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We performed a molecular and a comparative cytogenetic analysis on different Helicoidea species and a review of all the available chromosome data on the superfamily to provide an updated assessment of its karyological diversity. Standard karyotyping, banding techniques, and Fluorescence in situ hybridization of Nucleolus Organizer Region loci (NOR-FISH) were performed on fifteen species of three families: two Geomitridae, four Hygromiidae and nine Helicidae. The karyotypes of the studied species varied from 2n = 44 to 2n = 60, highlighting a high karyological diversity. NORs were on a single chromosome pair in Cernuella virgata and on multiple pairs in four Helicidae, representing ancestral and derived conditions, respectively. Heterochromatic C-bands were found on pericentromeric regions of few chromosomes, being Q- and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) negative. NOR-associated heterochromatin was C-banding and chromomycin A3 (CMA3) positive. Considering the available karyological evidence on Helicoidea and superimposing the chromosome data gathered from different sources on available phylogenetic inferences, we describe a karyotype of 2n = 60 with all biarmed elements as the ancestral state in the superfamily. From this condition, an accumulation of chromosome translocations led to karyotypes with a lower chromosome number (2n = 50–44). This process occurred independently in different lineages, while an augment of the chromosome number was detectable in Polygyridae. Chromosome inversions were also relevant chromosome rearrangements in Helicoidea, leading to the formation of telocentric elements in karyotypes with a relatively low chromosome count.
Agnese Petraccioli; Paolo Crovato; Fabio Maria Guarino; Marcello Mezzasalma; Gaetano Odierna; Orfeo Picariello; Nicola Maio. Chromosome Diversity and Evolution in Helicoide a (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora): A Synthesis from Original and Literature Data. Animals 2021, 11, 2551 .
AMA StyleAgnese Petraccioli, Paolo Crovato, Fabio Maria Guarino, Marcello Mezzasalma, Gaetano Odierna, Orfeo Picariello, Nicola Maio. Chromosome Diversity and Evolution in Helicoide a (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora): A Synthesis from Original and Literature Data. Animals. 2021; 11 (9):2551.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAgnese Petraccioli; Paolo Crovato; Fabio Maria Guarino; Marcello Mezzasalma; Gaetano Odierna; Orfeo Picariello; Nicola Maio. 2021. "Chromosome Diversity and Evolution in Helicoide a (Gastropoda: Stylommatophora): A Synthesis from Original and Literature Data." Animals 11, no. 9: 2551.
The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. This species has been threatened since ancient times by human activities and currently amounts to approximately 700 individuals distributed in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (Aegean and Ionian Sea) and Eastern Atlantic Ocean (Cabo Blanco and Madeira). In other areas, where the species is considered “probably extinct”, an increase in sporadic sightings has been recorded during recent years. Sightings and accidental catches of Mediterranean monk seals have become more frequent in the Adriatic Sea, mainly in Croatia but also along the coasts of Montenegro, Albania and Southern Italy. A Mediterranean monk seal pup was recovered on 27 January 2020 on the beach of Torre San Gennaro in Torchiarolo (Brindisi, Apulia, Italy). DNA was extracted from a tissue sample and the hypervariable region I (HVR1) of the mitochondrial DNA control region was amplified and sequenced. The alignment performed with seven previous published haplotypes showed that the individual belongs to the haplotype MM03, common in monk seals inhabiting the Greek islands of the Ionian Sea. This result indicates the Ionian Islands as the most probable geographical origin of the pup, highlighting the need to intensify research and conservation activities on this species even in areas where it seemed to be extinct.
Tatiana Fioravanti; Andrea Splendiani; Tommaso Righi; Nicola Maio; Sabrina Lo Brutto; Antonio Petrella; Vincenzo Caputo Barucchi. A Mediterranean Monk Seal Pup on the Apulian Coast (Southern Italy): Sign of an Ongoing Recolonisation? Diversity 2020, 12, 258 .
