Abstract
Gammarus zagrosensis n. sp. and Gammarus sepidannus n. sp., both from Gammarus pulex–group, are described from Sepidan County, Fars Province. They inhabit mountainous springs and were found co-occuring in some localities. Many clear morphological differences were recognized, including the setation of the second antenna and pereopods, length of antennal gland cone, postero-inferior protruding lobe and postero-distal corner setation in the basis of P6–7, endopodite/exopodite ratios of uropod 3, dorsal elevation of urosomites, and setation of lower distal margin of epimeral plates 2 and 3. Gammarus zagrosensis is distinguished from G. pseudosyriacus by having setae on the distal segments of pereopod 5–7, a less pointed epimeral plate 2, posterior-inferior corner setae, and the longer setae on uropod 3. The closest species to G. sepidannus are G. balutchi and G. lobifer, the most evident differences of which are the eye size, setosity of first antennal peduncles and flagellum of second antenna, length of gland cone, and uropod rami length ratios. Comparison of the head cuticular micro-structures gives more arguments for separating the two new species from each other, as well as from the previously studied, related species.
References
Birstein, J.A. (1945) Zametka o presnovodnykh vysshikh rakoobraznykh Turkmenii i Irana, Uchenye Zapiski Moskovskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta, 83, 151–164.
Haley, C.J. (1997) Comparison of secondary production, life history, and mothpart functional morphology between two populations of amphipod Gammarus minus. PhD thesis, Virginia State University, USA.
Hou, Z. & Li, S. (2002) Descriptions of two new species of the genus Gammarus (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Gammaridae) from Yunnan, China. The Raffles Bulletin Of Zoology. 50(1), 37–52.
Hou, Z. & Li, S. (2004) Three new species of Gammarus from Shaanxi, China (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Gammaridae). Journal of Natural History. 38, 2733–2757.
Hou, Z. & Li, S. (2005) Gammarus species from River Jumahe, China (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Gammaridae). Revue Suisse De Zoologie. 112(2), 313–327.
Karaman, G. S. (1991) The survey of described and cited freshwater Gammarus species (Fam. Gammaridae) from Soviet Union with redescription of two taxa. (Contribution to the knowledge of the Amphipoda 205). Poljoprivreda I Sumarstovo, XXXVII, 3–4, 37–73, Titograd.
Karaman, G. S. & Pinkster, S. (1977) Fresh water Gammarus species from Europe, North Africa and adjacent regions of Asia (Crustacea, Amphipoda), part 1. Gammarus pulex-group and related species. Bijdragen Tot Der Dierkunde. 47(1), 1–97.
Karaman, S. (1934) Über asiatische Süsswassergammariden. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 106 (5/6), 127–13.
Khalaji-Pirbalouty, V. & Sari, A. (2004) Biogeography of amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Gammaridae) from the central Zagros Mountains, Iran, with descriptions of two new species. Journal of Natural History, 38, 2425–2445.
Khalaji-Pirbalouty, V. & Sari, A. (2006) A Description of Gammarus balutchi n. sp. (Amphipoda: Gammaridae) from Iran, based on light and electron microscopy. Zoologische Mededelingen (Leiden), 80 1 (6), 91–100.
Löffler, H. (1956) Limnologische Beobachtungen an Iranischen Binnengewässern. II. Teil: systematische Beschreibung der Rotatorien und Crustaceen aus den untersuchten Gewässern. Hydrobiologia. V. 8, Nr 3–4, 239–278.
Martynov, A. (1935) K poznaniyu Amphipoda tekuchikh vod Turkestana. Trudy Zoologicheskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR, 2 (2–3), 411–508.
Mateus, P.A. & Mateus, E. (1990) Etude d'une collection d'amphipodes specialement du sud-ouest asiatique-du Museum d'Histiore Naturelle de Vienne (Autriche). Annalen des Naturhistorisches Museums in Wien, 91(B), 273–331.
Noroozi, J., Akhani, H. & Breckle, S. (2008) Biodiversity and phytogeography of the alpine flora of Iran. Biodiversity and Conservation, 17, 493–521.
Pesce, G.L., Pace, R. & MaggiI, D. (1982) Ricerche faunistiche in acque sotterranee fratiche dell’Iran nordoccidentale. Rivista di Idrobiologia, 21(1/3), 37–74.
Ruffo, S. (1979) Descrizione di due nuovi Anifipodi anoftalmi dell’Iran e del Madagascar. Bollettino del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Verona, 6, 419–440.
Stock, J.H., Mirzajani, A.R., Vonk, R., Naderi, S. & Kiabi, B.H. (1998) Limnic and brackish water Amphipoda (Crustacea) from Iran. Beaufortia, 48(9), 173–234.
Zaitchik, B.F., Evans, J.P. & Smith, R.B. (2007) Regional impact of an elevated heat source: the Zagros Plateau of Iran. Journal of Climates, Vol. 20, 4133–4146.
Zamanpoore, M. (2004) On the Biology and Distribution of Amphipod Fauna in Fars Province. Final Report of Research Plan, Iranian Agricultural Research and Education Organization, Pub. Num. 1--–569/201, Ministry of Agriculture, Tehran, Iran, 185 pp.