Microniphargus leruthi Schellenberg, 1934

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 : 50

Microniphargus leruthi Schellenberg, 1934

Published records: L.100—Trou Manto cave ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.119—Lyell cave ( Leruth 1934b, 1939b, Delhez et al. 1999, Hubart & Dethier 1999, ZMB Berlin); L.130—Chaudfontaine, norton pump (ZMB Berlin); L.140—Wells near Liège ( Karaman & Ruffo 1986); L.154—Bombaye (ZMB Berlin).

New records: L.81—Comblain-au-Pont cave (12.11.2000, MD; 18.8.2011, MD; 14.9.2011, MD); L.142— Chartreuse, mine gallery (17.12.2002, MD & JMH).

This small species, collected by Leruth, was described by Schellenberg (1934). It was considered as an endemic species of the Lyell’s cave (before called “Grande Caverne d’Engihoul”) for a long time, but later the species was reported also from Luxembourg ( Hoffmann 1963), Germany ( Spangenberg 1973) and British Isles (reviewed by Knight & Gledhill 2010). In Belgium, it was previously reported from five localities and considered as extinct by Martin et al. (2009). We found the species on two additional localities. The species is distributed only in north-eastern part of Wallonia, where it is known from caves, one artificial gallery, wells in surroundings of Liège and mine gallery near Chartreuse ( Fig. 2 ).

This is one of the smallest niphargid species that regularly co-occurs with other Niphargus species ( Schellenberg 1934, Knight & Gledhill 2010, App. 1). Preliminary molecular studies suggest that continental populations are genetically different from populations on British Isles (Moškrič, unpublished). The taxonomic status of Belgian populations, however, should remain unchanged given that they include the type population. However, the taxonomic revision may reveal that the size of the species range is smaller, which can affect species conservation status.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Distribution of M. leruthi (left) and N. aquilex (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.