Genetic variation of the dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus (Pisces, Coryphaenidae) in the Mediterranean Sea

Molecular diversity of dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) shows the merging of endemic and widespread haplotypes in the Mediterranean Sea

Molecular data on Coryphaena hippurus (Linnaeus, 1758) from western and central Mediterranean Sea were reported and compared. The aim of the study was to study the mitochondrial molecular structuring of the species at different geographical scales: localities, sub-basins, and oceans. Results show the absence of a sharp population structure inside the Mediterranean Sea, and the isolation of the Mediterranean dolphinfishes from those inhabiting the Atlantic Ocean

First evidence of underwater sounds emitted by the living fossils Lepidurus lubbocki and Triops cancriformis (Branchiopoda: Notostraca)

Sound is the most effective means of communication in marine and freshwater ecosystems. However, no data about acoustic emissions from non-malacostracan crustaceans are currently available, so their ability to produce sounds is unknown. For the first time, this study investigated the sound produced by 2 tadpole shrimp species,Triops cancriformisandLepidurus lubbocki.L. lubbockiindividuals were collected from a natural temporary pond in Sicily (Italy), whereasT. cancriformisindividuals were obtained from eggs contained in sediment from a rock pool in Sardinia (Italy). In the laboratory, experimental tanks with the animals (one species at a time) were acoustically monitored. Both species prod…

First evidence of an egg-laying attempt of feral Trachemys scripta (Schoepff, 1792) in Sicily (Lake Pergusa, Italy)

First evidence of an egg-laying attempt of feral Trachemys scripta in Sicily

New Gynandromorph Records for Chirocephalus diaphanus (Branchiopoda, Anostraca, Chirocephalidae)

We report and describe new Chirocephalus diaphanus Prévost, 1803 gynandromorphs from Tunisia and review the literature of anostracan gynandromorphy and other, possibly associated, somatic aberrations, with comments on their evolutionary significance. Our material has three specimens that are specifically deformed on the left side of the head.

The crustacean fauna of Bayan Onjuul area (Tôv Province, Mongolia) (Crustacea: Branchiopoda, Copepoda, Ostracoda)

Due to the wide extension of the country and to the shortness of the ice-free season, the inlandwater crustacean fauna of Mongolia is, to date, incompletely known. However, based on the available literature, Mongolian inland waters appear to be characterised by a high biodiversity, including some taxa still waiting to be described. Novel data on the branchiopod, copepod, and ostracod crustaceans from central Mongolian steppe, from the “Tuul” and “Umard goviin guveet-Khalhiin” hydrographical basins, are presented herein. While large branchiopods, some anomopod families, and copepods are well-represented in the collected samples, ostracods are rare, and the anomopod family Chydoridae is appar…

Molecular systematics of two Mediterranean blenniid species from the genus Salaria (Perciformes, Blenniidae): Salaria basilisca and S. pavo

Are there autochthonous Ferrissia (Mollusca: Planorbidae) in the Palaearctic? Molecular evidence of a widespread North American invasion of the Old World

In the last few decades, findings of freshwater limpets belonging to the genus Ferrissia have been frequent and widely distributed throughout the Palaearctic and beyond. The widespread presence of a Nearctic alien taxon was proved, but no consensus was achieved about the possible existence of autochthonous Ferrissia taxa in the area, an occurrence which would be supported by the presence of gastropod fossils attributed to the genus throughout Eurasia and North Africa. In order to test the hypothesis of a possible persistence of autochthonous Ferrissia taxa in the Palaearctic to the present day, all the published data on the genetic diversity of Ferrissia populations occurring in the area we…