Gammarus pseudosyriacus pseudosyriacus Karaman & Pinkster, 1977

Semsar-Kazerooni, Maryam, Zamanpoore, Mehrdad & Sadeghi, Saber, 2016, Redescription of Gammaruspseudosyriacus (Karaman & Pinkster, 1977) and description of a new subspecies from southern Iran (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Gammaridae), ZooKeys 598, pp. 57-73 : 58-61

Taxon classification Animalia Amphipoda Gammaridae

Gammarus pseudosyriacus pseudosyriacus Karaman & Pinkster, 1977

Gammarus pseudosyriacus Karaman & Pinkster, 1977: 55-58, fig. 22

Type locality.

The type locality of Gammarus pseudosyriacus Karaman & Pinkster, 1977 is small pools in surroundings of Damascus. The samples were collected from springs and qanats of Zagros Mountains in October 2012. Location was Eghlid station (Rasoul Spring, Eghlid, Fars province, Iran, 30°53'27.6"N; 52°40'18.3"E, Altitude 2167 m) (Fig. 1). Leg. M. Semsar-Kazerooni.

Material examined.

The description is based on new material collected by the authors from Eghlid, Fars, Iran, a locality inside the distribution range of the species (Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Israel and Syria). Eight males were completely dissected and examined in detail, and compared to another 22 males (FAIC 111300, ZM–CBSU #3210). One male, with genitalia in a separate microvial. Original label: " FAIC 111300, Eghlid, Rasoul Spring, 30°53'27.6"N; 52°40'18.3"E, 15 October 2012". As well as to samples from previously collected material from winter, spring, and summer.

Description.

Maximum body length 22 mm; kidney-shaped and medium-sized eyes (the length of which are equal to the diameter of the first peduncular article of antenna 1) (Fig. 2C); sharp epimeres (Fig. 2 F–H) and clearly elevated urosome segment (Fig. 3G). Antenna 1: Longer than antenna 2; peduncular articles 1>2>3; main and accessory flagella with 22-35 and 2-5 articles, armed with short simple setae (Fig. 2A). Antenna 2: Gland cone is shorter than the third peduncle article; peduncle articles 4 and 5 about equal length and armed with groups of short setae; flagellum with 10-18 articles and also armed with short simple setae; calceoli present (Fig. 2B). Mandible: All parts include incisor processes, lacinia mobilis and ridged molar process well developed, also a plumose long spine row is present (Fig. 3B). Mandible palp: First article without setae; second article with ventral setae, 3-6 proximal setae and 9-13 closely placed distal setae; inferior margin of the third article armed with a comb-like row of 30-36 D-setae, 5-6 long E-setae, one group of B-setae and one group of A-setae (Fig. 3A). Maxilla 1: Inner basal lobe with plumose setae; stout serrate spines on outer lobe; palps asymmetric; right palp with 4 robust tooth-like spines on apical margin, one longer separate subapical spine on its outer margin with one seta (Fig. 3D). Left palp with 5 apical spines accompanied by 2 median setae, one longer separate subapical spine on outer corner (Fig. 3C). Maxillipeds: Exopodite with a row of 3 strong teeth and 6 longer setae on distal margin, a row of setae at distal sub-margin which becomes plumose from the middle and continues towards the inferior margin to join to 8-10 long plumose setae, a single spine with a distance at sub-marginal interior corner, a row of three setae parallel to the long axis close to the single spine (Fig. 3E).

