffo, 1954, was known from France and one locality in Spain, is discovered in wells of NE Spain, and often mixed with other Niphargus species. Some taxonomical charac-teristics and variability of this species are discussed.

Highlights

The subterranean continental fauna of Amphipoda in Spain is only partially known, presented mainly by the taxa of the family Niphargidae (Niphargus Schiödte, 1849) and Haploginglymus Mateus & Mateus, 1958)
Within the genus Niphargus, only a few taxa are mentioned from Spain [Niphargus ciliatus cismontanus Margalef, 1952, N. delamarei Ruffo, 1954, N. longicaudatus Costa, 1852], or mentioned Niphargus sp. (Margalef, 1963 [17], 1970 [18]; Ginet, 1977 [7]; Notenboom, 1988 [20], 1990 [21])
Some of our specimens from Spain, differ from these described and figured of France and Romania by Chevreux [4], Schellenberg [23] and Dancau [6] by presence of very long all spines on uropods 1–2, much more spiniferous outer ramus of uropod 3 in male and female, presence of spines at inner margin of telson-lobes in male, by low number of setae along posterior margin of pereopod 7 basipodit, short second article of uropod 3 in female

Summary

Introduction

The subterranean continental fauna of Amphipoda in Spain is only partially known, presented mainly by the taxa of the family Niphargidae (Niphargus Schiödte, 1849) and Haploginglymus Mateus & Mateus, 1958) Pereopod 7: article 2 much longer than broad (ratio: 85:48), along slightly convex anterior margin with 4 long spine-like setae, along posterior more convex margin with 7 short setae, ventroposterior lobe poorly marked (Figure 4E).

Results

Conclusion