Niphargus dimorphopus Stock & Gledhill, 1977

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 : 51-52

Niphargus dimorphopus Stock & Gledhill, 1977

Published records: L.1—Gent, well in Botanic garden ( Schellenberg 1933, Leruth 1934b, 1939b, Hubart & Dethier 1999); L.10—Fontaine de Auffe ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.12—Han, wells ( Leruth 1934b, 1939b, Hubart & Dethier 1999); L.13—Grotte de Han ( Schellenberg 1933, Leruth 1934a, 1934b, 1939b, Delhez et al. 1999, Hubart & Dethier 1999, Stoch et al. 2004); L.14—Citerne de la Place de Wavreille ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.18—Puits de l'Eglise de Wavreille ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.19—Puits de la Maison Communale ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.26— Rochefort cave ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.29—Captage no.1 de l' Abbaye Notre Dame de Rochefort ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.30—Drainage de la Prairie de Tridaine ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.36—Captage de Champalle P2 ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.37—Captage de Champalle P4 ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.38—Source laterale de la Dresine ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.41—Galerie drainante de Senenne ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.44—Puits B du Chateau d'Evrehailles ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.46—Bocq Gare de Purnode ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.54—Source de la Machine ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.56—Resurgence de Chauvaux ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.58—Trou Balza cave ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.60— Puits les Sarts ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.82—Resurgence des Tartines ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.84—Remouchamps cave ( Leruth 1934a, 1934b, 1939b, Delhez et al. 1999, Hubart & Dethier 1999); L.97—Ourthe river, Chanxhe ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.136—Grotte de Bebronne ( Delhez et al. 1999); L.143—Herstal, well ( Leruth 1939b, Hubart & Dethier 1999); L.152—Gravel of Meuse river, phreatic ( Leruth 1939b); L.153—Hermalle sous Argenteau, pump well (Hubart & Dethier 1999); L.166—Drainage de Petit Han ( Stoch et al. 2004); L.171— Puits SWDE (Société wallonne de distribution des eaux) Petit Houmart ( Stoch et al. 2004).

New records: L.72—Fontaine de Rivîre cave (17.8.2000, MD, JMH); L.84—Remouchamps cave (24.03- 10.0 4.2000, MD & JMH); L.107—Beaumont cave (4.5.2002, GR); L.111—Houx castle, well (7.3.2007, SM); L.112—Sainte Anne cave (13.4.2006, MD); L.142—Chartreuse, mine gallery (16.2.2001, MD, JMH; 30.11.2002, GR; 18.10.2003, MD); L.148—Rhieux, underground brook (8.3.2002; MD & JMH); L.150— Argenteau, draining gallery (23.10.2003, MD).

The species was originally described as a subspecies of N. kochianus , based on strong sexual dimorphism in gnathopods ( Stock & Gledhill 1977). It is distributed in the Netherlands and Belgium (Stock & Gledhill 1 977), and early records of N. kochianus from Belgium may in fact refer to this species ( Schellenberg 1934, Leruth 1939b). According to the available data the species was broadly found throughout Wallonia, albeit we found the species only in the eastern part of the country ( Fig. 3 ). Following Leruth (1934a, b, 1939b), the species distribution is linked to the watershed of the Meuse River. Phylogenetic analyses suggested a close relationship with N. kochianus ( Trontelj et al. 2009; Esmaeili et al. 2015), and a close phylogenetic relatedness to fauna from the British Isles. Martin et al. (2009) reported the nominal subspecies N. k. kochianus for Belgium as well. This finding is difficult to explain as the species is distributed in Great Britain only. Its presence in Belgium suggests that is should be able to maintain geneflow across the sea, and for this reason we consider the presence of N. k. kochianus doubtful.

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.