Groundwater amphipods of the genus Niphargus Schiødte, 1834 in Boyer-Ahmad region (Iran) with description of two new species Author Bargrizaneh, Zeinab Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Baghabrisham 6714967346, Kermanshah (Iran) z. bargrizan @ gmail. com z.bargrizan@gmail.com Author Fišer, Cene Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, PO Box 2995, SI- 1001 Ljubljana (Slovenia) Cene. Fišer @ bf. uni-lj. si Cene.Fišer@bf.uni-lj.si Author Esmaeili-Rineh, Somayeh Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Baghabrisham 6714967346, Kermanshah (Iran) sesmaeili @ razi. ac. ir (corresponding author) sesmaeili@razi.ac.ir text Zoosystema 2021 2021-03-09 43 7 127 144 journal article 7754 10.5252/zoosystema2021v43a7 ecc8be51-7a2b-4723-9fd8-62fd542fd01a 1638-9387 4604746 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:78A80916-8B6D-4D83-8E56-189E9E690F65 Niphargus nasrullahi n. sp. ( Figs 7-10 ) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 2D83852A-D9EC-41AC-9BFC-203591AF3C86 MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Holotype . Iran • ♂ ( 10 mm ); Nahr Spring , Kakan Village , Boyer-Ahmad City , Kohgiloyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province ; 30°40’N , 51°43’E ; Zeinab Bargrizaneh leg.; 28.VII.2015 ; ZCRU Amph.1055 . Paratypes . Iran • 2 ♂ ; same data as for holotype; ZCRU Amph.1055 . DIAGNOSIS. — A mid-sized Niphargus with slender body. Epimeral plates II-III slightly inclined, posterior and ventral margins concave and convex, respectively; ventro-posterodistal corner distinct but not produced ( Fig. 10G ). Antenna I shorter than half of total body length. Article 5 of antenna II longer than article 4. Maxilla I outer lobe with seven strong spines, each with more than 3 subapical denticles. Palpus of maxilla I ( Fig. 7C ) short and not reaching the tip of outer lobe. Gnathopods with large propodi of trapezoid to triangular shape ( Fig. 8A, B ). Pereopods half of the total body length. Length of pereopods V and VI ( Fig. 9C, D ) nearly equal. Pleonites with one seta along the dorso-posterior margin of each segment and with one strong spine at base of uropod I. Urosomite I postero-dorso-laterally with two spines; urosomite II postero-dorsolaterally with two spines and one seta. Inner ramus of uropod I shorter than outer ramus ( Fig. 10D ). Female unknown. DIAGNOSTIC COI SEQUENCE. — GeneBank Accession Number: MT636107 . ETYMOLOGY. — The name “nasrullahi” was chosen in honour of the Iranian zoologist Prof. Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani, Razi University, who dedicated his research to herpetology in Iran . GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION. — Apart from the type locality, the species was found also in two other localities along Zagros Mountains: Chonarestan Spring and Khong Spring ( Fig. 1 ). The geographic distance between Chonarestan and Biareh Springs, Chonarestan and Khong Springs and Khong and Biareh Springs is 32.2 km , 15.5 km and 40.6 km , respectively. VARIABILITY. — The individuals from Chonarestan and Khong springs have inner ramus of uropod I longer than outer ramus (1.07: 1: 00). DESCRIPTION OF HOLOTYPE Measurements Total male body length 10 mm . Head length equal to 10% of total body length. Antennae I ( Fig. 7A ) 43% of total body length. Peduncular articles 1-3 progressively shorter; length of peduncular article 2 more than half of peduncular article 3; most flagellum articles with one short aesthetasc. Main flagellum with 19 articles, most of which with short setae. Accessory flagellum bi-articulated, reaching beyond one-third of article 4 of main flagellum; second article with two setae. Antennae II ( Fig. 7B ) Roughly half of the length of antenna I (length ratio of antenna I:II equal to 1:0.53). Ratio of peduncular articles 4: 5 length equal to 1.00:1.20; peduncle articles 4 and 5 with ten and thirteen groups of setae, respectively. Flagellum 70% of the length of peduncle articles 4 and 5, counting nine articles. Mouth parts ( Figs 7-8 ) Labium ( Fig. 8D ) . Bilobate; with inner developed lobes. Left mandible ( Fig. 7E ) . With five teeth on incisor process, with four large teeth on lacinia mobilis and a row of six serrated setae. Right mandible ( Fig. 7F ) . With four teeth on incisor