Molecular phylogeny of the subterranean genus<i>Niphargus</i>(Crustacea: Amphipoda) in the Middle East: a comparison with European Niphargids
Journal: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
Year: 2015

The subterranean genus Niphargus is one of the most species-rich genera among freshwater amphipods in the world, distributed in the Western Palearctic. Thus far, taxonomic and phylogenetic research has focused mainly on the European half of the genus range. In this study, 25 populations of Niphargus from Iran, Lebanon and the Crimean Peninsula were investigated. Bayesian inference based on 28S, H3 and COI gene sequences suggests that populations from the area belong to four different clades. Thr