Nannaria scholastica, 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

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1030.62544

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/279E35D1-ED5E-5137-998F-7E2362A21180

treatment provided by

ZooKeys by Pensoft

scientific name

Nannaria scholastica
status

sp. nov.

Nannaria scholastica View in CoL sp. nov. Figs 9 View Figure 9 , 10 Vernacular name: "The Scholarly Twisted-Claw Millipede" View Figure 10

Material examined.

Holotype: United States - Virginia • ♂; Rockbridge County, Lexington, Washington and Lee University campus, hillside beside community gardens; 37.7956°N, - 79.4427°W; elev. 330 m; 14 Nov. 2017; hand collected; J. Means, D. Hennen leg.; VTEC MPE03485 View Materials . GoogleMaps

Paratypes: United States - Virginia • 4 ♂♂; same collection data as holotype; VTEC MPE03486 View Materials GoogleMaps , 3498, 3500, 3517 • 3 ♂♂; same collection data as holotype; VMNH MPE03516 View Materials GoogleMaps , 3518, 3625 • 1 ♀; same colletion data as holotype; VTEC MPE03499 View Materials GoogleMaps 1 ♂; Rockbridge County, W & L campus Lexington ; 37.7956°N, - 79.4427°W; 20 Nov. 1948; R. Hoffman leg.; VMNH NAN0306. For detailed collection data see Suppl. material 7 GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Adult males of Nannaria scholastica sp. nov. are distinct from other Nannaria and the nearby N. shenandoa , based on the following combination of characters: Gonopods. Gonopodal acropodite gently curving ventromedially before apex, not straight as in N. terricola . Distal zone twisted dorsolaterally (Fig. 9 View Figure 9 ). Tip directed dorsolaterally, flattened, with enlarged acuminate flange on inner margin (Fig. 9B View Figure 9 , red arrow), not with folds, grooves, flanges as N. shenandoa . Telopodite lacking swollen basal zone of N. terricola and heavily reduced basal zone of N. shenandoa . Prefemur with curved, saber-like prefemoral process, not straight as in N. terricola . Prefemoral process (when viewed medially) not crossing the acropodite as in N. shenandoa . Prefemoral process slightly constricted at base (Fig. 9C View Figure 9 , red triangle), one-half length of acropodite. Prefemur lacking prefemoral spine. Color. Tergites with white paranotal spots (Fig. 10 View Figure 10 ). Dark brown background. Dorsum of collum smooth with white margin.

Measurements.

♂ holotype (VTEC, MPE03485): BL = 32.5, CW = 4.2, IW = 2.1, ISW = 0.9, B11W = 5.4, B11H = 3.2; ♀ paratype (VTEC, MPE03499): BL = 34.2, CW = 3.9, IW = 2.5, ISW = 1.0, B11W = 5.4, B11H = 3.8.

Variation.

No known variation.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Virginia: Rockbridge County, Suppl. material 7; Figs 114 View Figure 114 , 126 View Figure 126 ). Distribution area: N/A; status: MRE.

Ecology.

Individuals of N. scholastica sp. nov. were collected from a mesic mixed pine-deciduous forest composed of maple, tuliptree, black cherry, beech, and white pine. They were found under leaf litter on top of the soil. Nannaria scholastica sp. nov. was found along with an undescribed species of Nannaria in the Nannaria wilsoni species group; however, the two species had ostensibly stratified themselves in two longitudinal strips, with the Nannaria wilsoni species at the top of the hill, and N. scholastica sp. nov. ca. 10 m lower down on the slope. Similar specific elevational spacing has been observed in N. serpens sp. nov. and N. stellaradix sp. nov.; however, in this case the Nannaria minor group N. serpens sp. nov. and N. stellaradix sp. nov. were found from the higher elevation areas of the hill, while the undescribed Nannaria wilsoni group species were found at the bottom of the hill.

Etymology.

This species is named for its discovery on the campus of an academic institution, Washington and Lee University. The specific name Nannaria scholastica is Latin for academic, and is a feminized adjective.

Type locality.

United States, Virginia, Rockbridge County, Lexington, Washington and Lee University campus hillside beside community gardens, 37.7956°N, - 79.4427°W.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Diplopoda

Order

Polydesmida

Family

Xystodesmidae

Genus

Nannaria