Two new Gammarus species (Crustacea, Amphipoda) from warm springs in the south-east pre-alpine area of the Zagros, Iran: habitats with physiological challenges (original) (raw)
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Journal of Natural History, 2004
Seven species of gammarid amphipods were studied in the relatively small province of Charmahal-Va-Bakhteyari in the central Zagros Mountains, Iran. Of these, four are previously known (Gammarus proiectus, G. komareki, G. syriacus and G. balutchi), one is a new record for the region (G. pseudosyriacus) and two are new species (G. lordeganensis and G. bakhteyaricus). From the taxonomic point of view, head microsculpturing characters were found to be reliable as discriminating sets of characters useful in species identification. Habitat diversification and climatic fluctuations appear to be the main factors for species diversity of the area, and the Zagros Mountains act as a geographical barrier to species distribution.
Two new Gammarus species (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Gammaridae) from Zagros Mountains, Iran
The present study tries to focus on describing two new species belonging to genus Gammarus from western Iran along the Zagros Mountains range. The most remarkable feature of Gammarus hegmatanensis sp. n. is the shape of epimeral plate 3, which is sharply pointed posteriorly with a distinct lobate anterior margin. This species has some similarities with and differences from some other species of Gammarus pulex-group such as G. parthicus and G. syriacus. The other species, G. sirvannus sp. n. with elongated eyes is similar to G. duebeni, G. lobifer, G. balutchi and G. loeffleri, but it shows prominent morphological differences and a distinct geographical distribution from these species. These new findings shed more light on the information available on amphipod fauna of Iran. most remarkable feature of this species is the shape of epimeral plate 3, with a very sharply pointed and extended posterior corner and a distinct lobate anterior corner; no protruding lobe at postero-distal corner of pereopod 7 basis; antenna 2 flagellum armed with numerous long setae, the fifth peduncular article longer than the fourth and highly setose; pereopods 5-7 posterior margin poorly setose; uropod 3 endopodite length about 80% of exopodite.
Limnic and brackish water Amphipoda (Crustacea) from Iran
1998
Records of 185 amphipod samples taken in Iran, both in the brackish Caspian Sea and in fresh waters belonging to the Caspian drainage system and the Central Basin. Twenty-nine species are represented (25 Gammaridae, 1 Pontoporeiidae, 1 Gammaracanthidae, 2 Corophiidae), of which 1 species of Obesogammarus, and 6 species of Gammarus (all from inland waters), 1 species of the new genus Scytaelina, and 1 species of Derzhavinella (both from the brackish Caspian Sea) are new to science, Obesogammarus turcarum, Gammarus imberbus, and G. syriacus are new to Iranian continental waters, whereas Gammarus aequicauda and Pontogammarus borceae are new to the Caspian Sea. 2 or 3 spines and 1 setule on either side (Fig. lb). Antenna 1 (Fig. 1 d) with robust peduncle segments, 16-segmented flagellum, and long, 5-segmented accessory flagellum. Second to penultimate flagellum segments with short aesthetasc. Entire appendage poorly setose. Antenna 2 (Fig. le) with strong, forward pointing gland cone. Peduncle segments 2 to 5 and flagellum with numerous setae, ventral ones long. Upper lip (Fig. 2a) of usual shape. Pars incisiva of mandible (Fig. 2b) 4-dentate; right pars molaris with long, plumose seta, left with short plumose seta; right lacinia mobilis bifid, finely toothed; left lacinia (Fig. Id) 4-dentate. Palp segment 3 with 3 A-setae, 2 B-setae, 1 C-seta, 8 Dsetae, almost equal in length, and 9 E-setae (Fig. lc). Lower lip (Fig. 2e) without well-defined inner lobes. Maxilla 1 (Fig. 2f) with trapezoidal inner lobe, armed with 12 plumose setae; outer lobe with 11