taxonID	type	description	language	source
03C087AF953AFFDC90CFFE2AFC8D9FC8.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. ITALY: “ Lago Bugianardo ”, cave on left side of the Sentino River at the base of Frasassi Gorge (Genga reg., central Italy), 1 specimen, adult (male, holotype), May, 2008 (leg. Dattagupta, S.); - ibid., September, 15, 2009, 2 specimens (leg. Dattagupta, S.). The holotype and one female specimen are deposited in the Museum of Natural History in Verona, Italy.	en	Karaman, Gordan S., Borowsky, Betty, Dattagupta, Sharmishtha (2010): Two new species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Amphipoda, fam. Niphargidae) from the Frasassi cave system in Central Italy. Zootaxa 2439: 35-52, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.293448
03C087AF953AFFDC90CFFE2AFC8D9FC8.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Large species, large unequal gnathopods bearing a row of short setae along outer margin of dactyl. Outer plate of maxilla 1 with 7 spines, each spine bearing 1 or 2 lateral teeth. Dactyl of pereopods 3 – 7 with several inner marginal spines (more than one on almost all dactyls); segment 2 of pereopods 5 – 7 narrow, unlobed. Pleopods with 2 retinacula. Epimeral plates 2 – 3 angular. Uropods 1 – 2 with rami of equal length (females) or inner ramus slightly longer than outer one (male). Uropod 3 long, second segment of outer ramus long. Telson with gaping lobes.	en	Karaman, Gordan S., Borowsky, Betty, Dattagupta, Sharmishtha (2010): Two new species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Amphipoda, fam. Niphargidae) from the Frasassi cave system in Central Italy. Zootaxa 2439: 35-52, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.293448
03C087AF953AFFDC90CFFE2AFC8D9FC8.taxon	description	Description. Male 21.0 mm, mature (holotype): Body slender, metasomal segments 1 – 3 with 3 or 4 short dorsoposterior setae each; epimeral plates 1 – 2 broadly angular, with slightly convex posterior margin, epimeral plate 3 angular with straight posterior margin; epimeral plate 2 with 2 subventral spines, epimeral plate 3 with 3 subventral spines (fig. 3 E). Urosomite 1 with 2 setae on each side, and with one ventroposterior spine near peduncle of uropod 1 (fig. 1 I); urosomite 2 on each side with 3 slender spines and 1 seta (fig. 1 I), urosomite 3 smooth. Head with short rostrum, lateral cephalic lobes short, slightly rounded, with concave ventroanterior margin (fig. 2 A), eyes absent. Antenna 1 reaching half of body length; peduncular segments 1 – 3 progressively shorter, peduncular segment 3 reaching nearly half of peduncular segment 2, all sparsely setose (fig. 1 A); main flagellum with 25 articles, most of them with one short aesthetasc each; accessory flagellum short, 2 - segmented (fig. 1 A), almost reaching half the length of peduncular segment 3. Antenna 2 peduncular segment 5 slightly longer than segment 4, each with several bunches of setae (fig. 1 B); flagellum slender, nearly as long as last peduncular segment, consisting of 13 articles; antennal gland cone short (fig. 1 B). Mouthparts. Labrum broader than long, entire (fig. 3 A). Labium with inner lobes (fig. 4 A). Maxilla 1: inner plate short, with 2 distal setae (fig. 3 B); outer plate with 7 spines [1 or 2 spines with 2 lateral teeth each, other spines with one lateral tooth each]; palp 2 - segmented, with 7 distal setae (fig. 3 B). Maxilla 2 normal, both plates with marginal setae only (fig. 5 A). Maxilliped: inner plate short, with 4 or 5 distal spines intermixed with single setae (fig. 4 B); outer plate with row of inner marginal spines; palp articles 3 at outer margin with 2 median setae; dactyl slender, with one median seta at outer margin; nail shorter than pedestal (fig. 4 B). Mandibles with triturative molar (fig. 1 C). Left mandible with 5 incisor teeth, and 9 rakers, lacinia mobilis with 4 teeth (fig. 1 D). Right mandible with 4 incisor teeth and 8 rakers, lacinia mobilis pluritoothed (fig. 1 C). Mandibular palp 3 - segmented, first segment smooth; second segment with one facial and 14 marginal setae; palp segment 3 subfalciform, longer than palp segment 2, bearing on the outer face one group of A-setae (fig. 1 F), on the inner face 5 groups of B-setae (fig. 1 E); and along the inner margin nearly 30 short D-setae and 7 distal Esetae (fig. 1 E). Coxae 1 – 7 short, coxae 1 – 2 much smaller than corresponding gnathopods (fig. 2 B, D). Coxa 1 broader than long, with slightly rounded ventroanterior corner (fig. 2 B); coxae 2 – 3 slightly longer than broad, coxa 4 nearly as long as broad, each with very short marginal setae (fig. 3 C — D). Coxae 5 – 7 short (fig. 4 C – E). Gnathopods 1 – 2 relatively large, gnathopod 2 much larger than 1 (fig. 2 B, D). Gnathopod 1: segments 3 – 4 along posterior margin with one posterior group of setae each (fig. 2 B); segment 5 shorter than 6; segment 6 trapezoid, slightly longer than broad, with nearly 10 posterior groups of setae on the margin (fig. 2 B); palm slightly convex, oblique; nearly 2 / 3 of propodus length, defined on outer face by one strong corner spine accompanied laterally by 3 shorter slender toothed spines (fig. 2 B – C) and 2 longer setae on outer face (fig. 2 B), one short spine sitting close behind a strong corner spine on the inner face (fig. 2 C). Dactyl reaching posterior margin of segment 6, bearing a row of 8 short single marginal setae, nail short. Gnathopod 2: segments 3 – 4 with one posterior group of setae each; segment 5 much shorter than 6, narrow (fig. 2 D). Segment 6 large, subtriangular, but almost egg-shaped, slightly longer than broad, bearing nearly 14 posterior marginal groups of setae; palm slightly convex, but extremely oblique to the basis of segment 6 (propodus), defined on outer face by one strong corner spine accompanied by 3 short slender toothed spines sitting behind corner spine, and by 2 long setae (fig. 2 D), on inner face by one short spine near the corner (fig. 2 E). Dactyl not reaching posterior margin of segment 6, bearing a row of 8 short single setae along outer margin, nail short. Pereopods 3 – 4 long and slender, posterior margin of segment 6 with row of single spines accompanied by short setae (fig. 3 C – D); posterior setae on segments 4 – 5 of pereopod 3 are slightly longer than those of pereopod 4. Dactyls short, not exceeding 1 / 3 length of segment 6, their nail slightly shorter than pedestal, bearing at outer margin one medial seta, and at inner margin 2 – 3 single spines (pereopod 3) or 2 spines only (pereopod 4) (fig. 3 C – D). Pereopods 5 – 7 long and slender, progressively longer towards pereopod 7, their segments 4 – 6 bearing bunches of short spines and setae along both margins (fig. 4 C – E); segment 2 narrow, slightly more than twice as long as broad, with straight or slightly concave posterior margin bearing row of short setae, ventroanterior and ventroposterior lobe not developed. Dactyl of pereopods 5 – 7 short, several times shorter than segment 6, bearing one median plumose seta at outer margin, and one spine at inner margin (pereopods 5 – 6) or 2 spines (pereopod 7); nail shorter than pedestal (fig. 4 C – E). Pleopods 1 – 3 with 2 retinacula each. Peduncle of pleopod 1 with row of 4 short setae along anterior margin (fig. 5 B); peduncle of pleopod 2 with only one anterior seta (fig. 5 C); peduncle of pleopod 3 with row of posterior short setae (nearly 8 setae) (fig. 5 D). Uropod 1: peduncle with row of dorsoexternal row of spine-like setae, and with row of setae along dorsointernal margin (fig. 1 I); rami slender, each with bunches of short spines and setae; outer ramus slightly shorter than inner ramus, both with short distal spines (fig. 1 I). Uropod 2: outer ramus slightly shorter than inner one, both rami with lateral and distal short spines (fig. 1 I). Uropod 3 long, peduncle short; inner ramus short, scale-like, with 2 distal and one lateral spine; outer ramus 2 - segmented, long; first segment with short spines and setae along both margins; second segment