Cleidogona sparta Snyder & Shear, 2025

Cleidogona sparta Snyder & Shear , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Figs 21–28 View FIGURES 17–22 View FIGURES 23–28

Material Examined. Types: Holotype: 1 male, TENNESSEE: Sevier Co., Twin Creeks ATBI Plot , 35° 41’ 6” N 83° 29’ 56” W, pitfall trap 10, 16–31 Jul 2002 (USNMENT02180528) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: 1 male, 3 females, TENNESSEE: Sevier Co., Twin Creeks ATBI Plot , 35° 41’ 6” N 83° 29’ 56” W, pitfall trap 06, 6–21 June 2001 ( GCIZ 9003 ) GoogleMaps . 1 male, TENNESSEE: Sevier Co., Twin Creeks ATBI Plot , 35° 41’ 6” N 83° 29’ 56” W, pitfall trap 07, 30 Jul–13 Aug 2001 ( VMNH112503 View Materials ) GoogleMaps . 1 male, 1 female, TENNESSEE: Sevier Co., Twin Creeks ATBI Plot , 35° 41’ 6” N 83° 29’ 56” W, pitfall trap 03, 15 Aug–10 Sep 2002 ( GRSM 228788 View Materials ) GoogleMaps .

Non-types: TENNESSEE: Sevier Co., Goshen Prong ATBI Plot , 35° 36’ 38” N 83° 32’ 34” W: pitfall trap 101, 17–30 July 2001, 1 male, 2 females GoogleMaps ; pitfall trap 103, 17 July–5 Aug 2002, 2 males (1 used for SEM); pitfall trap 104, 18 Jun–2 Jul 2001, 1 male, 1 immature; pitfall trap 104, 17 July–5 Aug 2002, 1 male, 1 immature; pitfall trap 106, 13–27 Aug 2001, I. C. Stocks & M. Williams, 1 male; pitfall trap 106, 17 July–5 Aug 2002, 1 male, 1 immature; pitfall trap 108, 2–17 July 2001, 1 male. Twin Creeks ATBI Plot , 35° 41’ 6” N 83° 29’ 56” W: pitfall trap 02, 16–31 July 2002, 2 males GoogleMaps ; pitfall trap 03, 6–16 July 2001, 1 male; pitfall trap 03, 16–31 Jul 2002, 1 male; pitfall trap 03, 26 Aug–10 Sep 2002, 1 male (used for SEM); pitfall trap 05, 15 Aug–10 Sep 2002, 1 male; pitfall trap 06, 6–21 June 2001, 1 female (used for SEM); pitfall trap 07, 5–21 June 2001, 1 male, 1 immature. Porter’s Flat , 9731 #1, hardwood cove forest, 737.6 m, 31 July 1997, Aiken / Coyle / Davis / Stocks, 1 male, 4 females . Off Cherokee Orchard Road, near Twin Creeks Science Center, Baer 4 pitfall, 35° 41’ 14” N 83° 30’ 13” W, 22 Jul 2010, D. Straube et al., 1 male GoogleMaps . Off Cherokee Orchard Road, near Old Sugarlands Trailhead, Old trail 1 pitfall, 35° 40’ 28” N 83° 29’ 29” W, 20 Aug 2010, D. Straube et al., 1 male (used for SEM) GoogleMaps . Near riverview quiet walkway east of Huskey Gap Trailhead , 35° 39’ 49.2” N, 83° 31’17.4” W, post-fire study plot UB2 litter, hand collected, 12 July 2018, C. M. Hawley, G. Chapman, M. A. Callaham Jr., M. K. Taylor, 1 male GoogleMaps . Near riverview quiet walkway east of Huskey Gap Trailhead , 35° 39’ 49.2” N, 83° 31’17.4” W, post-fire study plot BP4 litter, hand collected, 12 July 2018, C. M. Hawley, G. Chapman, M. A. Callaham Jr., M. K. Taylor, 1 male GoogleMaps . Cocke Co., Albright Grove ATBI Plot , 35° 43’ 60” N 83° 16’ 50” W, pitfall trap 89, 6–12 May 2002, 1 male GoogleMaps (used for SEM).