process, lacinia mobilis pluri-toothed, with a row of seven serrated setae. Mandibular palp ( Fig. 7G ) . Ratio of mandibular palp articles 1: 2: 3 as 1: 1.85: 2.09. Proximal article without setae; middle article with thirteen setae medially; distal article with one A-group of three setae, three groups of B-setae, no Csetae, 23 D-setae and five E-setae. Maxilla I ( Fig. 7C, D ) . With two apical setae on distal palp articles. Inner plate with two apical setae, outer plate with seven long spines with 4-4-3-4-3-4 and more than five lateral projections; palp bi-articulated, not reaching mid-length of spines on lateral lobe. FIG. 7. — Niphargus nasrullahi n. sp. , male 10 mm (holotype, ZCRU Amph. 1055): A , antenna I; B , antenna II; C , D , maxilla I; E , left mandible; F , right mandible; G , mandibular palp. Scale bars: A, B, 1 mm; C, D, G, 0.5 mm; E, F, 0.25 mm. FIG. 8. — Niphargus nasrullahi n. sp. , male 10 mm (holotype, ZCRU Amph. 1055): A , gnathopod I; B , gnathopod II; C , maxilliped; D , labium; E , maxilla II. Scale bars: A, B, 1 mm; C-E, 0.5 mm. FIG. 9. — Niphargus nasrullahi n. sp. , male 10 mm (holotype,ZCRU Amph.1055): A , pereopod III; B , pereopod IV; C , pereopod V; D , pereopod VI; E , pereopod VII. Scale bar: 1 mm. FIG. 10. — Niphargus nasrullahi n. sp. , male 10 mm (holotype, ZCRU Amph. 1055): A , pleopod I; B , pleopod II; C , pleopod III; D , uropod I; E , uropod II; F , uropod III; G , epimeral plates; H , telson. Scale bars: A-E, 1 mm; G-H, 0.5 mm; F, 2 mm. Maxilla II ( Fig. 8E ) . With inner lobe shorter than outer lobe; both lobes with numerous long apical setae. Maxilliped ( Fig. 8C ) . Inner plate with five distal spines intermixed with six distal setae; outer plate not exceeding proximal half of the palp article 2, with ten marginal spines and five distal setae; palp article 3 at outer margin with one proximal and one distal group of long setae; palp terminal article with one seta in outer and inner margins, nail shorter than pedestal. Gnathopod I. Coxal plate of gnathopod I ( Fig. 8A ) quadratic, with seven marginal setae. Posterior margin of basis with setae in groups; anterior margin with single setae; posterior margin of ischium and merus with one posterior group of setae. Carpus length 59% of basis length and 69% of propodus length; anterior carpal margin with antero-distal group of setae; carpus with posterior rows of setae on the proximo-posterior bulb and with a long row of setae along postero-medial margin. Propodus trapezoid, broader than long, anterior margin with three groups of ten setae in addition to six antero-distal setae. Posterior margin with six rows of setae. Palm convex, palmar corner with one strong palmar spine, one inner short accompanying spine and two outer denticulate spines. Dactylus reaching posterior margin of propodus, outer and inner margins of dactylus with three groups of setae and five individual setae, respectively. Nail length 22% of total dactylus length. Gnathopod II ( Fig. 8B ) . With rectangular coxal plate wider than high. Ventral and anterior margins with five setae. Basis with single setae along anterior margin and with setae in groups along posterior margin. Ischium and merus with one posterior group of setae each. Carpus length equal to 50% of basis length and 70% of propodus length; anterior margin with single antero-distal group of setae; carpus with posterior rows of setae on the proximo-posterior bulb and with a row of setae along postero-medial margin. Propodus of gnathopod II broader than long.Propodus of trapezoid, almost almond shape: anterior margin straight; palm and posterior margins slightly convex and palmar angle inclined. Anterior margin with three groups of totally five setae in addition to antero-distal group of six setae. Palmar corner with one strong long palmar spine, one short accompanying spine on inner surface and with two denticulated spines on outer surface. Dactylus reaching posterior margin of propodus, both, outer and inner margins each with a row of five setae; nail short, 20% of total dactylus length. Coxae III-VII ( Fig. 9 A-E). Coxal plates III and IV quadratic. Antero-ventro-posterior margins with five setae on coxa III and with four setae on coxa IV. The latter shallowly concave posteriorly, approximately 10% of coxa width. Coxal