slightly shorter than first one (fig. 1 H), bearing short setae on both margins and at tip. Telson short, slightly longer than broad, with gaping lobes (fig. 1 G), each lobe with 4 distal short spines and one inner marginal spine; a pair of short plumose setae appears near the middle of each lobe. Gills on gnathopods 1 – 2 and pereopod 3 – 4 distinctly shorter than the corresponding segment 2 (figs. 2 D, 3 C – D). Gills on pereopods 5 – 6 short, ovoid (fig. 4 C – D). Female 17.0 mm, mature: Body with setose oostegites and 22 juv. specimens in marsupium. Epimeral plate 1 broadly angular (fig. 6 H), plates 2 – 3 with distinct ventroposterior corner and with one subventral spine (plate 2) or 3 subventral spines (plate 3) (fig. 6 H). Urosomite 1 on each dorsolateral side with 1 seta, urosomite 2 on each dorsolateral side with 2 spines, urosomite 3 smooth. Ventroposterior corner of urosomite 1 with one bunch of 2 spines (fig. 5 M). Antenna 1 slightly exceeding half of body length (ratio: 10: 17), main flagellum of antenna 1 with 31 articles, that of antenna 2 with 11 articles. Maxilla 1: inner plate with 3 setae, outer plate like that in male, palp with 7 setae. Inner plate of maxilliped with 4 distal spines, palp segment 3 at outer margin with 1 or 2 median setae. Mandibular palp segment 2 with 17 setae, palp segment 3 with 26 D-setae, one group of A-setae and 6 groups of B-setae. Coxa 1 broader than long, coxae 2 – 3 slightly broader than long, coxa 4 nearly as long as broad (fig. 6 length A – D). Gnathopods 1 – 2 large. Gnathopod 1: much smaller than 2, segment 6 slightly longer than broad, with 9 groups of setae along posterior margin; palm, convex, inclined 2 / 3 of propodus length, bearing one strong corner spine accompanied laterally on outer face by 4 slender toothed spines, and on inner face by one short subcorner spine (fig. 6 E); dactyl reaching posterior margin of segment 6, with row of 8 setae along outer margin (fig. 6 E). Gnathopod 2: segment 6 almost egg-shaped, slightly longer than broad, with 12 – 14 groups of setae along posterior margin; palm defined on outer face by 1 or 2 strong corner spines, accompanied by 3 or 4 slender toothed spines lateral to the corner spine and on the inner face by one short subcorner spine (fig. 6 F – G); dactyl not reaching posterior margin of segment 6, with 7 short setae along outer margin (fig. 6 G). Pereopods 3 – 4 as in male, but dactyls of pereopod 3 along inner margin with 1 – 3 spines each (fig. 5 H); dactyl of pereopod 4 along inner margin with 3 or 4 spines (fig. 5 I). Segment 2 of pereopods 5 – 7 with narrow segment 2 more than twice as long as broad, without distinct ventroposterior and ventroanterior lobe (fig. 5 E – G). Dactyl of pereopods 5 and 7 with 2 spines at inner margin, that of pereopod 6 with one spine along inner margin (fig. 5 J – L). Pleopods 1 – 3 with 2 retinacula each. Peduncle of pleopod 1 with 4 posterior and one anterior seta; that of pleopod 2 with 2 anterior setae only; peduncle of pleopod 3 with 4 anterior setae. Uropods 1 – 2 slender. Uropod 1: peduncle with row of dorsointernal strong setae and dorsoexternal row of spines (fig. 5 M), rami of equal length, bearing lateral and distal short spines and lateral bunches of simple setae. Uropod 2: rami of equal length, each with short lateral and distal spines (fig. 5 N). Uropod 3 relatively long, reaching half of body-length. Inner ramus short, scale-like, with 2 distal spines; outer ramus 2 - segmented: first segment with spines along both margins and with single plumose setae along inner margin; second segment reaching nearly 1 / 3 of first segment, with simple setae along both margins and tip (fig. 5 O). Telson nearly as long as broad, with gaping lobes bearing 3 distal spines each and up to 1 inner marginal spine; a pair of short plumose setae appears near the middle of each lobe (fig. 5 P). Coxal gills relatively short, not reaching tip of corresponding segment 2 of pereopods. Oostegites broad, with marginal setae. Variability. The presence of 2 strong corner spines on segment 6 of one gnathopod 2 in the female is atypical (usually only one spine is present), but this is common within the Niphargus taxa. The number of spines along the inner margin of the dactyl of pereopods 3 – 7 is variable, but there are usually at least several spines on each dactyl.	