Anillinus cf. nantahala Dajoz, 2005

Harden, Curt W. & Caterino, Michael S., 2024, Systematics and biogeography of Appalachian Anillini, and a taxonomic review of the species of South Carolina (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae, Anillini), ZooKeys 1209, pp. 69-197 : 69-197

Anillinus cf. nantahala Dajoz, 2005

Figs 21 O , 37 A, B , 38

Anillinus nantahala Dajoz: 2005: 210.

Notes on type material.

Dajoz (2005) designated a holotype and an unspecified number of paratypes, all deposited in his personal collection. Upon Dajoz’s death in 2019, his collection was deposited in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris ( Kippenhan 2023). On 11 December 2023, CWH submitted a request for a digital loan of the holotype of A. nantahala (request # 181113), but as of March 2024 this has not been processed. We have not studied the type material of this species, and our interpretation of the name is explained in the notes section below.

Material examined

(n = 148). USA • Georgia • 1 ♂; Habersham Co.; Big Panther Creek Trail ; 34.68, - 83.40; 12 Sep. 1999; W. Reeves leg.; CWHc; • 3 ♂, 1 ♀; Towns Co.; Chattahoochee National Forest, Little Bald Mountain, north of Brasstown Bald ; 34.8829, - 83.8094; 2 Jul. 2020; M. Caterino leg.; CWH- 186, CWH- 188, CWH- 194, CWH- 195, CUAC 000182284 to CUAC 000182287 ; CUAC; • North Carolina • 3 ♂, 2 unsexed; Cherokee Co.; Hickory Branch trail ; 35.2165, - 83.7047; 26 Jul. 2015; S. Myers leg.; SSM 59 , SSM 62 to SSM 66 , CUAC 000182289 , CUAC 000182290 , CUAC 000185551 , CUAC 000182293 , CUAC 000182294 ; CUAC; • 32 ♂, 16 ♀; Clay Co.; Nantahala National Forest, Tusquitee Bald ; 35.1425, - 83.7260; 6 Jul. 2021; • 1 ♂; Clay Co.; Nantahala National Forest, Shooting Creek Bald trail ; 35.0674, - 83.6452; 11 May 2020; C. W. Harden and M. S. Caterino leg.; CWH- 179, CUAC 000182280 ; • 1 ♀; Clay Co.; Nantahala National Forest, Riley Knob , off Highway 64 ca. 8 km northeast of Shooting Creek; 35.0678, - 83.6193; 11 May 2020; C. W. Harden and M. S. Caterino leg.; CWH- 181, CUAC 000182279 ; • 1 ♂; Graham Co.; Nantahala National Forest, Huckleberry Knob ; 35.3216, - 83.9929; 4 May 2020; M. Caterino and F. Etzler leg.; CWH- 283, CUAC 000182281 ; • 1 ♂; Graham Co.; Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest ; 35.3467, - 83.9688; 20 Jul. 2015; S. Myers leg.; SSM 22 , CUAC 00182288 ; • 1 ♀; Graham Co.; Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest ; 35.3448, - 83.9649; 24 Jun. 2015; S. Myers and M. Caterino leg.; SSM 37 , CUAC 000182292 ; • 2 unsexed; Graham Co.; Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest ; 35.3426, - 83.9660; 24 Jun. 2015; S. Myers and M. Caterino; SSM 38 and SSM 61 , CUAC 000185877 and CUAC 000182291 ; • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Graham Co.; Nantahala National Forest, Teyahalee Bald ; 35.2559, - 83.8043; 12 Apr. 2022; • 1 ♂, 2 ♀; Graham Co.; Nantahala National Forest, Teyahalee Bald ; 35.2585, - 83.7959; 19 Jul. 2019; • 5 ♂, 3 ♀; Graham Co.; Nantahala National Forest, Teyahalee Bald ; 35.2598, - 83.7970; 12 Apr. 2022; • 1 ♂; Graham Co.; Nantahala National Forest, Cherohala Skyway , Stratton Ridge ; 35.3382, - 84.0249; 4 May 2020; C. W. Harden leg.; • 1 ♀; Macon Co.; Nantahala National Forest, off Wayah Road ca. 10 km east of Rte 64; 35.1554, - 83.5581; 20 Oct. 2019; C. W. Harden leg.; CWH- 054, CUAC 000182274 ; • 3 ♂, 2 ♀; Macon Co.; Nantahala National Forest, Wayah Bald Road ; 35.1700, - 83.5811; 18 Apr. 2020; C. W. Harden leg.; CWH- 139 to CWH- 142, CWH- 167, CUAC 000182275 to CUAC 000182278 , CUAC 000185892 ; • 4 ♂; same data as previous; • 1 ♂; Macon Co.; Eight miles west of Franklin ; 35.1550, - 83.5220; 19 Mar. 1976; Q. D. Wheeler leg.; OSUC 441957 ; OSUC; • 5 ♂, 9 ♀; Macon Co.; Wayah Bald ; 35.1790, - 83.5620; 29 Jun. 2013; T. Lawton leg.; TLc; • South Carolina • 1 ♂; Oconee Co.; Sumter N. F., near Chattooga River ; 34.9170, - 83.1166; 5 Sep. 2015; M. and K. Caterino leg.; CWH- 494, CUAC 000110284 ; • Tennessee • 1 ♂; Polk Co.; Cherokee National Forest, Miller Cove ; 35.1766, - 84.3241; 28 May 2020; C. W. Harden leg.; CWH- 349, CUAC 000182282 ; • 1 ♀; Polk Co.; Cherokee National Forest, Miller Cove ; 35.1758, - 84.3246; 28 May 2020; C. W. Harden leg.; CWH- 350, CUAC 000182283 ; • 8 ♂, 5 ♀; Polk Co.; Cherokee National Forest, John Muir trail , Highway 68 ca. 3 km north of Farner; 35.1771, - 84.3298; 23 May 2021; C. W. Harden and K. Ivanov leg.; • 12 ♂, 16 ♀; Polk Co.; Cherokee National Forest, John Muir trail , Highway 68 ca. 3 km north of Farner; 35.1771, - 84.3298; 7 Nov. 2022; C. W. Harden leg.

GenBank: GU 556025 , GU 556075 , MK 112078 , MK 118201 , OR 830242, OR 837795, OR 837826, OR 837827, OR 837844, OR 837846, OR 837849, OR 837956, OR 837980, OR 837981, OR 837991, OR 837993, OR 837995, OR 838110, OR 838120, OR 838146, OR 838167, OR 838168, OR 838177, OR 838179, OR 838181, OR 838183, OR 838292, OR 838293, OR 839324 – OR 839327, OR 839407, OR 839483 – OR 839486, OR 839506, OR 839508, OR 839510, OR 839514, OR 839516, OR 839522, OR 839523, OR 839604, OR 839637, OR 839748, OR 839812, OR 839813, OR 853329 – OR 853338.

Literature records.

This species has previously been reported only from the type locality, Wayah Bald, Macon Co., North Carolina ( Dajoz 2005).

Diagnosis.

Externally typical of the langdoni group (Fig. 37 A ), with fully developed dorsal microsculpture on the head and pronotum and a moderately convex habitus. The male genitalia (Fig. 37 B ) are most similar to A. pusillus , with the ventral margin narrow and the flagellum short, but unlike A. pusillus , the flagellum in A. nantahala is sinuate at its apex. Spermatheca with short basal bend, gradually enlarged apically (Fig. 21 O ). Spermathecal duct long and not coiled. The single individual of this species known from South Carolina has an ABL of 1.73 mm.

Distribution.

Relatively widespread in the southern Appalachians from the flank of the Unicoi Mountains in Tennessee to South Carolina, where it is known only from Oconee Co. near the Chattooga River (Fig. 38 ).

Sympatry.

Other species of anillines known from the Chattooga River gorge include Serranillus dunavani , A. cherokee , A. merritti , and A. murrayae .

Natural history.

The single South Carolina specimen was collected in a sample of sifted litter, as were most of the other specimens examined.

Notes.

The description and illustrations of A. nantahala are terse, and it is impossible to confidently determine the identity of the species that the name refers to. Four species of Anillinus have been collected at the type locality (Wayah Bald, Macon Co., NC), and so the name could apply to any of these. However, the description did specify that members of A. nantahala have the dorsal microsculpture on the forebody fully developed, and the species we have chosen to apply the name to is the most abundant and readily collected species at Wayah Bald, and therefore most likely to be encountered by a traveling collector with limited time (as Dajoz was).

Anillinus sp. “ Georgia, Brasstown Bald sp. 1 ”

Fig. 37 C

Material examined (n = 5). USA • Georgia • 2 ♂; Towns Co.; Chattahoochee National Forest , Little Bald Mountain north of Brasstown Bald; 34.8829, - 83.8094; 2 Jul. 2020; M. S. Caterino leg.; CWH- 192 and CWH- 193, CUAC 000182295 and CUAC 0001822296 ; • 2 ♂; Towns Co.; Chattahoochee National Forest , Brasstown Bald; 34.8766, - 83.8109; 2 Jul. 2020; M. S. Caterino leg.; CWH- 196 and CWH- 197; CUAC 000182297 and CUAC 000182298 ; • South Carolina • 1 ♂; Pickens Co.; Sassafras Mtn ; 21 July 1967; S. Peck and A. Fiske leg.; B- 1377 A; CMNH.

GenBank: OR 837853 – OR 837855, OR 837999, OR 838000, OR 838186 – OR 838188, OR 839277, OR 839520, OR 839521, OR 839524, OR 839525, OR 853248, OR 853249.

Diagnosis. The only specimen of this species seen from South Carolina is slide mounted and distorted beneath a cover slip. The genitalia are identical to specimens from the vicinity of Brasstown Bald in northern Georgia (Fig. 37 C ). Individuals from Georgia are externally typical members of the langdoni group, measuring 1.63–1.77 mm. The median lobe is simple, with the ventral margin moderately expanded and the apex not deflected, simply rounded. The flagellum is enormous, well-sclerotized and strongly curved, without an apical sinuation; a lightly sclerotized basal piece is apparent ventral to the flagellum.

Notes. Considering the disjunct locality and the absence of this species in any other samples taken from Sassafras Mountain, or anywhere other than the vicinity of Brasstown Bald, the South Carolina record is doubtful.

‘ loweae group’

Figures

Figure 21. Spermathecae of Anillini species A, B Anillinus chandleri C Anillinus castaneus D Anillinus murrayae E Anillinus simplex F Anillinus dentatus G Anillinus sp. “ South Carolina, Coon Branch ” H Anillinus micamicus I Anillinus mica J Anillinus choestoea K Anillinus seneca L Anillinus montrex M Anillinus arenicollis N Anillinus jancae O Anillinus cf. nantahala P Anillinus cherokee Q Anillinus loweae R Anillinus merritti S Serranillus dunavani T Serranillus jeanneli. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Figure 37. Anillinus species in the langdoni group A Anillinus cf. nantahala, dorsal habitus B median lobe, right dorsolateral aspect of A. nantahala C median lobe right dorsolateral aspect of Anillinus sp. “ Georgia, Brasstown Bald sp. 1 ”. Scale bars: 1 mm (A); 0.1 mm (B, C).

Figure 38. Distribution map of langdoni - group and loweae - group species that occur in South Carolina. Data are from Harden (2024).