Gammarus zagrosensis Zamanpoore, Poeckl, Grabowski & Schiemer, 2009

Gammarus zagrosensis Zamanpoore, Poeckl, Grabowski & Schiemer, 2009: 23 –31, Figs. 2–5. Gammarus syriacus (Stock et al., 1998: 206), misidentified.

Locus typicus. Vezge-Morad spring (30°13´N, 51°58´E), S of Sepidan, Fars Province.

Material examined. Holotype (ZMA Crust. Amph. 206052). Paratypes: Khani Varg spring, 4 km S of Sepidan (30°12´N, 51°59´E) (FAIC 111053 -1); Baraghan spring, 5 km SE of Sepidan (30°15´N, 51°59´E) (FAIC 111238, FAIC 111239); Sheshpeer (spring brook), 10 km SE of Sepidan (30°15´N, 52°03´E) (FAIC 111105 -1). Misidentified as G. syriacus . Non-type specimens, Borghan (Baraghan) spring, (30°15´N, 51°59´E) (ZMA Crust. Amph. #?).

Distribution. An endemic species, inhabiting almost the same geographic area in the lower Central Zagros as G. sepidannus (Fig. 1).

Ecological notes. Gammarus zagrosensis is sympatric with G. sepidannus, so ecological features of their habitats are mostly similar. In the montane (1991 – 2350 m asl, Mean = 2196 m, SD = 85) and cold region of lower Central Zagros, the water temperature measured from 10 to 13ºC over the year (Mean = 12 ºC, SD = 0.8), with electric conductivities of 180 – 410 μS/cm (Mean = 249 μS/cm, SD = 61).

Taxonomic remarks. With the relatively short setation of pereopod 5–7, the species might seem similar to G. syriacus, but features quite clearly separating it from the latter species include: long setae on inferior margin of epimeral plates 1–3 (Zamanpoore et al., 2009, Fig. 4E), slightly pointed epimeral plates 2 and 3 (ibid.), long setae in postero-distal corner of pereopod 6 and 7 (ibid., Figs. 4A–C), longer antennal gland cone (ibid., Fig. 2C).

Misidentifications. See relevant section under G. pseudosyriacus .