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Origin of herpetofauna

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Diversity of herpetofauna

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Habitat 1_ Swamps and brackish waters, the VALLI di COMACCHIO (Comacchio's Valleys), NE Italy

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Habitat 1_ Swamps and brackish waters, the VALLI di COMACCHIO (Comacchio's Valleys), NE Italy

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This beautiful series of swamps and brackish lagoons, covering a wide area of the regional park of the Po Delta, is a unique habitat for flora and fauna classified as a Site of Community Importance and a Special Protection Area.

I’ve personally visited the site in 2007 and here some examples of amphibians and reptiles living in the site.
Credits: Selene Chinaglia

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Habitat 3 - Sparse woodlands and stone walls, the strange case of Cocullo, Abruzzo, Italy

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Habitat 3 - Sparse woodlands and stone walls, the strange case of Cocullo, Abruzzo, Italy

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Habitats featuring vegetation, stone walls, sparse woodland, forest margins and deserted buildings are ideal for several species of snakes. Several conservation projects aim to restore stone walls, which were very common in the past but nowadays not used anymore. Among snakes living in this kind of environment there are those adored by the population of the town of Cocullo. Here snakes are fortunately (or unfortunately?) considered auspicious. On the occasion of the celebrations of San Domenico it is hold a traditional “Festa dei Serpari”: every first Thursday in May the Saint’s statue parades through the streets of the town, adorned with colubrids (Elaphe quatuorilineata, Zamenis longissimus). In the ceremony, snakes represent the link between human beings and wildlife. According to legend, the snakes will protect the citizens of this small village of Abruzzo. Citizen are so linked to this tradition that they started conservation programmes to protect wild populations of these animals in the areas surrounding the town. A video of the feast is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXP1Z_xrbhQ

Credits: Wikipedia, www.naturamediterraneo.com

References: Achille, G. (2015). Snakes of Italy: Herpetological Treatise on the Biology and Iconography of Italian Ophidians. Springer.

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Habitat 2_ Mediterranean scrub, the LINOSA ISLAND, Pelagian Islands, Italy

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Habitat 2_ Mediterranean scrub, the LINOSA ISLAND, Pelagian Islands, Italy

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Froma a geological point of view, Linosa is a volcanic island with a basaltic belt and inner tufaceous formations. The climate of Linosa is semi arid. The vegetation is characterised by xerophilic Mediterranean  maquis and the main crops includes grapes, prickly pears capers, cereals and lentils.

Here lives a population of approximately 2500 individuals of Podarcis filfolensis, a lacertid endemic in the Maltese Archipelago and in the Pelagic Island.

I’ve personally visited the island in 2009, and here some picture of this beautigul habitat and its hepretoinhabitant.

Credits: Selene Chinaglia
References: Scalera, R., Capula, M., Fornasari, L., Zava, B., Bombi, P., Mariottini, P., & Bologna, M. A. (2004). Population structure, genetics and conservation of the Maltese wall lizard, Podarcis filfolensis, on Linosa Island (Reptilia, Lacertidae). Bollettino di Zoologia, 71(S2), 153-159.

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Fossil Reptile ID: Megachirella wachtleri, a Triassic lizard

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Fossil Reptile ID: Megachirella wachtleri, a Triassic lizard

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Place of collection: Monte Prà della Vacca, Bolzano(Bozen), Alto Adige, N Italy
Date of collection: 2002
Collector: Renesto S. and R.Posenato
Age: 269 Myr ago (Middle Permian)
Remarks:
Holotype: Specimen KUH-1501 of the catalogue of the Museo Archeologia e Natura dell'Alto Adige, Bolzano (Bozen) Italy.
A combination of X ray morphology and phylogenetic analyses revealed that M. wachtleri is the oldest known stem squamate
Megachirella gen. n. does not show any skeletal correlate which can be considered unequivocally as an adaptation to aquatic 1ife. Many characters speak instead for terrestrial habits
References:
Renesto, S., & Posenato, R. (2003). A new lepidosauromorph reptile from the Middle Triassic of the Dolomites (Northern Italy). Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia (Research In Paleontology and Stratigraphy), 109(3).
Simões, T. R., Caldwell, M. W., Tałanda, M., Bernardi, M., Palci, A., Vernygora, O., ... & Nydam, R. L. (2018). The origin of squamates revealed by a Middle Triassic lizard from the Italian Alps. Nature, 557(7707), 706.

