identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
03C38795FFF2FFFAFDB479C0FDB6FBE0.text	03C38795FFF2FFFAFDB479C0FDB6FBE0.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ligidium Brandt 1833	<div><p>Genus  Ligidium Brandt, 1833</p><p>Type species</p><p>Ligidium hypnorum (Cuvier, 1792) .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C38795FFF2FFFAFDB479C0FDB6FBE0	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Recuero, Ernesto;Caterino, Michael S.	Recuero, Ernesto, Caterino, Michael S. (2025): Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 133-170, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2783, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2783/12721
03C38795FFF2FFF9FDBB7EB0FDD1FD43.text	03C38795FFF2FFF9FDBB7EB0FDD1FD43.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ligidium enotahensis Recuero & Caterino 2025	<div><p>Ligidium enotahensis sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CF5E1EE6-9001-45DA-9DB2-5DE45CA56D20</p><p>Figs 2–3</p><p>Ligidium sp. 1 – Recuero &amp; Caterino 2024: table 1.</p><p>Diagnosis</p><p>Ligidium enotahensis sp. nov. can be diagnosed morphologically based on the shape on the male pleopod 2 endopodite, showing a squarish tip with no excrescence, projection, or notch, and on the very broad male pleopod 1 endopodite projection. It also can be identified from all other Appalachian species based on molecular data, representing a distinct evolutionary lineage.</p><p>Etymology</p><p>From the Cherokee Enotah, a name of the mountain where the species is described, and the Latin suffix ‘ -ēnsis ’, forming an adjective meaning ‘from Enotah’.</p><p>Material examined</p><p>Holotype</p><p>USA – Georgia • ♂; Towns Co., Brasstown Bald; 34.8763° N, 83.8107° W; 1377 m a.s.l.; 17 Nov. 2020; M. Caterino and A. Haberski leg.; GenBank no: OR172584 (Cox1); USNM, CUAC000138051.</p><p>Other material examined</p><p>USA – Georgia •  3 imm.; same data as for holotype; CUAC000171312 to CUAC000171314 .</p><p>Description</p><p>Body length of holotype 5.3 mm, body width (at pereonite 4) 2.6 mm. Color of holotype in ethanol (Fig. 2) dorsally brown with large whitish patches on dorsal surface, a dark brown longitudinal medial stripe running from pereonite 1 to telson, epimera dark brown with a large white patch; head, antennae and uropods dark brown, pereopods and pleopods lighter brown. Immatures much lighter and without longitudinal stripe. Antennule (Fig. 3G) three-segmented; first segment about 2 times as long as wide, with 3 strong spiniform setae on its distal border; second segment slender, about 4 times as long as wide, also bearing 3 strong spiniform setae on the distal border; third segment small, with round apex and a single seta. Antennae (Fig. 3F) with 5 segmented peduncle, relative size of antennomeres 5&gt;4&gt;3&gt;2&gt;1; antennal flagellum with 11 articles. Dactylus of pereopods with outer claw longer than inner one; no sexual dimorphism observed in pereopods 1 (Fig. 3H) and 7 (Fig. 3I). Male pleopod 1 endopodite (Fig. 3A) with broad, squarish projection bearing 3 strong, blunt setae, 1.4 times as long as endopodite. Pleopod 1 exopodite (Fig. 3B) with a flat caudal margin bearing 3 strong, blunt setae, 0.7 times as long as exopodite. Male pleopod 2 exopodite (Fig. 3C) 2 times as wide as long; inner and most part of frontal margin with dense, hairy setation, as in outer caudal corner. Male pleopod 2 endopodite (Fig. 3D–E) with squared tip showing a ventral oblique line of small, poorly defined denticles along the interior corner; inner margin with minute spiniform setae, no spines at the base. Telson (Fig. 2) with caudal margin obtusely produced. Uropod (Fig. 3J) with exopodite broken, endopodite about 1.5 times as long as basipodite; in the examined immatures endopodite 1.5–1.6 times as long as exopodite.</p><p>Distribution</p><p>The species is so far only known from its type locality, near the southern extreme of the southern Appalachian Mountains (Fig. 2). All specimens were collected in mixed forest leaf litter samples.</p><p>Remarks</p><p>Ligidium enotahensis sp. nov. corresponds with  Ligidium sp. 1 in Recuero &amp; Caterino (2024a). This new species is closely related to  L. protuberans sp. nov. and  L. schultzi sp. nov., but they can easily be identified based on the shape of male pleopod 2 endopodite, by lacking the conspicuous projection present in  L. protuberans, or the marked notch typical of  L. schultzi .  Ligidium enotahensis also presents a much broader projection of male pleopod 1 endopodite. All three gene fragments analyzed are informative to identify this species, with high genetic p-distances for Cox1, and low in the conserved NaK and 28S fragments (Supp. file 1), forming a reciprocally monophyletic clade with respect to either of the other two in all cases.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C38795FFF2FFF9FDBB7EB0FDD1FD43	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Recuero, Ernesto;Caterino, Michael S.	Recuero, Ernesto, Caterino, Michael S. (2025): Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 133-170, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2783, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2783/12721
03C38795FFF1FFF4FDAD792FFD7BFC83.text	03C38795FFF1FFF4FDAD792FFD7BFC83.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ligidium nantahala Recuero & Caterino 2025	<div><p>Ligidium nantahala sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A2CAA049-6BCB-4229-A06D-49F61B36B030</p><p>Figs 4–5</p><p>Ligidium sp. 2 – Recuero &amp; Caterino 2024: table 1.</p><p>Diagnosis</p><p>Ligidium nantahala sp. nov. presents a male pleopod 2 endopodite with a robust excrescence occupying the inner part of the tip and projected outwards. The projection of male pleopod 1 endopodite presents a triangular profile. It also can be distinguished from all other Appalachian species based on molecular data, representing a distinct evolutionary lineage with no close relationships among the studied taxa.</p><p>Etymology</p><p>From the Cherokee Nantahala, the name of the forests where the species lives. A noun in apposition.</p><p>Material examined</p><p>Holotype</p><p>USA – North Carolina • ♂; Clay Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.7144&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.1471" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.7144/lat 35.1471)">Nantahala N.F., Chunky Gal Trail</a>; 35.1471° N, 83.7144° W; 1274 m a.s.l.; 7 Jun. 2021; M. Caterino and E. Recuero leg.; GenBank no: OR169931 (Cox1); USNM, CUAC000180794.</p><p>Paratype</p><p>USA – North Carolina • 1 ♂; same data as for holotype; CUAC000180793.</p><p>Other material examined</p><p>USA – North Carolina • 1 imm. ♀; same data as for holotype; CUAC000171282 .