The Greater Noctule is a threatened bat species characterized by a fragmented distribution and limited documented observations in Italy. During a census using ultrasound detectors, foraging Greater Noctules were identified in 2024 and 2025. Echolocation calls were recorded in Santena, Valdieri, and the Bosco dell’Alevè woodland in Val Varaita, NW Italy. The first localization in Alevè was made at 1,500 m a.s.l. on 30/07/2024. In the following year, sampling was performed across five sites in the surrounding area. The species was recorded again at the original site at 1,500 m on 11/07/2025, as well as at a new location at 1,900 m a.s.l. on 11/08/2025. The habitat in these areas is dominated by Arolla Pines Pinus cembra of uneven ages, featuring many ancient trees with numerous cavities or advanced decay. In Santena, localization occurred on 24/06/2024 at 240 m a.s.l. The habitat was characterized by a private garden in the periurban area, close to an ancient castle park with old trees. The observation of Valdieri occurred in autumn, on 14/10/2025 at 790 m a.s.l., in an area characterized by vertical rocky slopes within open arid grassland and broadleaf woods. The observations of Santena and Alevè represent the first verification of this rare bat’s occurrence during the summer reproductive season, and prompt further investigation regarding the regular presence of the species in NW Italy.
A better understanding of how moose Alces alces select and browse plants may allow ecologists to make better predictions about how herbivores and plants interact, herbivore food acquisition, and how organisms may shape their own forage supply. This in turn, can lead to a better understanding of animal responses to plant nutrients and defences, and how and why animals move across landscapes, select certain habitats, reproduce, interact with predators and competitors, and survive. Here, we used sequential feeding trials conducted in north-central British Columbia with 4 hand-reared, 9-month-old, orphaned moose calves to study winter shoot selection from ramets cut from native willows Salix scouleriana. Our generalized linear models indicated that, when browsing, moose calves generally followed principles of optimal patch use theory and initially selected smaller, less fibrous shoots at the beginning of feeding trials, then switched to larger shoots as smaller, more nutritious shoots were depleted. On average, moose calves removed 20% of the shoot biomass from each ramet trialled and cropped shoots at an average of 5.03mm in diameter. Bite diameters taken by calves were larger when a greater proportion of shoots from ramets had been selected from ramets that had been browsed in previous years and in later feeding trials. Despite some study limitations, our findings provide these and other fine-scaled details contextualized within a backdrop of prior research regarding browse selection by young moose that may help to elucidate connections between browsing behaviours and estimates of intake rate. These findings may help to inform future studies in which forage ecologists are seeking to understand optimal foraging and browse patch depletion dynamics in moose and other species.
A combined review of published and unpublished data significantly updates the distribution, ecology, and detectability of Bacanius (Bacanius) consobrinus (Aubé 1850), a saproxylic microhisterid of Turano-European distribution. The species is newly recorded from Iran, Turkey, Cyprus, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, with several additional localities documented for the Caucasus, the Balkans, Italy (including the first record for Puglia), and France. Available evidence shows that the species inhabits saproxylic microhabitats exclusively associated with broadleaf trees, in environments ranging from sea level up to ca 1000 m a.s.l., and often moderately disturbed or urbanised, challenging its proposed value as an indicator of well-preserved forest ecosystems. Targeted sampling (deep sifting; cavity-facing window traps) revealed high local abundances otherwise missed by non-targeted methods, indicating that the species’ perceived rarity is mainly due to low detectability. The expanded Italian dataset contradicts the assumptions underlying its former “Critically Endangered” assessment in the national Red List of saproxylic beetles, and strongly supports a re-evaluation of its conservation status.
Herniaria fontanesii subsp. empedocleana is a Sicilian endemic vascular plant which has probably gone extinct during the last decades. In this contribution we propose a lectotype for the basionym, Hernaria empedocleana described by Lojacono-Pojero, whose selected specimen is kept in PAL. Some details are also provided on the figure and scientific activity of Lojacono-Pojero, one of the most influential Sicilian botanists of the second half of the 19th century. Additionally, some considerations are shared on the need to translate the work of typification and identification of loci classici into an effective tool for safeguarding the naturalistic values of the territory.
