Niphargus fautor Karaman G.S., 2017

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 : 528-529

Niphargus fautor Karaman G.S., 2017

Published records: Karaman G.S. (2017f); Pesce G.L. & Maggi D. (1983) .

Distribution: Endemic to Greece: Epirus (IO); Peloponnese (IO).

Type material: Holotype: female 4.3 mm, G-17= Glikorizo, Arta , Epirus, 10 m a.s.l., freshwater well, water temperature 11.5°C, pH 7; 24.02.1976, (leg. Argano, Pesce & Bianco),Examined material: one male 4.3 mm, G- 112= road Ghition-Kalamata, 100 m from Ghition, Peloponnese, well, water temperature 17°C, pH 6.6, salinity 0.5; 11.04.1978, (leg. Pesce, Maggi & Silverii), Karaman G.S. (2017f); one female 4.3 mm, G-118 [S-6927]= Kalamata, Peloponnese, along the seacoast, freshwater wells, water temperature 16.2°C, pH 6.8, salinity 2.3, 12.04.1978, 8 exp. (leg. Pesce, Maggi & Silverii), Karaman G.S. (2017f); Kalamata, Peloponnese, Karya estuaries, 04.06.2011, 6 exp. (leg. I. Karaouzas) . Holotype deposited temporarily in KCPM .

Remarks: Relatively small species described by Karaman G.S. (1917f) from two distant geographical regions in Greece, although within the same ecoregion. The female holotype of N. fautor is located in the same type locality with N. cymbalus . This species can be found along the southern coasts of the PeloponneseKaraman G.S. 1917f). Specimens collected by the second author (I. Karaouzas) from Karya stream estuary (South Peloponnese) have shown some differences with Karaman’s description, thus indicating a morphologically distinct population which needs to be revised.

Etymology: The specific name fautor is referring to the Latin word “fautor” (protector, friend).