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Italy is the richest country of Europe in terms of herpetological diversity, hosting 46 amphibian species and 53 reptiles species.

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Salamandrina perspicillata and S. terdigitata 

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Salamandrina perspicillata and S. terdigitata 

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Italy is the only European kind hosting an endemic amphibian genus. The species were separated thanks to genetic analyses in 2005. Salamandrina terdigitata (figure on the right) has a smaller size and moreextended red coloration on the tail, and it more oftenexhibits a median reddish dorsal line than does  S.perspicillata (figure on the left). The first species inhabit the southern part of the Italian peninsula, while the latter the northern. Salamandrina perspicillata  is also called “salamandrina dagli occhiali” (namely Salamandrina with glasses) for the typical v pink post on the head.

Photo credits:

References: www.astolinto.it, wikipedia

Mattoccia M, Romano A, Sbordoni V. 2005. Mitochondrial DNAsequence analysis of the spectacled salamander,Salamandrinaterdigitata(Urodela: Salamandridae), supports the existence oftwo distinct species. Zootaxa 995:1–19.

Romano, A., Mattoccia, M., Marta, S., Bogaerts, S., Pasmans, F., & Sbordoni, V. (2009). Distribution and morphological characterization of the endemic Italian salamanders Salamandrina perspicillata (Savi, 1821) and S. terdigitata (Bonnaterre, 1789)(Caudata: Salamandridae). Italian Journal of Zoology, 76(4), 422-432.

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This endemic lizard is present with relict populations in the Strombolicchio islets (NE of Stromboli), Scoglio Faraglione (W of Salina) and La Canna (W of Filicudi) and in a locality on Vulcano Island.

The species is considered Critically Endangered. The main threats for the species are represented by the very small size of the residual area and the populations that live there and by the absence of gene flow between them. Moreover, the uncontrolled and massive access during the summer season in one of the sites (Strombolicchio) and related degradation phenomena have negative effects on the local population.

Photo credits: Wikipedia
References:

Sindaco, R. (Ed.). (2006). Atlante degli Anfibi e dei Rettili d'Italia. Edizioni Polistampa.

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Fossill Amphibian ID: the Urodela Celtedens megacephalus

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Fossill Amphibian ID: the Urodela Celtedens megacephalus

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Place of collection: Le Cavere, Pietraroja, Benevento, Campania, Italy
Date of collection:1864
Collector: Oronzo Gabriele Costa
Age: Early Cretaceous: Albian
Remarks:
Holotypus: MNP 542
The specimen, belonging to the salamandriform amphibians.
The skeleton, about 5 centimeters long. In the skull two large oval and elongated orbits are visible.
The head preserves jaws and mandibles
The specimen is small sized, who's appearance is very similar to the current newts. It is particularly significant as it testifies to the presence, in the site of Pietraroja, of a deposition environment with abundant fresh water, necessary for the respiration of this type of organism.

References:
http://www.catalogomultimediale.unina.it/?p=1072
Photo credits: wikipedia

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The Lanza's alpine salamander and its brotherhood problems

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The Lanza's alpine salamander and its brotherhood problems

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This is a liquorice black salamander present only in a small area of NW Italy (see map of distribution). It lives in high mountain habitats and therefore it presents several adaptations to the scarcity of water, present for most of the year as ice or snow.

Salamandra lanzai exhibits a shifting in day rate of activity. During cloudy/foggy/rainy weather, the salamanders are equally active in the day-time and at night. In these cloudy/foggy/rainy periods humidity at ground is high. On the other hand, when the weather is clear, salamanders become more nocturnal.

Furthermore, it exhibit histotrophic viviparity, i.e. the zygotes develop in the female's oviducts, but find their nutriments by oophagy or adelphophagy (intra-uterine cannibalism of eggs or sibling embryos). Young can spend up to 3 years in utero (population B) and up to 4 years (population A) before hatching.

This species also possess samandarine as toxic defensive compound.

The species is considered vulnerable. Populations have decreased also because of several human intervention drastically modified the habitats in their surroundings.

References

Lüddecke, T., Schulz, S., Steinfartz, S., & Vences, M. (2018). A salamander’s toxic arsenal: review of skin poison diversity and function in true salamanders, genus Salamandra. The Science of Nature, 105(9-10), 56.