During an observation in the Giovenco Valley (Abruzzo), an Italian wolf Canis lupus italicus displaying a reddish-orange coat was documented. The individual, a subadult male in good condition, showed typical morphological traits of the subspecies; however, the presence of free-ranging dogs in the area does not exclude a hybrid origin. Based on the literature, two hypotheses were proposed: a genetic mutation affecting coat pigmentation or wolf-dog hybridization. In the absence of clear diagnostic traits of hybridization, genetic analyses are therefore required. This case highlights the importance of monitoring hybridization and managing stray dog populations for the conservation of the Apennine wolf.
Authors report the presence in Italy of two new South American species of the genus Paspalum (Poaceae) joining 8 species from the same origin + 1 from temperate East Asia. As regards the Poaceae family, the genus in question is undoubtedly the most represented in the non-native contingent of Italian flora, showing a strong predisposition to extra patriam diaspora and a high receptivity by Italian soil due to a great climatic diversity. P. flavescens (from the P. dilatatum species complex) is a 14-year-old collection from Pozzallo coast (Sicily, Ragusa province), while P. inconstans is a recent find from Vercelli (Piedmont). About the causes of a so frequent South American Paspalum species occurrence, two possibilities are outlined: 1) grassing with unselected seed from international trade containing disseminules of a wide variety of sources; 2) involuntary transfer from overseas related to Latin American immigration.
The presence of the Italian endemic odonate Coenagrion castellani is herein reported for the first time in the province of Massa-Carrara, in two distinct areas of the Lunigiana historical region. One population was found in 2025 in the SAC IT5110002 “Monte Orsaro” and is located about 100 m from the border of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine National Park, where the species is not reported. The second site is known for two specimens collected in 2012 in a wetland situated at 1150 m a.s.l. in the Zeri Valleys, about 15 km apart from the first site and outside any protected area. This latter observation represents the new upper altitudinal limit for the species. Unfortunately, this wetland has undergone significant habitat alteration, and the species has not been confirmed in 2025. This valuable Italian endemic species is included in the Annex II of the Habitats Directive and is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN; however, its geographical distribution has not yet been exhaustively defined. These observations highlight the urgency of identifying unknown populations of this Species of Community interest, particularly in stations outside protected areas to protect them adequately.
Based on data from entomological collections and citizen science, new records of the orthopteran Trigonidium (Trigonidium) cicindeloides Rambur 1838 are reported for Italy. The species is documented for the first time in 12 provinces. In addition, it is newly recorded from inland areas of Livorno and Grosseto Provinces, where it was previously known only from Elba and Giglio Islands, respectively.
Knowledge about South Italian fauna of Lepidoptera is constantly increasing as result of ongoing faunistic surveys in different environments. In this study we reported the main faunal novelties found during the survey of macromoth fauna in the Regional Nature Reserve “Foce del fiume Mesima” using UV LED light traps. In detail, Phaiogramma faustinata (Millière 1868) and Mythimna umbrigera (Saalmüller 1891) are recorded for the first time for mainland Italy, marking an important expansion of its known distribution, which were previously recorded in Italy only for Sicily. Identification was carried out by analysing wing patterns and morphology of genitalia. Both findings highlight the critical role of scientific exploration in bridging knowledge gaps which is essential for effective ecosystem management. They also stress the need of continuous monitoring in sites devoted to nature conservation like the mouth of the Mesima River, a strategical site in the Mediterranean Basin for the detection of climate induced ecosystem changes.
Patrinia villosa (Valerianaceae) is reported for the first time as a casual alien species in Italy (Lombardy), marking its first known occurrence in Europe. Patrinia villosa and P. scabiosifolia, both native to Asia, have recently been introduced into the Italian horticultural market as flowering plants for gardens and containers. Furthermore, P. scabiosifolia has escaped in Germany, Austria, and Belgium. The hybrid of the two species (Patrinia ×hybrida) is known, and even for this nothospecies possible escapes into the wild cannot be ruled out, as with parent species. The present report also provides an opportunity to propose a taxonomic reinterpretation of the P. villosa diversity, with the elevation and separation of P. villosa subsp. punctifolia at species rank.
