Niphargus fontanus Spence Bate, 1859

Fišer, Cene, Zagmajster, Maja & Dethier, Michel, 2018, Overview of Niphargidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) in Belgium: distribution, taxonomic notes and conservation issues, Zootaxa 4387 (1), pp. 47-74 : 52

Niphargus fontanus Spence Bate, 1859

Published records: L.13—Grotte de Han ( Delhez et al. 1999, Hubart & Dethier 1999); L.21—Puits du Griffaloux ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.25—Pré-au-Tonneau cave ( Leruth 1934a, 1934b, 1939b, Delhez et al. 1999, Hubart & Dethier 1999, ZMB Berlin); L.39—Molignee Dresine ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.49—Gallery of Crupet, water catchment ( Stoch et al. 2004, Altermatt et al. 2014, Fišer et al. 2017); L.63—Puits du Milieu du Monde ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.84—Remouchamps cave ( Leruth 1939b, Delhez et al. 1999, Hubart & Dethier 1999, ZMB Berlin); L.85—Grotte de l' Ile d'Ifflot ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.87—Source de Mont ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.106— Captage SWDE (Société wallonne de distribution des eaux) Vieux Sart D1 ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.108— Captage SWDE (Société wallonne de distribution des eaux) Les Forges D1 ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.112—Sainte Anne cave (ZMB Berlin); L.119—Lyell cave ( Leruth 1934a, 1934b, 1939b, Delhez et al. 1999, Hubart & Dethier 1999, ZMB Berlin); L.137—Boverie island, well ( Van Beneden 1884); L.138—Liège, in a well ( Pirlot 1933, Leruth 1934a, 1939b, Hubart & Dethier 1999); L.156—Puits N 1 de Lesterny ( Stoch et al. 2004).

Also this species was described from Great Britain, but later on reported from the entire Europe: Austria ( Priesel-Dichtl 1959), Belgium ( Leruth, 1939b), France ( Ginet 1996; McInnerney et al. 2014); Germany ( Trontelj et al. 2009), Switzerland (Fišer et al. 2017). In Belgium it was found at 15 localities, caves, wells and springs ( Fig. 3 , App. 1). We did not recollect this species in any of the samples in our study. According to published information from all parts of its range, the species seem to inhabit preferentially interstitial habitats (Fišer et al. 2017).

Molecular analyses suggested “ N. fontanus ” is a polyphyletic complex; at least populations from upper Danube and Rhine Basins are not closely related to the name-bearing British populations ( Trontelj et al. 2009; Fišer et al. 2017). The populations from Belgium belong to the lineage, which is distributed also in Britain and is only weakly differentiated from another lineage endemic to southern Britain (McInnerney et al. 2014). More detailed analyses are needed to clarify i) whether the two lineages can be treated as separate species and ii) which of the two lineages comprises nominal N. fontanus and which lineage deserves a separate species status.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Distribution of N. dimorphopus (left) and N. fontanus (right) in Belgium. Blue circles refer to data from published sources, while red circles refer to new records published for the first time in this study.