A new species of Gammarus Fabricius, 1775 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Gammaridae) from extreme high-altitude Lake Tong Tso, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

A new species of the genus Gammarus Fabricius, 1775 is described from Lake Tong Tso, an extreme high-altitude lake in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Gammarus pontual sp. nov. is considered part of the Gammarus lacustris G.O. Sars, 1863 group, which is characterized by having the inner ramus of uropod 3 longer than half the length of the outer ramus, and by having both rami covered with plumose setae. The new species stands apart from their congeners, mainly, by the following combination of characters: head with cephalic lateral lobe truncated; gnathopods 1-2 propodus weakly armed, with 1 stout seta defining palm; palm longer than posterior margin of propodus, with 1 main stout seta medially; pereopods 5-7 basis slender, posterior margin crenulate; epimeral plate 1 posterior margin produced into a short spine, facial ridge present; epimeral plates 2-3 posteroventral corner sharply pointed; uropod 3 rami covered with plumose setae, inner ramus about 80% the length of the outer ramus; telson apex with 2 stout setae on each side.