Nannaria tasskelsoae, 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 tasskelsoae sp. nov. Figs 50 , 51 Vernacular name: "Tass Kelso’s Twisted-Claw Millipede"

Material examined.

Holotype: United States - West Virginia • ♂; Greenbrier Co., Monongahela National Forest, Summit Lake Campground ; 38.2490°N, - 80.4437°W; elev. 1062 m; 20 July 2005; hand collected; P. Marek, C. Spruill leg.; VTEC SPC000710.

Paratypes: United States - West Virginia • 1 ♂; same collection data as holotype; FMNH SPC000711 • 1 ♀; same collection data as holotype; VTEC SPC000712 • 1 ♀; same collection data as holotype; VMNH SPC000713 • 1 ♂; Pocahontas Co., Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, near Little Levels between cemetery, lookout, and park area; 38.1101°N, - 80.2733°W; elev. 942 m; 1 June 2015; hand collected; C. Hall leg.; VTEC MPE00578 • 1 ♀; same collection data as preceding; VTEC MPE00580 .

Other material.

United States - West Virginia • 4 ♂♂; Greenbrier County, Summit Lake Campground , small swift stream hollow downhill from campsite #20; 38.2498°N, - 80.4455°W; elev. 1056 m; 19 May 2018 ; hand collected; C. Harden, G. Chapman leg.; VTEC MPE04022 , 23, 31, 32 • 5 ♂♂; Greenbrier County, Kate’s Mountain summit, Greenbrier State Forest ; 37.7374°N, - 80.3324°W; 20 Apr. 1971 ; W. Shear leg.; VMNH NAN0042 • 1 ♂; Greenbrier County, Second Ck , 1 mi E, 1.4 mi S Ft. Spring; 37.7162°N, - 80.5388°W; 12 Oct. 2000 ; W. Arnold leg.; VMNH NAN0079 • 1 ♂; Greenbrier County, White Sulfur Springs, Kate’s Mountain summit; 37.7622°N, - 80.3013°W; 20 Apr. 1968 ; W. Shear leg.; VMNH NAN0082 • 1 ♂; Monroe County, Laurel Creek Cave, Greenville ; 37.5440°N, - 80.6818°W; 16 Apr. 1972 ; W. Shear leg.; VMNH NAN0040 • 1 ♂; Nicholas County, Monongahela NF, Woodbine Picnic Area ; 38.2897°N, - 80.5353°W; elev. 646 m; 10 May 2011 ; Ashley Bailey leg.; VTEC SPC001100 • 1 ♀; Nicholas County, Monongahela NF, FR-76 (E side), 5.15 rd km N WV-39/55; 38.2728°N, - 80.5250°W; elev. 806 m; 20 July 2005 ; hand collected; P. Marek, C. Spruill leg.; VTEC SPC000715 • 1 ♂; Pocahontas County, Kennison Mountain Trail, ca. 0.5 mi from trailhead on Hwy 39; 38.1906°N, - 80.2858°W; elev. 1261 m; 19 May 2018 ; hand collected; C. Harden, G. Chapman leg.; VTEC MPE04021 • 1 ♀; Pocahontas County, Watoga State Park, Dragon Draft Trail ; 38.1190°N, - 80.1540°W; elev. 739 m; 18 July 2005 ; hand collected; P. Marek, C. Spruill leg.; VTEC SPC000689 • 2 ♀♀; Pocahontas County, Watoga State Park, Riverside Campground ; 38.1119°N, - 80.1783°W; elev. 636 m; 19 July 2005 ; hand collected; P. Marek, C. Spruill leg.; VTEC SPC000694, 695 • 1 ♂; Pocahontas County, Cranberry Glades Natural Area, Monongahela Nat. Forest ; 38.2000°N, - 80.2716°W; 20 May 1967 ; W. Shear leg.; VMNH NAN0016 • 1 ♂; Pocahontas County, Hills Creek Falls, Monongahela Nat. Forest; oak-hickory-beech-maple transition; 38.1761°N, - 80.3365°W; 20 May 1967 ; W. Shear leg.; VMNH NAN0021 • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as preceding; 8 July 1967 ; W. Shear leg.; VMNH NAN0022 • 1 ♂; same collection data as preceding; 18 May 1968 ; W. Shear leg.; VMNH NAN0023 • 1 ♂; same collection data as preceding; 24 Sep. 1972 ; W. Shear leg.; VMNH NAN0039 • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as preceding; 8 May 1971 ; W. Shear leg.; VMNH NAN0044 • 10 ♂♂; same collection data as preceding; 5 May 1970 ; VMNH NAN0078 • 1 ♂; Pocahontas County, Droop Mtn State Park ; 38.1150°N, - 80.2694°W; 30 Apr. 1967 ; W. Shear leg.; VMNH NAN0024 • 1 ♀; Randolph County, Kumbrabow State Forest, off Kumbrabow Rd. near Mill Creek ; 38.6550°N, - 80.0713°W; elev. 922 m; 1 June 2015 ; hand collected; C. Hall leg.; VTEC MPE00585 • 1 ♀; Randolph County, Gatewood CpGrnd ; 37.7622°N, - 80.3013°W; elev. 1322 m; 20 Apr. 1968 ; W. Shear leg.; VMNH NAN0080 • 1 ♂; Randolph County, between 1-2 miles W of Bear Heaven Picnic Area on road to Bickle’s Knob nr. Alpena ; 38.9367°N, - 79.7029°W; 12 June 1986 ; Highton, Barry leg.; VMNH NAN0152 • 3 ♂♂; Randolph County, along US 33, 2.1 W Alpena ; 38.9101°N, - 79.6900°W; 23 Aug. 1978 ; R. Shelley, C. Withrow leg.; NCSM NAN0486 • 3 ♂♂; Summers County, 9 miles SE of Bellepoint on W. Va. Hy. 12; 37.5385°N, - 80.7897°W; 22 Sep. 1962 ; R. Hoffman leg.; VMNH NAN0149 • 1 ♂; Tucker County, Backbone Mtn. ; 39.1470°N, - 79.5700°W; elev. 1067 m; 30 June 1968 ; W. Muchmore leg.; VMNH NAN0148 • For detailed collection data see Suppl. material 7 .