</p><p>Description</p><p>Body length of adult males 4.9–5.5 mm, width (at pereonite 4) 2.4–2.6 mm. Color in ethanol of adult males (Fig. 4) dorsally marbled brown and white, with a conspicuous dark brown longitudinal medial stripe running from pereonite 1 to pereonite 7 and a transverse dark brown band in the caudal margin of pereonites; epimera dark brown with a large white patch at the base; pleonites dark brown caudally, lighter in the central parts (showing in pleonites 4–5 in dorsal view); telson dark brown with a white anchor-shaped spot; head marbled brown and white; antennae with basal segments white and brown, distally brown with some white marking; uropod brown with a large white spot in the basipodite; pereopods and pleopods white with brown marbling. Immature specimen with the same color pattern but lighter brown. Antennule (Fig. 5G) three-segmented; first segment about 1.6 times as long as wide, 3 spiniform setae on its distal border; second segment about 3 times as long as wide, also bearing 3 strong spiniform setae in the distal border; third segment small, with blunt apex and a single seta. Antennae (Fig. 5F) with 5 segmented peduncle, relative size of antennomeres 5&gt;4&gt;3&gt;2&gt;1; antennal flagellum with 10–11 articles. Dactylus of pereopods with outer claw longer than inner one; no sexual dimorphism observed in pereopods 1 (Fig. 5H) or 7 (Fig. 5I). Male pleopod 1 endopodite (Fig. 5A) with obtuse triangular projection, bearing 2 strong, blunt setae, 0.4–0.8 times as long as endopodite. Pleopod 1 exopodite (Fig. 5B) with rounded caudal margin bearing 2 strong, blunt setae, 0.4–0.6 times as long as exopodite. Male pleopod 2 exopodite (Fig. 5C) 1.6–1.7 times as wide as long; inner and frontal margins with limited pilose setation dense, present also along outer caudal corner; caudal margin markedly convex. Male pleopod 2 endopodite (Fig. 5D–E) with rounded tip and a soft, blunt, robust excrescence occupying most of inner part of tip and projecting outwards; inner margin with minute spiniform setae, no spines at the base. Telson (Fig. 4) with caudal margin obtusely produced, convex in immature female. Uropod (Fig. 5J) with exopodite and endopodite subequal in length when not broken, 1.5–1.7 times as long as basipodite.</p><p>Distribution</p><p>The species is so far only known from its type locality (Fig. 4). All specimens were collected in broadleaf forest leaf litter samples.</p><p>Remarks</p><p>Ligidium nantahala sp. nov. corresponds with  Ligidium sp. 2 in Recuero &amp; Caterino (2024a). It is not closely related to any of the other species studied here (Fig. 1A). Morphologically, the presence of a projecting excrescenceat the tip of male pleopod 2 endopodite resembles that observed in  L. blueridgensis,  L. pacolet sp. nov. and  L. whiteoak sp. nov. However, the disposition of the excrescence is different in all four species. In  L. nantahala it covers the whole inner part of the tip ventrally, and projects outwards. In  L. blueridgensis the excrescence is more slender, and projects from the inner tip corner rising near the margin dorsally, and projecting caudally and inwards.  Ligidium pacolet has also a more slender excrescence rising medially or near the inner corner from the end of the tip, projecting caudally or inwards. In  L. whiteoak, the excrescence is broad, almost as much as the endopodite stem, rising dorsally and medially from the caudal margin of the tip and projecting caudally and slightly outwards.  Ligidium nantahala differs also in the triangular shape of male pleopod 1 endopodite projection, squarish in the other mentioned species. All three gene fragments analyzed are informative to identify this species, with high genetic p-distances for Cox1 and even for the conserved NaK and 28S fragments (Supp. file 1), forming a monophyletic clade in all cases.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C38795FFF1FFF4FDAD792FFD7BFC83	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Recuero, Ernesto;Caterino, Michael S.	Recuero, Ernesto, Caterino, Michael S. (2025): Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 133-170, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2783, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2783/12721
03C38795FFFCFFF3FDB8796CFC97FC85.text	03C38795FFFCFFF3FDB8796CFC97FC85.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ligidium protuberans Recuero & Caterino 2025	<div><p>Ligidium protuberans sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 65FAB813-B5FB-4865-9F36-925FC2C1DCA2</p><p>Figs 6–7</p><p>Ligidium sp. 3 – Recuero &amp; Caterino 2024: table 1.</p><p>Diagnosis</p><p>This new species is characterized by a male pleopod 2 endopodite distally broadened, with rounded tip presenting a short, squarish projection on its distal margin. It also can be identified from all other Appalachian species based on molecular data, representing a distinct evolutionary lineage.</p><p>Etymology</p><p>From the latin ‘ protubero ’, meaning ‘protuberance’, referring to the characteristic projection in the male pleopod 2 endopodite.</p><p>Material examined</p><p>Holotype</p><p>USA – North Carolina • ♂; Swain Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.8028&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.4855" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.8028/lat 35.4855)">Great Smoky Mountains N.P., Payne Creek at Lakeshore Trail</a>; 35.4855° N, 83.8028° W; 553 m a.s.l.; 12 Apr. 2022; M. Caterino, E. Recuero, A. Haberski and P. Wooden leg.; GenBank no: OR169915 (Cox1); USNM, CUAC000171349.</p><p>Paratypes</p><p>USA – South Carolina • 1 ♂; Pickens Co., Chimney Top Gap; 35.0644° N, 82.7953° W; 781 m a.s.l.; 23 Mar. 2023; C.W. Harden leg.; CUAC000177090 •  1 ♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000177089 •  1 ovi ♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000177088 .</p><p>Other material examined</p><p>USA – North Carolina • 2 ♀♀; Macon Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.245&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.0783" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.245/lat 35.0783)">Nantahala N.F., Van Hook Glade Campground</a>; 35.0783° N, 83.245° W; 1006 m a.s.l.: 21 Apr. 2022; S. Payne leg.; CUAC000171316, CUAC000171317  •   1 ♀; Clay Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.7146&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.1467" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.7146/lat 35.1467)">Nantahala N.F., Tusquitee Bald</a>; 35.1467° N, 83.7146° W; 1262 m a.s.l.; 1 Sep. 2020; M. Caterino and F. Etzler leg.; CUAC000138058  .</p><p>Description</p><p>Body length of males 6.3–6.5 mm, of females 6.8–8.6 mm; width (at pereonite 4) of males 2.8–3, of females 3.3–4.6 mm. Color in ethanol (Fig. 6) dorsally marbled brown and white, with a conspicuous dark brown longitudinal medial stripe running from pereonite 1 to pereonite 7; caudal margin of pereonites with no defined dark brown bands; epimera brown with large white spots in the outer surface an at the base; pleonites brown to dark brown with conspicuous white spots; telson with two large white spots laterally, and a white anchor-shaped spot caudally; head marbled brown and white, white above the eyes; antennae brown with white spots in basal segments and a white setae bundle in the flagellum; uropod brown with iner part of basipodite white; pereopods brown and white, pleopods mostly white. Antennule (Fig. 7G) three-segmented; first segment about 1.4 times as long as wide, 3 spiniform setae on its distal border; second segment about 2.5 times as long as wide, also bearing 3 strong spiniform setae on the distal border; third segment with blunt apex and a single seta. Antennae (Fig. 7F) with 5 segmented peduncle, relative size of antennomeres 5&gt;4&gt;3&gt;2&gt;1; antennal flagellum with 11–13 articles. Dactylus of pereopods with outer claw longer than inner one; no sexual dimorphism observed in pereopods 1 (Fig. 7H) and 7 (Fig. 7I). Male pleopod 1 endopodite (Fig. 7A) with obtuse triangular projection, bearing 2–3 strong, blunt setae, up to 1.5 times as long as endopodite; caudal and inner margins with pilose setae. Pleopod 1 exopodite (Fig. 7B) with broadly rounded caudal margin bearing 3–4 strong, blunt setae, 0.7–0.9 times as long as exopodite. Male pleopod 2 exopodite (Fig. 7C) 2 times as wide as long; inner and most part of frontal margin with dense, hairy setation, as in outer caudal corner; caudal margin with 5–6 short but strong setae. Male pleopod 2 endopodite (Fig. 7D–E) distally broadened, with rounded tip presenting a row of small denticles in the inner corner and a short, squarish terminal projection in the distal margin; inner margin with minute spiniform setae, larger and more conspicuous at base. Telson (Fig. 6) with caudal margin obtusely produced. Uropod (Fig. 7J) with endopodite 1.3–1.4 times as long as exopodite when not broken, and about 2 times as long as basipodite.