Work

Cave millipedes of the United States. XVII. A new troglobiotic Nevadesmus Shear, 2009 from an Arizona cave (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Macrosternodesmidae) with observations on associated fauna and ecology

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: A third species of the macrosternodesmid millipede genus Nevadesmus Shear, 2009 is described from a cave in Tonto National Forest, Pinal Co., southern Arizona, USA. This new species, Nevadesmus superstitiona Shear, Pape & Marek, sp. nov. occurs significantly distant from the localities of the two other species, which occur in Nevada. The epigean and hypogean settings of the cave site and remarks on its natural history are provided. Thirty-two animal taxa are present in the cave, including the new millipede. Four other endemic troglobiotic species are present: a scorpion (Pseudouroctonus sp.: Vaejovidae), a terrestrial isopod (Brackenridgia sp.: Trichoniscidae), a silverfish (Speleonycta sp.: Nicoletiidae) and a thread-legged bug (Gardena cf. elkinsi: Reduviidae). A resident population of the tailless whip scorpion (Paraphrynus tokdod: Amblypygi: Phrynidae) is the first record of this family in an Arizona Cave. Tonto National Forest Cave #34 is the second most species diverse cave currently known in Arizona.

Source: Zootaxa

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5722.3.8

Authors: WILLIAM A. SHEAR, ROBERT B. PAPE, PAUL E. MAREK

Institutions: Hampden–Sydney College, University of Arizona, Virginia Tech

Language: English

Topic: Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy

Subfield: Paleontology

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Science Foundation, Division of Environmental Biology

Award: ARTS: Systematics of cyanogenic millipedes in the order Polydesmida