Nannaria castra, 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 castra sp. nov. Figs 20 , 21 Vernacular name: "The Camp Creek Twisted-Claw Millipede"

Material examined.

Holotype: United States - West Virginia • ♂; Mercer County, Camp Creek State Park ; 37.5147°N, - 81.1297°W; elev. 616 m; 12 Nov. 2017; hand collected; J. Means leg.; VTEC MPE03470 .

Paratypes: United States - West Virginia • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as holotype; VTEC MPE03476 , 3482 • 3 ♂♂; same collection data as holotype; VTEC MPE03475 , 3477, 3478 • 3 ♂♂; same collection data as holotype; VMNH MPE03480 , 81, 83 • 1 ♀; same collection data as holotype; VMNH MPE03479 .

Other material.

United States - West Virginia • 2 ♀♀; Mercer County, Camp Creek State Park, Farley Branch ; 37.5082°N, - 81.1370°W; elev. 657 m; 21 July 2005; hand collected; P. Marek, C. Spruill leg.; VTEC SPC000749, 750 • 1 ♂; Mercer County, Camp Creek State Park, Nash Fork Hollow ; 37.5233°N, - 81.1311°W; 36 Mar. 1968; W. Shear leg.; VMNH NAN0014. For detailed collection data see Suppl. material 7 .

Diagnosis.

Adult males of Nannaria castra sp. nov. are distinct from other Nannaria and the nearby N. aenigma Means, Hennen & Marek in Means et al. 2021, based on the following combination of characters: Gonopods. Gonopodal acropodite relatively straight before curving medially at half-way point, not continually curving as in N. paupertas sp. nov. Distal zone curving dorsally, with tip directed caudally (Fig. 20B )-not curving ventromedially with tip directed dorsomedially as in N. paupertas sp. nov., or tip directed medially as in N. aenigma . Acropodite tip with lateral flange (Fig. 20A , red arrow). Acropodite with slight twist and swelling at midpoint (Fig. 20C , red triangle), lacking medial flange of N. paupertas sp. nov., or lateral flange of N. aenigma . Telopodite basal zone thin, with slight lateral bulge, height subequal to 1/2 length of acropodite, not wide as in N. paupertas sp. nov., or> 1/6 length as in N. aenigma . Prefemur with dorsomedially curving prefemoral process (Fig. 20B ), not ventromedially curving as in N. paupertas sp. nov., or straight as in N. aenigma . Prefemoral spine absent, not prominent, acicular as in N. paupertas sp. nov. Color. Tergites with orange paranotal spots (Fig. 21 ). Black background. Dorsum of collum smooth with orange margin.

Measurements.

♂ holotype (VTEC, MPE03470): BL = 28.5, CW = 3.6, IW = 1.8, ISW = 0.7, B11W = 4.2, B11H = 2.5. ♀ paratype (VTEC, MPE03476): BL = 27.8, CW = 3.6, IW = 2.0, ISW = 0.9, B11W = 4.5, B11H = 3.2.

Variation.

No known variation.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality, Camp Creek State Park (West Virginia: Mercer County; Suppl. material 7; Fig. 126 ). Distribution area:> 1 km2; status: MRE.

Ecology.

Individuals of N. castra sp. nov. were found in a mesic hardwood and rhododendron forest on top of hardpacked soil surrounding the entrance parking lot to Camp Creek State Park, and along the road leading towards the park campground. The majority of individuals were walking on top of the soil beneath leaf litter.

Etymology.

This species is named for its type locality. The specific name a noun in apposition from the Latin castra for ‘camp.’

Type locality.

United States, West Virginia, Mercer County, Camp Creek State Park, 37.5147°N, - 81.1297°W.

Figures

Figure 20. Nannaria castra sp. nov. holotype ♂ (VTEC, MPE 03470) left gonopod A anterior view; red arrow indicates lateral flange B medial view C posterior view; red triangle indicates acropodite midpoint twist and swelling. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 21. Nannaria castra sp. nov. holotype ♂ (VTEC, MPE 03470) coloration. Scale bar: 4.0 mm.

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