en	Karaman, Gordan S., Borowsky, Betty, Dattagupta, Sharmishtha (2010): Two new species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Amphipoda, fam. Niphargidae) from the Frasassi cave system in Central Italy. Zootaxa 2439: 35-52, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.293448
03C087AF953AFFDC90CFFE2AFC8D9FC8.taxon	etymology	Etymology. This species is named for Prof. Dr. Alessandro Montanari, Director of the Osservatorio Geologico di Coldigioco located near Apiro, the Marches, Italy in honor of his comprehensive studies of the Frasassi cave system and the geological history of this part of Italy in general.	en	Karaman, Gordan S., Borowsky, Betty, Dattagupta, Sharmishtha (2010): Two new species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Amphipoda, fam. Niphargidae) from the Frasassi cave system in Central Italy. Zootaxa 2439: 35-52, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.293448
03C087AF953AFFDC90CFFE2AFC8D9FC8.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Niphargus montanarius, n. sp. is distinctly different from all other known Niphargus taxa in Italy. While large unequal gnathopods are present in some other taxa in Italy (especially in the subgenus Orniphargus, as N. patrizii Ruffo & Vigna-Tagl., 1968, N. parenzani Ruffo & Vigna-Tagl., 1968, as well as N. sodalis G. Kar., 1984 from Teramo, various species of the N. stygius group, etc.), N. montanarius is unique in its combination of characters: long uropod 3 in males and females, more numerous spines on dactyls of pereopods 3 – 7, poorly developed armature on urosomites, and spines of outer plate in maxilla 1 with 1 or 2 lateral teeth each. A shorter dactylus of gnathopod 2 not reaching the posterior margin of segment 6 is also present in large specimens of Niphargus cornicolanus Iannilli & Vigna-Tagl., 2005, known from Pozzo del Merro, 32 La (Lazio, central Italy), but this species differs significantly from N. montanarus by the short uropod 3 in males and females, the narrow long telson, broader segment 2 of pereopods 5 – 7, etc. Other Niphargus species have large gnathopods as well, but these feed by filtering mud and detritus, and the shapes of the gnathopods are modified for this purpose (for example Niphargus trullipes Sket, 1958 from Vjetrenica cave in Herzegovina). The large size and shape of its extreme gnathopods suggests that it may be a predator, which is very unusual in gammarid amphipods.	en	Karaman, Gordan S., Borowsky, Betty, Dattagupta, Sharmishtha (2010): Two new species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Amphipoda, fam. Niphargidae) from the Frasassi cave system in Central Italy. Zootaxa 2439: 35-52, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.293448
03C087AF9532FFC490CFFF72FBD09AA3.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. ITALY: “ Pozzo dei Cristalli ”, in Frasassi cave system (Genga region, central Italy), May 27, 2008, 2 specimens (leg. Dattagupta, S.) — holotype and paratype. – Tunnel of the sulfide spring (“ Sorgente sulfurea del tunnel ”), Frasassi cave system [Genga region, central Italy), 14 September, 2009, many specimens [leg. Karaman, G. & Karaman, B.]. – ibid., 15. September, 2009, many specimens [leg. Borowsky, B. & Borowsky, R.]. – “ Grotto sulfureo, ramo sulfureo ” (Frasassi cave system), 2008 and 2009, 5 specimens (leg. Dattagupta, S.). Holotype and paratype are deposited in the Museum of Natural History in Verona, Italy.	en	Karaman, Gordan S., Borowsky, Betty, Dattagupta, Sharmishtha (2010): Two new species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Amphipoda, fam. Niphargidae) from the Frasassi cave system in Central Italy. Zootaxa 2439: 35-52, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.293448