</p><p>Distribution</p><p>The species has been found scattered in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains (Fig. 6), at low to midaltitudes. All studied specimens have been collected in leaf litter from hardwood forests.</p><p>Remarks</p><p>Ligidium protuberans sp. nov. corresponds with  Ligidium sp. 3 in Recuero &amp; Caterino (2024a). This species is closely related to  L. enotahensis sp. nov. and  L. schultzi sp. nov. (Fig. 1A), but it can be easily diagnosed from them by the conspicuous short projection present in the male pleopod 2 endopodite. All three gene fragments analyzed are informative to identify this species, with high interspecific p-distances for Cox1, and low to medium in the conserved NaK and 28S fragments (Supp. file 1), forming a reciprocally monophyletic clade in all cases.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C38795FFFCFFF3FDB8796CFC97FC85	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Recuero, Ernesto;Caterino, Michael S.	Recuero, Ernesto, Caterino, Michael S. (2025): Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 133-170, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2783, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2783/12721
03C38795FFFBFFEEFDAB796DFABDFD0C.text	03C38795FFFBFFEEFDAB796DFABDFD0C.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ligidium gadalutsi Recuero & Caterino 2025	<div><p>Ligidium gadalutsi sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 3EAEAB27-5C45-4183-9B5D-70FB794D8094</p><p>Figs 8–9</p><p>Ligidium sp. 4 – Recuero &amp; Caterino 2024: table 1.</p><p>Diagnosis</p><p>This new species differs from all other Appalachian species in its male pleopod 2 endopodite having an acuminate tip, strongly projected posteriorly and outwards. It has a distinctive male pleopod 1 endopodite, showing a poorly defined, broadly triangular projection, and a male pleopod 1 exopodite with its caudal margin flattened. It also differs from all other Appalachian species based on molecular data, representing a distinct evolutionary lineage with no close relationships among the studied taxa.</p><p>Etymology</p><p>A noun in apposition,  ‘ gadalutsi ’ is the Cherokee word that originated the name Cataloochee, and consequently the origin of the name of the type locality, Big Cataloochee Mountain.</p><p>Material examined</p><p>Holotype</p><p>USA – North Carolina • ♂; Haywood Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.1805&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.6675" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.1805/lat 35.6675)">Great Smoky Mountains N.P., Big Cataloochee Mt</a>; 35.6675° N, 83.1805° W; 1703 m a.s.l.; 14 Jul. 2020; M. Caterino and F. Etzler leg.; GenBank no: PP737148 (Cox1); USNM, CUAC000138053.</p><p>Other material examined</p><p>USA – North Carolina • 1 ♀; Clay Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.7144&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.1471" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.7144/lat 35.1471)">Nantahala N.F., Chunky Gal Trail</a>; 35.1471° N, 83.7144° W; 1274 m a.s.l.; 6 Jul. 2021; M. Caterino and E. Recuero leg.; CUAC000171281  . –   Tennessee • 1 ♀; Sevier Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.4387&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.6382" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.4387/lat 35.6382)">Smoky Mountains N.P., Mount LeConte (Alum Cave Trail)</a>; 35.6382° N, 83.4387° W; 1317 m a.s.l.; 28 Sep. 2021; M. Caterino and E. Recuero leg.; CUAC000171324  .</p><p>Description</p><p>Body length of holotype 4.9 mm, width (at 4 pereonite) 2.4 mm; body length of females 5.5–7 mm, width 2.5–3.6 mm. Color in ethanol (Fig. 8) of holotype dorsally marbled brown and white, with a conspicuous dark brown longitudinal medial stripe running from pereonite 1 to pereonite 7 and a transversal dark brown band in the caudal margin of pereonites; epimera dark brown with a large white patch at the base; pleonites dark brown with lateral white spots; telson dark brown with a white anchor-shaped spot; head and antennae marbled brown and white, distal segments of antennae darker brown with white setae bundle in flagellum; uropod brown with a white spot in the inner part of basipodite; pereopods and pleopods white with brown marbling. Among females one resembles the holotype in coloration, the other is dorsally almost black with large white spots from head to telson. Antennule (Fig. 9G) three-segmented; first segment about 1.5–1.7 times as long as wide, 2–3 spiniform setae in its distal border; second segment about 2.3–2.5 times as long as wide, bearing 3 strong spiniform setae in the distal border; third segment with blunt apex and 2 setae. Antennae (Fig. 9F) with 5 segmented peduncle, relative size of antennomeres 5&gt;4&gt;3&gt;2&gt;1; antennal flagellum with 11 articles. Dactylus of pereopods with outer claw longer than inner one, inner one reduced in pereopod 1; no sexual dimorphism observed in pereopods 1 (Fig. 9H) and 7 (Fig. 9I). Male pleopod 1 endopodite (Fig. 9A) with short, blunt projection, bearing a single strong, blunt seta, 0.8 times as long as endopodite; caudal and inner margins with pilose setae. Pleopod 1 exopodite (Fig. 9B) with flat caudal margin bearing 4 strong, blunt setae, up to 0.8 times as long as exopodite. Male pleopod 2 exopodite (Fig. 9C) 1.9 times as wide as long; inner and half of the frontal margin with dense, hairy setation, as in outer caudal corner; caudal margin evenly convex, with 2 short, strong setae in the outer corner. Male pleopod 2 endopodite (Fig. 9D–E) with a broad and acuminate tip, projected posteriorly-laterally, with small setae in the interior margin; inner margin of the peduncle with minute spiniform setae, no spines at base. Telson (Fig. 8) with caudal margin slightly concave in the sides and obtusely produced in the middle. Uropod (Fig. 9J) with endopodite 1.3–1.4 times as long as exopodite when not broken, and about 2 times as long as basipodite.</p><p>Distribution</p><p>The species has been found in two localities in the Great Smoky Mountains and one at the Nantahala National Forest further south, at mid- to high elevations (Fig. 8). Studied specimens have been collected in leaf litter from conifer and mixed forests.</p><p>Remarks</p><p>Ligidium gadalutsi sp. nov. corresponds with  Ligidium sp. 4 in Recuero &amp; Caterino (2024a). It is not closely related to any of the studied Appalachian species (Fig. 1A). The shape of the male pleopod 2 endopodite somewhat resembles that of  L. mucronatum, which could indicate a shared ancestry. However, in  L. mucronatum the tip is shorter and blunt, while much longer and acuminate in  L. gadalutsi . This new species shows the highest genetic p-distances compared to all other studied species (Supp. file 1).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C38795FFFBFFEEFDAB796DFABDFD0C	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Recuero, Ernesto;Caterino, Michael S.	Recuero, Ernesto, Caterino, Michael S. (2025): Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 133-170, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2783, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2783/12721
