FURTHER STUDIES ON GENUS NIPHARGUS SCHIODTE, 1849 (FAM. NIPHARGIDAE) FROM THE NEAR EAST (CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE AMPHIPODA 260)

During our further studies of the subterranean genus Niphargus Schi?dte, 1849 (Fam. Niphargidae) from the Near East, three new taxa are described: Niphargus tauri afioni, ssp. n. from the subterranean waters near Afion town in Turkey, N. nadarini favitor, ssp. n. from the subterranean waters near Al Nabk in Syria and N. nadarini iraquensis, ssp. n. from the subterranean waters in Iraq (Haditha, Tigris drainage system and from Baghdad, Euphrates drainage system). Its taxonomical status and relationships regarding the nominative subspecies are discussed. The N. nadarini Species- Complex is analyzed and a key to the taxa of this complex is presented. This is the first discovery of the genus Niphargus Schi?dte, 1849 in Syria.