AMA StyleTatiana Fioravanti, Andrea Splendiani, Tommaso Righi, Nicola Maio, Sabrina Lo Brutto, Antonio Petrella, Vincenzo Caputo Barucchi. A Mediterranean Monk Seal Pup on the Apulian Coast (Southern Italy): Sign of an Ongoing Recolonisation? Diversity. 2020; 12 (6):258.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTatiana Fioravanti; Andrea Splendiani; Tommaso Righi; Nicola Maio; Sabrina Lo Brutto; Antonio Petrella; Vincenzo Caputo Barucchi. 2020. "A Mediterranean Monk Seal Pup on the Apulian Coast (Southern Italy): Sign of an Ongoing Recolonisation?" Diversity 12, no. 6: 258.
Francesco Bolinesi; Salvatore Viglietti; Nicola Maio; Fabio Maria Guarino. Presence of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia Mustelidae) in the Foce Sele-Tanagro Nature Reserve (Campania, Southern Italy). Biodiversity Journal 2019, 10, 121 -126.
AMA StyleFrancesco Bolinesi, Salvatore Viglietti, Nicola Maio, Fabio Maria Guarino. Presence of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia Mustelidae) in the Foce Sele-Tanagro Nature Reserve (Campania, Southern Italy). Biodiversity Journal. 2019; 10 (2):121-126.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Bolinesi; Salvatore Viglietti; Nicola Maio; Fabio Maria Guarino. 2019. "Presence of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia Mustelidae) in the Foce Sele-Tanagro Nature Reserve (Campania, Southern Italy)." Biodiversity Journal 10, no. 2: 121-126.
The Mediterranean land snail Theba pisana (Mollusca: Helicidae) is an introduced agricultural pest in many countries around the world, including Australia, Israel, USA and South Africa. In addition, this snail is an intermediate host of parasites of importance in both human and veterinary medicine. In this study, a natural population of T. pisana snails on the Domitian coast of Italy was surveyed following a mass mortality event. By light microscopy, 30% of the collected individuals showed in the calcium cells of the digestive gland the presence of hypertrophied nuclei containing eosinophilic to weakly basophilic inclusion bodies. Ultrastructural examination by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed nuclear inclusions constituted by a reticulated stroma into which unenveloped, roundish virus-like particles (38±4nm in diameter) were present. To the best of our knowledge this could be the first evidence for a virus-like agent infecting the gastropod T. pisana, which may open new biocontrol perspectives of the this pest worldwide.
Gionata De Vico; Rosarita Tatè; Nicola Maio; Andrea Costantino; Vincenzo Guida; Grazia Villari; Francesca Carella. Early evidence for a virus-like agent infecting the pest snail Theba pisana (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) in Southern Italy. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 2017, 148, 10 -13.
AMA StyleGionata De Vico, Rosarita Tatè, Nicola Maio, Andrea Costantino, Vincenzo Guida, Grazia Villari, Francesca Carella. Early evidence for a virus-like agent infecting the pest snail Theba pisana (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) in Southern Italy. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 2017; 148 ():10-13.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGionata De Vico; Rosarita Tatè; Nicola Maio; Andrea Costantino; Vincenzo Guida; Grazia Villari; Francesca Carella. 2017. "Early evidence for a virus-like agent infecting the pest snail Theba pisana (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) in Southern Italy." Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 148, no. : 10-13.
The use of aquatic invertebrates in biomedical research and as environmental sentinels has dramatically grown in recent decades, with an increased need in understanding of comparative pathology. The Unionids freshwater mussels are a group of worldwide distributed bivalves residing small ditches and ponds, lakes, canals and rivers, often used as animal test in eco-toxicological studies. Once one of the most abundant bivalve molluscs in ancient rivers around the world, now many of them are declining in many countries and consequently are nearly extinct in many areas. The causes of this decline are not fully understood but alteration and degradation of the freshwater habitat seemed to play a central role. To date, link causality to the observed losses during episode of mussel die-offs has been more difficult to establish, and disease and pathogen presence have been scarcely considered. In this article we provide a brief overview of unionids freshwater mussel conservation status, also describing reported diseases and pathogens and illustrating a few relatively well-documented studies.