03C087AF9532FFC490CFFF72FBD09AA3.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body stout. Epimeral plates 1 – 3 with slightly rounded ventroposterior corners in males. Gnathopods 1 – 2 relatively small, only slightly unequal in size and shape, with dactyl reaching posterior margin of segment 6 and provided with a row of long setae along outer margin. Pereopods 3 – 7 short and stout, their dactyl short, with one spine along inner margin. Segment 2 of pereopods 5 – 7 less than twice as long as broad, Pleopods with 2 retinacula each. Uropods 1 – 2 with inner ramus much longer than the outer one. Second segment of uropod 3 in males exceeding half of first segment, in females is much shorter. Telson short, bearing short distal, marginal and facial spines. Outer plate of maxilla 1 with 7 spines; some of these spines with 2 or 3 lateral teeth sitting in the opposite sides of the spine itself.	en	Karaman, Gordan S., Borowsky, Betty, Dattagupta, Sharmishtha (2010): Two new species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Amphipoda, fam. Niphargidae) from the Frasassi cave system in Central Italy. Zootaxa 2439: 35-52, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.293448
03C087AF9532FFC490CFFF72FBD09AA3.taxon	description	Description. Male 15 mm, mature (holotype): Body strong and stout, metasomal segments 1 – 3 with 3 or 4 dorsoposterior short marginal setae each. Epimeral plates 1 – 3 with slightly rounded ventroposterior corner; plates 2 – 3 with 3 or 4 short subventral spines each (fig. 9 H). Urosomite 1 on each side with one spine-like seta, urosomite 2 with 2 dorsolateral spines on each side, urosomite 3 smooth (fig. 7 G). Urosomite 1 with ventroposterior short spine near the basis of peduncle of uropod 1 (fig. 7 G). Head with short rostrum and short slightly rounded lateral cephalic lobes (fig. 7 A), eyes absent. Antenna 1 reaching one third of the body-length; peduncular segments 1 – 3 progressively shorter; peduncular segment 3 slightly exceeding half of peduncular segment 2 (fig. 7 B), all sparsely setose; main flagellum consisting of 19 articles (most of them with one short aesthetasc each); accessory flagellum short, 2 - segmented (fig. 7 D). Antenna 2: peduncular segment 5 shorter than 4, each with bunches of longer setae (fig. 7 C); flagellum longer than last peduncular segment, consisting of 11 articles; antennal gland cone short (fig. 7 C). Coxae 1 – 4 short, coxae 1 – 3 nearly as long as broad (figs 8 B – D, 9 A), coxa 4 slightly broader than long (high), all with short marginal setae (fig. 9 C). Coxa 1 with slightly rounded ventroanterior corner. (fig. 8 B). Coxae 5 – 7 short (fig. 10 B, D, F). Labrum entire, similar to that of N. montanarius. Labium without inner lobes, similar to that of N. montanarius. Maxilla 1: inner plate with 2 setae, outer plate with 7 spines: inner spine with 3 – 5 lateral strong setae, 6 spines with 2 lateral strong teeth sitting at opposite sides of spines (fig. 7 E, F); palp 2 - segmented, short, with 6 long distal setae slightly shorter than last segment (fig. 7 E). Maxilla 2: both plates with numerous marginal setae only (fig. 8 A). Maxilliped: inner plate short, with 3 distal spines intermixed with single setae (fig. 10 A); outer plate not exceeding half of posterior margin of palp segment 2, with row of marginal spines; palp segment 3 at outer margin with one medial and one distal bunch of setae (fig. 10 A); palp segment 4 with nail shorter than pedestal. Left mandible: incisor with 5 teeth and 9 rakers, lacinia mobilis with 4 teeth (fig. 11 B). Right mandible: incisor with 4 teeth and 8 rakers, lacinia mobilis pluridentate (fig. 11 A). Palp of both mandibles 3 - segmented: first segment smooth; second segment with 13 – 15 setae; palp segment 3 short, almost a long as palp segment 2, bearing at posterior margin 26 D-setae and 7 long distal Esetae (fig. 11 C); there are 5 single B-setae on the inner face (fig. 11 C), and one group