A new Gammarus species from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (China) with a key to Xinjiang freshwater gammarids (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Gammaridae)

Abstract

The Gammarus zhouqiongi sp. nov. are described and illustrated from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. The new species is characterized by pereopods III-IV with long straight setae on posterior margins and inner ramus of uropod III 0.7 times as long as outer ramus. Detailed morphological comparisons with related species are discussed. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) sequence differs from the other Gammarus species in Xinjiang by 16.6%-32.4% in K2P distance. The mitochondrial (COI, 16S) and nuclear markers (28S, EF1α) show that the new species is an independent branch in the phylogenetic tree. A key to identify Gammarus species in the Xinjiang are also provided.