Diagnosis. The gonopods of Cleidogona sparta sp. nov. are similar in overall shape to those of C. major Cook & Collins 1895 , but have several distinctive differences. The colpocoxites differ, with C. sparta sp. nov. having a large, distinct tooth. The anterior angiocoxite branch is shieldlike in C. sparta sp. nov. but not in C. major . In C. sparta sp. nov., the coxal process is smaller and rounded, and the transition from coxal process to the posterior edge of angiocoxite is a smooth curve; in C. major the coxal process is longer and squared off, and is demarcated from the angiocoxite by a sharp angle. The shapes of the posterior angiocoxite branch differ greatly in lateral view, with C. sparta sp. nov. being much broader than C. major . The female postgential plate differs between C. sparta sp. nov. and C. major as well. The shape of the C. sparta sp. nov. posterior angiocoxite branch in lateral view is similar to that of C. atropos Shear 1972 , however the C. atropos angiocoxite branches are greatly different lengths, rather than equal in C. sparta sp. nov. Cleidogona jocassee and C. margarita are also similar and geographically proximate, but C. jocassee lacks a coxal process and C. margarita has a large, quadrate coxal process.

Etymology. The species name refers to the lateral view of the colpocoxite apices, which are reminiscent of the profile of a Spartan/Trojan helmet with forward pointing plume. Noun in apposition.

Description. Length of holotype 24.9 mm, greatest width 2.2 mm at segment 7. Ommatidia 28 in 7 rows. Color faded in preserved specimens, except on the epicranium and frons. Segments cylindrical, with low shoulders. Somatic characters and secondary sexual modifications are typical for the genus (see above; also Shear 1972).

Gonopods ( Figs 21–23 View FIGURES 17–22 View FIGURES 23–28 ): In anterior view ( Fig. 21 View FIGURES 17–22 ), sternum ( s) broad, widest laterally. Coxae ( cx) elongate, triangular. Angiocoxites ( ac) close together, broad, robust, narrowing distally before dividing into two apical branches of equal length. Branches are about 1/4 the length of the angiocoxite. The anterior branch ( ab) arises from the medial half of angiocoxite and has blunt apices, variably squared off or slightly rounded. The posterior branch ( pb) arises laterally and the apices are almost squared off with a medial subapical notch. In anterior view, the anterior branch is wider than, medial to, and does not conceal the posterior branch. In some specimens, the anterior branch slightly covers part of the posterior branch. In posterior view ( Fig. 22 View FIGURES 17–22 ), colpocoxites ( cc) appear lobe-like, somewhat flattened. They diverge laterally, forming a V shape.

In lateral view ( Fig. 23 View FIGURES 23–28 ), coxa ( cx) elongate with a coxal process ( cp) at the apex, ending in a blunt point. The space between the coxal process and the angiocoxite ( ac) is a rounded notch. Anterior edge of angiocoxite ( ac) gently curving posteriad until division. Anterior angiocoxite branch ( ab) is shieldlike, anteriomedial to the posterior branch. Posterior edge of angiocoxite has a small tooth ( t) just distal to notch above the coxal process. Posterior angiocoxite branch ( pb) expands posteriad and narrows into an acuminate point; posterior edge is fringed in this region. Colpocoxite ( cc) linear, rod-like proximally and expanded apically. The posterior edge continues in a semicircle through the distal edge, terminating in an anteriorly directed tooth as distal as the division between angiocoxite branches. The anterior side of the colpocoxite has a flange-like expansion on the distal half, ending at the base of the tooth..

Ninth legs ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 23–28 ) typical for the genus, coxae with pores on wide knob-like projections, sublinear distally. Femora ( f9) longer than coxae, expanded distally. Tenth legs ( Fig. 25 View FIGURES 23–28 ) typical for the genus, sternum with a low medial ridge. Coxae ( cx10) wide proximally at gland ( cg) locations, and abruptly widening at the distal ends.

Females similar to males in all nonsexual aspects. Postgenital plate ( pgp) fused basally but otherwise divided into two projections, each with two branches that curve slightly towards each other, resembling a thumb and forefinger ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Lateral branches, shorter, wider, and textured with small bumps ( Fig. 27 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Vulvae do not have any projections on the posterior edge ( Figs. 26, 28 View FIGURES 23–28 ).

Distribution. Known from the eastern half of the Tennessee (northern) side of GSMNP, from Goshen Prong to Albright Grove ( Fig. 29 View FIGURE 29 ). Habitats include Southern Appalachian cove forests: second-growth, rich montane type (Goshen Prong); second-growth, typic montane type (Twin Creeks); and old-growth, Silverbell type (Albright Grove); elevations range from 617–1051 m ( Parker & Bernard 2006).

Remarks. Although having affinity with C. major , these species are geographically separated by what appears to be a long distance as most Cleidogona species are known to be short-range endemics. The closest published record of C. major is approximately 120 km to the northeast ( Shear 1972).