Niphargus alisadri, Esmaeili-Rineh & Sari, 2013

Esmaeili-Rineh, Somayeh & Sari, Alireza, 2013, Two new species of Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Niphargidae) from two caves in Iran, Journal of Natural History 47 (41 - 42), pp. 2649-2669 : 2651-2658

Genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849

Niphargus alisadri sp. nov.

( Figures 2–6 )

Type material

Holotype: Male from Alisadr cave system, Hamedan province, (35 ◦ 16 ′ N, 48 ◦ 17 ′ E) ( ZUTC Amph.2321; 20 September 2010) . Allotype ( ZUTC Amph. 2343; 12 February 2013); 18 male paratypes ( ZUTC Amph.2322; 20 September 2010). All specimens collected by S. Esmaeili-Rineh.

Additional material

Three males ( ZUTC Amph. 2344; 12 February 2013). Collected by S. Esmaeili-Rineh.

Diagnosis

Urosomite II with five to six robust setae in postero-dorsolateral margins. Epimeral plates II and III in ventral margin with five robust setae. Telson long with distal and lateral robust setae only. Dactyli of gnathopods I and II with several single setae along outer margin. No sexual dimorphism in Uropod I. Uropod III measures almost half of body length.

Description of holotype

Total length 16 mm. Body strong and stout, head with short lateral cephalic lobes ( Figure 2C ). Head length 20% of body length.

Antennae I ( Figure 2A ). Antenna I 0.45 of body length. Peduncular articles 1–3 progressively shorter; length of peduncular article 3 more than half of peduncular article 2, in ratio 1.05: 1.17; main flagellum with 30 articles (most of which with short setae), articles with up to one aesthetasc; accessory flagellum biarticulated and not reaching beyond one-third of article 3 of main flagellum; first and second articles with two and three simple setae, respectively ( Figure 2A ).

Antennae II ( Figure 2B ). Length ratio antenna II: I 0.53. Peduncular article 5 slightly longer than article 4 (ratio 1.22: 1.18), with seven and twelve groups of simple setae, respectively; flagellum with 13 articles, approximately 0.66 of length of peduncle articles 4 + 5.

Labium ( Figure 3G ) with inner lobes.

Maxilla I ( Figure 2D, E ). Inner plate with two long simple setae, outer plate with seven long robust setae of which three with one, two with two, one with five and one without lateral projections; palp biarticulated, long, with three long distal simple setae.

Maxilla II ( Figure 3E ). Both plates with numerous long distal simple setae, inner lobe with lateral simple setae.

Mandibular palp ( Figure 2F ). Ratio of mandibular palp articles 1: 2: 3, 0.26: 0.52: 0.59, no setae on first article; second article with 12 long simple setae ventrally; third article with one group of five A-setae, four groups of B-setae, no C-setae, 25 D-setae and five E-setae.

Left mandible ( Figure 2G ). Incisor with five teeth, lacinia mobilis with two large and many small teeth; six setae with lateral projections between lacinia and triturative molar.

Maxilliped ( Figure 3F ). Inner plate short, with six distal robust setae intermixed with five simple setae, subdistally with three simple long lateral setae; outer plate exceeding half of posterior margin of palp article 2, with 13 marginal robust setae and four distal simple setae; palp article 3 at outer margin with one proximal and one distal group of long simple setae, with one medial long simple seta in outer margin; palp of terminal article with one simple seta in outer margin, nail shorter than pedestal.

Gnathopod I ( Figure 3A, B ). Coxa of gnathopod I smaller than gnathopod II. Coxa trapezoid, broader than long, ventral and anterior margins with five and six simple setae, respectively; basis with setae on anterior and posterior margins; ischium and merus with one posterior group of setae, ischium with one seta in anterior margin, carpus with one group of setae anterodistally, a bulge with long simple setae, carpus 0.71 of basis length and 0.82 of propodus length; propodus slightly rounded at anterior margin and slightly longer than broad, anterior margin with 17 setae in six groups in addition to anterodistal group with eight setae, medial surface of propodus with four setae; palm slightly convex, with one strong long palmar robust seta, one short supporting robust seta on inner surface and two short robust setae with lateral projections on outer surface, three setae under supporting robust seta in palmar corner. Dactylus reaching posterior margin of propodus, outer and inner margins with a row of three and six simple setae, respectively, nail short, length 0.34 of total dactylus length.

