Brachoria plecta Keeton 1959
Creators: name: Marek, Paul E.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2010
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Diplopoda
Polydesmida
Xystodesmidae
Brachoria
Brachoria plecta

description: BRACHORIA PLECTA KEETON, 1959   ‘THE NATURAL BRIDGE MIMIC MILLIPEDE’  
(FIG. 33A–D, FIG. 41L)  
 Brachoria plecta Keeton, 1959: 109.   
 A REVISION OF THE MILLIPEDE GENUS BRACHORIA 873   
 Diagnosis: Adult males of B. plecta are distinct from other Brachoria species based on the combination of: Colour. Three-spotted (Fig. 41L), yellow (2.5Y 8/12) paranotal spots, anterior collum spot, legs; metatergal spots light pinkish orange (7.5R 6/10). Exoskeleton. Caudolateral corners, paranota 1–8 rounded, lateral margins angled cephalically. Gonopods. Gonopodal acropodite bulky, subequal in width to tibia on leg pair 9, swollen distally beyond cingulum. Prefemur without prefemoral process. Acropodite curved cephalically 90° in C-shape form. Arc immediately distal beyond cingulum orientated laterally. Acropodal apex projecting posteriorly. Acropodite distal beyond postcingular arc tapered, twisted 90°, hook-shaped apex (Fig. 33B, arrow).   
 Variation: Brachoria plecta is known only from the type locality and eight specimens (2♂ from type series collected in 1911 and 1895 and 5♂ and 1♀ collected in 2005). There is negligible variation in coloration amongst these specimens. Measurements: ♂ (N = 4) BL = 38.57–47.34 (44.08/4.80). CW = 7.23– 8.41 (7.23/0.49). IW = 4.95–5.49 (5.19/0.26). ISW = 1.44–1.68 (1.56/0.10). B10W = 9.90–10.89 (10.50/0.53). B10H = 5.96–7.03 (6.57/0.55). ♀ (N = 1) BL = 43.82. CW = 7.67. IW = 5.40. ISW = 1.61. B10W = 10.52. B10H = 6.88.   
 Description: Male described by Keeton (1959).   
 Ecology: Brachoria plecta specimens were collected during the day (17:00) in a moist forest comprising hemlock, maple, oak, and birch trees. Individuals were found beneath layers of decomposing leaf material, predominately oak, about 60 m above (west) Upper Hood Branch. Other xystodesmids encountered sympatrically at this locality: Rudiloria guyandotta (coloration similar to B. plecta threespotted morph) and A. v. corrugata (coloration striped yellow, dissimilar to B. plecta). Note: individuals of B. plecta may be confused in the field with R. guyandotta because of similarity in colour patterns, but can be distinguished by the presence of the following characters (viewed with a 20¥ loupe): acropodite with midlength transverse groove, cingulum; acropodite bulky, subequal in width to tibia on leg pair 9.   
 Distribution: Known only from the type locality. The closest known Brachoria species, B. indianae, occurs about 30 km south-west in Irvine, Estill Co., Kentucky.   
 Material examined: Type specimens. ♂ holotype (AMNH) from Powell County, Kentucky, Natural Bridge, 21.x.1911 (coll: H. Garman), 1♂ paratype (USNM) from the same locality by the same collector, 5.v.1895 (vidi). Nontype specimens. 3♂ (SPC000561*: EU127856, SPC000635, 639), 1♀ (SPC000636), Powell County, Kentucky, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Upper Hood Branch, Hood Branch Trail (37.77415°N, - 83.68987°W, 262 m), 28.vi.2005, 17:00 (coll: P. Marek).
description: Published as part of Marek, Paul E., 2010, A revision of the Appalachian millipede genus Brachoria Chamberlin, 1939 (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae: Apheloriini), pp. 817-889 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 159 (4) on pages 872-873, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2010.00633.x, http://zenodo.org/record/5755069