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Agatino Reitano

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (1): 401-411 - MONOGRAPH

    Maria Stella Colomba, Armando Gregorini, Fabio Liberto, Agatino Reitano, Salvatore Giglio & Ignazio Sparacio
    The genus Erctella Monterosato, 1894: new molecular evidence
    Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 16th-18th 2014, Cefalù-Castelbuono (Italy)

    ABSTRACT
    In this paper we report on new molecular data (COI sequences) of different and representative populations of Erctella mazzullii (De Cristofori et Jan, 1832), E. cephalaeditana Giannuzzi-Savelli, Oliva et Sparacio, 2012 and E. insolida (Monterosato, 1892) (Pulmonata, Stylommatophora, Helicidae). Present results are compared with those from recent literature and the current knowledge on phylogenetic relationships among Helicidae pulmonate gastropods is reviewed. Obtained results suggest that: i) Cornu Born, 1778 and Cantareus Risso, 1826 are separate and well distinct from Helix Linnaeus, 1758; ii) Erctella Monterosato, 1894 is a valid and independent genus rather than a subgenus of Cornu; iii) Cornu aspersum (O.F. Müller, 1774) is a group of species (i.e. "aspersum" group) whose taxonomic status needs to be defin further studies; iv) Cornu, Cantareus and Erctella might belong to the same tribe that, still, remains to be defined.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 1: 007-014

    Maria Stella Colomba, Armando Gregorini, Fabio Liberto, Agatino Reitano, Salvatore Giglio & Ignazio Sparacio
    Molecular analysis of Muticaria syracusana and M. neuteboomi from Southeastern Sicily, Italy (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Clausiliidae)

    ABSTRACT
    The genus Muticaria Lindholm, 1925, is currently distributed either in Southeastern Sicily or in the Maltese islands and comprises the species M. syracusana (Philippi, 1836), M. neuteboomi Beckmann, 1990 and M. macrostoma (Cantraine, 1835). For the first time, we report a molecular study on the topotypicous populations of M. syracusana and M. neuteboomi carried out on fragments of the ribosomal 16S rDNA subunit and the cytochrome oxydase I (COI) mitochondrial genes by Neighbour Joining, Maximum Likelihood, Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Inference algorithms. Our results revealed the existence of nucleotide-sequence divergence (Dxy: 5% for 16S rDNA and 12% for COI sequences) between the two taxa.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (2): 319-326 - MONOGRAPH

    Agatino Reitano, Davide Di Franco & Danilo Scuderi
    Further new taxonomical and paleontological notes on Haliotis stomatiaeformis Reeve, 1846 (Gastropoda Haliotidae)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.2.319.326

    ABSTRACT
    The finding of new both recent and fossil materials of the Mediterranean small abalone Haliotis stomatiaeformis Reeve, 1846 (Gastropoda Haliotiidae) allowed a more detailed study of this rare species. Analogies between the paleo-environment in which the fossil material is contextualized and the peculiar environment where nowadays it still lives are made on account of the faunal assemblage comparisons. Data on the morphology of the protoconch and the external soft parts chromatism and a new iconography complete the information set on this “neglected” species.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (1): 063-070

    Agatino Reitano
    Rediscovery of “Stylotrochus” gemmula Seguenza, 1876 from the Early Pleistocene of Italy with notes on the genus Calliotropis Seguenza, 1902 (Gastropoda Seguenzioidea)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.1.63.70

    ABSTRACT
    Recent field research in the Pleistocene marine sedimentary layers, exposed near Forte dei Centri, Salice (Messina, Sicily), has allowed to identify six shells, wich could be attribuited to “Stylotrochus” gemmula Seguenza, 1876 due to their peculiar morphological features. This species is here placed in the genus Calliotropis Seguenza L., 1902 (Gastropoda Seguenzioidea) and re-described according to a modern taxonomical approach. A specimen previously reported as Turcicula distincta Seguenza, 1879 for the Gelasian of Emilia-Romagna is here attributed to Calliotropis gemmula comb. nov., thus extending its distribution through the Early Pleistocene of the Mediterranean. Furthermore, the distribution of Calliotropis species in the Mediterranean Plio-Pleistocene is here briefly discussed.