New insights into the diversity of the amphipod family Typhlogammaridae from the Dinaric Karst

Delić, Teo (author), Rexhepi, Behare (author), Premate, Ester (author), Kos, Anja (author), Zagmajster, Maja (author), Jalžić, Branko (author), Fišer, Cene (author)

Typhlogammaridae is a family of large-bodied and exclusively subterranean amphipods living in subterranean waters of the Dinaric Karst. In this study, we re-assessed the taxonomy and phylogeny of three Dinaric genera, namely Typhlogammarus, Accubogammarus, and Metohia, using molecular methods. The multilocus phylogenetic hypothesis inferred from mitochondrial COI gene fragment and nuclear 28S, H3, ITS and 18S gene fragments suggests that three Dinaric genera form a wellsupported monophyletic lineage, the origin of which coincides with the orogenesis of the Dinaric Karst. While Typhlogammarus and Metohia are monophyletic, Accubogammarus appeared to be a paraphyletic genus. COI-based unilocus species delimitations suggest that all nominal species comprise 2–3 molecularly defined species. We in detail examined the most widespread species, Typhlogammarus mrazeki. Using multilocus species delimitation and morphological analyses, we demonstrated that T. mrazeki comprises a genetically differentiated yet morphologically indistinguishable complex of two species, which correspond to previously described but rejected subspecies. To complete this taxonomic revision, we propose and molecularly diagnose two species, T. mrazeki and T. heteropalpus. Finally, we revised the spatial distribution of both species, associated it with potential threats, and showed that both should be treated as vulnerable according to the IUCN criteria. The study demonstrated the questionable taxonomic structure of Typhlogammaridae and represents the first step towards the resolution of the family's taxonomy.

• Language: English
• Keywords: subterranean amphipods, Dinarides, Typhlogammaridae taxonomy, molecular species diagnosis, IUCN Red List
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 658-671
• Numbering: Vol. 54, iss. 5
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-176691
• UDC: 595.380
• ISSN on article: 0300-3256
• DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12736
• COBISS.SI-ID: 238702595
• Publication date in RUL: 09.12.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Zoologica scripta
• Shortened title: Zool. scr.
• Publisher: Wiley, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
• ISSN: 0300-3256
• COBISS.SI-ID: 26698240

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
• Description: A creative commons license that bans commercial use, but the users don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: podzemne postranice, Dinaridi, taksonomija družine Typhlogammaridae, molekularni opis vrst, IUCN status