03C38795FFE6FFEDFD5E7895FC97FC1D.text	03C38795FFE6FFEDFD5E7895FC97FC1D.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ligidium pacolet Recuero & Caterino 2025	<div><p>Ligidium pacolet sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 6A3E7CC8-1EF9-4451-889E-81878B6B5250</p><p>Figs 10–11</p><p>Ligidium sp. 5 – Recuero &amp; Caterino 2024: table 1 (in part).</p><p>Diagnosis</p><p>This new species is characterized by its male pleopod 2 endopodite presenting a soft, long, slender excrescence rising ventrally in the distal margin of the tip, close to its inner corner, and projected caudally or inwards. It also can be identified from all other Appalachian species based on molecular data, representing a distinct evolutionary lineage.</p><p>Etymology</p><p>A noun in apposition, in reference to the Pacolet River area where the species has been found.</p><p>Material examined</p><p>Holotype</p><p>USA – North Carolina • ♂; Polk Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-82.3059&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.2221" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -82.3059/lat 35.2221)">North Pacolet River</a>; 35.2221° N, 82.3059° W; 384 m a.s.l.; 15 Feb. 2022; M. Caterino, E. Recuero, C. Harden and P. Wooden leg.; GenBank no: OR169911 (Cox1); USNM, CUAC000171345.</p><p>Paratypes</p><p>USA – North Carolina • 2 ♂♂; same data as for holotype; CUAC000171341, CUAC000171342 •  1 ♀; same data as for holotype; CUAC000171343 .</p><p>Description</p><p>Body length of males 5.5–6.1 mm, of female 7.9 mm; width (at pereonite 4) of males 2.6–2.9, of female 3.6 mm. Color in ethanol (Fig. 10) dorsally dark brown with large off-white spots, with a conspicuous dark brown longitudinal medial stripe running from pereonite 1 to pereonite 7, frequently broken with light spots in the caudal margin of pereonites, which carry dark brown transverse bands; epimera dark brown with large white spots at the base and sometimes smaller white spots in the external margin; pleonites 1–4 with two pairs of off-white spots, pereonite 5 (and rarely 4) with a single pair; telson with two large white spots laterally, merging caudally with the white anchor-shaped spot; head marbled brown, with white areas above the eyes; antennae dark brown with large white spots in basal segments and a white setae bundle in the flagellum; uropod brown with inner part of basipodite white; pereopods brown and white, pleopods mostly white. Antennule (Fig. 11G) three-segmented; first segment about 1.7–1.8 times as long as wide, 3 spiniform setae in its distal border; second segment about 2.5–2.6 times as long as wide, also bearing 3 strong spiniform setae in the distal border; third segment with rounded apex and a single seta. Antennae (Fig. 11F) with 5 segmented peduncle, relative size of antennomeres 5&gt;4&gt;3&gt;2=1; antennal flagellum with 11–12 articles. Dactylus of pereopods with outer claw longer than inner one; no sexual dimorphism observed in pereopods 1 (Fig. 11H) and 7 (Fig. 11I). Male pleopod 1 endopodite (Fig. 11A) with narrow projection truncated distally, bearing 3–4 strong, blunt setae, up to 1.3 times as long as endopodite; caudal and inner margins with pilose setae. Pleopod 1 exopodite (Fig. 11B) with broadly rounded caudal margin bearing 3–5 strong, blunt setae, 0.8–0.9 times as long as exopodite; external margin with 2–3 short setae, a few short piliform setae in the frontal external corner and in the inner margin. Male pleopod 2 exopodite (Fig. 11C) 2.1–2.3 times as wide as long; inner and most part of frontal margin with dense, hairy setation; caudal margin convex. Male pleopod 2 endopodite (Fig. 11D–E) with a broad tip, bearing a soft, long, slender excrescence rising ventrally at its distal margin near the inner corner; inner margin of stem with minute spiniform setae, denser at the base and absent well before the tip. Telson (Fig. 10) with caudal margin obtusely produced, with a sinuate profile. Uropod (Fig. 11J) with endopodite 1.3–1.4 times as long as exopodite when not broken, and about 2 times as long as basipodite.</p><p>Distribution</p><p>The species is known only from its type locality, by the North Pacolet River near Saluda, North Carolina, along the boundary between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Piedmont Region (Fig. 10). All studied specimens have been collected in moist leaf litter from deciduous forest.</p><p>Remarks</p><p>Ligidium pacolet sp. nov. corresponds with one of the two lineages named as  Ligidium sp. 5 in Recuero &amp; Caterino (2024a). It was clustered together with  L. whiteoak sp. nov. in that paper given their morphological and genetic affinities, although species delimitation methods recognized the two species using multilocus data for species delimitation (BPP), or even three with Cox1 single-locus species delimitation methods (ASAP, mPTP) (Supp. file 1). It belongs to a clade including  L. blueridgensis and  L. whiteoak, being genetically closer to the latter (Fig. 1A). They are also morphologically close, all presenting an excrescence projecting from the male pleopod 2 endopodite; in  L. pacolet the excrescence is slender and rises medially or near the inner corner from the margin of the tip, projecting caudally or inwards. In  L. blueridgensis the excrescence is also slender, projecting from the inner tip corner rising from the dorsal surface near the margin, and projecting caudally and inwards.  Ligidium whiteoak presents a broader excrescence, almost as wide as the endopodite stem, rising dorsally and medially from the caudal margin of the tip and projecting caudally and slightly outwards. The stem of male pleopod 2 endopodite in  L. pacolet sp. nov. is slightly broadened in the distal third, while in  L. blueridgensis and  L. whiteoak its width is constant. The projection of male pleopod 1 endopodite is narrower in  L. pacolet than in the other two species. All three gene fragments analyzed are informative to identify this species, with high genetic p-distances for Cox1, moderate to high for NaK and 28S fragments (Supp. file 1), forming a reciprocally monophyletic clade in all cases.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C38795FFE6FFEDFD5E7895FC97FC1D	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Recuero, Ernesto;Caterino, Michael S.	Recuero, Ernesto, Caterino, Michael S. (2025): Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 133-170, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2783, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2783/12721