of 7 A-setae on the outer face (fig. 11 D). Gnathopods 1 – 2 relatively small, stout, their segment 6 is not larger than corresponding coxae (fig. 8 B, D). Gnathopod 1 slightly smaller than gnathopod 2, segments 3 – 4 of both gnathopods along posterior margin with one group of setae (fig. 8 B, D), segment 5 is slightly shorter than segment 6. Gnathopod 1: segment 6 slightly longer than broad, with almost parallel lateral margins, and along posterior margin with 6 groups of setae (fig. 8 C). Palm convex, oblique almost to half of segment 6 length, defined on outer face by one strong corner spine accompanied laterally by 3 slender toothed spines and 5 long setae on the face (fig. 8 C), one short subcorner spine on the inner face (fig. 8 C); dactyl reaching posterior margin of segment 6, strong, bearing row of 6 long marginal setae along outer margin (fig. 8 C). Gnathopod 2: segment 6 slightly longer than broad, trapezoidal shape, with 8 groups of setae along posterior margin (fig. 8 E), palm slightly convex, oblique to nearly 2 / 5 of segment 6 length, defined on outer face by one strong corner spine accompanied laterally by 3 slender toothed spines and 5 long setae (fig. 8 E), on inner face by one short subcorner spine (fig. 8 F); dactyl reaching posterior margin of segment 6, with 8 strong setae along outer margin (fig. 8 E). Pereopods 3 – 4 nearly equal, stout, with strong articles (fig. 9 A, C); dactyls short and stout, with one spine at inner margin, nail nearly as long as pedestal (fig. 9 B, D). Pereopods 5 – 7 short and stout, progressively longer towards pereopod 7, segment 2 less than twice as long as broad, with straight or slightly concave posterior margin bearing very short marginal setae (fig. 10 B, D, F), ventroanterior lobe not developed, ventroposterior area enlarged, but without distinct lobe; segments 3 – 6 short and broad, segments 4 – 6 with bunches of strong spines and single setae on both margins; dactyl short and stout, with one spine on inner margin and one median seta on outer margin. Nail of dactyl on pereopod 5 nearly as long as pedestal (fig. 10 C), those of pereopods 6 – 7 shorter than pedestal (fig. 10 E, G). Pleopods 1 – 3 with 2 retinacula each. Peduncle of pleopod 1 with 3 anterior marginal setae (fig. 9 E); peduncle of pleopod 2 with one anterior marginal seta (fig. 9 F); peduncle of pleopod 3 with 2 short posterior marginal setae (fig. 9 G). Uropod 1: peduncle with dorsoexternal row of spines and dorsointernal row of setae (except distal spine) (fig. 7 G). Outer ramus reaching nearly 3 / 5 of inner ramus, both with lateral and distal spines, inner ramus with 2 bunches of long setae also (fig. 7 G). Uropod 2: outer ramus slightly shorter than inner one, both rami with lateral and distal spines (fig. 7 G). Uropod 3 elongated, inner ramus short, scale-like, with 2 lateral and distal short spines; outer ramus long, 2 - segmented, first segment with bunches of short spines and single setae along both margins; second segment exceeding half of first segment, bearing short setae at both margins (fig. 11 E). Telson slightly broader than long, with gaping lobes, each lobe with 4 distal spines (fig. 7 H); several single spines appear at both margins and face of each lobe; a pair of short plumose setae appears near the middle of each lobe. Coxal gills not reaching distal tip of corresponding segment 2 (fig. 9 A). Female 10.0 mm, mature (paratype, with setose oostegites): Antenna 1 reaching one third of the bodylength; main flagellum consisting of 18 articles; flagellum of antenna 2 is with 7 articles. Urosomal segment 1 with one dorsolateral seta on each side (fig. 12 I); urosomite 2 with 2 spines on each dorsolateral side (fig. 12 I). Coxa 1 broader than long, coxae 2 – 3 slightly longer than broad, coxa 4 nearly as long as broad (fig. 12 A – D). Mouthparts as in male. Outer plate of maxilla 1 as in male, 6 spines provided with 2 opposite lateral strong teeth (fig. 11 F). Inner plate of maxilliped with 3 distal spines. Mandibular palp segment 2 with 11 setae; palp segment 3 with 23 D-setae and 6 long distal E-setae; on outer face on group of 5 A-setae, on inner face 5 single B-setae. Gnathopods 1 – 2 have slightly different size, their segment 6 trapezoid, slightly longer than broad, with palm oblique slightly less than half of posterior margin of segment 6, almost straight. Gnathopod 1: posterior margin of segment 6 with 5 groups of setae (fig. 11 G), 5 facial setae are present near corner spine. Gnathopod 2: posterior margin of segment 6 with 6 groups of setae, 4 setae present near corner spine (fig. 11 H). Pereopods as in males, but segment 2 of pereopods 5 – 7 slightly shorter, with poorly developed ventroposterior lobe (fig. 12 E – G). Epimeral plates 1 – 2 broadly angular, with convex posterior margin (fig. 12 H) and subventral spines, epimeral plate 3 with produced almost subrounded ventroposterior corner (fig. 12 H). Oostegites broad, setose. Uropod 1: peduncle with dorsoexternal row of spines and dorsointernal row of setae (except distal spine), inner ramus only slightly longer than outer one, both with lateral and distal strong spines (fig. 12 I). Uropod 2: inner ramus slightly longer than outer one, both rami with lateral and distal spines (fig. 12 I). Uropod 3 short, first segment of outer ramus with bunches of spines along both margins, and with single plumose setae along inner margin (fig. 11 I); second segment of outer ramus short, with marginal setae. Telson slightly broader than long, lobes slightly gaping, each with 3 distal single marginal and facial spines (fig. 12 J). Variability. The stable characters are the specific shape of the spines on the outer plate of maxilla 1, the presence of one spine along the inner margin of the dactyl of pereopods 3 – 7, and a short segment 2 of pereopods 5 – 7 with a marked enlarged ventroposterior corner (not distinct lobe).	en	Karaman, Gordan S., Borowsky, Betty, Dattagupta, Sharmishtha (2010): Two new species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Amphipoda, fam. Niphargidae) from the Frasassi cave system in Central Italy. Zootaxa 2439: 35-52, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.293448
03C087AF9532FFC490CFFF72FBD09AA3.taxon	etymology	Etymology. This species is based on the name of the Frasassi cave system in central Italy, where it is found.	en	Karaman, Gordan S., Borowsky, Betty, Dattagupta, Sharmishtha (2010): Two new species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Amphipoda, fam. Niphargidae) from the Frasassi cave system in Central Italy. Zootaxa 2439: 35-52, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.293448
03C087AF9532FFC490CFFF72FBD09AA3.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Niphargus frasassianus differs from all other known Niphargus species of Italy by the shape of the spines on the outer plate of maxilla 1: some spines have 2 or 3 lateral teeth on the opposite side of the spine, a modification that may permit specialized feeding, especially sediment straining. A robust body with short strong gnathopods and pereopods is present in some other species in the Adriatic region, including Niphargus spinulifemur S. Kar., 1954 known from Zazid (= Sassetto) in Istria, Croatia. But this species differs significantly from N. frasassianus in its strongly pointed epimeral plates, its substantially greater number of setae on the gnathopods, the different shape of spines on maxilla 1, etc. N. frasassianus may be close to the Niphargus puteanus complex of species which also have strong bodies and pereopods (some with and some without more numerous spines on pereopod dactyls and pointed to subangular epimeral plates), but it differs from all of them in the shape of maxilla 1.	en	Karaman, Gordan S., Borowsky, Betty, Dattagupta, Sharmishtha (2010): Two new species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Amphipoda, fam. Niphargidae) from the Frasassi cave system in Central Italy. Zootaxa 2439: 35-52, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.293448
