Nannaria tsuga, Means & Hennen & Marek, 2021

Means, Jackson C., Hennen, Derek A. & Marek, Paul E., 2021, A revision of the minor species group in the millipede genus Nannaria Chamberlin, 1918 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Xystodesmidae), ZooKeys 1030, pp. 1-180 : 1

Nannaria tsuga sp. nov. Figs 94 , 95 Vernacular name: "The Hemlock Grove Twisted-Claw Millipede"

Material examined.

Holotype: United States - Tennessee • ♂; Sullivan County, Bristol, Steele Creek Park , along Hemlock Hollow Trail ; 36.5703°N, - 82.2356°W; elev. 506 m; 11 June 2018; hand collected; D. Hennen leg.; VTEC MPE04047 .

Paratypes: United States - Tennessee • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as holotype; VTEC MPE04048 , 4049 • 1 ♂; same collection data as holotype; VMNH MPE04311 • 1 ♀; same collection data as holotype; VTEC MPE04043 • 1 ♀; same collection data as holotype; VMNH MPE04050 . For detailed collection data see Suppl. material 7.

Diagnosis.

Adult males of Nannaria tsuga sp. nov. are distinct from other Nannaria and the nearby N. aenigma , based on the following combination of characters: Gonopods. Gonopodal acropodite gently curving medially before apex, not nearly straight as in N. ambulatrix sp. nov. Distal zone short, directed dorsomedially, with large, lobed lateral flange (Fig. 94A , red arrow), not with triangular lateral flange as in N. ambulatrix sp. nov., or without flange and serpentine as in N. aenigma . Telopodite basal zone height <1/2 length of acropodite, not enlarged, ca. 1/2 length as in N. ambulatrix sp. nov., or reduced, ca. 1/6 length as in N. aenigma . Prefemur with straight, laminate prefemoral process, separated widely from projected, with blunt prefemoral spine (Fig. 94A , red triangle), prefemoral process not arising dorsomedially from small, sharp prefemoral spine as in N. ambulatrix sp. nov. Color. Tergites with orange paranotal spots (Fig. 95 ). Black background. Dorsum of collum smooth with orange caudal margin.

Measurements.

♂ holotype (VTEC, MPE04047): BL = 33.9, CW = 4.3, IW = 2.0, ISW = 1.0, B11W = 5.2, B11H = 3.0; ♀ paratype (VTEC, MPE04043): BL = 31.1, CW = 3.8, IW = 2.6, ISW - 1.1, B11W = 4.9, B11H = 3.8.

Variation.

No known variation.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Tennessee: Sullivan County, Suppl. material 7; Fig. 126 ). Distribution area: N/A; status: MRE.

Ecology.

Individuals of Nannaria tsuga sp. nov. were collected from a mesic mixed hardwood and hemlock forest, composed of, in addition to hemlock, oak, beech, and buckeye. Individuals were found under moist litter on a hillside.

Etymology.

This species is named for the habitat in which it was discovered, a hemlock grove. The specific name is derived from the name Tsuga Carrière, the genus containing hemlock trees, and is a noun in apposition.

Type locality.

United States, Tennessee, Sullivan County, Bristol, Steele Creek Park, along Hemlock Hollow Trail, 36.5703°N, - 82.2356°W.

Figures

Figure 94. Nannaria tsuga sp. nov. holotype ♂ (VTEC, MPE 04047) left gonopod A anterior view; red arrow indicates large, lobed lateral flange; red triangle indicates prefemoral process arising distally from prefemoral spine B medial view C posterior view. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 95. Nannaria tsuga sp. nov. holotype ♂ (VTEC, MPE 04047) coloration. Scale bar: 4.0 mm.

Figure 126. Distribution map of Nannaria minor species group collection localities in the central Appalachians.