Epeorus (Caucasiron) sinitshenkovae (Braasch & Zimmerman, 1979) Figs 24, 25, 26

Iron sinitshenkovae Braasch & Zimmermann, 1979

Epeorus (Iron) sinitshenkovae (Braasch & Zimmermann, 1979); in Kluge (1995)

Epeorus (Caucasiron) sinitshenkovae (Braasch & Zimmermann, 1979); in Kluge (2004)

Type locality.

Russia, the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, central Greater Caucasus, right tributary of Dongoserun (Donguz-Orun-Baksan) River (2100 m a.s.l.).

Distribution.

Georgia, south-western Russia. Species endemic to the Greater Caucasus (Fig. 24).

Habitat.

Larvae inhabit small streams and rivers at middle and high altitude in the western and central Greater Caucasus. Altitudinal range of sampling sites 760-2580 m a.s.l. (Fig. 24). Most frequently found above 1800 m a.s.l. Often syntopic with E. (C.) alpestris and at lower altitude with E. (C.) soldani .

Main morphological diagnostics of larvae.

(i) abdominal terga V-VII with narrowed triangular medial macula and a pair of anterolateral spots (Fig. 25H; arrows); (ii) abdominal sterna without coloration pattern (Fig. 25B, I); (iii) femora without medial hypodermal spot (Fig. 25F, G); (iv) gill plates VII (in natural position from ventral view) narrow (Figs 25J, 26H-K); (v) gill plates III with poorly developed projection (Fig. 26G); (vi) setae on abdominal terga not distinctly wide at base, often elongated (Fig. 26E); (vii) tergum X without postero-lateral projections (Fig. 26L).

Remarks.

Taxonomy. Original description based on male imago and larva from the Greater Caucasus (Braasch and Zimmermann 1979). The type series is currently deposited in SMNS. Female imago not described in detail. The association of imagines and larvae based on the colour pattern of abdominal terga and sterna in material from the same locality.