Niphargus lourensis skirosi Karaman G.S., 2018

Ntakis, Alexandros, Karaouzas, Ioannis, Fišer, Cene & Stoch, Fabio, 2020, An annotated checklist of the Niphargidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) of Greece, Zootaxa 4772 (3), pp. 517-544 : 531

Niphargus lourensis skirosi Karaman G.S., 2018

Published records: Pesce G.L. & Maggi D. (1983); Karaman G.S. (2018c).

Distribution: Endemic to Greece: Skiros Island (WA).

Type material: Holotype: male 8 mm, G-213.= Skiros island, Molos, radar station, 2 wells, water temperature 13.3°C, pH 7.1, 01.07.1980, 2 exp. (leg. G. Pesce), Karaman G.S. (2018c). Examined material: G-212= Skiros island , Molos , 50 m from the coast, 2 wells, water temperature 15.2°C, pH 7.3, 01.07.1980, 2 exp. (leg. G. Pesce) Karaman G.S. (2018c); G-216= Skiros island , Road Linaria-Skiros, 6 km from Skiros city, 2 wells, pH 7.1, water temperature 15.0°C, 02.07.1980, 3 exp. (leg. G. Pesce) Karaman G.S. (2018c); G-217= Skiros island , Aspous, 2 wells, along the road Linaria-Skiros, water temperature 15.1°C, pH 7.1, 02.07.1980, 1 exp. (leg. G. Pesce) Karaman G.S. (2018c); G-218 (slides G-218/1, 218/2, 218/3) = Skiros island , Aspous, 2 wells, along the road Linaria- Skiros, water temperature 15.1°C, pH7.1, 02.07.1980, 1 exp. (leg. G. Pesce), female 7mm (slides G-218/1, 218/2, 218/3) Karaman G.S. (2018c); male 6 mm, G-222= Skiros Island , along road Linaria-Skiros, 2 km. from Linaria, water temperature 15.1°C, pH 7.1, 03.07.1980, 4 exp. (leg. G. Pesce), Karaman G.S. (2018c) . Holotype deposited in KCPM .

Remarks: Niphargus lourensis skirosi is related morphologically to N. lourensis Fišer, Trontelj & Sket, 2006 . There are few minor morphological differences that justify its attribution toa separate subspecies (Karaman G.S., 2018c). As the males of the nominal subspecies are not known, accurate comparison cannot be achieved. In addition, the two species inhabit different zoogeographical regions, the subspecies N. l. skirosi in the central Aegean Sea and the nominal subspecies in Epirus, northwestern Greece. Hence, the subspecies status needs to be revised using molecular tools.

Etymology: The specific name skirosi derives from the type locality, Skiros Island, where the species was collected.