03C38795FFE5FFE8FDAA7985FBD0FDAC.text	03C38795FFE5FFE8FDAA7985FBD0FDAC.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ligidium whiteoak Recuero & Caterino 2025	<div><p>Ligidium whiteoak sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CAB4ACD2-999C-4C0A-9BD7-A196E4B4EBDF</p><p>Figs 12–13</p><p>Ligidium sp. 5 – Recuero &amp; Caterino 2024: table 1 (in part).</p><p>Diagnosis</p><p>Ligidium whiteoak sp. nov. is diagnosed from other Appalachian species by the presence in the male pleopod 2 endopodite of a broad excrescence, almost as broad as the endopodite stem, rising dorsally and medially from the caudal margin of the tip and projecting caudally and slightly outwards. It also can be identified from all other Appalachian species based on molecular data, representing a distinct evolutionary lineage.</p><p>Etymology</p><p>A noun in apposition, in reference to the species type locality.</p><p>Material examined</p><p>Holotype</p><p>USA – Tennessee • ♂; Blount Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.7412&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.6362" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.7412/lat 35.6362)">Great Smoky Mountains N.P.</a>, Whiteoak Sink area; 35.6362° N, 83.7412° W; 536 m a.s.l.; 27 Oct. 2021; M. Caterino, A. Haberski and P. Wooden leg.; GenBank no: OR169835 (Cox1); USNM, CUAC000171267.</p><p>Paratypes</p><p>USA – Tennessee • 3 ♂♂; same data as for holotype; CUAC000171268, CUAC000180800, CUAC000180801 •  5 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; CUAC000171269 to CUAC000171273 .</p><p>Description</p><p>Body length of males 4.9–5.5 mm, of females 4.9–5 mm; width (at pereonite 4) of males 2.3–2.5, of females 2.4–2.6 mm. Color in ethanol (Fig. 12) dorsally brown to dark brown with off-white and greenish spots, a conspicuous dark brown longitudinal medial stripe running from pereonite 1 to pereonite 7, more or less broken with light spots in the caudal margin of pereonites; not all pereonites with darker transverse bands; epimera brown and off-white, with large white spots at the base; pleonites with a pair of lateral off-white spots, medially brown sometimes with off-white spots; telson with two white spots laterally, and a white anchor-shaped spot; head marbled brown; antennae dark brown with large white spots in basal segments and a white setae bundle in the flagellum; uropod brown, dorsally with inner part of basipodite white; pereopods brown and white, pleopod exopodites brown. Antennule (Fig. 13G) three-segmented; first segment about 1.7–1.8 times as long as wide, 3 spiniform setae in its distal border; second segment about 2.6–2.7 times as long as wide, also bearing 3 strong spiniform setae in the distal border; third segment with rounded apex and up to 3 setae. Antennae (Fig. 13F) with 5 segmented peduncle, relative size of antennomeres 5&gt;4&gt;3&gt;2&gt;1; antennal flagellum with 10–11 articles. Dactylus of pereopods with outer claw longer than inner one; no sexual dimorphism observed in pereopods 1 (Fig. 13H) and 7 (Fig. 13I). Pereopod 7 ischium broadened medially. Male pleopod 1 endopodite (Fig. 13A) with narrow projection truncated distally, bearing 2–3 strong, blunt setae, about as long as endopodite; most part of caudal and inner margins with pilose setae. Pleopod 1 exopodite (Fig. 13B) with rounded caudal margin bearing 2–3 strong, blunt setae, 0.6–0.7 times as long as exopodite; external margin with 3–4 short setae. Male pleopod 2 exopodite (Fig. 13C) 1.8–2 times as wide as long; inner and most part of frontal margin with dense, hairy setation, as in outer caudal corner; caudal margin convex, with 3–4 short, but strong setae. Male pleopod 2 endopodite (Fig. 13D–E) with narrow, rounded tip, bearing a soft, long excrescence rising medially, almost as broad as the stem; inner margin with minute spiniform setae. Telson (Fig. 12) with caudal margin obtusely produced, subtriangular. Uropod (Fig. 13J) with endopodite 1.4–1.5 times as long as exopodite when not broken, and about 2 times as long as basipodite.</p><p>Distribution</p><p>The species is known only from its type locality, at low elevations near the western edge of the Great Smoky Mountains (Fig. 12). All studied specimens have been collected in moist leaf litter from deciduous forest.</p><p>Remarks</p><p>Ligidium whiteoak sp. nov. corresponds with one of the two lineages referred to as  Ligidium sp. 5 in Recuero &amp; Caterino (2024a). See remarks for  Ligidium pacolet sp. nov.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C38795FFE5FFE8FDAA7985FBD0FDAC	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Recuero, Ernesto;Caterino, Michael S.	Recuero, Ernesto, Caterino, Michael S. (2025): Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 133-170, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2783, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2783/12721
03C38795FFE0FFE7FDA27873FB35F93F.text	03C38795FFE0FFE7FDA27873FB35F93F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ligidium schultzi Recuero & Caterino 2025	<div><p>Ligidium schultzi sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: E438B528-4175-4BF6-9308-EA9ECE8C9D41</p><p>Figs 14–15</p><p>Ligidium sp. 6 – Recuero &amp; Caterino 2024: table 1.</p><p>non  Ligidium elrodii – Schultz 1982: 14.</p><p>Diagnosis</p><p>This new species is characterized by the distally broadened male pleopod 2 endopodite, which presents on the caudal margin as a marked notch. Male pleopod 2 exopodite has its frontal margin concave. It also can be distinguished from all other Appalachian species based on molecular data, representing a distinct evolutionary lineage.</p><p>Etymology</p><p>The species is named after George A. Schultz, for his important contributions to our knowledge of the genus  Ligidium in North America, and for being the first to illustrate this species from North Carolina.</p><p>Material examined</p><p>Holotype</p><p>USA – North Carolina • ♂; Swain Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.3979&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.5824" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.3979/lat 35.5824)">Great Smoky Mountains N.P., off Highway 441, Thomas Divide Trail</a>; 35.5824° N, 83.3979° W; 1405 m a.s.l.; 12 Mar. 2020; M. Caterino and F. Etzler leg.; GenBank no: OR169857 (Cox1); USNM, CUAC000171290.</p><p>Paratypes</p><p>USA – North Carolina • 1 ♂; same data as for holotype; CUAC000171291 •  4 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; CUAC000171292 to CUAC000171295 .</p><p>Other material examined</p><p>USA – Georgia • 2 ♂♂; Towns Co., Brasstown Bald; 34.8782° N, 83.8108° W; 1347 m a.s.l.; 17 Nov. 2020; Caterino and F. Etzler leg.; CUAC000171279, CUAC000180791 •  1 ♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000138052  – North Carolina • 1 ♂; Graham Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.9934&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.321" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.9934/lat 35.321)">Nantahala N.F., Huckleberry Knob</a>; 35.3210° N, 83.9934° W; 1674 m a.s.l.; 4 May 2020; M. Caterino and F. Etzler leg.; CUAC000138050  •   1 ♀, Haywood Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.2007&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.6425" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.2007/lat 35.6425)">Balsam Mountain Trail</a>; 35.6425° N, 83.2007° W; 1565 m a.s.l.; 5 Nov. 2020; M. Caterino and F. Etzler leg.; CUAC000138054  •   3 ♂♂; Macon Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.184&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.0558" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.184/lat 35.0558)">Highlands Biological Station, Coker Rhododendron Trail</a>; 35.0558° N, 83.1840° W; 1191 m a.s.l.; 20 Jun. 2022; P. Marek and L. Kairy leg.; CUAC000171315, CUAC000171319, CUAC000171320  •   1 ♂; Macon Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.3359&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.327" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.3359/lat 35.327)">Nantahala N.F., Copper Ridge Bald</a>; 35.3270° N, 83.3359° W; 1535 m a.s.l.; 15 Sep. 2020; M. Caterino and F. Etzler leg.; CUAC000171277  •  2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171278, CUAC000138046 •   3 ♀♀; Macon Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.3359&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.327" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.3359/lat 35.327)">Nantahala N.F., Cowee Bald</a>; 35.3270° N, 83.3359° W; 1503 m a.s.l.; 15 Sep. 2020; F. Etzler, A. Haberski and P. Wooden leg.; CUAC000138047, CUAC000171283, CUAC000171284  •  5 