On the Taxonomic Status, Distribution and Subspecies 
of the Milliped Pseudotremia fracta (Chamberlin) 
(Chordeumatida: Cleidogonidae) 
Richard L. Hoffman 
Department of Biology, 
Radford University, Radford, Virginia 24142 
A BSTRACT. — Examination of the female holotype of Pseudotremia 
fracta Chamberlin (1951) shows beyond much doubt that this name is 
senior to P. cottus (Shear (1972). This widely distributed species is 
herein considered to contain four subspecies, easily distinguished by 
form of the median process of the gonopod syntelopodite: P.f. fracta in 
the Great Smokies; P.f. paynei n. subsp. along the Clinch River, Ten- 
nessee; P.f. ingens n. subsp. from the Cumberland Mountains in Scott 
County, Tennessee; and P.f. nantahala n. subsp. in the Nantahala River 
gorge. North Carolina. The proposal by Shear (1972) to unite fracta, 
cocytus, and scrutorum in a subgeneric group is reaffirmed. The last- 
named taxon may in time be shown to be subspecifically related to 
fracta. 
Because of the normally restricted ranges of most species of Pseudo- 
tremia, it is a matter of interest when one is found to occur over a 
relatively large geographic area that embraces a variety of physiographic 
provinces and a resultant diversity of biotopes. Such an organism is 
Pseudotremia fracta (Chamberlin 1951), which appears to be not 
uncommon in central eastern Tennessee in both epigean and subterra- 
nean habitats. 
Since the original description was based upon a female specimen, 
which was subsequently misplaced and unavailable for study, the status 
of this nominal species could not be addressed with confidence by the 
recent monographer of the genus (Shear 1972). With evident perspicuity, 
however. Dr. Shear suspected (1972:158) that the name fracta was based 
on an immature specimen of the species that was named Pseudotremia 
cottus in his revision. 
During the course of a general renovation of the Chamberlin collection 
(now on deposit at the Smithsonian Institution), the type oi fracta — 
among many other misplaced specimens — was recovered but was not 
closely examined until the recent receipt from Dr. Thomas C. Barr, Jr. of 
unidentified material showing some degree of affinity with Shear’s P. 
cottus. With the motivation of having to provide a name for this popula- 
tion, I essayed an investigation de novo, the results of which are set forth 
in the following pages. 
Brimleyana No. 5:135-144. July 1981. 
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