Nuovi bogidiellidi delle acque sotterranee africane (Crustacea Amphipoda)

Two new species of amphipods (Crustacea), inhabiting the phreatical freshwaters of two different African localities, are described. Afridiella messanai n. sp., collected in a well of Uebhao (southern Somalia) differs from the other known species, above all in the mandibular palp, in the shape of the gnathopods and in the number of spines of uropods III. The discovery of this species reduces the distinguishing differences between Afridiella and Bogidiella. Particularly, the mandibular palp, mandibular corn and gnathopods lose importance. Maghrebidiella maroccana n. gen. n. sp., collected in Morocco, in a well near Marrakech, differs from the other bogidiellid genera in the following characters: epistome and mandibular palp shape, non-triturative molar process, inner lobe of the maxillae I without setae, pleopods with outer ramus extended, and outer side of uropods I rami with three spines. Maghrebidiella seems to have intermediate features between Afridiella and Bogidiella, approaching, in part, to Spelaeogammarus.