imm.; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171285 to CUAC000171289 •   2 ♂♂; Macon Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.245&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.0783" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.245/lat 35.0783)">Nantahala N.F., Van Hook Glade Campground</a>; 35.0783° N, 83.245° W; 1018 m a.s.l.; 21 Jun. 2022; CUAC000171321, CUAC000171322  •  1 ♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171318 •   2 ♀♀; Transylvania Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-82.789&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.3291" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -82.789/lat 35.3291)">Pisgah Forest</a>; 35.3291° N, 82.789° W; 910 m a.s.l.; 23 Dec. 2021; E. Recuero and P.C. Rodríguez-Flores leg.; CUAC000171302, CUAC000171303  •   1 ♀; Transylvania Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-82.9133&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.291" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -82.9133/lat 35.291)">Pisgah National Forest, Hwy 215</a>; 35.2910° N, 82.9133° W; 1561 m a.s.l.; 8 May 2018; M. Caterino, R. Kucuk and L. Cushman leg.; CUAC000171304  •  2 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171305, CUAC000171306 •   1 ovi. ♀; Clay Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.7273&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.1415" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.7273/lat 35.1415)">Nantahala N.F., Tusquitee Bald</a>; 35.1415° N, 83.7273° W; 1582 m a.s.l.; 6 Jul. 2021; M. Caterino and E. Recuero leg.; CUAC000165724.   – South Carolina • 1 ♀; Oconee Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.0731&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=34.9853" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.0731/lat 34.9853)">Sumter N.F., Walhalla Hatchery</a>; 34.9853° N, 83.0731° W; 765 m a.s.l.; 21 Jan. 2023; C.W. Harden leg.; CUAC000177091  •  1 ♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000177092  – Tennessee • 1 ♂; Blount Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.81&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.645" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.81/lat 35.645)">Great Smoky Mountains N.P., Rich Mountain Gap</a>; 35.645° N, 83.81° W; 600 m a.s.l.; 27 Oct. 2021; M. Caterino, A. Haberski and P. Wooden leg.; CUAC000171264  •  2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171265, CUAC000171266 •   3 ♂♂; Sevier Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.4163&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.624" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.4163/lat 35.624)">Great Smoky Mountains N.P., off Highway 441</a>; 35.6240° N, 83.4163° W; 1394 m a.s.l.; 12 Mar. 2020; M. Caterino and F. Etzler leg.; CUAC000138081, CUAC000171297, CUAC000171298  •  2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171300, CUAC000171301 •  1 imm.; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171296.</p><p>Description</p><p>Body length of males 4.6–5.7 mm, of females 4.7–5.7 mm; width (at pereonite 4) of males 2.5–2.8, of females 2.6–2.9 mm. Color in ethanol (Fig. 14) dorsally brown with large off-white, a dark brown longitudinal medial stripe running from pereonite 1 to pereonite 7, frequently broadening caudally; pereonites with darker transverse bands in the caudal margin, frequently with clearer spots; epimera brown marbled with off-white, with large white spots at the base; pleonites brown with a pair of more or less defined off-white spots, paramedian in pleonites 1 and 2, more lateral in pleonites 3–5; telson with two white spots laterally, and a white anchor-shaped spot; head marbled brown, sometimes with white area above eyes; antennae brown, sometimes with large white spots in basal segments, and a white setae bundle in the flagellum; uropod brown, dorsally with inner part of basipodite white; pereopods brown and white, pleopod exopodites white, often with inner and frontal parts brown. Antennule (Fig. 15G) three-segmented; first segment about 1.7–1.8 times as long as wide, 2–3 spiniform setae in its distal border; second segment about 2.5–2.6 times as long as wide, bearing 2–3 strong spiniform setae in the distal border; third segment with blunt apex and 1 or no setae. Antennae (Fig. 15F) with 5 segmented peduncle, relative size of antennomeres 5&gt;4&gt;3=2&gt;1; antennal flagellum with 10–12 articles. Dactylus of pereopods with outer claw longer than inner one; no sexual dimorphism observed in pereopods 1 (Fig. 15H) and 7 (Fig. 15I). Male pleopod 1 endopodite (Fig. 15A) with narrow projection obliquely truncated distally, bearing 2 strong, blunt setae, up to 1.2 times as long as endopodite; part of caudal and inner margins with pilose setae. Pleopod 1 exopodite (Fig. 15B) with broadly rounded caudal margin bearing 2–3 strong, blunt setae, up to 0.5–0.7 times as long as exopodite; external margin with 2–3 very short but strong setae. Male pleopod 2 exopodite (Fig. 15C) 1.8–1.9 times as wide as long; inner, outer and part of frontal margin with dense, hairy setation; caudal margin strongly convex, with 2–4 very short, but strong setae; frontal margin concave. Male pleopod 2 endopodite (Fig. 15D–E) with unevenly rounded tip, presenting a marked notch or indentation; inner margin with minute spiniform setae denser near the base. Telson (Fig. 14) with caudal margin obtusely produced. Uropod (Fig. 15J) with long endopodite, 1.6–1.8 times as long as exopodite when not broken, and about 2.1–2.2 times as long as basipodite.</p><p>Distribution</p><p>The species is widely distributed in the southern part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with all known records found west of the Asheville Depression (Fig. 14). Studied specimens have been collected in moist leaf litter from conifer, deciduous, and mixed forest, as well as under dead logs and stones, usually in damp places near streams. From 600 m to 1674 m a.s.l., most frequently above 1000 m.</p><p>Remarks</p><p>Ligidium schultzi sp. nov. corresponds with  Ligidium sp. 6 in Recuero &amp; Caterino (2024a). The shape of male pleopod 2 endopodite of this species was first illustrated by Schultz (1982), as a morphological variant of what he identified as  L. elrodii, and indicated the need for further taxonomic study to determine the specific status. The new species is closely related to  L. enotahensis sp. nov. and  L. protuberans sp. nov. (Fig. 1A; see Remarks for those species). All three gene fragments analyzed are informative to identify this species, with high genetic p-distances among the mentioned taxa for Cox1, moderate for 28S and low for NaK (Supp. file 1), forming reciprocally monophyletic clades in all cases.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C38795FFE0FFE7FDA27873FB35F93F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Recuero, Ernesto;Caterino, Michael S.	Recuero, Ernesto, Caterino, Michael S. (2025): Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 133-170, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2783, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2783/12721
