Natural History Sciences

A new record of the rare Hypleurochilus bananensis (Poll 1959) (Actinopterygii: Blenniidae) with a review of its distribution and ecology in Italian seas

Francesco Tiralongo — 2024-04-17

This study documents the presence of Hypleurochilus bananensis in a new area within the Tyrrhenian Sea, located about 30 km south of the closest occurrence locality known to date. Providing novel insights into its habitat, the observations here reported, at “Caterina Beach” (Sant’Agnello) on 29th and 30th December 2023, revealed the presence of four individuals close to a port beach area, in an artificial habitat represented by rusted iron pipes. These findings contribute valuable data to the limited knowledge on this rare species, providing new distributional and habitat notes.

Antecedent description and depiction of the recently described cetacean behaviour of trap/tread-water feeding inferred from a nineteenth-century sighting of a ‘sea monster’ in the Gulf of Suez, Egypt

Robert L. France — 2024-04-17

In 2017 and 2018, two groups of biologists published papers in which they independently described what was referred to as a ‘novel’ or ‘new’ feeding behaviour for cetaceans. Called ‘trap’ or ‘tread-water’ feeding, the behaviour was of interest as it was the first time that passive or stationary in contrast to lunge, and vertical as opposed to horizontal position, feeding had been observed by whales. A subsequent historical ecology paper suggested that the recently described behaviour had in fact been previously observed and documented by illustrators and writers in Classical Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Because yesterday’s ‘sea monsters’ are today’s megafauna, recounted sightings of the former can provide early insight into whale behaviour. One such example is an 19th century sighting of a ‘sea monster’ in the Gulf of Suez, whose description and illustration are nearly identical to modern scientific reporting of whales engaged in trap/tread-water feeding. Such concordance is further evidence in support of a historical precedence with respect to observing and documenting this behaviour.

Gone with the wind? Condica capensis (Guenée 1852), a migrant species new for Italy (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Giuseppe Rijllo — 2024-04-17

Pushed by southern winds, many Lepidoptera can fly from the sub-Saharan region to Sicily or Calabria in a short time. Thanks to a long-term monitoring program, we found for the first time in Italy a migrating specimen of Condica capensis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). This finding is likely linked to the strong winds blowing from North Africa just before the collection of the specimen. Condica capensis is considered to be a migrant to the European continent except for Spain, where it is resident. It is found across Africa, the Indian subcontinent, South-East Asia, and Australia.

Lichens from the aurifodinae of the upper Ticino river valley (N Italy)

Gabriele Gheza — 2024-04-17

Aurifodinae were open-pit gold mines of the Roman age which left behind them elongated heaps of rounded stones. They are located in lowland semi-natural landscapes, and can be seen as screes at a lower altitude and in a milder climate than typical mountain screes. We investigated the lichen biota of the aurifodinae remains in the upper Ticino river valley (western Po Plain, Northern Italy), in a small, discontinuous, 6.5 ha wide area. Metamorphic siliceous stones prevail, while calcareous stones are rare and scattered. We recorded 35 infrageneric taxa, including three species new to Piemonte: Cladonia conista, C. cryptochlorophaea, and Placidiopsis cinerascens. Several taxa are also new to the submediterranean ecoregion and/or to the Ticino river valley. The function of aurifodinae as a refugium for saxicolous lichens in the lowlands and their potential role in creating wide areas with open dry habitats in the past centuries are discussed.

The Bezzi Diptera collection at the Museo di Storia Naturale di Milano: a list of the named genera and species, with their present status

Carlo Monari — 2024-04-22

Mario Bezzi’s collection of Diptera is probably the most important dedicated to this order of insects preserved in Italy and, in a scientific-historical view, one of the most important in the world. The aim of this work is to provide a complete list of the genera and species originally used by Bezzi and readable on the collection labels handwritten by Bezzi himself. A brief description of the collection and the methods used to acquire and check the names is given. The results obtained are discussed. Finally, a complete checklist of the taxonomic names found, and their current status is provided.

Additional notes on the herpetofauna of Lefkada (Ionian Islands, Greece)

Sabine Martini — 2024-04-17

During two visits to the northeastern part of the Greek island of Lefkada, one in October 2022 and another in June 2023, 14 species of herpetofauna were recorded (two amphibian species, twelve reptile species), including one previously unrecorded species, the European cat snake Telescopus fallax. In addition, live specimens of Marginated tortoise Testudo marginata were found and location data for Dahl’s whip snake Platyceps najadum has been recorded. The observation localities of four species, Testudo hermanni, Testudo marginata, Platyceps najadum and Telescopus fallax are shown in an overview map.

