New Sicilian landsnails

Two new species of land snails from Sicily have been described in the latest issue of Biodiversity Journal. The first species is a clausiliid in the genus which is this blog's namesake - Muticaria brancatoi Colomba, Reitano, Liberto, Giglio, Gregorini & Sparacio, 2012, from south-eastern Sicily. It is the fourth described Muticaria and is a perfect illustration of the genetic complexity exhibited by island endemisms.

Muticaria brancatoi Colomba, Reitano, Liberto, Giglio, Gregorini & Sparacio, 2012

The second species is a slug, Tandonia marinellii Liberto, Colomba, Giglio & Sparacio, 2012. The description is included in a paper which also mentions the first finds of Rumina saharica Pallary, 1901 from Sicily, for which specimens collected by myself from the island of Marettimo were examined.

Tandonia marinellii Liberto, Colomba, Giglio & Sparacio, 2012

The island of Marettimo, from where R. saharica has been recorded

References:

Colomba, M. S., Reitano, A., Liberto, F., Giglio, S., Gregorini, A. & Sparacio, I., 2012. Additional data on the genus Muticaria Lindholm, 1925 with description of a new species (Gastropoda Pulmonata Clausiliidae). Biodiversity Journal, 3: 251-258. accessible here

Liberto, F., Giglio, S., Colomba, M. S. & Sparacio I., 2012. New and little known land snails from Sicily (Mollusca Gastropoda). Biodiversity Journal, 3: 199-226. accessible here

Death of a Phoenix

Palms are a common sight in Malta, with the warm temperatures affecting the islands throughout most of the year being a perfect catalyst for their growth and proliferation. This said, indigenous species amount to just one - the low-growing, bushy Chamaerops humilis L., now practically extinct in the wild.

Chamaerops humilis L., photographed by Aron Tanti

The recent invasion of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790) has affected several of the ornamental palms of the genus Phoenix.

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790) from www.cm-oaz.pt

 
The date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L., is a historically important North African species that may be distinguished by leaves arranged in wide silvery fronds. The picture beneath shows this species of palm affected by the Rhynchophorus beetle.

Phoenix dactylifera L. affected by the red palm weevil in Santa Venera, Malta

Phoenix sp. in Rome, Italy, with the one on the right showing symptoms of red palm weevil infestation

Phoenix canariensis Chabaud is a Canarian endemic which is frequently planted around the Mediterranean, not least in Malta. Unfortunately it is also affected by the weevil in question and several stately specimens from around the island have been destroyed.

Phoenix canariensis Chabaud in the main road of Floriana, Malta

The inhabitants of Tenerife certainly make excellent use of their endemic palm species!

Lungo il Tevere

the river Tiber, by night

A walk around the Colosseum

The Amphitheatrum Flavium, better known as the Colosseum, is an iconic Roman era building in the centre of Rome. Ravaged by natural phenomena and looters throughout the centuries, it still stands towering above the city, and offers a wonderful opportunity to admire the architectural and engineering prowess of the ancient Romans.

In 1643, far before the advent of Linnaean taxonomy, a gent by the name of Domenico Panaroli decided to publish an inventory of the plants found inside the Colosseum after noticing several exotic (mainly North African) species inside and around it, resulting in the tome Plantarum Amphytheatralium Catalogus. Nowadays, the list of species from the Colosseum has grown to 684 species of plants (Caneva, 2003).

A humidity-loving moss, bearing sporangia (fruiting bodies) on stalks

Adiantum capillusveneris L., also found in Malta

Cymbalaria muralis G. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb.

Of course, the ample vegetation offers much cover for my favourite invertebrates - snails. The most common ones present in soil were Eobania vermiculata (Müller, 1774) and a species of Cernuella (I have not yet decided which this is out of the confusing trio of C. virgata (Da Costa, 1778), C. cisalpina (Rossmässler, 1837) and C. neglecta (Draparnaud, 1805)). Later on, a few specimens of Papillifera bidens (Linnaeus, 1758) and Xerotricha apicina (Lamarck, 1822) were encountered amongst the ruins.

Cernuella sp.

Xerotricha apicina (Lamarck, 1822)

On a totally unrelated note, here's one of the modern day inhabitants of the Colosseum:

References:

Caneva, G., 2003. The Colosseum's use and state of abandonment as analysed through its flora. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 51: 211-219.
Panaroli, D., 1643. Jatrologismi sive medicae observationes quibus additus est in fine Plantarum Amphytheatralium Catalogus. Typis Dominici Marciani, Rome.

Memento mori

taken in Rome, 2011

When in Rome...

One thing that surprised me during a short stay in Rome is the sheer quantity of birds, nonchalantly living side by side with the people leading their hectic lives. While in Malta large birds tend to stay far away from any human settlements (and with good reason), Rome features interesting avifauna in addition to the 'usual' sparrows (Passer spp.) and rock pigeons (Columba livia Gmelin, 1789).

Pigeons (Columba livia) in Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore

The largest amongst these birds is the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis michahellis Naumann, 1840). Several of these can be seen flying, seemingly fearlessly, over piazzas and public places, descending to gobble anything edible in sight. This particular specimen below was unperturbed by my steady approach towards it, only flying away once it had had its fill of the fresh fountain water.

Larus michahellis michahellis bathing in front of the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica

The same bird, taking risks

Also notable is the less common hooded crow (Corvus cornix cornix Linnaeus, 1758), of which a couple were observed rummaging around for food beneath cars in one of the very busy roads. The calls of these crows are quite peculiar and could be heard intermittently from trees and stonework, even though their owners were not so commonly seen.

Corvus cornix cornix Linnaeus, 1758