@article {52, title = {Revision of the freshwater genus Atyaephyra (Crustacea, Decapoda, Atyidae) based on morphological and molecular data}, journal = {Zookeys}, volume = {229 }, year = {2012}, pages = {53-110}, abstract = {

Atyaephyra de Brito Capello, 1867 was described from the Mediterranean region almost 200 years ago. Since then, the genus has been recorded from various freshwater habitats in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Despite its long history, the taxonomic status of Atyaephyra species remains confusing and uncertain. Consequently numerous specimens from the known range of Atyaephyra were analysed using morphological characters and mitochondrial COI sequences in an attempt to clarify the taxonomy of this genus. The present study recognises seven Atyaephyra species, more than twice as many as previously recorded (three), four of which are considered as new. The new species are described, additional information to the original descriptions are provided for the remaining three taxa, while neotypes of A. desmarestii Millet, 1831 and A. stankoi Karaman, 1972 are designated to stabilize their taxonomy. Non-overlapping distinguishing morphological characters are used to discriminate the examined material into five species, e.g., A. desmarestii, A. stankoi, A. orientalis Bouvier, 1913, A. thyamisensis sp. n., A. strymonensis sp. n. In addition, the genetic analysis supports the existence of multiple phylogenetic clades in the broader Mediterranean area and distinguishes two new cryptic species, namely A. tuerkayi sp. n. and A. acheronensis sp. n. The geographic distribution of these species is confirmed and their phylogenetic relationships are described.

}, author = {M. Christodoulou and A. Antoniou and A. Magoulas and A. Koukouras} } @article {36, title = {Genetic evidence for cryptic speciation in the freshwater shrimp genus Atyaephyra de Brito Capello (Crustacea, Decapoda, Atyidae)}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {2025}, year = {2009}, pages = {32{\textendash}42}, abstract = {

The species Atyaephyra desmarestii (Millet, 1831) has a wide geographic distribution in freshwater habitats, rivers and lakes, spanning from North Africa to the Middle East, a large part of Europe and some Mediterranean islands. This wide distribution, together with the disjunct nature of freshwater populations, makes A. desmarestii a candidate taxon to undergo processes of cryptic speciation. To test this assumption, in the present study two mitochondrial genes (16S and COI) were used to examine the diversity between selected populations across the distribution range of this species. The data support three clearly distinguishable groups of haplotypes. The largest one includes the majority of the west European populations and the North African ones, belonging to Atyaephyra desmarestii desmarestii. Within this group the genetic composition found for the Portuguese specimens does not support the validity of Atyaephyra rosiana de Brito Capello, 1867 as a different species, and is therefore here proposed to represent a synonym of Atyaephyra desmarestii. The second European group includes two Greek populations which must be considered as a different species and are tentatively identified as Atyaephyra stankoi (Karaman, 1972) according to geographic distribution. This species-level distinction is supported by high genetic differences, although morphological differentiation is not clear at present. The third group comprises only one sequence from Iraq whose value of genetic variability for 16S could support A. mesopotamica Al-Adhub (or A. orientalis Bouvier) as a valid species. Unfortunately, there are no COI sequences available for this specimen that could be used to confirm its status.

}, author = {J.E. Garc{\'\i}a-Mu{\~n}oz and A. Rodr{\'\i}guez and J.E. Garc{\'\i}a Raso and J.A. Cuesta} } @article {18, title = {Larval development of the freshwater shrimp Atyaephyra desmarestii (Millet, 1831) sensu lato (Decapoda, Caridea, Atyidae) and morphological maturation from juveniles to adults.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {2877}, year = {2011}, pages = {41{\textendash}54}, abstract = {

A complete serial of larval staging of Atyaephyra desmarestii (Millet, 1831) sensu lato from Louros River (north-western Greece) was obtained in the laboratory and described in detail. Thirty berried females were collected and transferred to an aquarium containing water and vegetation from the sampling site. The newly hatched larvae were transferred into small sterile aquaria and mass cultured. After each moult, several larvae were photographed and preserved with their exuviae. The reared larvae of A. desmarestii sensu lato passed through six zoeal stages and one megalopal stage. At the experimental conditions, the durations of each larval stage were as follows: three days for the 1st larval stage; three to four days for 2nd larval stage; six to eight days for 3rd; seven to nine days for 4th; nine to ten days for 5th, 6th and megalopal stages. All the obtained stages were described in detail. The larval morphological characters of the described material and the larvae specimens collected from natural populations were compared with the literature data on closely related species. Morphological description of the different phases for juveniles, immature, female and male mature individuals of A. desmarestii sensu lato are also presented in detail.

}, author = {Ch. Anastasiadou and A. Ntakis and I.D. Leonardos} }