Amaranthus emarginatus s.lat. (Amaranthaceae) in Italy

Duilio Iamonico — 2024-04-18

Amaranthus emarginatus belongs to the Amaranthus blitum complex, a critical taxonomic group. Within the variability of A. emarginatus, two taxa are often accepted, ‘emarginatus’ and ‘pseudogracilis’, which differ by habitus, synflorescence structure, and leaf size. However, their taxonomic value is debated, and A. emarginatus itself is sometimes included in A. blitum as subspecies. In this paper, molecular, morphological, phytogeographical, and ecological data are discussed to assess the most correct rank of these taxa. We conclude that A. emarginatus deserves specific distinctness from A. blitum, and A. pseudogracilis can be regarded as a subspecies of the former. This choice reflects both the molecular data and geographical distributions of A. blitum and A. emarginatus, i.e., Mediterranean area, Europe, and North Africa for the former vs. neotropics for the latter). Within A. emarginatus, in addition, to the different morphology, A. emarginatus var. pseudogracilis differs also on account of its ecological preferences, because it occurs in warm and humid areas, whereas A. emarginatus var. emarginatus is better adapted to cold and dry habitats. However, since molecular analyses cannot clearly separate the two taxa, we consider the subspecific rank as the most appropriate. We also found a further morphological difference in seed coat ornamentation, hitherto not pointed out: the shape of the peripheral cells is tetragonal in A. emarginatus subsp. pseudogracilis, but polygonal (cells with ≥ 5 sides) in subsp. emarginatus. Distributional maps and status assessment at regional level for the two taxa are provided. According to this revision, A. emarginatus subsp. emarginatus is to be regared as naturalized in central and southern Italy (Latium and Campania, respectively).

Status and distribution of Paraguayan Procyonidae and Mephitidae (Mammalia: Carnivora)

Paul Smith — 2024-04-10

Two species of procyonid (Nasua nasua and Procyon cancrivorus) and one species of mephitid (Conepatus chinga) have long been documented to occur in Paraguay, but very little has been published about their ecology in the country since the early 19th Century works of Azara and Rengger. Data on the distribution and status of these species in the country is collated from museum specimens, published literature and reliable observations to provide a basis for future research. A hierarchical approach is taken towards types of record and maps are provided that distinguish these for all species. All three species remain common in the Chaco region west of the Paraguay River, and all are considered of Least Concern. However, this region is experiencing high levels of deforestation and data to assess the potential declines of the species is unavailable. The two species of procyonid are also widespread in the Oriental region, but the status of Conepatus chinga there is unclear. There are multiple reports from the Atlantic Forest region but documentation is limited to fecal molecular samples. Clarifying the distribution of that species in the Oriental region is a priority for research.

First documented observation of differential dorsoventral coat colouration in wild boar Sus scrofa (Artyodactyla: Suidae) in Italy

Francesco Gallozzi — 2024-04-17

Wild boar Sus scrofa usually shows a uniform brown coat, but different colour patterns have been observed with red, brown, black, and white morphs. Nevertheless, coat colour polymorphism is often associated with hybridization with domestic pigs. The melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene and the agouti (ASIP) gene are the most studied genes involved in pigmentation in mammals. Particularly, mutations in the ASIP locus are responsible for a differential dorsoventral colouration. Polymorphisms in at least one of these two loci have been detected in all domestic breeds in Europe, while wild-type genotypes have almost exclusively been identified in wild boar. Therefore, coat colour polymorphism and MC1R/ASIP mutations are often used to detect wild/domestic hybrids. Here, the first documented observation of differential dorsoventral coat colouration in Sus scrofa in the wild is reported in a juvenile in Abruzzo National Park (Italy), raising some concerns about possible wild boar x domestic pig hybridization in this protected area.

First record of naturalization of Erechtites hieraciifolius (L.) Raf. ex DC. (Asteraceae) in Italy

Giacomo Trotta — 2023-10-11

The plant species Erechtites hieraciifolius (Asteraceae) is here reported for the first time in Italy as a naturalized neophyte in the Classical Karst. The species was observed in 2023 in post-fire forest areas burnt by wildfires in the summer 2022. The features of findings suggest for a naturalization of the species with putative invasive character. This novel occurrence highlights the need for additional research to better understand its colonization and expansion, suggesting the need of early eradication actions.