03C38795FFEFFFE3FDE77CE3FBBEFDDB.text	03C38795FFEFFFE3FDE77CE3FBBEFDDB.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ligidium blueridgensis Schultz 1964	<div><p>Ligidium blueridgensis Schultz, 1964</p><p>Figs 16–17</p><p>Ligidium blueridgensis Schultz, 1964: 90, pl. 1 figs 1–11, pl. 2 figs 12–14.</p><p>Material examined</p><p>USA – Georgia • 1 ♀; Rabun Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.2978&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=34.9713" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.2978/lat 34.9713)">Chattahoochee N.F., Rabun Cliffs</a>; 34.9713° N, 83.2978° W; 1244 m a.s.l.; 11 May 2021; M. Caterino and A. Haberski leg.; CUAC000138049  •  2 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000180796, CUAC000180797 •   1 ♀; Rabun Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.3004&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=34.9709" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.3004/lat 34.9709)">Chattahoochee N.F., Rabun Cliffs</a>; 34.9709° N, 83.3004° W; 1308 m a.s.l.; 25 Nov. 2019; M. Caterino leg.; CUAC000138078  •  1 ♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171280.  – North Carolina • 1 ♀; Avery Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-81.8388&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=36.0893" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -81.8388/lat 36.0893)">Grandfather Mountain</a>; 36.0893° N, 81.8388° W; 1387 m a.s.l.; 21 Apr. 2022; M. Caterino, E. Recuero and A. Haberski leg.; CUAC000171348  •  2 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171346, CUAC000171347 •   1 ♀; Avery Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-81.8311&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=36.0948" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -81.8311/lat 36.0948)">Grandfather Mountain, Bridge Trail</a>; 36.0948° N, 81.8311° W; 1554 m a.s.l.; 21 Apr. 2022; M. Caterino, E. Recuero and A. Haberski leg.; CUAC000171339  •  1 ♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171340 •   1 ♀; Avery Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-81.8293&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=36.0978" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -81.8293/lat 36.0978)">Grandfather Mountain, Grandfather Trail</a>; 36.0978° N, 81.8293° W; 1637 m a.s.l.; 21 Apr. 2022; M. Caterino, E. Recuero and A. Haberski leg.; CUAC000171334  •   3 ♂♂; Caldwell Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-81.7844&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=36.1164" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -81.7844/lat 36.1164)">Grandfather Mountain, Boone Scout Trail</a>; 36.1164° N, 81.7844° W; 1259 m a.s.l.; 6 Oct. 2020; M. Caterino, F. Etzler and A. Haberski leg.; CUAC000171307, CUAC000171308, CUAC000138059  •  1 ♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171309 •   1 ♂; Graham Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.9934&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.321" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.9934/lat 35.321)">Nantahala N.F., Huckleberry Knob</a>; 35.3210° N, 83.9934° W; 1674 m a.s.l.; 4 May 2020; M. Caterino and F. Etzler leg.; CUAC000180792  •  1 ♀; Haywood Co., Black Balsam Knob; 35.3289° N, 82.8745° W; 1839 m a.s.l.; 20 Oct. 2020; M. Caterino and F. Etzler leg.; CUAC000138045 •   1 ♂; Madison Co.: <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-82.7167&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=36.022" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -82.7167/lat 36.022)">Pisgah N.F.: Camp Creek Bald</a>; 36.0220° N, 82.7167° W; 1445 m a.s.l.; 1 Mar. 2022; M. Caterino, E. Recuero and P. Wooden leg.; CUAC000171352  •  5 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171353 to CUAC000171357  1 ♂; Polk Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-82.3059&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.2221" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -82.3059/lat 35.2221)">North Pacolet River</a>; 35.2221° N, 82.3059° W; 384 m a.s.l.; 15 Feb. 2022; E. Recuero, M. Caterino, C. Harden and P. Wooden leg.; CUAC000171344  •   1 ♂; Polk Co., Tryon, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-82.2987&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.2199" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -82.2987/lat 35.2199)">Melrose Falls</a>; 35.2199° N, 82.2987° W; 407 m a.s.l.; 10 Aug. 2021; E. Recuero, M. Caterino, A.Haberski and P.Wooden leg.; CUAC000171335  •  2♀♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171336, CUAC000171337 2 ♂♂; Rutherford Co., Chimney Rock; 35.4372° N, 82.2506° W; 383 m. a.s.l.; 3 Apr. 2023; M. Caterino, E. Recuero and C.W. Harden leg.; CUAC0001169835, CUAC0001169838 •   3 ♂♂; Yancey Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-82.2279&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.8455" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -82.2279/lat 35.8455)">Pisgah N.F., Woody Ridge Trail</a>; 35.8455° N, 82.2279° W; 1259 m a.s.l.; 19 Oct. 2021; M. Caterino, E. Recuero and A. Haberski leg.; CUAC000180795, CUAC000171326, CUAC000171327  •  6 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171328 to CUAC000171333.  – South Carolina • 1 ♀; Greenville Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-82.2804&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.1503" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -82.2804/lat 35.1503)">Chestnut Ridge H.P., South Pacolet River</a>; 35.1503° N, 82.2804° W; 344 m a.s.l.; 15 Feb. 2022; E. Recuero leg.; CUAC000171350  •   2 ♂♂; Pickens Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-82.7774&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.0647" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -82.7774/lat 35.0647)">Sassafras Mountain</a>; 35.0647° N, 82.7774° W; 1029 m a.s.l.; 11 Jun. 2020; F.E. Etzler leg.; CUAC000180798, CUAC000180799  •  1 ♀; same data as for preceding; CUAC000138055.  – Tennessee • 1 ♂; Greene Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-82.7024&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=36.0337" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -82.7024/lat 36.0337)">Cherokee N.F., Firescald Knob</a>; 36.0337° N, 82.7024° W; 1353 m a.s.l; 1 Mar. 2022; M. Caterino, E. Recuero and P. Wooden leg.; CUAC000171351  •   1 ♀; Sevier Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.4426&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.6427" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.4426/lat 35.6427)">Great Smoky Mountains N.P., Mount LeConte</a>; 35.6427° N, 83.4426° W; 1581 m a.s.l.; 28 Sep. 2021; M. Caterino, E. Recuero, A. Haberski and P. Wooden leg.; CUAC000171276  •  1 ♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171338 •   1 ♀; Sevier Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.4387&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.6382" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.4387/lat 35.6382)">Smoky Mountains N.P., Mount LeConte, Alum Cave</a>; 35.6382° N, 83.4387° W; 1317 m a.s.l.; 28 Sep. 2021; M. Caterino, E. Recuero, A. Haberski and P. Wooden leg.; CUAC000171325  •  1 ♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171323 •   1 ♀; Sevier Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-83.4163&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.6237" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -83.4163/lat 35.6237)">Great Smoky Mountains N.P., off Highway 441</a>; 35.6237° N, 83.4163° W; 1394 m a.s.l.; 12 Mar. 2020; M. Caterino and F. Etzler leg.; CUAC000171275  •  1 ♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000171299 •   2 imm.; Unicoi Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-82.4573&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=35.9938" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -82.4573/lat 35.9938)">Cherokee N.F., Big Bald</a>; 35.9938° N, 82.4573° W; 1596 m a.s.l.; 5 Aug. 2020; M. Caterino, A. Haberski and P. Wooden leg.; CUAC000171310, CUAC000171311.</p><p>Remarks</p><p>This is the most widely distributed  Ligidium species in the southern Appalachian Mountains (Fig. 16), presenting also a broad altitudinal range, from 344 to 1674 m a.s.l. Although the species’ distribution spans important biogeographical barriers, such as the Asheville Depression, it includes several deep mitochondrial lineages that seem to be geographically restricted to particular areas delimited by that barrier and one formed by the Little Tennessee River (Figs 1, 18). This pattern is not common among other litter arthropods in this area (Caterino &amp; Recuero 2023; Recuero &amp; Caterino 2024b, 2024c). This suggests an old presence and diversification within these mountains. See Remarks under  Ligidium pacolet sp. nov. and  L. whiteoak sp. nov. and Fig. 17 for diagnostic information.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C38795FFEFFFE3FDE77CE3FBBEFDDB	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Recuero, Ernesto;Caterino, Michael S.	Recuero, Ernesto, Caterino, Michael S. (2025): Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 133-170, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2783, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2783/12721