This review provides a comprehensive historical account of the terrestrial herpetofauna of Madeira Island, covering about six centuries of zoological records. It reassesses early species descriptions, misattributed specimens, and forgotten synonyms, highlighting persistent confusion of historical records surrounding species such as Teira dugesii, Pelophylax perezi, and Gallotia galloti. Special attention is given to 19th-century expeditions and the island’s role as a hub for species introductions. The study also revisits historical snake records, which, although probably based on misidentifications, represent the earliest documented attempts to describe and name a reptile species allegedly from Madeira. Special emphasis is given to Teira dugesii, considering that it is the only endemic reptile species found on Madeira Island. By addressing these historical inconsistencies, this work contributes to a clearer and more accurate understanding of the history of Madeira’s terrestrial herpetofauna records.
The year 2025 celebrates the 1500th anniversary of the way we count years since and before the incarnation of Christ. The BC/AD timeline is used in natural and human sciences, with conversions to cal BP and b2k timelines, the latter two representing ages before AD 1950 and AD 2000. Though the timelines may seem established, there are more ways than one to count the calendar years, especially “before Christ” and “before present”. If not correctly addressed, the disparities may impair comparisons between sub-annually and annually resolved records available from tree rings and ice cores, in addition to those from historical documents. The offsets between the timelines range from 0.5 to 2.5 years, which may already be detrimental to determining the cause-effect relationships of short-term events such as volcanic eruptions; however, it is possible that the errors may accumulate if different labs and re-users of data repeat the misconceptions. For example, a tree-ring event dated to 1627.5 BC using one timeline might be misassigned to 1626.5 BC or 1625.5 BC using other timelines. Such confusion may arise due to a “year zero” that is missing from the historical timeline, when the AD and BC years are replaced by positive and negative decimal numbers and when the timelines are converted to the Cartesian coordinate system, and/or due to the timelines used for boreal and austral growing seasons. A previously published formula to convert calendar dates to cal BP dates should be replaced by modified formulae tailored to sub-annual dating in this paper. Similar formulae are also provided for converting b2k ages. Developments in the Quaternary dating methods suggest that the number of disciplines topical to this discussion is likely to increase in the near future. It is emphasized that a clear reference to the particular timeline employed must be clarified in every single individual geoscientific/interdisciplinary study.
Reproductive behavior studies are essential for understanding the biology and ecology of species, particularly for poorly known and endemic taxa, as they provide insights into population dynamics, adaptations, and conservation strategies. Here, we present the first documented observations of the mating behavior of Lygodactylus wetzeli, a little-known dwarf gecko endemic to the Dry Chaco region of South America. On 9 January 2025, in Boquerón Department, Paraguay, at 12:37, an interaction involving two females and two males was observed on a Libidibia paraguariensis tree. The larger female displaced the other female, after which a male approached and initiated courtship. Following a brief interaction, mating occurred, with the male clasping the female and maintaining contact as the pair ascended the tree. The observation highlights unique reproductive behavior in L. wetzeli under extreme environmental conditions, characterized by high temperatures (39°C) and low humidity (40%). These findings provide critical insights into the natural history of L. wetzeli, laying the groundwork for future studies on its reproductive strategies and ecological adaptations. Comparative analyses with other Lygodactylus species, such as L. klugei, could reveal how environmental pressures shape reproductive behavior and contribute to diversification within the genus. This observation represents a significant contribution to the understanding of gecko ecology in the Dry Chaco and underscores the need for further research on this enigmatic species.
Color aberrations are rare phenomena in wild mammals and are often associated with genetic disruptions affecting melanin production or deposition. The rhesus macaque Macaca mulatta, one of the most widespread primate species in India, has only rarely been reported to exhibit albinism or related pigmentary abnormalities in natural populations. Here, we document a case of albinism-like color aberration in a juvenile rhesus macaque observed in the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam, India. The individual, a juvenile male, displayed a uniformly light cream-colored coat and bluish eyes, rather than the complete depigmentation and red or pinkish eyes characteristic of true albinism. Based on phenotypic characteristics, the observed condition may be consistent with a form of oculocutaneous albinism potentially associated with mutations affecting melanin synthesis or transport, such as those involving the SLC45A2 gene; however, no genetic analyses were conducted, and this interpretation remains speculative. Behavioral observations indicated that the juvenile experienced significant social challenges within its troop, including aggression from adult males, possibly triggered by its atypical coloration. To our knowledge, while a previous case of albinism in a rhesus macaque has been reported from the Barak Valley of Assam, this represents the first documented record from the Brahmaputra Valley. This report highlights the need for further research into color aberrations in rhesus macaques and their potential implications for social interactions and survival in wild populations.
