Not the Last Piece of the Puzzle: Niphargus Phylogeny in Hungary

The Palaearctic genus Niphargus is a promising model system to understand subterranean fauna genesis in Europe. Pannonian Plain (mainly covered by Hungary) Central Europe, once being the area of Paratethys, key for diversification. However, our knowledge on Hungarian species primarily based sporadic taxonomical works from pre-molecular era. Here, we studied 14 localities, covering eight valid and including nine previously unstudied populations. Based sequences three gene fragments, reconstructed their phylogeny using maximum likelihood Bayesian approaches. We found that not all are closely related, even sampled at same localities can belong different clades. Some form monophyletic clades, while others nested various non-Hungarian lineages. new populations genetically distinct known species. Our results suggest has originated seven unrelated clades its diversity underestimated due unknown cryptic detection non-carbonate regions calls further research efforts. high number putative N. tatrensis clade warrants further, high-resolution phylogenetic studies.