Brachoria gracilipes
The Pine Mountain Settlement School Mimic Millipede
Paul Marek
Characteristics
Brachoria gracilipes individuals are about 40.0 mm long and 8.9 mm wide. Color: 3-spotted yellow; and striped yellow.
Brachoria gracilipes genitalia - left male gonopodal acropodite (with setae removed): (Left) medial view and (Right) magnified apical view. © Paul Marek
Brachoria gracilipes, striped yellow color morph. © Paul Marek
Habitat
Brachoria gracilipes specimens were collected during the day (12:00) on the north slope of Pine Mountain in a hemlock, maple and tulip poplar forest. Brachoria gracilipes specimens were found on top of large sandstone boulders covered with a blanket of Impatiens and Urtica. Specimens were found beneath a thin moist layer of hemlock, maple and tulip poplar leaves. (At the KY-2010 site, millipedes were found beneath decaying leaves on the side of the road beneath a large rock face.) Other xystodesmids encountered co-occurring with B. gracilipes were Apheloria virginiensis corrugata, B. splendida, B. badbranchensis, Pleuroloma flavipes, and undescribed species of Nannaria. Note: Individuals of B. gracilipes may easily be confused in the field with Apheloria virginiensis corrugata, B. splendida, B. badbranchensis, and P. flavipes due to similarity in color patterns. Nannaria is easy to distinguish; it has an olive drab color and a body length ~3/4 that of B. gracilipes.Distribution
Highly endemic, based on extensive sampling in Harlan County. Known only from two localities 2.38 air km apart on the north slope of Pine Mountain in the environs of the Pine Mountain Settlement School, Harlan Co., Kentucky. The closest known Brachoria species, B. splendida and B. badbranchensis co-occur with B. gracilipes on the preserve. Brachoria flammipes occurs 17 km W in Leslie County.Conservation status
Brachoria gracilipes is threatened by habitat loss due to agriculture (especially growing demand for paper products), coal mining, development, and the invasion of exotic species.References
Marek P.E. 2010. A revision of the Appalachian millipede genus Brachoria Chamberlin, 1939 (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae: Apheloriini). Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 159: 817-889.
Chamberlin R.V. 1947. Some records and descriptions of diplopods chiefly in the collection of the Academy. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 99: 21-58.
Keeton W.T. 1959. A revision of the millipede genus Brachoria (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae) Proc. US Nat. Mus. 109: 1-58.
Hoffman R.L. 1999. Checklist of the millipeds of North and Middle America. Virginia Museum of Natural History Special Publication. No. 8. Martinsville: Virginia Museum of Natural History.
Shelley R.M. 1979. The status of Sigmoria gracilipes Chamberlin, with remarks on the milliped genus Brachoria (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae). Fla. Entomol. 62: 220-223.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Brachoria gracilipes |
|---|---|
| Location | USA, Kentucky, Harlan Co. |
| Reference | Marek P.E. 2010. A revision of the Appalachian millipede genus Brachoria Chamberlin, 1939 (Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae: Apheloriini). Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 159: 817-889. |
| Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
| Sex | m |
| Life Cycle Stage | adult |
| View | dorsal |
| Collection | FMNH |
| Collector | Paul Marek |
| Image Use |
 This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License - Version 3.0.
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| Copyright |
© Paul Marek
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About This Page
Work on the millipede Tree of Life pages was supported by a U.S. National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant to Paul Marek and Jason Bond (DEB 0607996) and a Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy Grant to Petra Sierwald, Jason Bond, and William Shear (DEB 0529715).
Paul Marek
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Paul Marek at
Page copyright © 2010 Paul Marek
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Brachoria gracilipes . The Pine Mountain Settlement School Mimic Millipede.
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- First online 16 September 2010
- Content changed 16 September 2010
Citing this page:
Marek, Paul. 2010. Brachoria gracilipes . The Pine Mountain Settlement School Mimic Millipede. Version 16 September 2010 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Brachoria_gracilipes/144219/2010.09.16 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
