Niphargellus Explained

Niphargellus is a genus of Amphipod crustaceans within the family Niphargidae.^[1] The genus contains three known species, which are characterized by the absence of D-setae on the Amphipods mandibular palp.^[2] The presence or absence of setae, specifically the D-setae, is a distinguishing feature used to classify organisms within the genus.

Niphargellus species live in freshwater environments such as caves, springs and the interstitial spaces of river beds.^[3] Species are native to Europe, where they can be found in England, Germany and the Czech Republic.

A cladogram according to the Catalogue of Life:^[4]

Species list

• Niphargellus arndti (Schellenberg, 1933)^[5] - Found living in freshwater springs in the Czech Republic.
• Niphargellus glenniei (Spooner, 1952) - Found living in cave water in Southwest England.
• Niphargellus nolli (Schellenberg, 1938) - Found living in interstitial spaces within riverbeds in Germany.

Notes and References

1. Web site: World Amphipoda Database. Niphargellus Schellenberg, 1938 . 2022-03-22.
2. Web site: 2023-05-21 . Niphargus glenniei . 2023-05-21 . Hypogean Crustacea Recording Scheme Biological Records Centre.
3. Grabner, Daniel & Weber, Dieter & Weigand, Alexander. (2020). Updates to the sporadic knowledge on microsporidian infections in groundwater amphipods (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Niphargidae). Subterranean Biology. 33. 71-85. 10.3897/subtbiol.33.48633.
4. Web site: Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2019 Annual Checklist.. Roskov, Kunze, Orrell, Abucay, Paglinawan, Culham, Bailly., Kirk, Bourgoin, Baillargeon, Decock, De Wever, Didžiulis V.. 2019. Species 2000: Naturalis, Leiden, the Netherlands. ISSN 2405-884X. TaxonID: 54954430. 2019-11-11. 2019-11-11. Y., T., T., L., L., A., N., P., T., G., W., A., V..
5. Web site: 2010-11-17 . Niphargellus Schellenberg, 1938 . 2023-05-21 . World Amphipoda Database World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS).