''Niphargus'' is by far the largest

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of its family, the Niphargidae, and the largest of all freshwater amphipod genera. Usually, these animals inhabit

cave Caves or caverns are natural voids under the Earth's Planetary surface, surface. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. Exogene caves are smaller openings that extend a relatively short distance undergrou ...

s or

groundwater Groundwater is the water present beneath Earth's surface in rock and Pore space in soil, soil pore spaces and in the fractures of stratum, rock formations. About 30 percent of all readily available fresh water in the world is groundwater. A unit ...

. They occur in western

Eurasia Eurasia ( , ) is a continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. According to some geographers, Physical geography, physiographically, Eurasia is a single supercontinent. The concept of Europe and Asia as distinct continents d ...

, in regions that were not covered by the Pleistocene ice sheets. They are found throughout most of Europe with the notable exception of the Nordics and they are also largely missing from Iberia. The genus extends into Asia as far as the

Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula (, , or , , ) or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate. At , comparable in size to India, the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world. Geographically, the ...

and

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

. In their main range – the central Mediterranean region through Central and Eastern Europe to

Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...

– they are among the most significant organisms inhabiting the groundwater. In the Dinaric Alps alone there are at least 45 species. There are also six species in the British Isles (the northernmost ''Niphargus''): ''N. aquilex'', ''N. fontanus'', ''N. glenniei'' and ''N. kochianus'' of

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

, and ''N. irlandicus'' and ''N. wexfordensis'' of

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

. Although the individual species often have very small ranges and only live at a narrow water temperature range, the genus includes both species of cold and relatively warm places, taken to the extreme in ''N. thermalis'' from thermal waters. ''Niphargus'' are extremely variable in their appearance (more so than even some amphipod families), but are whitish and completely lack eyes. They are fairly small, ranging from about in length in the smallest species to about in the largest. At least some of the species are highly resistant to starvation and able to survive for more than 200 days without food.

Species

The

taxonomy image:Hierarchical clustering diagram.png, 280px, Generalized scheme of taxonomy Taxonomy is a practice and science concerned with classification or categorization. Typically, there are two parts to it: the development of an underlying scheme o ...

of ''Niphargus'' is highly complex. The genus contains the following species: *'' Niphargus abchasicus'' Martynov, 1932 *'' Niphargus aberrans'' Sket, 1972 *'' Niphargus ablaskiri'' Birstein, 1940 *'' Niphargus abricossovi'' Birstein, 1932 *'' Niphargus adbiptus'' G. Karaman, 1973 *'' Niphargus adei'' S. Karaman, 1934 *'' Niphargus affinis'' Dobreanu, Manolache & Puscariu, 1953 *'' Niphargus aggtelekiensis'' Dudich, 1932 *'' Niphargus alasonius'' Derzhavin, 1945 *'' Niphargus alatus'' G. Karaman, 1973 *'' Niphargus alpinus'' G. Karaman & Ruffo, 1989 *'' Niphargus altagahizi'' Alouf, 1973 *'' Niphargus alutensis'' Dancau, 1971 *'' Niphargus ambulator'' G. Karaman, 1975 *'' Niphargus anatolicus'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus andropus'' Schellenberg, 1940 *'' Niphargus angelieri'' Ruffo, 1954 *'' Niphargus anticolanus'' d’Ancona, 1934 *'' Niphargus apuanus'' Ruffo, 1936 *'' Niphargus aquilex'' Schioedte, 1855 *'' Niphargus arbiter'' G. Karaman, 1985 *'' Niphargus arcanus'' G. Karaman, 1988 *'' Niphargus armatus'' G. Karaman, 1985 *'' Niphargus asper'' G. Karaman, 1972 *'' Niphargus auerbachi'' Schellenberg, 1934 *'' Niphargus aulicus'' G. S. Karaman, 1991 *'' Niphargus bajuvaricus'' Schellenberg, 1932 *'' Niphargus balazuci'' Schellenberg, 1951 *'' Niphargus balcanicus'' Absolon, 1927 *'' Niphargus baloghi'' Dudich, 1940 *'' Niphargus banaticus'' Dobreanu & Manolache, 1936 *'' Niphargus banjanus'' S. Karaman, 1943 *'' Niphargus barbatus'' Karaman, 1985 *'' Niphargus bihorensis'' Schellenberg, 1940 *'' Niphargus bilecanus'' S. Karaman, 1953 *'' Niphargus biljanae'' Karaman, 1998 *'' Niphargus birsteini'' Dedyu, 1963 *'' Niphargus bitoljensis'' S. Karaman, 1943 *'' Niphargus bodoni'' Karaman, 1985 *'' Niphargus borkanus'' S. Karaman, 1960 *'' Niphargus borutzkyi'' Birstein, 1933 *'' Niphargus boskovici'' S. Karaman, 1952 *'' Niphargus bosniacus'' S. Karaman, 1943 *'' Niphargus boulangei'' Wichers, 1964 *'' Niphargus brachytelson'' S. Karaman, 1952 *'' Niphargus brevicuspis'' Schellenberg, 1937 *'' Niphargus brevirostris'' Sket, 1971 *'' Niphargus brixianus'' Ruffo, 1937 *'' Niphargus bulgaricus'' Andreev, 2001 *'' Niphargus bureschi'' Fage, 1926 *'' Niphargus burgundus'' Graf & Straskraba, 1967 *'' Niphargus buturovici'' S. Karaman, 1958 *'' Niphargus caelestis'' G. Karaman, 1982 *'' Niphargus canui'' G. Karaman, 1976 *'' Niphargus carcerarius'' G. Karaman, 1989 *'' Niphargus carniolicus'' Sket, 1960 *'' Niphargus carpathicus'' Dobreanu & Manolache, 1939 *'' Niphargus carpathorossicus'' Straskraba, 1957 *'' Niphargus carsicus'' Straskraba, 1956 *'' Niphargus casimiriensis'' Skalski, 1980 *'' Niphargus castellanus'' S. Karaman, 1960 *'' Niphargus catalogus'' G. S. Karaman, 1995 *'' Niphargus cavernicolus'' Dobreanu & Manolache, 1957 *'' Niphargus cepelarensis'' S. Karaman & G. Karaman, 1959 *'' Niphargus ciliatus'' Chevreux, 1906 *'' Niphargus cismontanus'' Margalef, 1952 *'' Niphargus corinae'' Dedyu, 1963 *'' Niphargus corniculanus'' Iannilli&Vigna-Taglianti, 2005 *'' Niphargus corsicanus'' Schellenberg, 1950 *'' Niphargus costozzae'' Schellenberg, 1935 *'' Niphargus croaticus'' Jurinac, 1888 *'' Niphargus cubanicus'' Birstein, 1954 *'' Niphargus cvijici'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus d’anconai'' Benedetti, 1942 *'' Niphargus dabarensis'' Fišer, Trontelj & Sket, 2006 *'' Niphargus dacicus'' Dancau, 1963 *'' Niphargus dalmatinus'' Schaferna, 1922 *'' Niphargus danconai'' Benedetti, 1942 *'' Niphargus danconai'' S. Karaman, 1954 *'' Niphargus danielopoli'' Karaman, 1994 *'' Niphargus debilis'' Ruffo, 1936 *'' Niphargus decui'' G. Karaman & Sarbu, 1995 *'' Niphargus deelemanae'' G. Karaman, 1973 *'' Niphargus delamarei'' Ruffo, 1954 *'' Niphargus derzhavini'' Birstein, 1952 *'' Niphargus dimorphopus'' Stock & Gledhill, 1977 *'' Niphargus dimorphus'' Birstein, 1961 *'' Niphargus dissonus'' G. Karaman, 1984 *'' Niphargus dobati'' Sket, 1999 *'' Niphargus dobrogicus'' Dancau, 1964 *'' Niphargus dojranensis'' G. Karaman, 1960 *'' Niphargus dolenianesis'' Lorenzi, 1898 *'' Niphargus dolichopus'' Fišer, Trontelj & Sket, 2006 *'' Niphargus dubius'' Dobreanu & Manolache *'' Niphargus dudichi'' Hanko, 1924 *'' Niphargus duplus'' G. Karaman, 1976 *'' Niphargus echion'' G. Karaman & Gottstein Matočec, 2006 *'' Niphargus effossus'' Dudich, 1943 *'' Niphargus elegans'' Garbini, 1894 *'' Niphargus enslini'' S. Karaman, 1932 *'' Niphargus eugeniae'' Derzhavin, 1945 *'' Niphargus factor'' Sket & G. Karaman, 1990 *'' Niphargus fontanus'' Bate, 1859 *'' Niphargus fongi'' Fišer & Zagmajster, 2009 *'' Niphargus fontophilus'' S. Karaman, 1943 *'' Niphargus foreli'' Humbert, 1877 *'' Niphargus forroi'' Karaman, 1986 *'' Niphargus galenae'' Derzhavin, 1939 *'' Niphargus gallicus'' Schellenberg, 1935 *'' Niphargus galvagnii'' Ruffo, 1953 *'' Niphargus gebhardti'' Schellenberg, 1934 *'' Niphargus georgievi'' S. Karaman & G. Karaman, 1959 *'' Niphargus gineti'' Bou, 1965 *'' Niphargus glontii'' Behning, 1940 *'' Niphargus graecus'' S. Karaman, 1934 *'' Niphargus grandii'' Ruffo, 1937 *† '' Niphargus groehni'' Coleman & Myers, 2001 *'' Niphargus gurjanovae'' Birstein, 1941 *'' Niphargus hadzii'' Rejic, 1956 *'' Niphargus hebereri'' Schellenberg, 1933 *'' Niphargus hercegovinensis'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus hoverlicus'' Dedyu, 1963 *'' Niphargus hrabei'' S. Karaman, 1932 *'' Niphargus hungaricus'' Mehely, 1937 *'' Niphargus hvarensis'' S. Karaman, 1952 *'' Niphargus ictus'' G. Karaman, 1985 *'' Niphargus illidzensis'' Schaferna, 1922 *'' Niphargus incertus'' Dobreanu, Manolache & Puscariu, 1951 *'' Niphargus inclinatus'' G. Karaman, 1973 *'' Niphargus inermis'' Birstein, 1940 *'' Niphargus iniochus'' Birstein, 1941 *'' Niphargus inopinatus'' Schellenberg, 1932 *'' Niphargus inornatus'' Derzhavin, 1945 *'' Niphargus irlandicus'' Schellenberg, 1932 *'' Niphargus italicus'' G. Karaman, 1976 *'' Niphargus itus'' G. Karaman, 1986 *'' Niphargus ivokaramani'' G. Karaman, 1994 *'' Niphargus jadranko'' Sket & G. Karaman, 1990 *'' Niphargus jalzici'' G. Karaman, 1989 *'' Niphargus jaroschenkoi'' Dedyu, 1963 *'' Niphargus jovanovici'' S. Karaman, 1931 *'' Niphargus jugoslavicus'' G. Karaman, 1982 *'' Niphargus jurinaci'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus karamani'' Schellenberg, 1935 *'' Niphargus kenki'' S. Karaman, 1952 *'' Niphargus kieferi'' Schellenberg, 1936 *'' Niphargus kirgizi'' Fišer, Çamur-Elipek & Özbek, 2009 *'' Niphargus kochianus'' Bate, 1859 *'' Niphargus kolombatovici'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus komareki'' S. Karaman, 1932 *'' Niphargus korosensis'' Dudich, 1943 *'' Niphargus kosanini'' S. Karaman, 1943 *'' Niphargus kragujevensis'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus krameri'' Schellenberg, 1935 *'' Niphargus kurdus'' Derzhavin, 1945 *'' Niphargus kusceri'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus labacensis'' Sket, 1956 *'' Niphargus ladmiraulti'' Chevreux, 1901 *'' Niphargus laisi'' Schellenberg, 1936 *'' Niphargus laticaudatus'' Schellenberg, 1940 *'' Niphargus latimanus'' Birstein, 1952 *'' Niphargus lattingerae'' G. Karaman, 1983 *'' Niphargus leopoliensis'' Jaworowski, 1893 *'' Niphargus lessiniensis'' Stoch, 1998 *'' Niphargus liburnicus'' G. Karaman & Sket, 1989 *'' Niphargus likanus'' S. Karaman, 1952 *'' Niphargus lindbergi'' S. Karaman, 1956 *'' Niphargus longicaudatus'' A. Costa, 1851 *'' Niphargus longidactylus'' Ruffo, 1937 *'' Niphargus longiflagellum'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus lori'' Derzhavin, 1945 *'' Niphargus lourensis'' Fišer, Trontelj & Sket, 2006 *'' Niphargus lunaris'' G. Karaman, 1985 *'' Niphargus macedonicus'' S. Karaman, 1929 *'' Niphargus magnus'' Birstein, 1940 *'' Niphargus maximus'' S. Karaman, 1929 *'' Niphargus mediodanubilais'' Dudich, 1941 *'' Niphargus medvednicae'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus melticensis'' Dancau & Andreev, 1973 *'' Niphargus meridionalis'' Dobreanu & Manolache, 1942 *'' Niphargus messanai'' G. Karaman, 1989 *'' Niphargus microcerberus'' Sket, 1972 *'' Niphargus miljeticus'' Straškraba, 1959 *'' Niphargus minor'' Sket, 1956 *'' Niphargus moldavicus'' Dobreanu, Manolache & Puscariu, 1953 *'' Niphargus molnari'' Mehely, 1927 *'' Niphargus montellianus'' Stoch, 1998 *'' Niphargus montenigrinus'' G. Karaman, 1962 *'' Niphargus multipennatus'' Sket, 1956 *'' Niphargus nadarini'' Alouf, 1972 *'' Niphargus nicaensis'' Isnard, 1916 *'' Niphargus novomestanus'' S. Karaman, 1952 *'' Niphargus numerus'' G. Karaman & Sket, 1990 *'' Niphargus occultus'' G. Karaman, 1993-94 *'' Niphargus ohridanus'' S. Karaman, 1929 *'' Niphargus orcinus'' Joseph, 1869 *'' Niphargus orientalis'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus osogovensis'' S. Karaman, 1959 *'' Niphargus otharicus'' Birstein, 1952 *'' Niphargus pachypus'' Schellenberg, 1933 *'' Niphargus pachytelson'' Sket, 1960 *'' Niphargus pancici'' S. Karaman, 1929 *'' Niphargus pannonicus'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus parapupetta'' G. Karaman, 1984 *'' Niphargus parenzani'' Ruffo & Vigna–Taglianti, 1968 *'' Niphargus parvus'' S. Karaman, 1943 *'' Niphargus pasquinii'' Vigna-Taglianti, 1966 *'' Niphargus pater'' Mehely, 1941 *'' Niphargus patrizii'' Ruffo & Vigna–Taglianti, 1968 *'' Niphargus pavicevici'' G. Karaman, 1976 *'' Niphargus pecarensis'' S. Karaman & G. Karaman, 1959 *'' Niphargus pectencoronatae'' Sket & G. Karaman, 1990 *'' Niphargus pectinicauda'' Sket, 1971 *'' Niphargus pedemontanus'' Ruffo, 1937 *'' Niphargus pellagonicus'' S. Karaman, 1943 *'' Niphargus pescei'' G. Karaman, 1984 *'' Niphargus petkovskii'' G. Karaman, 1963 *'' Niphargus petrosani'' Dobreanu & Manolache, 1933 *'' Niphargus phreaticolus'' Motas, Dobreanu & Manolache, 1948 *'' Niphargus plateaui'' Chevreux, 1901 *'' Niphargus pliginskii'' Martynov, 1930 *'' Niphargus podgoricensis'' S. Karaman, 1934 *'' Niphargus podpecanus'' S. Karaman, 1952 *'' Niphargus poianoi'' G. Karaman, 1988 *'' Niphargus polonicus'' Schellenberg, 1936 *'' Niphargus poloninicus'' Straškraba, 1957 *'' Niphargus polymorphus'' Fišer, Trontelj & Sket, 2006 *'' Niphargus ponoricus'' Dancau, 1963 *'' Niphargus potamophilus'' Birstein, 1954 *'' Niphargus pretneri'' Sket, 1959 *'' Niphargus pseudocaspius'' G. Karaman, 1982 *'' Niphargus pseudokochianus'' Dobreanu, Manolache & Puscariu, 1953 *'' Niphargus pseudolatimanus'' Birstein, 1952 *'' Niphargus pulevici'' G. Karaman, 1967 *'' Niphargus pupetta'' Sket, 1962 *'' Niphargus puteanus'' (C. L. Koch, 1836) *'' Niphargus rajecensis'' Schellenberg, 1938 *'' Niphargus ravanicanus'' S. Karaman, 1943 *'' Niphargus redenseki'' Sket, 1959 *'' Niphargus rejici'' Sket, 1958 *'' Niphargus remus'' G. Karaman, 1992 *'' Niphargus remyi'' S. Karaman, 1934 *'' Niphargus renei'' Karaman, 1986 *'' Niphargus rhenorhodanensis'' Schellenberg, 1937 *'' Niphargus rhodi'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus robustus'' Chevreux, 1901 *'' Niphargus romanicus'' Dobreanu & Manolache, 1942 *'' Niphargus romuleus'' Vigna-Taglianti, 1968 *'' Niphargus rostratus'' Sket, 1971 *'' Niphargus rucneri'' G. Karaman, 1962 *'' Niphargus ruffoi'' G. Karaman, 1976 *'' Niphargus salonitanus'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus sanctinaumi'' S. Karaman, 1943 *'' Niphargus schellenbergi'' S. Karaman, 1932 *'' Niphargus schusteri'' G. Karaman, 1991 *'' Niphargus scopicauda'' Fišer, Coleman, Zagmajster, Zwittnig, Gerecke & Sket, 2010 *'' Niphargus serbicus'' S. Karaman, 1960 *'' Niphargus sertaci'' Fišer, Çamur-Elipek & Özbek, 2009 *'' Niphargus setiferus'' Schellenberg, 1937 *'' Niphargus sibillinianus'' G. Karaman, 1984 *'' Niphargus similis'' G. Karaman & Ruffo, 1989 *'' Niphargus sketi'' G. Karaman, 1966 *'' Niphargus skopljensis'' S. Karaman, 1929 *'' Niphargus slovenicus'' S. Karaman, 1932 *'' Niphargus smederevanus'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus smirnovi'' Birstein, 1952 *'' Niphargus sodalis'' G. Karaman, 1984 *'' Niphargus somesensis'' Motas, Dobreanu & Manolache, 1948 *'' Niphargus speziae'' Schellenberg, 1936 *'' Niphargus sphagnicolus'' Rejic, 1956 *'' Niphargus spinulifemur'' S. Karaman, 1954 *'' Niphargus spoeckeri'' Schellenberg, 1933 *'' Niphargus stadleri'' S. Karaman, 1932 *'' Niphargus stankoi'' G. Karaman, 1974 *'' Niphargus stebbingi'' Cecchini *'' Niphargus stefanellii'' Ruffo & Vigna-Taglianti, 1968 *'' Niphargus stenopus'' Sket, 1960 *'' Niphargus steueri'' Schellenberg, 1935 *'' Niphargus stochi'' G. Karaman, 1994 *'' Niphargus strouhali'' Schellenberg, 1933 *'' Niphargus stygius'' Schiodte, 1847 –

