Four new gammarus species from tibetan plateau with a key to tibetan freshwater gammarids (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Gammaridae)

Abstract

Four new species of the genus Gammarus are described and illustrated from Tibetan Plateau. Gammarus altus sp. n. and G. limosus sp. n. are characterized by pereopods III-IV with a few short setae and uropod III with marginal spines accompanied by short setae. Gammarus kangdingensis sp. n. and G. gonggaensis sp. n. are characterized by pereopods III-IV with long straight setae on posterior margins and inner ramus of uropod III 0.4 times as long as outer ramus. Detailed morphological comparisons with related species are discussed. A key to 15 Gammarus species from the Tibetan Plateau and a map of their distributions are provided.