Niphargus gokturki , a new species of Niphargidae (Amphipoda) from western Anatolia, Turkey
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2026
Yazarlar: Murat ÖZBEK
Journal of Natural History, SCI Expanded İndekslerine Giren Dergi, Uluslararası, Wos, 2026, cilt 60, ss 1083-1096
DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2026.2654622
Özet
A new species of the subterranean amphipod genus Niphargus Schiødte, is described from western Anatolia, Turkey. Niphargus gokturki sp. n. was collected from a groundwater-fed stream hydraulically connected to a subterranean aquifer near İzmir. The new species is diagnosed based on a distinctive combination of morphological characters, including: the presence of a single seta on the first article of the mandibular palp and a seta on the outer margin of the second article; 8 setae along the outer margin of the dactyli of gnathopods 1–2; length ratio of maxilla 1 palp to outer plate approximately 1.0 : 0.78; a ventroposterior armature of urosomite 1 composed of 3 robust setae arranged in a 2 + 1 pattern; an elongated distal article of the outer ramus of uropod III; epimeral plates with produced posteroventral corner; a pleopod retinacula pattern of 2 + 2 + 3; and elongate, deeply cleft telson lobes with a characteristic setation pattern. Although molecular data could not be obtained due to the condition of the material, the new species is clearly distinguishable from all previously described Turkish and geographically adjacent congeners by multiple independent morphological traits. The discovery of N. gokturki sp. n. from the İzmir region highlights the underestimated diversity of Niphargus in western Anatolia and emphasises the importance of continued taxonomic exploration of groundwater-associated amphipod faunas in Turkey.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F95A2FBD-E5E4-4B97-8A65-827832ADE428