Francesca Carella; Grazia Villari; Nicola Maio; Gionata DE Vico. Disease and Disorders of Freshwater Unionid Mussels: A Brief Overview of Recent Studies. Frontiers in Physiology 2016, 7, 489 .
AMA StyleFrancesca Carella, Grazia Villari, Nicola Maio, Gionata DE Vico. Disease and Disorders of Freshwater Unionid Mussels: A Brief Overview of Recent Studies. Frontiers in Physiology. 2016; 7 ():489.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesca Carella; Grazia Villari; Nicola Maio; Gionata DE Vico. 2016. "Disease and Disorders of Freshwater Unionid Mussels: A Brief Overview of Recent Studies." Frontiers in Physiology 7, no. : 489.
Nicola Maio; Massimo Giovannotti; Vincenzo Caputo Barucchi; Agnese Petraccioli; Francesco Pollaro; Fabio Maria Guarino; Andrea Splendiani; Roberta De Stasio; Gaetano Odierna. Haplotype characterization of a young stranded Common Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804): is the MEditerranean Sea a potential calving or nursery ground for the species? 2016, 27, 205 -208.
AMA StyleNicola Maio, Massimo Giovannotti, Vincenzo Caputo Barucchi, Agnese Petraccioli, Francesco Pollaro, Fabio Maria Guarino, Andrea Splendiani, Roberta De Stasio, Gaetano Odierna. Haplotype characterization of a young stranded Common Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804): is the MEditerranean Sea a potential calving or nursery ground for the species? . 2016; 27 (2):205-208.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicola Maio; Massimo Giovannotti; Vincenzo Caputo Barucchi; Agnese Petraccioli; Francesco Pollaro; Fabio Maria Guarino; Andrea Splendiani; Roberta De Stasio; Gaetano Odierna. 2016. "Haplotype characterization of a young stranded Common Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804): is the MEditerranean Sea a potential calving or nursery ground for the species?" 27, no. 2: 205-208.
Agnese Petraccioli; Teresa Capriglione; Mariastella Colomba; Paolo Crovato; Gaetano Odierna; Ignazio Sparacio; Nicola Maio. Comparative Cytogenetic Study in Four Alopiinae Door Snails (Gastropoda, Clausiliidae). Malacologia 2015, 58, 225 -232.
AMA StyleAgnese Petraccioli, Teresa Capriglione, Mariastella Colomba, Paolo Crovato, Gaetano Odierna, Ignazio Sparacio, Nicola Maio. Comparative Cytogenetic Study in Four Alopiinae Door Snails (Gastropoda, Clausiliidae). Malacologia. 2015; 58 (1-2):225-232.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAgnese Petraccioli; Teresa Capriglione; Mariastella Colomba; Paolo Crovato; Gaetano Odierna; Ignazio Sparacio; Nicola Maio. 2015. "Comparative Cytogenetic Study in Four Alopiinae Door Snails (Gastropoda, Clausiliidae)." Malacologia 58, no. 1-2: 225-232.
The Italian natural history museums are facing a critical situation, due to the progressive loss of scientific relevance, decreasing economic investments, and scarcity of personnel. This is extremely alarming, especially for ensuring the long-term preservation of the precious collections they host. Moreover, a commitment in fieldwork to increase scientific collections and concurrent taxonomic research are rarely considered priorities, while most of the activities are addressed to public events with political payoffs, such as exhibits, didactic meetings, expositions, and talks. This is possibly due to the absence of a national museum that would have better steered research activities and overall concepts for collection management. We here propose that Italian natural history museums collaborate to instate a “metamuseum”, by establishing a reciprocal interaction network aimed at sharing budgetary and technical resources, which would assure better coordination of common long-term goals and scientific activities.
