Niphargidae Bousfield, 1977

Myers, A, 2013, A Phylogeny and Classification of the Senticaudata subord. nov. (Crustacea: Amphipoda), Zootaxa 3610 (1), pp. 1-80 : 49-50

Niphargidae Bousfield, 1977

Type genus. Niphargus Schiödte, 1849

Diagnostic description. Body laterally compressed, subcylindrical or vermiform. Eyes absent. Antennae 1–2 calceoli absent. Antenna 1 longer than antenna 2; peduncular article 1 longer than article 2; article 2 shorter than, subequal to, or longer than article 3; article 3 shorter than article 1; peduncular articles 1–2 not geniculate; accessory flagellum short or minute. Antenna 2 peduncular article 1 enlarged, bulbous. Mandible molar triturative; palp symmetrical. Maxilla 1 basal endite setose along medial margin or apically setose; palps symmetrical. Maxilla 2 basal endite without oblique setal row. Labium inner lobes present. Coxal gills number and sequence [not known], stalked (with proximal restriction or complete suture); sternal gills absent; sternal blisters absent; oostegites fringing setae simple. Gnathopod 1 subchelate; similar or dissimilar in males and females (sexually dimorphic); smaller (or weaker) than or similar in size to gnathopod 2; propodus palm without robust setae along palmar margin. Gnathopod 2 subchelate; similar or dissimilar in males and females (sexually dimorphic); carpus not produced along posterior margin of propodus, projecting between merus and propodus. Pereopods 3–4 not sexually dimorphic. Pereopod 4 with small posteroventral lobe or without posteroventral lobe. Pereopod 5 shorter than pereopod 6; coxa with posterodorsal lobe or with large anteroventral lobe or with small anteroventral lobe or without lobes. Pereopod 7 longer than pereopod 5. Pleonites 1–3 without dorsal carinae. Urosomites 1–3 free; with or without slender or robust dorsal setae. Urosomite 1 with large distoventral robust seta. Urosomite 2 with pair of dorsal concavities each with 1–3 small setae or without dorsal setae. Uropod 1 without basofacial robust setae. Uropod 3 biramous or uniramous, with plumose setae or without plumose setae; endopod minute or shorter than exopod. Telson deeply cleft or moderately cleft ; dorsal or lateral robust setae present or absent; apical robust setae present or absent.

Habitat. Freshwater, hypogean.

Included genera. Carinurella Sket, 1971 ; Foroniphargus G. Karaman, 1985b ; Haploginglymus Mateus & Mateus, 1958 ; Microniphargus Schellenberg, 1934 ; Niphargellus Schellenberg, 1938 ; Niphargobates Sket, 1981 ; Niphargopsis Chevreux, 1922 ; Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 ; Pontoniphargus Dancau, 1970 . Distribution. Palaearctic.