A new species of the genus Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Niphargidae) from the south-western part of the North Caucasus

A new endemic species of the genus Niphargus is described from the vicinity of Apsheronsk, Krasnodar region, North Caucasus. Genetic and morphological studies show that the new species is related to the West European representatives of the genus, most close to Niphargus puteanus from Italy, widely distributed N. virei and N. “sphagnicolus-dolenianensis-thuringius” species complex. No direct relatives are known from the subterranean habitats of the Caucasus. The new species is well distinguished from the Caucasian species of the genus by morphology and genetically. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1395AA72-72AC-4166-8D40-746FCE4F6DF5