The recent discovery of Diplacodes lefebvrii on the island of Sicily (Italy) is reported, with a description of the habitat of two breeding populations and some morphological remarks on the imagoes.
This article presents a method for identifying highly effective bioindicator species within a taxonomic group, even in the absence of full knowledge of their ecology or tolerance to specific stresses. This method was tested using trapping data of ground beetle species (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in organic and conventional hazelnut Corylus avellana orchards, in order to select the species most sensitive to plant protection products. The dataset includes 10,565 individuals belonging to 57 different ground beetle species, collected in the Piedmont and Latium regions (Italy), where hazelnut cultivation is widespread. A comparison was made between the results obtained through Redundancy Analysis conducted on the entire sample and the same analysis conducted on a portion of the sample obtained by selecting, through the Indicator Value Index, the species with the highest bioindication capacity for the considered pressure. The species were ordered according to the difference of the Indicator Value Index of each, respectively for conventional and organic cultivation, and a battery of Redundancy Analyses was conducted by progressively excluding the species with lower bioindication capacity. The results with the best combination of explained inertia and statistical significance (permutation test) were then selected, defining this approach as Backward Redundancy Analysis Sequence (BRS). Partial Redundancy Analyses were subsequently conducted to isolate the impact of plant protection products from that produced by other factors. Regarding the bioindication capacity of ground beetles on the effects of Plant Protection Products on hazelnut orchards, the results obtained confirm a significantly clearer and more consistent response by applying the BRS compared to the classical approach.
The Natural History Museum of the University of Pavia holds a remarkable collection of snakes, dating back to the late 18th century. The collection was established with the acquisition of Cornelis van Hoey’s specimens in 1784 and grew over time through donations and expeditions by renowned naturalists such as Filippo De Filippi, Giuseppe Acerbi, Leonardo Fea, and Lamberto Loria. This study provides a revised catalog of the museum collection of snakes, which were identified based on external morphological characters. A total of 353 specimens from 16 families, 95 genera, and 145 species are listed, with particularly strong representation from Europe and South America. Notable specimens include a rare leucistic Natrix tessellata and two Vipera berus from the Po Plain population, which became extinct in the early 20th century. This updated catalog highlights the museum’s role in preserving biodiversity and providing a resource for future herpetological research.
The 475 species established by Antonio Stoppani have been published by this author in three works: 243 species in the Studii Geologici e Paleontologici sulla Lombardia (1857), 88 species in the I Série of Paléontologie Lombarde (1858-60), and 144 species in the III Série of Paléontologie Lombarde (1860-65). A complete list of them is provided herein. Paléontologie Lombarde was sold in installments to be bound in volumes. Thanks to a deep study of the paleontological works published by Stoppani from 1857 to 1881 (publication date of the last volume of the Paléontologie Lombarde) and using further information from the advertisements on the covers of installments and complementary works of Paléontologie Lombarde, it was possible to reconstruct most of the publication chronology of all the species established by this author. [Article in Italian]
Green pigmented tardigrades known as Viridiscus (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscoidea: Echiniscidae) are typically found in limnoterrestrial habitats, such as moss and lichens. However, the distribution of this genus in North America has been historically understudied and remains elusive to microbiologists, ecologists, and tardigrade taxonomists. In the last couple years, new state records of Viridiscus spp. in the United States of America (USA) have been documented from Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Tennessee, and Texas. Here we acknowledge the recent reports along with providing new additional USA records to give an update of Viridiscus spp. distribution. Two species of green tardigrades, Viridiscus perviridis and Viridiscus viridissimus, are reported from six locations in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, and South Dakota. This is the first report of these species from these states and the farthest west that Viridiscus viridissimus has been found in continental North America. Additionally, we utilized polymerase chain reaction, DNA barcoding of the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) mitochondrial marker, a maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis, and ASAP analysis to confirm the existence of Viridiscus viridissimus in Missouri.
During floristic surveys conducted between May and June 2025 at the former industrial area of La Goccia, in the Bovisa district of Milan, a naturalized population of Petrorhagia dubia was discovered, a plant previously unreported for Lombardy. The species, native to the Mediterranean region and introduced in several continents, was found in ephemeral grasslands at the edges of abandoned paved areas. The species is described in detail, with particular focus on the features that distinguish it from P. prolifera, a very common species in Lombardy with which it can easily be confused. This finding contributes to improving knowledge of the urban flora of Milan.
