A new subterranean amphipod species from Western Anatolia (Türkiye): Niphargus hasansarii n. sp. (Amphipoda: Niphargidae)

Murat Özbek

doi:10.12714/egejfas.43.2.01

EN TR

A new subterranean amphipod species from Western Anatolia (Türkiye): Niphargus hasansarii n. sp. (Amphipoda: Niphargidae)

Abstract

A new amphipod species, Niphargus hasansarii n. sp., is described based on a single female specimen collected from Homeros Valley in İzmir Province, Western Türkiye. The species is distinguished by a unique combination of characters, specifically the high setation (≥4) along the outer margin of dactyli on both gnathopods, a single spine on the inner margin of the dactyli of pereopods 3–7, three distal setae on the inner lobe of maxilla I, a subrounded third epimeral plate, a single robust seta at the base of uropod I, and distinct facial and lateral spines on the telson lobes. Detailed morphological examination and illustrations of the holotype’s appendages were performed. The new species is compared with morphologically similar congeners, and diagnostic differences are highlighted. Although molecular data could not be obtained due to the specimen’s preservation conditions and absence of additional material, the combination of unique morphological features strongly supports the species’ distinct taxonomic status.

Keywords

Batı Anadolu'dan (Türkiye) yeni bir yeraltı amfipod türü: Niphargus hasansarii n. sp. (Amphipoda: Niphargidae)

Öz

Türkiye'nin batısında yer alan İzmir ili Homeros Vadisi'nden toplanan bir dişi bireye dayanarak yeni bir amfipod türü olan Niphargus hasansarii n. sp. tanımlanmıştır. Tür, özellikle her iki gnathopodun daktilinin dış kenarı boyunca yüksek kıllılık (≥4), 3-7. pereopodların daktilinin iç kenarında tek bir diken, maksilla I'in iç lobunda üç distal kıl, yarı yuvarlak üçüncü epimeral plaka, uropod I'in tabanında tek bir sağlam kıl ve telson loblarında belirgin yüz ve yanal dikenler gibi benzersiz bir karakter kombinasyonu ile ayırt edilir. Holotipin uzantılarının ayrıntılı morfolojik incelemesi ve çizimleri yapılmıştır. Yeni tür, morfolojik olarak benzer akrabalarıyla karşılaştırılmış ve tanısal farklılıklar vurgulanmıştır. Örneğin korunma koşulları ve ek materyalin yokluğu nedeniyle moleküler veriler elde edilemese de, benzersiz morfolojik özelliklerin kombinasyonu, türün ayrı taksonomik statüsünü güçlü bir şekilde desteklemektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Supporting Institution

No institution or project financially supported the study.

Ethical Statement

There is no need for this study.

Thanks

The author gratefully acknowledges Prof. Dr. Hasan M. SARI for collecting and providing the amphipod specimen from Homeros Valley. The author also wishes to thank the editor and anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments, which greatly improved the quality of the manuscript.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Hydrobiology , Freshwater Ecology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Murat Özbek ^*
0000-0003-4607-3507
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 21, 2026

Submission Date

October 1, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 17, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 43 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.12714/egejfas.43.2.01

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA38SF59SL

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Özbek, M. (2026). A new subterranean amphipod species from Western Anatolia (Türkiye): Niphargus hasansarii n. sp. (Amphipoda: Niphargidae). Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 43(2), 94-101. https://doi.org/10.12714/egejfas.43.2.01