type species In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...

*'' Niphargus stygocharis'' Dudich, 1943 *'' Niphargus submersus'' Derzhavin, 1945 *'' Niphargus subtypicus'' Sket, 1960 *'' Niphargus talikadzei'' Giliarov, Lagidze, Levushkin & Talikadze, 1974 *'' Niphargus tamaninii'' Ruffo, 1953 *'' Niphargus tatrensis'' Wrzesniowsky, 1888 *'' Niphargus tauri'' Schellenberg, 1933 *'' Niphargus tauricus'' Birstein, 1964 *'' Niphargus tenuicaudatus'' Schellenberg, 1940 *'' Niphargus thermalis'' Dudich, 1941 *'' Niphargus thienemanni'' Schellenberg, 1934 *'' Niphargus thuringius'' Schellenberg, 1934 *'' Niphargus timavi'' S. Karaman, 1954 *'' Niphargus toplicensis'' Andreev, 1966 *'' Niphargus transitivus'' Sket, 1971 *'' Niphargus transsylvanicus'' Schellenberg, 1934 *'' Niphargus tridentinus'' Stoch, 1998 *'' Niphargus trullipes'' Sket, 1958 *'' Niphargus vadimi'' Birstein, 1961 *'' Niphargus valachicus'' Dobreanu & Manolache, 1933 *'' Niphargus vandeli'' Barbe, 1961 *'' Niphargus variabilis'' Dobreanu, Manolache & Puscariu, 1953 *'' Niphargus velesensis'' S. Karaman, 1943 *'' Niphargus versluysi'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus vinodolensis'' Fišer, Sket & Stoch, 2006 *'' Niphargus virei'' Chevreux, 1896 *'' Niphargus vjeternicensis'' S. Karaman, 1932 *'' Niphargus vlkanovi'' S. Karaman & G. Karaman, 1959 *'' Niphargus vodnensis'' S. Karaman, 1943 *'' Niphargus vornatscheri'' Schellenberg, 1934 *'' Niphargus vranjinae'' G. Karaman, 1967 *'' Niphargus vulgaris'' G. Karaman, 1968 *'' Niphargus wexfordensis'' Karaman, Gledhill & Holmes, 1994 *'' Niphargus wolfi'' Schellenberg, 1933 *'' Niphargus zagrebensis'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus zavalanus'' S. Karaman, 1950 *'' Niphargus zorae'' G. Karaman, 1967

References

{{Authority control Niphargidae Amphipod genera Taxa named by Jørgen Matthias Christian Schiødte Taxonomy articles created by Polbot