Gammarus sepidannus Zamanpoore, Poeckl, Grabowski & Schiemer, 2009

Gammarus sepidannus Zamanpoore, Poeckl, Grabowski & Schiemer, 2009: 31 –38, Figs. 7–10.

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

Material examined. Holotype (ZMA, Amph. 206056). Paratypes: Khani Varg spring, 4 km S of Sepidan (30°12´N, 51°59´E) (FAIC 111053); Cheshme Owsip, 3 km NW of Sepidan (30°16´N, 51°57´E) (FAIC 111052); Sheshpeer (spring brook), 10 km SE of Sepidan (30°15´N, 52°03´E) (FAIC 111105).

Distribution. It is an endemic species restricted to only a small area, being the upper part of the Zohre River catchment in south of the Central Zagros (Fig. 1).

Ecological notes. Habitats of this species include small mountain springs on altitudes from 2053 m to 2350 m asl (Mean = 2210 m, SD = 80). Water in these springs is cold (8 – 13 ºC, Mean = 12.2 ºC, SD = 1.4), ionic content is low, as conductivity ranges from 180 to 410 μS/cm (Mean = 258 μS/cm, SD = 61). Spring margins are covered with snow or ice during the winter and some time in autumn and spring.

Taxonomic remarks. Gammarus sepidannus has a shorter endopodite in uropod 3 (Zamanpoore et al., 2009, Fig. 9F), if compared to other Gammarus species in the region. Apart of this feature the species resemble somewhat G. lobifer and G. baloutchi . However, both latter species possess long eyes vs. short eye in G. sepidannus (ibid., Fig. 7A). All peduncle segments and flagellum of antenna 2 in G. sepidannus have long setae (ibid., Fig. 7C), while the seate are short on peduncle and flagellum in G. lobifer (Stock et al., 1998, Fig. 24d), and on flagellum in G. baloutchi (Khalaji-Pirbalouty & Sari, 2006, Fig. 1 A2).

Gammarus shirazinus Zamanpoore, Grabowski, Poeckl & Schiemer, 2010a

Gammarus shirazinus Zamanpoore, Grabowski, Poeckl & Schiemer, 2010a: 31 –51, Figs. 2–3. Zamanpoore, Grabowski, Poeckl & Schiemer, 2010b, Fig. 4.

Gammarus syriacus (Mateus & Mateus, 1990: 280), misidentified.

Locus typicus. Pole-Berenji spring (29°27´N, 52°31´E), S of Shiraz, Fars Province.

Material examined. Holotype (ZMA Crust. Amph. 206057). Paratypes: Barme-Delak spring, 18 km SE of Shiraz (29°33´N, 52°42´E) (FAIC 111066); Barme-shur spring, 17 km S of Shiraz (29°28´N, 52°41´E) (FAIC 111273); Barme-Tarkoshte spring, 17 km SE of Shiraz (29°34´N, 52°40´E) (FAIC 111065); Kaftarak, 16 km SE of Shiraz (29°35´N, 52°39´E) (FAIC 111280); Neiriz, 200 km SE of Shiraz (29°12´N, 54°20´E) (FAIC 111278); Pire Bano spring, 11 km SW of Shiraz (29°31´N, 52°27´E) (FAIC 111281); Pire Gheibi spring, 12 km SW of Shiraz (29°31´N, 52°27´E) (FAIC 111283); Se Barm spring, 14 km E of Shiraz (29°35´N, 52°40´E) (FAIC 111274). Misidentified as G. syriacus . Two specimens 16 km SW Shiraz (29°36'54''N 52°32'18''E), Fars Province, (NHMW Amphipoda 4867).

Distribution. An endemic species, found almost exclusively in Maharlu Lake catchments area in southern Zagros (Fig. 1).

Ecological notes. This part of the country lies in lowlands, with rivers flowing from springs originating on elevations 1460 –1600 m asl (Mean = 1487 m, SD = 33. Water temperatures range from 18 to 25 ºC (Mean = 21 ºC, SD = 1.6), coupled with an extraordinary high conductivities of 150 – 1800 μS/cm (Mean = 1175 μS/cm, SD = 607).

Taxonomic remarks. This species can be confused at first glance with G. loeffleri . It may be differentiated from the latter by longer setation of antenna 2 (Zamanpoore et al., 2010a, Fig. 2C) and pereopod 5–7 (Zamanpoore et al., 2010b, Figs. 4A–C), presence of 2 tiny spines on ventro-distal corner of first peduncle in antenna 1 (ibid., Fig. 2B) makes it easy to recognize this species from the other one. This feature is common with G. bakhteyaricus, whose most other morphological characters are different. In a same way, it can be easily shown for G. syriacus . The only possible similarity of both species is longer setation on pereopods 5–7 if compared to other Gammarus species in Iran.

Misidentifications. See relevant section under G. pseudosyriacus .