An addition to the cryptic diversity in Anatolian subterranean fauna: description of <i>Niphargus elvericii</i> sp. nov.
ZOOLOGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1080/09397140.2026.2728502
- Dergi Adı: ZOOLOGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Environment Index, Geobase, Zoological Record, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO)
- Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
A new stygobiotic amphipod species, Niphargus elvericii sp. nov., is described from Ha & scedil;ha & scedil;l & imath; Cave in Bart & imath;n Province, T & uuml;rkiye. The species is diagnosed by a unique combination of morphological characters. In the male holotype, these include two setae on the first article of the mandibular palp, five distal setae on the inner lobe of maxilla 1, densely setose dactyli of gnathopods 1 and 2, rather angular epimeral plates, and a distinctive telson armature: the telson is cleft to 0.65 & times; total length; each lobe is armed distally with five long robust setae and one short simple seta, with two groups of lateral robust setae, one mesial robust seta, and two groups of dorsal robust setae (each containing four setae). Additional diagnostic traits include the presence of two robust setae on the ventroposterior margin of urosomite 1 and a specific configuration of setae on the mouthparts. Niphargus elvericii is clearly distinguishable from all known Turkish congeners, particularly N. religiosus, N. turcicus, N. incus, N. sertacii, N. kirgizi, N. anatolicus, and N. valachicus, as well as from morphologically similar Balkan, Greek, and Iranian species. The discovery of N. elvericii highlights the significant but still underexplored subterranean biodiversity of the Western Black Sea karst region and biogeography in Anatolia.