Franco Andreone; Luca Bartolozzi; Giovanni Boano; Ferdinando Boero; Marco Bologna; Mauro Bon; Nicola Bressi; Massimo Capula; Achille Casale; Maurizio Casiraghi; Giorgio Chiozzi; Massimo Delfino; Giuliano Doria; Antonio Durante; Marco Ferrari; Spartaco Gippoliti; Michele Lanzinger; Leonardo Latella; Nicola Maio; Carla Marangoni; Stefano Mazzotti; Alessandro Minelli; Giuseppe Muscio; Paola Nicolosi; Telmo Pievani; Edoardo Razzetti; Giorgio Sabella; Marco Valle; Vincenzo Vomero; Alberto Zilli. Italian natural history museums on the verge of collapse? ZooKeys 2014, 456, 139 -146.
AMA StyleFranco Andreone, Luca Bartolozzi, Giovanni Boano, Ferdinando Boero, Marco Bologna, Mauro Bon, Nicola Bressi, Massimo Capula, Achille Casale, Maurizio Casiraghi, Giorgio Chiozzi, Massimo Delfino, Giuliano Doria, Antonio Durante, Marco Ferrari, Spartaco Gippoliti, Michele Lanzinger, Leonardo Latella, Nicola Maio, Carla Marangoni, Stefano Mazzotti, Alessandro Minelli, Giuseppe Muscio, Paola Nicolosi, Telmo Pievani, Edoardo Razzetti, Giorgio Sabella, Marco Valle, Vincenzo Vomero, Alberto Zilli. Italian natural history museums on the verge of collapse? ZooKeys. 2014; 456 (456):139-146.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFranco Andreone; Luca Bartolozzi; Giovanni Boano; Ferdinando Boero; Marco Bologna; Mauro Bon; Nicola Bressi; Massimo Capula; Achille Casale; Maurizio Casiraghi; Giorgio Chiozzi; Massimo Delfino; Giuliano Doria; Antonio Durante; Marco Ferrari; Spartaco Gippoliti; Michele Lanzinger; Leonardo Latella; Nicola Maio; Carla Marangoni; Stefano Mazzotti; Alessandro Minelli; Giuseppe Muscio; Paola Nicolosi; Telmo Pievani; Edoardo Razzetti; Giorgio Sabella; Marco Valle; Vincenzo Vomero; Alberto Zilli. 2014. "Italian natural history museums on the verge of collapse?" ZooKeys 456, no. 456: 139-146.
Lepidosaurs are frequently described as having highly kinetic skulls,and different forms of cranial kinesis have been described as being characteristic of their radiation. The model of amphikinesis proposed by Frazzetta (J Morphol 1962; 111:287???319, which was long considered a synapomorphy of the large suborder Sauria, is now much debated given its uncertain distribution among the various lizard taxa and the lack of data about its morphological correlates. In this article, we analyze the anatomical correlates of different forms of cranial kinesis, with particular regard to the putative saurian amphikinesis, describing the possible diverse skull movements of several species of European gekkotans (Hemidactylus turcicus, Mediodactylus kotschyi, and Tarentola mauritanica) and lacertids (Lacerta agilis, L. bilineata, Podarcis muralis, P. siculus, and Teira dugesii). Using serial and whole-mount histology, we found clear differences between gekkotans and lacertids in the structure of several cranial joints underlining the existence of two degrees of intracranial mobility. The lacertid species possess the anatomical features for streptostyly (quadrate joints) and metakinesis (parietal-supraoccipital and parabasisphenoid-pterygoid joints) and lack the anatomical correlates for mesokinesis (mobility of frontal-parietal and palatine-pterygoid joints) and amphikinesis (coupled mesokinesis, metakinesis, and streptostyly). In contrast, geckos present all the anatomical correlates for amphikinesis as described by the traditional quadratic crank model. Finally, we present a comprehensive summary of the different forms of squamate cranial kinesis, advancing two alternative hypotheses about the evolutionary origin of amphikinesis
Marcello Mezzasalma; Nicola Maio; Fabio Maria Guarino. To Move or Not to Move: Cranial Joints in European Gekkotans and Lacertids, an Osteological and Histological Perspective. The Anatomical Record 2013, 297, 463 -472.
