Checklist of the Amphipoda (Crustacea) from continental waters of Russia, with data on alien species

Abstract

A checklist of the amphipod fauna from continental water bodies, streams and subterranean waters of the Russian Federation is provided (based on data for the end of 2013). Species are divided into 11 ecological and biogeographic groups: Holarctic, West Palearctic, Baltic Sea Estuarine, Siberia-Pacific Coast (East Palearctic), Amphi-Pacific, Caucasus, Central Asiatic and Baikalian, and three groups of escapees (emigrants) from the Baikalian, Ponto-Caspian and Arctic Oceans. Twenty-six families, 110 genera and 581 species and subspecies are reported. Species that constitute the autochthonous complex of Lake Baikal comprise 61% of the fauna (276 species, and 78 subspecies). The current taxonomic and the nomenclatural problems of amphipods from the Baikalian and Caspian groups are discussed. A separate list of alien species (or invaders) for continental waters of Russia is provided.