Nannaria fracta, 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 fracta sp. nov. Figs 80 , 81 Vernacular name: "The Breaks Interstate Park Twisted-Claw Millipede"

Material examined.

Holotype: United States - Virginia • ♂; Dickenson County, Haysi, Breaks Interstate Park , Laurel Branch Trail at intersection with Cold Spring Trail ; 37.2897°N, - 82.2999°W; elev. 565 m; 28 Sep. 2017; hand collected; J. Means, D. Hennen leg.; VTEC MPE031781.

Paratypes: United States - Virginia • ♂; same collection data as holotype; VTEC, MPE03179 • 1 ♂; same collection data as holotype; VMNH MPE03756 • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as holotype; VTEC MPE03183 , 84; 1 ♂; Dickenson County, Breaks Interstate Park , in camping area; 37.2936°N, - 82.3005°W; 16 Apr. 1983; D. Ogle leg.; VMNH NAN0156 • SCAU - Kentucky • 2 ♀♀; Pike County, Pikeville, Bob Amos Park , 424 Bob Amos Dr. WW Gearheart Hiking Trail ; 37.4690°N, - 82.5462°W; elev. 359 m; 28 Sep. 2017; hand collected; J. Means, D. Hennen leg.; VTEC MPE03185 , 86.

Other material.

United States - Virginia • 1 ♂; Dickenson County, Breaks Interstate Park ; 37.2936°N, - 82.3005°W; 7 Sep. 1967 ; Neff, R. Hoffman leg.; VMNH NAN0154 • 1 ♂; Russell County, 1 mile NW of Lynn Spring ; 37.1153°N, - 81.9411°W; 20 Apr. 1962 ; R. Hoffman leg.; VMNH NAN0155 • 1 ♂; Washington County, Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area, deciduous forest above Big Tumbling Creek ; 36.9931°N, - 81.7368°W; 21 Sep. 2011 ; S. Roble leg.; VMNH NAN0157. For detailed collection data see Suppl. material 7 .

Diagnosis.

Adult males of Nannaria fracta sp. nov. are distinct from other Nannaria and the nearby N. aenigma , based on the following combination of characters: Gonopods. Gonopodal acropodite acicular, slightly curving medially before tip, not bending abruptly medially at 90° at tip as in N. bobmareki sp. nov. or gently curving medially as in N. aenigma . Distal zone short, rounded-not quadrate as in N. bobmareki sp. nov., or long and serpentine as in N. aenigma . Acropodite with small, shelf-like medial flange just before tip (Fig. 80C , red arrow). Prefemur with long, acicular prefemoral process with a pronounced, sharp prefemoral spine (Fig. 80C , red triangle), not fused with prefemoral process as in N. bobmareki sp. nov. or lacking as in N. aenigma . Telopodite basal zone> ½ length of acropodite, not ca. 1/2 length of acropodite as in N. bobmareki sp. nov. or ca. 1/6 length of acropodite as in N. aenigma . Telopodite basal zone basal zone with pronounced medial swelling (Fig. 80A , red circle), not with slight medial swelling as in N. bobmareki sp. nov., or lacking as in N. aenigma . Color: Tergites with red paranotal spots (Fig. 81 ). Dark brown background. Dorsum of collum smooth with red margin.

Measurements.

♂ holotype (VTEC, MPE03178): BL = 28.9, CW = 3.7, IW = 1.8, ISW = 0.85, B11W = 4.4, B11H = 2.5; ♀ paratype (VTEC, MPE03185): BL = 35.0, CW = 4.5, IW = 2.7, ISW = 1.2, B11W = 5.6, B11H = 4.2.

Variation.

No known variation.

Distribution.

Nannaria fracta sp. nov. has a linear distribution extending from eastern Kentucky into western Virginia (Kentucky: Pike County; Virginia: Dickenson, Russell, and Tazewell counties; Suppl. material 7, Fig. 126 ). Distribution area: 98 km2; status: MRE.

Ecology.

Individuals of N. fracta sp. nov. have been collected from mesic hardwood forests composed of beech, maple, tuliptree, hemlock, and rhododendron. Specimens taken from Bob Amos Park in Kentucky were found under 1-2 cm of hardpacked, dark soil on the side of a hiking path, while specimens collected from Breaks Interstate Park in Virginia were found in a very moist rhododendron cove along the bank of Laurel Branch Creek, under 1-2 cm of sandy, dark soil.

Etymology.

This species is named for Breaks Interstate Park, where it was originally collected by R. L. Hoffman in 1962. The specific name is an adjective derived from the Latin fractura, meaning break or fracture.

Type locality.

United States, Virginia, Dickenson County, Haysi, Breaks Interstate Park, Laurel Branch Trail at intersection with Cold Spring Trail, 37.2897°N, - 82.2999°W.

Figures

Figure 80. Nannaria fracta sp. nov. paratype ♂ (VMNH, NAN 0156) left gonopod A anterior view; red circle indicates pronounced basal swelling B medial view C posterior view; red arrow indicates shelf-like medial flange; red triangle indicates sharp, pronounced prefemoral spine. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 81. Nannaria fracta sp. nov. paratype ♂ (VTEC, MPE 03185) coloration. Scale bar: 4.0 mm.

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