Miaud, C., Andreone, F., Ribéron, A., De Michelis, S., Clima, V., Castanet, J., ... & Guyétant, R. (2001). Variations in age, size at maturity and gestation duration among two neighbouring populations of the alpine salamander (Salamandra lanzai). Journal of Zoology, 254(2), 251-260.

(and also Photo Credits) Andreone, F., Bergò, P. E., & Mercurio, V. (2007). La salamandra di Lanza Salamandra lanzai: biologia, ecologia, conservazione di un anfibio esclusivo delle Alpi. Fusta editore.

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Physiology and ecology of the herpetofauna

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Dead or alive? The grass snake Natrix natrix

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Dead or alive? The grass snake Natrix natrix

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A super clever way to avoid predation! When disturbed, this snake emits a strong odor. If the threat persists, the snake will resort to thanatosis, pretending to be dead, and accompany it with smelly discharge, auto-hemorrhaging, gaping, eye rotation, tongue extension (see the video)! Faking death is indeed an antipredator behaviour since many animals do not feed of decomposing animals. But also, death feigning is most likely to be a successful antipredator tactic when there is a delay between capture and subsequent consumption of prey, such that the predator may become distracted and leave the prey alone, even if only briefly, to effect an escape. If so, then playing dead is playing for time.

The grass snake prefers to be near the water, such as lakes, streams, wetlands, and rivers, where it hunts its prey. Equally valid habitats are anthropogenic bodies of water, like dams and irrigation canals.

References:

Achille, G. (2015). Snakes of Italy: Herpetological Treatise on the Biology and Iconography of Italian Ophidians. Springer.

Gregory, P. T., Isaac, L. A., & Griffiths, R. A. (2007). Death feigning by grass snakes (Natrix natrix) in response to handling by human" predators.". Journal of Comparative Psychology, 121(2), 123.

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Rice ﬁelds are an agricultural landscape particularly extended in the western portion of the Po Plain (northern Italy). For decades, rice ﬁelds represented a valuable surrogate habitat for many wetland species, playing an important role for biodiversity conservation in human-managed landscapes. In the canals and rice chambers, different species of amphibians completed their life cycle: the common water frog (Pelophylax esculentus), Italian tree frog (Hyla intermedia), the Italian crested newt (Triturus carnifex), the common spadefoot (Pelobate fuscus insubricus), and the European green toad (Bufo viridis).

Starting from the ‘60s, the mechanization and intensification of the agricultural practices, and the abuse of pesticides, have progressively reduced the capacity to host flora and fauna. The eradication of hedges, trees, pastures and the disappearance of uncultivated areas has meant losing sites of refuge and food sources for many species, including amphibians and reptiles. Aggravating the decline of the ecological value of these environments, the advent of the so called “dry management” of rice paddies in the ‘90s (i.e. irrigation is performed only in the first phases of the cultivation, then the water is removed) is having devastating consequences on fauna there inhabiting. The removal of water and the absence of channels of adequate extension and depth leads to the death of all the aquatic organisms present. Many of these are aquatic stages of amphibian animals relying on water for reproduction only during spring and, therefore, are unable to replicate this crucial phase of the annual cycle if the eggs or aquatic larvae have been eliminated. It is, for example, the case of the tree frogs. Ovate, larvae or tadpoles succumb during the dry period, without the adults being able to lay replacement eggs.
Possible strategies already have been proposed in the Biodiversity Action Plan for rice fields (Giuliano et al., 2017), including measures for the conservation of a small amount of water in side channels of rice fields, the restoration of hedgerows and trees, the reduction of pesticides. Farmers can be totally financed for the application of these measures through the Regional Rural Development Plans that are receiving financial support from EU. But too many interests are involved, and the attitude of farmers is still negative toward denaturalization of fields and too attached to profits without any regards to nature conservation. Sadly, even if they are not converting to greening, they are strong of political support, so that they are receiving EU funding from Rural Develompent Plans.

References

Bogliani G. (2008). Habitat risicolo e fauna, pp. 236-253 In: Ferrero A. (ed.), Il riso. Bayer Crop Science, Bologna.