AMA StyleMarcello Mezzasalma, Nicola Maio, Fabio Maria Guarino. To Move or Not to Move: Cranial Joints in European Gekkotans and Lacertids, an Osteological and Histological Perspective. The Anatomical Record. 2013; 297 (3):463-472.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarcello Mezzasalma; Nicola Maio; Fabio Maria Guarino. 2013. "To Move or Not to Move: Cranial Joints in European Gekkotans and Lacertids, an Osteological and Histological Perspective." The Anatomical Record 297, no. 3: 463-472.
Glycoconjugates secreted by the pedal system of the rayed limpet, Patella caerulea, were characterised in situ by histochemical and lectin-histochemical methods in individuals collected around the annual cycle, in November, March, and June. Stainings with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Alcian blue pH 2.5 (AB pH 2.5), Alcian blue pH 1.0 (AB pH 1.0), high-iron diamine-Alcian blue pH 2.5 and lectin binding assays with 9 lectins (Con A, WGA, succinylated-WGA, PNA, DBA, SBA, AAA, UEA-I, LTA) were performed. Four secreting cell types were observed in the sole, one in the peripheric region, and two in the sidewall. Glycoconjugate composition varied among cell types and also in one and the same cell type throughout the year. β-Elimination followed by PAS and AB pH 2.5 stainings indicated that most saccharidic chains were O-linked to the protein backbone. Secretion by sole and peripheric region was acidic, carboxylated and/or sulfated, whereas that of the sidewall was neutral. Glucosaminylated and 1,4-fucosylated residuals were predominant in the cell types along the year, 1,2-fucosylated residuals being observed only in the sidewall cells in June. Mannosylated and/or glycosylated residuals were observed in all cells mostly in November. Galactosylated/galactosaminylated residuals were present mostly in the sidewall cells and in the sole subepidermal mucocytes in June. Mannosylated and/or glycosylated residuals in November are probably linked to gonad maturation or to higher locomotion and foraging activity, whereas galactosaminylation in the sole cells and 1,2-fucosylation and glucosaminylation in the sidewall cells in June are linked to a prolonged stationary state, increasing water adsorption to counteract dehydration and/or to modulate microbial interactions
Agnese Petraccioli; Nicola Maio; Fabio Maria Guarino; Giovanni Scillitani. Seasonal variation in glycoconjugates of the pedal glandular system of the rayed Mediterranean limpet, Patella caerulea (Gastropoda: Patellidae). Zoology 2013, 116, 186 -196.
AMA StyleAgnese Petraccioli, Nicola Maio, Fabio Maria Guarino, Giovanni Scillitani. Seasonal variation in glycoconjugates of the pedal glandular system of the rayed Mediterranean limpet, Patella caerulea (Gastropoda: Patellidae). Zoology. 2013; 116 (3):186-196.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAgnese Petraccioli; Nicola Maio; Fabio Maria Guarino; Giovanni Scillitani. 2013. "Seasonal variation in glycoconjugates of the pedal glandular system of the rayed Mediterranean limpet, Patella caerulea (Gastropoda: Patellidae)." Zoology 116, no. 3: 186-196.
We describe the karyotype, location of nucleolus-organizing regions (NORs) and heterochromatin composition and distribution in Lepidochitona caprearum (Scacchi,
Gaetano Odierna; Agnese Petraccioli; Nicola Maio. Chromosomes of Lepidochitona caprearum (Scacchi, 1836) (Polyplacophora, Acanthochitonina, Tonicellidae) provide insights into Acanthochitonina karyological evolution. Comparative Cytogenetics 2012, 6, 397 -407.