Gnathopod II ( Figure 3C, D ). Coxa II rounded, basis with groups of setae on posterior margin and single setae distributed along anterior margin, posterior margin of ischium and merus with one posterior group of setae. Carpus 0.5 of basis length and 0.51 propodus length. Carpus with evenly distributed simple setae posteriorly; propodus in gnathopod II larger than gnathopod I, triangular, longer than broad, anterior margin with six simple setae in two groups in addition to nine anterodistal setae, with medial setae on surface of propodus, palm slightly convex, with one strong palmar robust seta and three robust setae without lateral projections on inner surface. Dactylus not reaching posterior margin of propodus, outer and inner margins of dactylus with four and six simple setae, respectively, nail length 0.28 of total dactylus length.

Coxae III–VII ( Figure 4A–E ). Length to width ratio in coxa III 1.33 : 1.25, ventral and anterior margins of coxa III with eight and six simple setae, respectively. Length to width ratio in coxa IV 1.14 : 1.31, ventral and posterior margins each with six simple setae, posterior concavity shallow and approximately 0.1 of coxa width ( Figure 4A–B ). Coxa V with anteriorly developed lobe, with eight and five simple setae in anterior and posterior lobes, respectively. Coxa VI (based on paratypes) posteriorly developed lobe, with one robust seta and one to two simple setae in posterior lobe. Coxa VII with three setae in posterior margin ( Figure 4C–E ).

Pereopods III–VII ( Figure 4A–E ). Pereopod III longer than IV with length ratio of 5.94: 5.56 ( Figure 4A, B ); dactylus short, with one robust seta at inner margin of each of pereopods III and IV, outer margin of dactylus in pereopod IV with one simple seta, length of dactylus 0.36 of propodus. Nail shorter than pedestal ( Figure 4B ). Pereopods V: VI: VII length ratios, 5.4: 8.63: 8.41, respectively. Pereopod VII 0.52 of body length. Bases in pereopods V and VII with 14 and 13 short simple setae in posterior margin, respectively. Each with seven groups of robust setae in anterior margin ( Figure 4C–E ); basis in pereopod VI with nine groups of robust setae in posterior margin and 17 simple setae along anterior margin ( Figure 4C–E ). Posteroventral lobe of ischium in pereopods V–VII developed. Ischium, merus and carpus in pereopods V–VII with several groups of robust and simple setae on anterior margin but mostly with robust setae at posterior margins; propodus of pereopod VII slightly longer than these in V and VI, dactyli of pereopods V–VII similar to pereopod III, nail length of pereopod VII 0.3 of total dactylus length ( Figure 4C–E ).

Pereonites I–VI. No setae.

Pereonite VII. With single simple seta.

Pleonites I–III. With setae along the entire dorsoposterior margin.

Pleopods I–III ( Figure 5A–C ). Peduncle of pleopods I and II with two hooked setae at distal part of inner margin ( Figure 5A, B ); peduncle of pleopod III with one simple seta in dorsomedial surface, one simple seta and two hooked setae at distal part of inner margin, rami of pleopods I–III each with 14–17 articles ( Figure 5C ).

Epimeral plates I–III ( Figure 5H ). With angular posteroventral corner, posterior and ventral margins convex; epimeral plate I slightly rounded posteromedially, epimeral plates I–III with one long robust seta and three short robust setae at posterior margin; ventral margin of plates II and III with five robust setae.

Urosomites I–III. Posterodorsally with six robust setae. No seta laterally.

Uropods I–III ( Figure 5D–F ). Peduncle in uropod I with eight and five large robust setae in dorsolateral and dorsomedial margins, respectively. Ratio of inner to outer ramus length 1.46: 1.42. Inner ramus with five groups of robust setae and one simple seta laterally and five robust setae distally. Outer ramus with three groups of robust setae laterally and five single robust setae distally ( Figure 5D ). Inner ramus in uropod II slightly longer than outer, both rami with lateral and distal long robust setae ( Figure 5E ). Uropod III long, almost 0.50 of body length. Peduncle of uropod III with eight robust setae and three simple setae distally, first article of outer ramus with six groups of robust and simple setae along margins ( Figure 5F ); Second to first article ratio of outer ramus 3.68: 3.72, with marginal simple setae and five distal simple setae; inner ramus short, with two distal robust setae.

Telson ( Figure 5G ). Three times as long as broad, lobes slightly gaping, each with three distal long robust setae, with two long robust setae and two simple setae marginally.

Female

Total length 17 mm. With five large oostegites.

Antennae I ( Figure 6A ). Peduncular articles 1–3 progressively shorter; length of peduncular article 3 more than half of peduncular article 2, main flagellum with 32 articles, accessory flagellum biarticulated and reaching beyond one-third of article 3 of main flagellum; first and second articles, each with two simple setae ( Figure 6A ).

Antennae II ( Figure 6B ). Peduncular article 5 slightly longer than 4; flagellum with 11 articles.