Giuliano D., Rossi P., Luoni F., Celada C., Bogliani G. (2017). Biodiversity Action Plan per le aree risicole dell’Italia Nord-occidentale. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.16342.55361

Photo credits: Laura Garzoli

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THE NATURAL RESERVE of FONDOTOCE (NW Italy)

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THE NATURAL RESERVE of FONDOTOCE (NW Italy)

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The Natural Reserve of IT1140001" Fondo Toce was established in 1990 to protect one of the most endangered habitat in the area, a bed of reeds covering an area of 28 hectares and dominated by Phragmites australis. The Reserve protects several species, among which endemic and rare plant species (such as Trapa natans verbanensis), several amphibians (among which Hyla intermedia, Rana dalmatina, and Rana latastei) and reptiles (among which Emys orbicularis, Natrix tassellata, Lacerta viridis, Podarcis muralis, Hierophis viridiflavus). It includes the outlet of the Toce River and the alluvial plain of Fondo Toce. The Reserve is remarkably threatened by the intense human activities, including urbanization, tourism and infrastructures such as highways and national roads. Furthermore, a big popular campsite is located at the border of the Reserve. Moreover, contrary to all conservation measures that should be applied in this delicate environment, and against national and international regulations, the last years several old trees representing the residual part of the old woodland were cut because of “security reason” (they were afraid that tourists that goes in the reserve could have been hit by a falling tree branch). Aggravating all these threats, climate changes are affecting the water availability of the reserve (the Regional Environmental Protection Agency, ARPA, recorded a dramatic -60% of rainfall with respect to average value and 3° to 4° C raising in mean temperature).

Possible strategies to face these threats would be the application of the national and international regulation on the protection of these environments (and this is not happening). There is a strong need for a local association that join together citizen and scientists to fight for this, but, at present, this association do not exist.

References: Paschetta, M., Giachino, P. M., & Isaia, M. (2012). Taxonomic relatedness of spider and carabid assemblages in a wetland ecosystem.

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Herpetofauna and humans

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Threats to the herpetofauna

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HERPETOSAVE - A LOCAL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION TO PROTECT THE ITALIAN HERPETOFAUNA

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HERPETOSAVE - A LOCAL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION TO PROTECT THE ITALIAN HERPETOFAUNA

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MISSION STATEMENT

HerpetoSave (HS) is a local non-governmental organisation in Italy devoted to the conservation of the herpetofauna and the habitats on which it relies.

Its mission is to build a new vision of environmental sustainability to create the conditions for humans, amphibians and reptiles to coexist and thrive together.

The main goal is to involve and to work with local, national and international partners, citizen, practitioners and stakeholders to secure amphibians and reptiles populations from global changes and local threats.

BUSINESS DESCRIPTION

Specific goals of HS are:

-       To improve knowledges on the distribution of amphibians and reptiles at local level.

-       To support and propose monitoring and research programmes and projects aiming at assessing the status and the consistency of populations and threats that locally menace their conservation.

-       To engage citizen, politicians, stakeholders and scientist in policy and advocacy of threatened species.

-       To develop citizen science projects and tools to locally support the herpetofauna and to raise the awareness on their importance for ecosystems and human beings.

-       To constitute a focal point for coordinated actions and for counselling on herpetofauna, threats and management.

-       To bring civil action in case of environmental crimes

OPERATIONS PLAN
The Executive Committee, composed of ten members whit outstanding scientific background, will constitute the first core of the association, and will draft the Managing Plan of the association, assessing priorities for actions

The Media and Communication working group  will be in charge of the development of the association logo, of setting up a communication strategy, of registering and implementing the website, social media channels, and of the involvement of citizen as volunteers and members of the association.

The Scientific Committee will be in charge of the evaluation of specific needs. It will dedicate to the draft project and to find financial support in order to achieve conservation priorities.

Volunteers will be organized with several tasks:

-       herpeto helpline: a phone number for citizen to report injured animals and to find counselling on environmental issues

-       fundraising, achieved through the participation to local events, stands, online platform donation page

-       education and training through the organisation of local events, courses (including online ones) and training of students

-       events, including the organization of congresses

-       monitoring campaigns

-       HerpetoJournal: an online monthly issue on the local news concerning herpetofauna and of association activities and events

FINANCIAL PLAN

The main financial support will derive from donations and membership fees.

Courses and congresses fees will also represent a source of funding.

Financial support for conservation monitoring and actions will derive from the participation to local, national and international projects.

Eventually, subscription fees to the Herpetojournal will be considered.