Cleidogona chilhoweensis Snyder & Shear, 2025

Cleidogona chilhoweensis Snyder & Shear , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Figs 1–8 View FIGURES 1–10

Material Examined. Types: Holotype: 1 male, TENNESSEE: Blount Co., along US Highway 129 adjacent to Lake Chilhowee , Plot C +15, 35° 33.0’ N 83° 59.5’ W, 269–291 m elevation, hand collection, 14 Oct 2006, B. A. Snyder et al. (USNMENT02180525) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: 1 male and 1 female, TENNESSEE: Blount Co., along US Highway 129 adjacent to Lake Chilhowee , site 3, near 35° 33’ 20” N 83° 59’ 51” W, hand collection, 27 Oct 2004, B. A. Snyder ( GCIZ 9000 ) GoogleMaps ; 1 male, same collection ( GRSM 228785 View Materials ) .

Non-types: TENNESSEE: Blount Co., along US Highway 129 adjacent to Lake Chilhowee , site 1, 5m from roadside, hand collection, 27 Oct 2004, B. A. Snyder, 1 male. Blount Co. , along US Highway 129 adjacent to Lake Chilhowee , hand collection, 13 Apr 2007, B. A. Snyder, 1 female. Both specimens used for SEM .

Diagnosis. Distinct from other Cleidogona in the details of the gonopods. Cleidogona chilhoweensis sp. nov. is most similar to and co-occurs with C. nantahala ; both lack a coxal process. The colpocoxite of C. nantahala has a small mid-length flange and lacks a large basal flange and distal thumb-like projections.

Etymology. The species name refers to the type locality, the westernmost area of GSMNP adjacent to Lake Chilhowee, an impoundment of the Little Tennessee River formed in the 1950s. The area was previously the Cherokee settlement of Chilhowee. Adjective.

Description. Length of holotype 14.5 mm, greatest width 1.6 mm at segment 7. Ommatidia 26 (left side) or 27 (right side) in 7 rows. Color faded in preserved specimens, but typical of the genus in life. Segments cylindrical. Somatic characters and secondary sexual modifications typical for the genus (see above; also Shear 1972).

Gonopods ( Figs 1–3 View FIGURES 1–10 ): In anterior view ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1–10 ), sternum ( s) narrow and bandlike medially, expanded below coxae. Coxae ( cx) elongate but mostly obscured by angiocoxites ( ac) ( Figs 1–3 View FIGURES 1–10 ). Angiocoxites robust, smooth, expanded distally into shield-like anterior branches ( ab) with sinuous distal margins. Posterior branches ( pb) extending above concave sections of these margins. Angiocoxites narrowing basally, extending down to sternum. Laterally flattened flanges of colpocoxites ( cc) visible between angiocoxites.

In lateral view ( Fig. 3 View FIGURES 1–10 ), coxa ( cx) elongate, subtriangular, lacking a coxal process, with a small tooth on the posterior edge towards the base. Angiocoxite ( ac) upright, with a gentle curve anterior to the coxa but continuing straight distally.Angiocoxite apically divided, the anterior branch ( ab) shield-like, wrapping laterally to obscure the view of the division. The posterior (inner) branch ( pb) begins as a flange and is only separated distally (this is best seen in posterior view, Fig. 2 View FIGURES 1–10 ). The apex is blade-shaped with a slightly curved tip.

Proximally, the colpocoxite ( cc) makes a sharp 90° bend dorsad and then curves back ventrad almost 90°. Proximal bend with a large flange extending anteriad and ventrad, and a corner pointed towards the angiocoxite. Distal tip of the colpocoxite bluntly rounded with a thumb-like process on the lateral side which also points towards the angiocoxite.

Ninth legs ( Fig. 4 View FIGURES 1–10 ) typical for the genus, coxae and prefemora fused, with constriction at one third the length from the base. Femora ( f9) triangular, subequal in length to the coxae. Tenth legs ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 1–10 ) typical for the genus, sternum ( s10) expanded into a tooth at the base of each leg and a very low medial ridge, coxae ( cx10) elongate, slightly curved, with prominent gland at base ( cg).

Females similar to males in all nonsexual aspects. Postgenital plate ( pgp), ( Fig. 6 View FIGURES 1–10 ) not divided, upright, distally expanded laterad with a small medial apical notch. Vulvae ( Figs 7, 8 View FIGURES 1–10 ) with an inner valve ( iv), outer valve ( ov) and receptacle ( r). Outer valves with paired projections on the posterior edge, medial projections ( mp) longer than lateral projections ( lp) (right medial projection broken in Figs 7, 8 View FIGURES 1–10 ).

Distribution. Only known from the type locality ( Fig. 29 View FIGURE 29 ; full site description in Snyder et al. 2011).

Remarks. The type locality, on the western edge of GSMNP, is the warmest and driest location in the park.