AMA StyleGaetano Odierna, Agnese Petraccioli, Nicola Maio. Chromosomes of Lepidochitona caprearum (Scacchi, 1836) (Polyplacophora, Acanthochitonina, Tonicellidae) provide insights into Acanthochitonina karyological evolution. Comparative Cytogenetics. 2012; 6 (4):397-407.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGaetano Odierna; Agnese Petraccioli; Nicola Maio. 2012. "Chromosomes of Lepidochitona caprearum (Scacchi, 1836) (Polyplacophora, Acanthochitonina, Tonicellidae) provide insights into Acanthochitonina karyological evolution." Comparative Cytogenetics 6, no. 4: 397-407.
This paper summarizes more than four decades of cetacean research data collected by the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano and, between 1986 and 2003, by the Centro Studi Cetacei of the Società Italiana di Scienze Naturali. It is the result of the collaboration among scientists of several Italian museums. A detailed analysis concerning the amount and taxonomic representative- ness of the extant cetacean collections in Italian naturalistic museums and analogous institutions up until and including 2007 has been carried out. Adequately preserved and anatomically most significant specimens only have been taken into consideration. On the whole 1033 specimens representing 41 species are considered herein. They are housed in 53 institutions, of which the following ones hold the most important collections: the museums of Calci (Pisa), Genova, Firenze, Milano, Roma Zoology, Siena, Comiso and Napoli. All the surveyed institutions are listed, with a short introduction about their material and an inven- tory of it. Specimens are then arranged in systematic order and some further data are provided in a table for each species. Such tables report the items of each museum with regard to quantity, preserva- tion techniques and, whenever possible, collecting data. Finally, a comparative analysis of the results is presented under multiple profiles: historical, preservation techniques, suitability of the specimens for research, place of origin, and the importance of the Italian cetacean collections for research and education.
Luigi Cagnolaro; Michela Podestà; Marco Affronte; Paolo Agnelli; Fabrizio Cancelli; Ernesto Capanna; Rossella Carlini; Giorgio Cataldini; Bruno Cozzi; Gianni Insacco; Nicola Maio; Letizia Marsili; Paola Nicolosi; Vincenzo Olivieri; Roberto Poggi; Tommaso Renieri; Maurizio Wurtz; Craig A. Mayr; Dennis Yi-Shin Kuo; Gary L. Goldberg; June Yijuan Hou. Collections of extant cetaceans in Italian museums and other scientific institutions. A comparative review. Natural History Sciences 2012, 153, 145 .
AMA StyleLuigi Cagnolaro, Michela Podestà, Marco Affronte, Paolo Agnelli, Fabrizio Cancelli, Ernesto Capanna, Rossella Carlini, Giorgio Cataldini, Bruno Cozzi, Gianni Insacco, Nicola Maio, Letizia Marsili, Paola Nicolosi, Vincenzo Olivieri, Roberto Poggi, Tommaso Renieri, Maurizio Wurtz, Craig A. Mayr, Dennis Yi-Shin Kuo, Gary L. Goldberg, June Yijuan Hou. Collections of extant cetaceans in Italian museums and other scientific institutions. A comparative review. Natural History Sciences. 2012; 153 (2):145.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuigi Cagnolaro; Michela Podestà; Marco Affronte; Paolo Agnelli; Fabrizio Cancelli; Ernesto Capanna; Rossella Carlini; Giorgio Cataldini; Bruno Cozzi; Gianni Insacco; Nicola Maio; Letizia Marsili; Paola Nicolosi; Vincenzo Olivieri; Roberto Poggi; Tommaso Renieri; Maurizio Wurtz; Craig A. Mayr; Dennis Yi-Shin Kuo; Gary L. Goldberg; June Yijuan Hou. 2012. "Collections of extant cetaceans in Italian museums and other scientific institutions. A comparative review." Natural History Sciences 153, no. 2: 145.
