Nannaria fritzae, 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 fritzae sp. nov. Figs 55 , 56 Vernacular name: "Kathlyn Fritz’s Twisted-Claw Millipede"

Material examined.

Holotype: United States - Georgia • ♂ Chattooga County, hillside by Lake Marvin Rd.; 34.5628°N, - 85.0681°W; elev. 385 m; 5 Mar. 2017; hand collected; J. Means, K. Means leg.; VTEC MPE02359 .

Paratypes: United States - Georgia • 1 ♂; same collection data as holotype; VTEC MPE02377 • 1 ♂; same collection data as holotype; VMNH MPE02378 .

Diagnosis.

Adult males of Nannaria fritzae sp. nov. are distinct from other Nannaria and the nearby Nannaria sp. nov. ‘Amicolola’ ( Nannaria wilsoni species group) based on the following combination of characters. Gonopods. Gonopodal acropodite gently curving medially throughout, not straight with abrupt medial bend at apex as in Nannaria sp. nov. ‘Amicolola.’ Distal zone short, rounded, not serpentine as in Nannaria sp. nov. ‘Amicolola.’ Acropodite with small, tooth-like medial flange near apex (Fig. 55A , red arrow). Prefemur with long acicular prefemoral process bent at base and directed medially-not curving laterally, crossing acropodite, as in N. minor or not large, laminate as in Nannaria sp. nov. ‘Amicolola.’ Prefemoral spine reduced to thorn-like structure, arising from prefemoral process, directed ventrally (Fig. 55B , red triangle)-not curving cephalically as in N. minor . Telopodite basal zone ca. 1/2 length of acropodite, not <1/2 as in N. minor or> 1/4 as in Nannaria sp. nov. ‘Amicolola.’ Color. Tergites with orange paranotal spots (Fig. 56 ), reduced pigmentation of paranotal spots of terminal segments. Light brown background. Dorsum of collum smooth with orange and white margin.

Measurements.

♂ holotype (VTEC, MPE02359): BL = 28.2, CW = 3.8, IW = 2.3, ISW = 0.8, B11W = 4.6, B11H = 3.0.

Variation.

No known variation.

Distribution.

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

Ecology.

Individuals of N. fritzae sp. nov. were collected on a hillside in a mesic hardwood forest dominated by oak and maple. Specimens were found under leaf litter in a dry creek bed near the base of an oak tree.

Etymology.

This species is named for its co-collector, Kathlyn Fritz Means. The name is a genitive noun derived as a matronym.

Type locality.

United States, Georgia, Chattooga County, hillside by Lake Marvin Rd.; 34.5628°N, - 85.0681°W.

Figures

Figure 55. Nannaria fritzae sp. nov. ♂ holotype (VTEC, MPE 02359) left gonopod A anterior view; red arrow indicates tooth-like medial flange B medial view; red triangle indicates small, thorn-like prefemoral spine C posterior view. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 56. Nannaria fritzae sp. nov. ♂ holotype (VTEC, MPE 02359) coloration. Scale bar: 4.0 mm.

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