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Issue: Vol. 5722 No. 3: 20 Nov. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-11-20
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5722.3.8
Page range: 433-442
Abstract views: 34
PDF downloaded: 13

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

Professor Emeritus; Department of Biology; Hampden-Sydney College; Hampden-Sydney VA 23943 USA; current address: 1950 Price Drive; Farmville VA 23901 USA.
Department of Entomology; University of Arizona; Tucson AZ 85719 USA.
Department of Entomology; Virginia Tech; Blacksburg VA 24061 USA.
Myriapoda new species troglobiont Pinal County cave fauna Cave #34 Tonto National Forest

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.

 

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How to Cite

Shear, W.A., Pape, R.B. & Marek, P.E. (2025) 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. Zootaxa, 5722 (3), 433–442. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5722.3.8