Giovanni Bearzi; Nino Pierantonio; Marco Affronte; Draško Holcer; Nicola Maio; Giuseppe Notarbartolo Di Sciara. Overview of sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus mortality events in the Adriatic Sea, 1555-2009. Mammal Review 2011, 41, 276 -293.
AMA StyleGiovanni Bearzi, Nino Pierantonio, Marco Affronte, Draško Holcer, Nicola Maio, Giuseppe Notarbartolo Di Sciara. Overview of sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus mortality events in the Adriatic Sea, 1555-2009. Mammal Review. 2011; 41 (4):276-293.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Bearzi; Nino Pierantonio; Marco Affronte; Draško Holcer; Nicola Maio; Giuseppe Notarbartolo Di Sciara. 2011. "Overview of sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus mortality events in the Adriatic Sea, 1555-2009." Mammal Review 41, no. 4: 276-293.
The present paper shows the results of chromosome banding and rDNA-FISH study performed on several specimens of different populations of Patella caerulea, Patella rustica and Patella ulyssiponensis. The taxonomic attribution of specimens was ascertained by the molecular phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. P. caerulea and P. rustica had 2n = 18 chromosomes with first seven of biarmed pairs and the remaining two uniarmed pairs. P. ulyssiponensis had 2n = 16 with all biarmed chromosomes. Ag-NOR loci were on the short arms of the first metacentric pair in the three studied limpets, whereas they showed a different pattern of heterochromatin distribution and composition. A chromosome mosaicism was observed in several P. caerulea specimens, which exhibited an unpaired metacentric element and loss of a telocentric pair. The obtained results suggest that in the genus Patella specific diversification was accompanied by variations in heterochromatin distribution and composition and reduction of chromosome number by Robertsonian centric fusion
Agnese Petraccioli; Fabio Maria Guarino; Nicola Maio; Gaetano Odierna. Molecular cytogenetic study of three common Mediterranean limpets, Patella caerulea, P. rustica and P. ulyssiponensis (Archaeogastropoda, Mollusca). Genetica 2009, 138, 219 -225.
AMA StyleAgnese Petraccioli, Fabio Maria Guarino, Nicola Maio, Gaetano Odierna. Molecular cytogenetic study of three common Mediterranean limpets, Patella caerulea, P. rustica and P. ulyssiponensis (Archaeogastropoda, Mollusca). Genetica. 2009; 138 (2):219-225.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAgnese Petraccioli; Fabio Maria Guarino; Nicola Maio; Gaetano Odierna. 2009. "Molecular cytogenetic study of three common Mediterranean limpets, Patella caerulea, P. rustica and P. ulyssiponensis (Archaeogastropoda, Mollusca)." Genetica 138, no. 2: 219-225.
Sixteen populations of Cyrtopodion kotschyi from the Italian range of the species (central and southern Apulia and eastern Basilicata) were sampled to infer conservation guidelines. The species is still common, particularly in Lower Murgia where large populations are found along stone walls bordering farms, except for the suburbs of Bari, where it is probably extinct. The main causes of species' decline are urbanisation, modern agriculture, trasformation of landscape and use of biocide that menace most populations. A status of “vulnerable” is suggested for the Italian stock. A conservation plan should include habitat protection, abundance and genetic monitoring, and the creation of corridors to allow genetic exchange. The protection and restoration of the rural stone walls network would help to reach these purposes.
Giovanni Scillitani; Orfeo Picariello; Nicola Maio. Distribution and conservation status ofCyrtopodion kotschyiin Italy (Reptilia, Gekkonidae). Italian Journal of Zoology 2004, 71, 107 -111.
AMA StyleGiovanni Scillitani, Orfeo Picariello, Nicola Maio. Distribution and conservation status ofCyrtopodion kotschyiin Italy (Reptilia, Gekkonidae). Italian Journal of Zoology. 2004; 71 (sup002):107-111.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Scillitani; Orfeo Picariello; Nicola Maio. 2004. "Distribution and conservation status ofCyrtopodion kotschyiin Italy (Reptilia, Gekkonidae)." Italian Journal of Zoology 71, no. sup002: 107-111.