Gnathopod 1: Coxal plate distally slightly wider than proximal, rounded corners with a seta at the postero-ventral corner and 1-2 setae at antero-ventral corner; basis with a few long setae on both anterior and posterior margins; ischium with a postero-distal row of setae; merus and carpus with groups of short setae which are plumose at posterior margin of carpus; propodus pyriform with groups of spines and setae, 6-7 groups of small spines at posterior palmar margin; dactylus long (Fig. 2D). Gnathopod 2: Coxal plate distally slightly narrower than proximal, rounded corners with a seta at the postero-ventral corner and 1-3 setae at antero-ventral corner; basis with a few long setae on both anterior and posterior margins; ischium with a postero-distal row of setae; merus and carpus with groups of short setae which are plumose at posterior margin of carpus; propodus trapezoid-shaped (subrectangular) with 3 groups of spines, and also groups of dense setae on palmar surface (Fig. 2E). Pereopod 3: Coxal plate rectangular and rounded distally, with two short setae at antero-distal corner and one at postero-distal corner; anterior and posterior margins of basis bear some long simple setae; posterior margins of merus and carpus densely setose; merus with several groups of dense setae on posterior margin about 1 to 1.5 times as long as the diameter of the article, anterior margin of merus with 2 groups of short spine that intermixed with short setae and a group of long setae and a spine at anterior tip; posterior margin of carpus with several groups of dense setae 2 times longer than the diameter of the article, a long spine and a group of longer setae are implanted on both its anterior and posterior tip; posterior margin of propodus with 6-7 groups of small spines and some long setae (Fig. 4A). Pereopod 4: Coxal plate with a small seta implanted at antero-distal margin and 1-4 at postero-distal margin; articles similar to pereopod 3, but setae are shorter and the number of setae is lower; anterior margin of merus with just one group of short setae and spines, long spines implanted at anterior tip among a group of setae; posterior margin of carpus with several groups of setae and spines; posterior margin of propodus with 6-8 groups of small spines and some long setae (Fig. 4B). Pereopod 5: Basis subrectangular, postero-distal lobe well developed, posterior margin with 2-5 very short setae, anterior margin with 4-6 spines mixed with a fine seta; merus and carpus with small spines and setae; propodus having 6-7 transverse rows of spines (Fig. 4C). Pereopod 6: Longer than pereopod 5; basis slender and posterior margin with 6-10 setae and anterior margin with 4-6 spines; other articles are similar to pereopod 5 (Fig. 4D). Pereopod 7: Basis wider proximally, postero-distal protruding lobe less developed than pereopod 6, posterior margin with 5-11 setae and anterior margin with 4-6 spines; anterior margin of merus and carpus with spines and longer setae; merus with two spines mixed with short setae at posterior margin; carpus with 2-3 spines at posterior margin; propodus with spines and setae which are as long as spines, 6-7 transverse rows of spines on anterior margin of propodus, two longer spines at posterior tip of propodus intermixed with a group of longer setae (Fig. 4E). Uropod 3: Endopodite length is about two-thirds of the exopodite; setae on outer and inner margin of both exopodite and endopodite are plumose (Fig. 3H).

Telson: Length of the lobes about twice their widest width; 2-5 long and robust spines and 5-8 long setae on distal margin; groups of setae at the dorsal surface of the lobes (Fig. 3F). Epimeral plate 1: Rounded with 12-14 long setae on antero-distal corner (Fig. 2F). Epimeral plate 2: Posterodistal corner pointed; distal margin with 2-7 short spines (Fig. 2G). Epimeral plate 3: Posterodistal corner sharply pointed; 3-5 short spines intermixed with short setae on distal margin (Fig. 2H). Urosomites 1-3: With clear dorsal elevation; each urosomite bears a dorsomedian and dorsolateral groups of short setae mixed with short spines on their posterior margins (Fig. 3G).

Distribution.

The species is dispersed from Israel to Syria, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan ( Karaman and Pinkster 1977, Zamanpoore et al. 2011). In Iran, it is widespread in the inner parts of the Zagros Mountains, extending from northwest to southeast.

Ecology.

Rasoul Spring is covered by a gravel bed and some submersed aquatic plants. Ecological factors include salinity (0.19 g/lit), pH (6.5), electrical conductivity (350 μS /cm), water temperature (15 to17 °C), and water depth (25 cm).