Abstract:

The record of the representative of the new for Russian fauna stygobiotic amphipod genus Zenkevitchia and family Typhlogammaridae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) discovered in the cave August, Ahshtyr karst massif (Sochi, Krasnodar Territory) is reported. This report significantly expands the range of the family Typhlogammaridae to the northwest along the south-western slope of the Great Caucasus. Besides, the paper provides an overview of all Caucasian representatives of the family Typhlogammaridae and represent the map of their distribution in the region. The taxonomic status of stygobiotic amphipod genus Zenkevitchia is discussed, and it is suggested that the species discovered by us is a new for science and refers to the "admirabilis"-complex of cryptic species (Z. admirabilis, Z. yakovi) inhabiting the territory of Abkhazia. However, the taxonomic description of Zenkevitchia sp. will be carried out in a separate publication on the basis of an integrative taxonomy using morphological and molecular genetic methods.

Keywords: