Actual state of gammaridean amphipoda taxonomy and catalogue of species from Chile

The taxonomy of gammaridean amphipods is poorly known in Chile. The lack of literature has discouraged investigation of this group, which has been overlooked for years. This has led to the exclusion of amphipods from biological and ecological studies done in our country. I present here a preliminary report on the actual state of the group with reference mainly to its taxonomy, ecological studies and a species catalogue. I have only included species from continental Chile north of 56 °S, Juan Fernandez Archipelago and Isla de Pascua. Species from Chilean Subantarctic and Antarctic waters are excluded, because they are well covered by other authors. There are 168 known for Chile, 36 of them undescribed or with their status not clear. This report is based on a revision of the species recorded for Chile, analysis of samples from the Chilean coast and the work of ecologists who are using the group as material for study.