Diagnosis.

Adult males of Nannaria tasskelsoae sp. nov. are distinct from other Nannaria and the sympatric N. shenandoa , based on the following combination of characters: Gonopods. Gonopodal acropodite gently curving medially before apex, not straight as in N. shenandoa . Distal zone short, bent medially forming 130° angle with acropodite (Fig. 50 ). Telopodite basal zone ca. 1/3 length of acropodite, not <1/3 as in N. fowleri and N. shenandoa . Acropodite tip and distal zone simple, rectangular, blunt, <1/8 length of acropodite, not large, curving with flange as in N. shenandoa . Prefemoral process arising from top of prefemoral spine (Fig. 50A , red arrow), paralleling medial curve of acropodite, not arising from bottom of prefemoral spine as in N. fowleri , or curving laterally as in N. shenandoa . Prefemoral spine large, curving cephalically, not stout, tooth-like as in N. fowleri . Color. Tergites with orange paranotal spots (Fig. 51 ). Black background. Dorsum of collum smooth with orange margin.

Measurements.

♂ holotype (VTEC, SPC000710): BL = 30.5, CW = 3.9, IW = 2.4, ISW = 0.9, B11W = 5.0, B11H = 3.3; ♀ paratype (VTEC, SPC000712): BL = 34.4, CW = 4.3, IW = 2.2, ISW = 1.1, B11W = 5.3, B11H, 4.1.

Variation.

The most notable variation amongst individuals of N. tasskelsoae sp. nov. is found in the southern range of the species’ distribution. One specimen from Greenville, West Virginia (NAN0040) has a sudden lateral curve in the tip of its prefemoral process, forming a cat-claw like bend, while another specimen from near Forest Hill, West Virginia (NAN0149) has a laminate medial flange that is distal to the acropodite apex. Additional variation between populations is minimal, and is primarily found in the degree to which the prefemoral process parallels the acropodite and the size of the prefemoral spine.

Distribution.

Nannaria tasskelsoae sp. nov. has a linear distribution running the length of the eastern edge of West Virginia (West Virginia: Randolph, Nicholas, Greenbrier, Monroe, Pocahontas, Summers, and Tucker counties; Suppl. material 7; Fig. 127 ). Distribution area: 3,623 km2; status: SRE.

Ecology.

Specimens of N. tasskelsoae sp. nov. were collected from mesic hardwood forests composed of beech, black cherry, oak, sugar maple, tuliptree, and yellow birch. Several specimens were found on hillsides, including those from Summit Lake Campground which were active on top of leaf litter at night.

Etymology.

This species is named after Dr. Tass Kelso, systematic botanist. Dr. Kelso was mentor to the discoverer of this species, Charity Hall. The specific name is a genitive noun derived as a matronym.

Type locality.

United States, West Virginia, Greenbrier Co., Monongahela National Forest, Summit Lake Campground; 38.2490°N, - 80.4437°W.

Figures

Figure 50. Nannaria tasskelsoae sp. nov. holotype ♂ (VTEC, SPC 000710) left gonopod A anterior view; red arrow indicates pronounced, curving prefemoral spine B medial view C posterior view. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 51. Nannaria tasskelsoae sp. nov. non-type ♂ (VTEC, MPE 04021) coloration. Scale bar: 4.0 mm.

Figure 127. Distribution map of Nannaria minor species group collection localities in the northern Appalachians.