plates V-VI with anterior lobe; anterior lobes V-VI with zero and three marginal setae, respectively; posterior lobes V-VI with two and one marginal setae, respectively. Coxa VII without lobe, with single seta posteriorly. Pereopods III - IV ( Fig. 9 ) Pereopods III: IV length ratios as 1.08: 1; dactyli of pereopods III-IV short, with small spine at the base of the nail and one seta of outer margin at pereopod IV; length of nail IV 38% of total dactylus IV length. Pereopods V: VI: VII length ratios as 1: 1.05: 1.11. Pereopod VII 44% of body length. Bases V-VII with six groups of spines along anterior margins each and with seven, six and six short setae along posterior margins, respectively. Postero-ventral lobe of basis of pereopods V-VII weakly developed. Ischium, merus and carpus in pereopods V-VII with several groups of spines and setae along anterior and posterior margins; propodus of pereopod VII longer than propodi of V and VI, dactyli of pereopods V-VI similar to dactyli of pereopods III with one seta at outer margin and with spine at the base of nail; nail VII 25% of total dactylus length. Pereonites Pereonites I-VI without setae. Pereonite VII with one posteroventral seta. Pleopods ( Fig. 10 A-C) Peduncle of pleopods I-III with two hooked retinacles; rami of pleopods I-III with eight to twelve articles per ramus. Pleonites I-III, each pleonite with one seta along the dorsoposterior margin. Epimeral plates ( Fig. 10G ) Epimeral plates I-III with angular postero-ventral corner, posterior and ventral margins concave and convex, respectively. Posterior margins of plates I-III with two, three, and two setae, respectively; ventral margins of plates II-III with two and one spine, respectively. Uropods ( Fig. 10 D-F) Uropod I ( Fig. 10D ) peduncle with seven and two spines along dorso-lateral and dorso-medial margins, respectively. Outer ramus shorter than inner ramus (ratio as 1.00: 1.15). Inner ramus with three spines laterally and four spines distally. Outer ramus with four groups of spines and setae laterally and five spines distally. A single strong spine at the base of uropod I. Inner ramus in uropod II ( Fig. 10E ) slightly longer than outer, both rami with lateral and distal long spines. Uropod III ( Fig. 10F ) almost 31% of body length. Peduncle of uropod III with five spines distally and with two setae laterally. Proximal article of outer ramus with four groups of spines and plumose setae along of outer and inner margins each. Distal article of outer ramus short, proximal: distal ratio as 6.0: 1. Distal article with marginal and distal setae. Inner ramus with one spine and one seta distally. Urosomites I-III Urosomite I postero-dorso-laterally with two spines, urosomite II postero-dorso-laterally with two spines and one seta, urosomite III without setae. Telson ( Fig. 10H ) As long as broad, lobes slightly narrowing apically, each lobe with three distal long spines; lateral margins with pairs of plumose setae each. Female Unknown. REMARKS Niphargus nasrullahi n. sp. is difficult to diagnose and we suggest it is best characterized by its diagnostic COI and 28S sequences. The new species is lacking unique morphological traits or at least a unique combination of distinct morphological traits. The shape of gnathopods, coxal plates, appendages, telson and setal patterns on the body are not distinctive and can be observed in other species of the genus. The newly described species most closely resembles the Iranian species N. darvishi Esmaeili-Rineh, Sari & Fišer, 2015. The two species share some characters including the short maxillary palpus, not reaching the tip of the outer lobe of maxilla I, multi-denticulated spines on maxilla I, shape of propodi in gnathopods and the number of apical spines on each telson lobe. However, N. nasrullahi n. sp. differs from N. darvishi in the lack of pectinate dactyli of pereopods III-VII (only one spine in N. nasrullahi n. sp. ; Fig. 9 A-E) and setae in groups on gnathopod I dactylus (single setae in N. darvishi ; Fig. 8A, B ). Moreover, N. nasrullahi n. sp. resembles both sister species ( N. borisi and N. yasujensis n. sp. ) by short palpus on maxilla I ( Fig. 7C ), however it clearly differs from both species by larger and differently shaped propodi of gnathopods I-II (Fig. A, B).