A missing specimen of a small rodent, originally described by Oronzio Gabriele Costa in 1844 as the new species Mus meridionalis, has recently come to light at the Zoological Museum of the Federico II University in Naples. Cavazza (1911) carried out the last direct analysis of the specimen and confirmed its status. On the basis of some original drawings, its general description and measurements other Authors later supposed M. meridionalis to be synonymous with Micromys minutus. We re‐examined the specimen ‐ one of the two used by O. G. Costa to describe the species ‐ 90 years later and confirm its synonymy with M. minutus. The specimen has been designated as lectotype and represents the first certain report in southern Italy of M. minutus, whose present distribution, south of the Po Valley, is also discussed.
Paolo Agnelli; Armando Nappi; Nicola Maio. Conclusive remarks about the synonymy ofMus meridionalisO. G. Costa, 1844 (Mammalia, Rodentia, Muridae). Italian Journal of Zoology 2004, 71, 353 -357.
AMA StylePaolo Agnelli, Armando Nappi, Nicola Maio. Conclusive remarks about the synonymy ofMus meridionalisO. G. Costa, 1844 (Mammalia, Rodentia, Muridae). Italian Journal of Zoology. 2004; 71 (4):353-357.
Chicago/Turabian StylePaolo Agnelli; Armando Nappi; Nicola Maio. 2004. "Conclusive remarks about the synonymy ofMus meridionalisO. G. Costa, 1844 (Mammalia, Rodentia, Muridae)." Italian Journal of Zoology 71, no. 4: 353-357.
Ferrante Imperato, apothecary and naturalist, carried out early herpetological studies in Naples on the basis of direct observation and experimentation. He created a laboratory‐museum comprising over 12,000 specimens of naturalia including numerous amphibians and reptiles. In 1599, he published the Historia Naturale, in which he first described accurately two species of Amphibia and five of Reptilia. He also investigated the reproductive biology of Salamandra salamandra, Vipera aspis, and Chalcides cbalcides.
Nicola Maio; Enrica Stendardo. Pioneering herpetological researches of Ferrante Imperato. Italian Journal of Zoology 2004, 71, 209 -212.
AMA StyleNicola Maio, Enrica Stendardo. Pioneering herpetological researches of Ferrante Imperato. Italian Journal of Zoology. 2004; 71 (sup2):209-212.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicola Maio; Enrica Stendardo. 2004. "Pioneering herpetological researches of Ferrante Imperato." Italian Journal of Zoology 71, no. sup2: 209-212.
Sixteen populations of Cyrtopodion kotschyi from the Italian range of the species (central and southern Apulia and eastern Basilicata) were sampled to infer conservation guidelines. The species is still common, particularly in Lower Murgia where large populations are found along stone walls bordering farms, except for the suburbs of Bari, where it is probably extinct. The main causes of species' decline are urbanisation, modern agriculture, trasformation of landscape and use of biocide that menace most populations. A status of “vulnerable” is suggested for the Italian stock. A conservation plan should include habitat protection, abundance and genetic monitoring, and the creation of corridors to allow genetic exchange. The protection and restoration of the rural stone walls network would help to reach these purposes.
Giovanni Scillitani; Orfeo Picariello; Nicola Maio. Distribution and conservation status ofCyrtopodion kotschyiin Italy (Reptilia, Gekkonidae). Italian Journal of Zoology 2004, 71, 107 -111.
AMA StyleGiovanni Scillitani, Orfeo Picariello, Nicola Maio. Distribution and conservation status ofCyrtopodion kotschyiin Italy (Reptilia, Gekkonidae). Italian Journal of Zoology. 2004; 71 (sup1):107-111.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Scillitani; Orfeo Picariello; Nicola Maio. 2004. "Distribution and conservation status ofCyrtopodion kotschyiin Italy (Reptilia, Gekkonidae)." Italian Journal of Zoology 71, no. sup1: 107-111.