Mandibular palp ( Figure 6E ). No setae on first article; second article with 12 long simple setae ventrally; third article with one group of four A-setae, three groups of B-setae, no C-setae, 22 D-setae and five E-setae.

Gnathopod I ( Figure 6C ). Gnathopod I smaller than II. Coxa trapezoid, broader than long, with six simple setae along ventral and anterior margins; basis with setae on anterior and posterior margins; ischium and merus with one posterior group of setae, ischium with one seta in anterior margin, carpus with one group of setae anterodistally, a bulge with long simple setae; propodus nearly rounded at anterior margin and slightly broader than long, anterior margin with 11 setae in four groups in addition to anterodistal group with four setae; palm slightly convex, with one strong long palmar robust seta, one short supporting robust seta on inner surface and two short robust setae with lateral projections on outer surface, two setae under supporting robust seta in palmar corner. Dactylus not reaching posterior margin of propodus, outer and inner margins with a row of four and six simple setae, respectively, nail short.

Gnathopod II ( Figure 6D ). Coxa II trapezoid, basis with groups of setae on posterior margin and single setae distributed along anterior margin, posterior margin of ischium and merus with one posterior group of setae. Carpus with evenly distributed simple setae posteriorly; propodus triangular, longer than broad, anterior margin with six simple setae in two groups in addition to six anterodistal setae, palm slightly convex, with one strong palmar robust seta and two robust setae with lateral projections on inner surface. Dactylus reaching posterior margin of propodus, outer and inner margins of dactylus with three and five simple setae, respectively.

Epimeral plates I–III ( Figure 6I ). Epimeral plates I and III slightly with angular posteroventral corner, posterior and ventral margins convex; epimeral plate I with gradient ventral margin, epimeral plates I–III each with one robust seta at posterior margin; ventral margin of plates II and III with two and one robust setae, respectively.

Uropods I–III ( Figure 6F–H ). Peduncle in uropod I with seven and five large robust setae in dorsolateral and dorsomedial margins, respectively. Inner ramus longer than outer. Inner ramus with nine groups of robust setae laterally and five robust setae distally. Outer ramus with five groups of robust setae laterally and five single robust setae distally ( Figure 6F ). Outer ramus in uropod II slightly longer than inner, both rami with lateral and distal long robust setae ( Figure 6G ). Uropod III long; peduncle of uropod III with seven robust setae distally, first article of outer ramus with seven and eight groups of robust setae along inner and outer margins ( Figure 6H ); Second article outer ramus smaller than first, with marginal simple setae; inner ramus short, with two distal robust setae.

Telson ( Figure 6J ). Three times as long as broad, lobes slightly gaping, each with three distal long robust setae, with two long robust setae and two simple setae marginally.

Etymology

The name “ alisadri ” refers to the type locality, Alisadr Cave system in Hamedan province, Iran .

Figures

Figure 2. Niphargus alisadri sp. nov., male 16 mm (holotype, ZUTC Amph.2321). (A) Antenna I; (B) antenna II; (C) head; (D,E) maxilla I; (F) mandibular palp; (G) left mandible. Scale bars: 1 = 0.25 mm (G); 2 = 0.5 mm (C–F); 3 = 1mm (A, B).

Figure 3. Niphargus alisadri sp. nov., male 16 mm (holotype, ZUTC Amph.2321). (A, B) Gnathopod I; (C, D) gnathopod II; (E) maxilla II; (F) maxilliped; (G) labium. Scale bars: 1 = 0.5 mm (E–G); 2 = 1 mm (A–D).

Figure 4. Niphargus alisadri sp. nov., male 16 mm (holotype, ZUTC Amph.2321). (A) Pereopod III; (B) pereopod IV; (C) pereopod V; (D) Pereopod VI; (E), pereopod VII. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 5. Niphargus alisadri sp. nov., Alisadr Cave, male 16◦ mm (holotype, ZUTC Amph.2321). (A) Pleopod I; (B) pleopod II; (C) pleopod III; (D) uropod I; (E) uropod II; (F) uropod III; (G) telson; (H) epimeral plates I–III. Scale bars: 1 = 0.5 mm (G, H); 2 = 1 mm (A–E); 3 = 2 mm (F).

Figure 6. Niphargus alisadri sp. nov., Alisadr Cave, female 17 mm (allotype, ZUTC Amph. 2343). (A) Antenna I; (B) antenna II; (C) gnathopod I; (D) gnathopod II; (E) mandibular palp; (F) uropod I; (G) uropod II; (H) uropod III; (I) epimeral plates I–III; (J) telson. Scale bars: 1 = 0.5 mm (E, I, J); 2 = 1 mm (A–D, F, G); 3 = 2 mm (H).