Nannaria alpina, 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 alpina sp. nov. Figs 71 , 72 Vernacular name: "The Alpine Twisted-Claw Millipede"

Material examined.

Holotype: United States - Kentucky • ♂; Pulaski County, Boone National Forest, Alpine Recreation Area ; 36.9156°N, - 84.5182°W; elev. 360 m; 27 Sept. 2017; J. Means, D. Hennen leg.; hand collected; VTEC MPE03150 .

Paratypes: United States - Kentucky • 1 ♂; same data as for holotype; VMNH MPE03199 • 3 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; VTEC MPE03200 , 3201; VMNH, MPE03768 . For detailed collection data see Suppl. material 7.

Diagnosis.

Adult males of Nannaria alpina sp. nov. are distinct from other Nannaria based on the following combination of characters. Gonopods. Acropodite straight, curving at 45° angle at apex, not gently curving throughout or with medial swelling as in Nannaria blackmountainensis sp. nov. Acropodite tip with small, triangular lateral flange (Fig. 71A , red arrow), not with large, hooked lateral flange as in N. blackmountainensis sp. nov. Telopodite basal zone with slight lateral bulge (Fig. 71A , red triangle). Prefemur with laterally curving, acuminate prefemoral process; not straight, acicular prefemoral process as in N. blackmountainensis sp. nov. Gap between prefemoral process and acropodite greater than width of acropodite basal zone, not less than width of acropodite basal zone as in N. blackmountainensis sp. nov. Prefemur lacking prefemoral spine. Color. Tergites with pale orange paranotal spots (Fig. 72 ). White background (most likely due to teneral condition of the specimen). Dorsum of collum smooth with orange margin.

Measurements.

♂ holotype (VTEC, MPE03150): BL = 29.5, CW = 4.2, IW = 2.0, ISW = 0.9, B11W = 4.9, B11H = 3.1; ♀ paratype (VTEC, MPE03200): BL = 30.8, CW = 3.7, IW = 2.3, ISW = 0.9, B11W = 5.0, B11H = 3.5.

Variation.

No known variation.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality, Alpine Recreation Area (Kentucky: Pulaski County; Suppl. material 7; Fig. 126 ). Distribution area: N/A; status: MRE.

Ecology.

Specimens of Nannaria alpina sp. nov. were collected from the side of a hiking path in a mesic broadleaf deciduous forest under ca. 3 cm of soil. Specimens were primarily found within molting chambers from a 1 m2 area.

Etymology.

This species is named for its type locality. The specific name is a feminine adjective derived from the Latin alpinus for alpine.

Type locality.

United States, Kentucky, Pulaski County, Boone National Forest, Alpine Recreation Area, 36.9156°N, - 84.5182°W.

Figures

Figure 71. Nannaria alpina sp. nov. holotype ♂ left gonopod (VTEC, MPE 03150) A anterior view; red arrow indicates triangular lateral flange; red triangle indicates lateral bulge B medial view C posterior view. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 72. Nannaria alpina sp. nov. holotype ♂ (VTEC, MPE 03150) coloration. Scale bar: 4.0 mm.

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