Can you share your knowledge about Gammarus balcanicus and Gammarus obnixus with me?
How can you separate Gammarus balcanicus and Gammarus obnixus gender?
Dear Dilara
In general females of G. balcanicus are much better setose then males, this is particularly evident in setation or Uropod 3, Pereiopds 3-5, first and second Antenna. I have never seen G. obnixus but you can always refer to the: Karaman, G.S. & Pinkster, S. (1977) Freshwater Gammarus species from Europe, North Africa and adjacent regions of Asia (Crustacea–Amphipoda). Part II.Gammarus roeseli group and related species.Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde, 47, 165–196.
But always (not only when sexual dimorphism is not evident or disrupted, what often is inducted by parasites) you should check the primary sexual characteristics. This are oostegits in females that are visible from the inner part of Pereiopds 3-5 that are changing in to breeding chamber filled with eggs (well visible). Males have a pair of pennes located on internal part of Pereiopod 7.
If you need more help or some extra literature just send a request on my e-mail adres: [email protected]
There are also other specialists on morphology of G. balcanicus: Michał Grabowski, Denis Copilas, Kresimir Zganec.
You can contact also Murat Ozbek that is a specialist in Amphipoda from Tukey.
Regards,
Tomek
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