Nannaria ignis, 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 ignis sp. nov. Figs 61 , 62 Vernacular name: "The Dragon-Headed Twisted-Claw Millipede"

Material examined.

Holotype: United States - Virginia • ♂; Bland County, base of Big Walker Mountain off powerline access road; 37.0383°N, - 81.1090°W; elev. 828 m; 28 Mar. 2016; hand collected; J. Means, P. Marek, A. Prewitt leg.; VTEC MPE01063 •

Paratype: United States - Virginia • 1 ♀; same collection data as holotype; VMNH MPE01064 .

Other material.

United States - Virginia • 1 ♀; Bland County, 0.5 mi. down road on south side of Little Walker Mtn. near powerline; 37.0273°N, - 81.0933°W; elev. 871 m; 6 Jan. 2016; hand collected; J. Means, D. Hennen, R. Jean, P. Marek leg.; VTEC MPE00917 • 2 ♂♂; Bland County, uphill of road, under mixed pine and hardwood ca. 0.3 m from power line on north side of LWM; 37.0302°N, - 81.0977°W; elev. 879 m; 8 Jan. 2016; hand collected; J. Means, D. Hennen, P. Marek, R. Jean leg.; VTEC MPE00921 , 922 • 1 ♂; Bland County; 37.0324°N, - 81.0947°W; elev. 827 m; 21 Nov. 2016; hand collected; J. Means, P. Marek, A. Prewitt leg.; VTEC MPE01037 • 2 ♂♂; Bland County, next to rock face, outcrop going down from access road; 37.0478°N, - 81.1155°W; elev. 1184 m; 17 May 2016; hand collected; D. Hennen, P. Shorter, D. Krall, A. Prewitt leg.; VTEC MPE01198 , 1202 • 1 ♂; Bland County, Big Walker Mtn. , 2 mi E of Sharon Spgs.; 37.0585°N, - 81.0988°W; 28 July 1962; R. Hoffman leg.; VMNH NAN0010 • 2 ♂♂; Wythe County; 37.0257°N, - 81.0901°W; elev. 838 m; Jan. 2016; hand collected; J. Means, D. Hennen, R. Jean, P. Marek leg.; VTEC MPE00912 , 918 • 1 ♂; Wythe County; 37.0315°N, - 81.0950°W; elev. 841 m; 21 Mar. 2016; hand collected; J. Means, P. Marek, A. Prewitt leg.; VTEC MPE01036 . For detailed collection data see Suppl. material 7 .

Diagnosis.

Adult males of Nannaria ignis sp. nov. are distinct from other Nannaria and the sympatric N. aenigma based on the following combination of characters: Gonopods. Gonopodal acropodite gently curving medially before apex, not strongly curved as in N. ohionis Loomis & Hoffman, 1948. Distal zone curving dorsomedially (Fig. 61B , red arrow), not medially as in N. ohionis or N. aenigma . Tip with small, rounded lateral flange (Fig. 61A , red triangle),not simple as in N. ohionis , or serpentine as in N. aenigma . Telopodite basal zone reduced, ca. 1/4 length of acropodite, not> 1/3 length as in N. ohionis , or ca. 1/6 length as in N. aenigma . Prefemur with serpentine prefemoral process, bending ventrally before curving cephalolaterally (Fig. 61B ), not straight, acicular as in N. ohionis or N. aenigma . Prefemoral process ca. 3/4 length of acropodite, not ca. 1/2 length as in N. aenigma . Prefemoral process arising dorsomedially from large, sharp prefemoral spine, not arising from top of prefemoral spine as in N. ohionis . Color. Tergites with white (Fig. 62A ) or orange (Fig. 62B ) paranotal spots. Dark brown background. Dorsum of collum smooth with either white or orange margin, depending on color morph.

Measurements.

♂ holotype (VTEC, MPE01063): BL = 25.3, CW = 3.2, IW = 2.3, ISW = 0.8, B11W = 3.9, B11H = 2.5; ♀ paratype (VMNH, MPE01064): BL = 27.6, CW = 3.6, IW = 1.9, ISW = 0.9, B11W = 4.6, B11H = 3.2.

Variation.

Individuals of N. ignis sp. nov. from the ridge of Big Walker Mountain have slightly wider, more laminate prefemoral processes, and a more pronounced lateral flange at the tip of the acropodite.

Distribution.

Known only from a small area on the border of Bland and Wythe counties in southwestern Virginia, and on both Big and Little Walker Mountains (Virginia: Bland and Wythe counties; Suppl. material 7; Fig. 126 ). Distribution area: 3.5 km2; status: MRE.

Ecology.

Individuals of N. ignis sp. nov. were collected from mesic broadleaved forests composed of oak, maple, laurel, and some pine.

Etymology.

This species is named for the shape of its acropodite in the medial view, which resembles a dragon’s head and neck. The specific name is a noun in apposition derived from the Latin ignis meaning fire.

Type locality.

United States, Virginia, Bland County, base of Big Walker Mountain off powerline access road, 37.0383°N, - 81.1090°W.

Figures

Figure 61. Nannaria ignis sp. nov. holotype ♂ (VTEC, MPE 01063) left gonopod A anterior view; red triangle indicates small lateral flange B medial view; red arrow indicates dorsomedially curving acropodite tip C posterior view. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 62. Nannaria ignis sp. nov. coloration A non-type ♂ (VTEC, MPE 01198) white paranota B non-type ♂ (VTEC, MPE 01202) orange paranota. Scale bars: 4.0 mm.

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