03C38795FFEBFFE1FD8B7844FC9AFB98.text	03C38795FFEBFFE1FD8B7844FC9AFB98.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ligidium elrodii (Packard 1873)	<div><p>Ligidium elrodii (Packard, 1873)</p><p>Figs 19–20</p><p>Euphiloscia elrodii Packard, 1873: 97 .</p><p>Ligidium longicaudatum Stoller, 1902: 208, fig. 1.</p><p>Material examined</p><p>USA – West Virginia • 1 ♂; Pocahontas Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-79.9666&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=38.1026" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -79.9666/lat 38.1026)">Pocahontas Campground</a>; 38.1026° N, 79.9666° W; 756 m a.s.l.; 13 Oct. 2022; M.. Caterino and E. Recuero leg.; CUAC000174439  •   1 ♀; Randolph Co., <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-79.9262&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=38.5595" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -79.9262/lat 38.5595)">Monongahela N.F.</a>; 38.5595° N, 79.9262° W; 1135 m a.s.l.; 12 Oct. 2022; M. Caterino and E. Recuero leg.; CUAC000174441  •  2 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; CUAC000174440, CUAC000174442 •  1 imm.; same data as for preceding; CUAC000174443 .</p><p>Remarks</p><p>The studied specimens from West Virginia have been collected in leaf litter from deciduous and conifer forests at mid-elevations (Fig. 18). They differ slightly from the ones illustrated from North Carolina (Schultz 1970, 1982). Particularly, males from North Carolina present ten scale-like spines on the distal margin of the tip of male pleopod 2 endopodite, while those from West Virginia present four (Fig. 19D– E). Also, the illustration of a male pleopod 2 exopodite from North Carolina shows a large spiniform or plumose seta on the inner corner of the caudal margin, not present in the samples from West Virginia (Fig. 19C). These differences could indicate different species, but we refrain from proposing any more new names for this complex, until the true status of  Ligidium elrodii and  L. longicaudatum may be clarified. This species is not closely related to any of the other taxa included in our analyses (Fig. 1A).</p><p>Four subspecies of  Ligidium elrodii have been described from caves in the states of Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia, based on differences in the male pleopod 2 endopodite (Schultz 1970). One of them, L. e. leensis, from Bowling Cave, Lee Co., Virginia (see map in Fig. 18), is relatively similar to our specimens and to those illustrated from North Carolina, differing in a more markedly squarish process on the inner margin of male pleopod 2 endopodite, with only two scale-like spines on its distal margin. Indeed, it could represent a different species, but until  L. elrodii is revised we prefer to maintain its status. The other three have more pronounced differences in this particular structure, which are indicative of specific status. We propose to raise them to full species.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C38795FFEBFFE1FD8B7844FC9AFB98	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Recuero, Ernesto;Caterino, Michael S.	Recuero, Ernesto, Caterino, Michael S. (2025): Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 133-170, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2783, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2783/12721
03C38795FFE9FFE1FDE87E0BFD1BFAF4.text	03C38795FFE9FFE1FDE87E0BFD1BFAF4.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ligidium chatoogaensis Schultz 1970	<div><p>Ligidium chatoogaensis Schultz, 1970</p><p>Ligidium elrodii chatoogaensis Schultz, 1970: 43, figs 29–33.</p><p>Remarks</p><p>In the form of male pleopod 2 endopodite this species resembles  Ligidium elrodii, but having a constricted tip, and only five scale-like spines on the distal margin of the tip.</p><p>The species is so far known only from its type locality, Blowing Spring Cave, 2.5 miles NE Cloudland, Chattooga Co., Georgia (see map in Fig. 18).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C38795FFE9FFE1FDE87E0BFD1BFAF4	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Recuero, Ernesto;Caterino, Michael S.	Recuero, Ernesto, Caterino, Michael S. (2025): Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 133-170, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2783, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2783/12721
03C38795FFE9FFE1FDE47FBFFE66F940.text	03C38795FFE9FFE1FDE47FBFFE66F940.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ligidium hancockensis Schultz 1970	<div><p>Ligidium hancockensis Schultz, 1970</p><p>Ligidium elrodii hancockensis Schultz, 1970: 41, figs 24–28.</p><p>Remarks</p><p>In the form of male pleopod 2 endopodite this species resembles  Ligidium nantahala sp. nov., but its tip has a much shorter process and a squared section.</p><p>The species is so far known only from its type locality, Cantwell Valley Cave, Hancock Co., Tennessee (see map in Fig. 18).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C38795FFE9FFE1FDE47FBFFE66F940	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Recuero, Ernesto;Caterino, Michael S.	Recuero, Ernesto, Caterino, Michael S. (2025): Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 133-170, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2783, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2783/12721
03C38795FFE9FFDEFD8D7CD2FE96FEDE.text	03C38795FFE9FFDEFD8D7CD2FE96FEDE.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ligidium scottensis Schultz 1970	<div><p>Ligidium scottensis Schultz, 1970</p><p>Ligidium elrodii scottensis Schultz, 1970: 41, figs 20–23.</p><p>Remarks</p><p>In the form of male pleopod 2 endopodite this species resembles  L. gadalutsi sp. nov., but the tip is shorter and blunt, not acuminate. They also differ in the shape of male pleopod 1 endopodite.</p><p>The species is so far known only from its type locality, Coley Cave #2, in Virginia, Scott Co. (see map in Fig. 18).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C38795FFE9FFDEFD8D7CD2FE96FEDE	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Recuero, Ernesto;Caterino, Michael S.	Recuero, Ernesto, Caterino, Michael S. (2025): Is there anybody (new) out there? Seven new species of Ligidium (Isopoda, Oniscidea, Ligiidae) from the Southern Appalachians, eastern North America. European Journal of Taxonomy 976: 133-170, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2783, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2783/12721
