1,720,994 research outputs found
Growth rate of a wild population of the Javelin Sand Boa, Eryx jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758): first evidence from a long-term study in Sicily, Italy
Full text linkFlatties in Italy: online naturalist networks confirm a wide distribution of Selenops radiatus (Araneae: Selenopidae) in southeastern Sicily
Full text linkIn Italy, the selenopid spider Selenops radiatus Latreille, 1819, was hitherto only known from the Aeolian Archipelago (northeastern Sicily), with a record from the island of Alicudi and plausible sightings from the island of Filicudi. In this paper, we present twentysix new records from Sicily sensu stricto and its satellite islands, consisting of observations gathered from online naturalist networks and one adult specimen collected from the area where most observations were made. Nearly all records were made in buildings or similar artificial habitats, supporting the hypothesis that occurrences of S. radiatus are mainly limited to synanthropic environments in Sicily
Vipera aspis hugyi (Southern Italian Asp) Coloration
No full textWe report the first observation of concolor coloration in Vipera aspis hugy
First record of hypopigmentary anomaly in the Moorish gecko Tarentola mauritanica with an overview of the cases reported for wild geckos
No full textWe report the first record of hypopigmentary anomaly in the Moorish geck
Preliminary observations on the use of cover objects as shelters in a micro-island population of false smooth snake (Macroprotodon cf. cucullatus)
No full textPredation of a waterfrog (genus Pelophylax) by the freshwater crab Potamon fluviatile in Sicily, Italy
Full text linkAn updated dichotomous key to the snakes of Europe
Full text linkThis work presents an updated dichotomous key to all snake species of Europe, based on morpho-logical, morphometric and distributional characters. It gathers data from both the last dichotomous keys concerning European snake species and every following paper giving updates on taxonomic classification or the occurrence of new allochthonous species. The key includes 58 snake taxa, in-cluding 57species and one still unnamed taxon, distributed on the European territory, and photo-graphic material for each species. The aim of this paper is to make the identification of all Europe-an snake species through a single manuscript more accessible, not only for researchers, but also for citizen science, thus enhancing data collection and assist species conservation
A singular case of early-stage long-distance dispersal of the smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758) (Amphibia, Caudata)
Full text linkTo date, the global introduction of alien amphibians and reptiles has likely been facilitated by the expanding plant nursery trade. Here, we report in detail a singular case of unintentional introduction of Lissotriton vulgaris in Sicily. A newt in the final stages
of its larval development was found in a private garden pond in north-western Sicily, where aquatic plants from a nursery in Veneto (northeastern Italy) had been introduced two months earlier. The analysis of the mithochondrial markers ND2 and ND4 revealed a
shared haplotype between the Sicilian newt and a sample from Treviso, the province of the putative source. The timing of the plant introduction to the garden pond suggests that the translocation occurred during the newt’s egg or early larval stage. Although based on a single case study, our results provide clear evidence of amphibian egg/early stage translocation and their ability to survive as contaminants in aquatic plants. This underscores the need to strengthen prevention and early detection programs in the plant trade and nursery management supply chain, involving institutions, regulatory bodies, traders, as well as buyers and hobbyists
Spettro trofico di due popolazioni sinantropiche di geco comune, Tarentola mauritanica (Linnaeus, 1758), in Sicilia sud-occidentale
Full text linkThe Moorish gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) is a lizard belonging to the
Phyllodactylidae family, with circum-Mediterranean distribution. Despite
the species is widespread in Sicily, there are very few studies on its feeding
behaviour. This paper analyzes the diet of two synanthropic populations
located in southwestern Sicily (province of Trapani) and exposed to
different environmental conditions. Fecal remains were collected along the outer walls of an inhabited house in the coastal village of Triscina and
in an uninhabited rural house, located near Castelvetrano town. The first
study area has been constantly affected by artificial light sources, which
are absent in the second study area. Results show in both cases that diets
consist exclusively of arthropods, except for a single case of saurophagy
on a juvenile Podarcis sp. detected in the ‘Castelvetrano’ sample. The two
populations have significantly different trophic spectra and probably adopt
two different foraging strategies. The ‘Triscina’ sample is characterized by
the predominance of few categories of fliers prey generally concentrated by
artificial light sources (Coleoptera 39.6%, Neuroptera 38.6%), suggesting
the adoption of a ‘sit-and-wait strategy’. The ‘Castelvetrano’ sample is instead more varied and characterized by the prevalence of soil-related, and mostly wingless, prey (Dermaptera 36.7%, Formicidae 23.3%, Coleoptera 21.7%, spiders 11.7%), thus suggesting the adoption of an ‘active foraging strategy’
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Hidden in the bark: the unexpected presence of the leaf-toed gecko, Euleptes europaea (Gené, 1839) (Squamata, Sphaerodactylidae), in Sicily
Full text linkWe report the first observations regarding the presence of the leaf-toed gecko,
Euleptes europaea
, in Sicily. During field activities for environmental impact assessment several leaf-toed gecko individuals were found in a restricted coastal area in the north-west of the island, near the city of Palermo. Further surveys were then carried out to better assess the presence of the species. A total of 21
E. europaea
individuals were observed in a small area of approximately 4.4 hectares, consisting of mixed eucalyptus and pine reforestation. Out of the 21 individuals, there were 14 males, 5 females, and 2 whose sex could not be determined. Additionally, at least two pregnant females were observed. Leaf-toed geckos were found exclusively under eucalyptus bark, syntopic with two other Gekkota species (
Tarentola mauritanica
and
Hemidactylus turcicus
). The presence of such a breeding population of
E. europaea
is probably limited to a small area. However, our results do not allow us to clearly assess either its origin or its actual distribution and demography, therefore new field investigations are necessary
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