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View article: Albinism in the southern spectacled salamander Salamandrina terdigitata
Albinism in the southern spectacled salamander Salamandrina terdigitata Open
W e present here the first documented case of albinism in Salamandrina terdigitata.This is a tiny terrestrial salamander (maximum total length: females 88 mm; males 75 mm) endemic to southern Italy, where it occurs from Campania to Calabri…
View article: Diverse aging rates in ectothermic tetrapods provide insights for the evolution of aging and longevity
Diverse aging rates in ectothermic tetrapods provide insights for the evolution of aging and longevity Open
Comparative studies of mortality in the wild are necessary to understand the evolution of aging; yet, ectothermic tetrapods are underrepresented in this comparative landscape, despite their suitability for testing evolutionary hypotheses. …
View article: Threatened and extinct amphibians and reptiles in Italian natural history collections are useful conservation tools
Threatened and extinct amphibians and reptiles in Italian natural history collections are useful conservation tools Open
Natural history museums are irreplaceable tools to study and preserve the biological diversity around the globe and among the primary actors in the recognition of species and the logical repositories for their type specimens. In this paper…
View article: Ontogenetic Habitat Use and Density of the Green Lizard (Lacerta bilineata) in Contrasted Landscapes in France and Italy
Ontogenetic Habitat Use and Density of the Green Lizard (Lacerta bilineata) in Contrasted Landscapes in France and Italy Open
Habitat modification is a major factor in the decline of reptile populations. The degree of the decline has been shown to be directly related to the intensity of habitat modification. Farming practices and urbanization are just two of the …
View article: Asynchrony of actuarial and reproductive senescence: a lesson from an indeterminate grower
Asynchrony of actuarial and reproductive senescence: a lesson from an indeterminate grower Open
Evolutionary theories relating to aging predict that patterns of actuarial and reproductive senescence should be aligned, with a common onset of senescence set at the age of first reproduction. However, a few empirical studies reported asy…
View article: A 28-years-long monitoring study suggests heavy decline and habitat shifts in three populations of a Mediterranean tortoise species
A 28-years-long monitoring study suggests heavy decline and habitat shifts in three populations of a Mediterranean tortoise species Open
Long-term ecological studies are important for understanding wild populations’ dynamics and processes and the actual factors that can determine their decline. Here, we report the results of a 28-years-long (1992–2019) monitoring of three d…
View article: Predicting elusiveness: potential distribution model of the Southern smooth snake, Coronella girondica, in Italy
Predicting elusiveness: potential distribution model of the Southern smooth snake, Coronella girondica, in Italy Open
Predictive models of species distribution may be very useful for understanding actual distribution of elusive species, including several snakes. The southern smooth snake (Coronella girondica) is likely the most elusive snake species of pe…
View article: Extreme feeding behaviours in the Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus
Extreme feeding behaviours in the Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus Open
In the present paper the occurrence of cannibalism, unusual predation on small reptiles [Hemidactylus turcicus (Reptilia, Gekkonidae)], and foraging on small mammal carrion [Suncus etruscus (Mammalia, Soricidae)] by P. siculus is reported.
View article: Threatened by Legislative Conservationism? The Case of the Critically Endangered Aeolian Lizard
Threatened by Legislative Conservationism? The Case of the Critically Endangered Aeolian Lizard Open
Species-based conservation legislation needs to be based on sound scientific data and updated taxonomic knowledge. European Union environmental legislation is among the most advanced in the world, yet there is not a clear and regular mecha…
View article: Long‐term, climate‐change‐related shifts in feeding frequencies of a Mediterranean snake population
Long‐term, climate‐change‐related shifts in feeding frequencies of a Mediterranean snake population Open
In a context of climate change, ecological and physiological adaptations of organisms are of central importance for determining the outcome of niche challenges (e.g., with potential competitors) and species persistence. Typically, long‐ter…