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Davide Di Franco

  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (4): 571-580

    Maria Stella Colomba, Fabio Liberto, Agatino Reitano, Rosario Grasso, Davide Di Franco & Ignazio Sparacio
    On the presence of Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771) and Sinanodonta woodiana woodiana (Lea, 1834) in Sicily (Mollusca Bivalvia)

    ABSTRACT
    In this paper we report on the presence of two non-native and invasive species of bivalve mollusks in Sicily: Sinanodonta woodiana woodiana (Lea, 1834) (Bivalvia Unionidae) native to East Asia and Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771) (Bivalvia Dreissenidae) native to the Ponto-Caspian area, with a particular focus on how the presence of these alien species can lead to imbalances in the delicate equilibrium of Sicilian freshwater invertebrates and, above all, does threaten the existence of Unio elongatus gargottae Philippi, 1836 an island's native bivalve suffering from strong rarefaction.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (2): 281-284

    Joachim Langeneck & Davide Di Franco
    Further records of two uncommon Crustaceans in Italian seas: Maja goltziana D'Oliveira, 1888 (Decapoda Brachyura Majidae) and Xaiva biguttata (Risso, 1816) (Decapoda Brachyura Portunidae)

    ABSTRACT
    The presence of Maja goltziana D'Oliveira, 1888 (Decapoda Brachyura Majidae) is confirmed in the central Tyrrhenian Sea and in the Tuscan archipelago. Xaiva biguttata (Risso, 1816) (Decapoda Brachyura Portunidae) is first recorded from the Western Sardinian coast and the Eastern Sicilian coast. The presence and spread of M. goltziana are considered a consequence of climatic changes. The presence of X. biguttata in Italian seas was probably underestimated, and its supposed rarity should be reassessed.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (3): 585-595

    Agatino Reitano, Davide Di Franco & Danilo Scuderi
    Three new species of Discopsis De Folin, 1870 from the Plio-Pleistocene of Sicily (Gastropoda Tornidae)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.3.585.595
    https://www.zoobank.org/FD07B593-54D2-4195-B53E-B650BF78ACDA

    ABSTRACT
    Three new species, placed in the genus Discopsis de Folin, 1870 (Gastropoda Tornidae) are here described as new from the Plio-Pleistocene of Sicily on the basis of morphological characters. The first two, D. destefanii n. sp. and D. vivianorum n. sp., derived from sandy clayey silt outcropping along the shore of the left side of the mouth of Nocella river (Castellammare Gulf, North-western Sicily). Discopsis destefanii n. sp has been tentatively assigned to Imperator europaeum De Stefani, 1888 at first attempt. After deeper researches, discrepancies between the original description and its relative drawing emerged, which rendered questionable the correct interpretation of the De Stefani’s species and the possible institution of a neotype to stabilize taxonomy of this controversial species. But the lack of type materials to ascertain characters typical of this species induced us to consider it as unaccepted. As a consequence, comparisons between D. destefanii n. sp. and I. europaeum become superfluous on account of the above reported reasons. The other one, D. philippii n. sp., has been collected from the Pleistocene marly sand/calcarenite succession outcropping along the left shore of the Ossena river (Francofonte, Syracuse, Sicily).

  • 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, 13 (1): 0171-0186

    Agatino Reitano, Gianbattista Nardi, Fabio Liberto, Rossana Sanfilippo, Davide Di Franco, Roberto Viviano & Ignazio Sparacio
    New data on genus Acicula Hartmann, 1821 (Gastropoda Aciculidae) in Sicily (Italy) with the description of two new taxa
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.202.13.1.171.186
    https://www.zoobank.org/References/2c2bca92-e0f0-4ec6-8bfd-7eabbad2d318

    ABSTRACT
    Two new taxa belonging to the genus Acicula Hartmann, 1821, are described: A. giglioi n. sp., endemic from the Nebrodi Chain (north Sicily), and A. giglioi peloritana n. ssp., endemic from Peloritani Ridge (north-eastern Sicily). Their shells are characterized by the shape of the peristome: flattend, well separated from the last whorl of the spire, arched in lateral view and more or less strongly turned backwards in its upper part, crossed by several superficial striae. The two subspecific taxa differ from each other in the different character of the shell (height and diameter of shell, ratio H/D, number of striae in the penultimate whorl) and their distribution (Nebrodi and Peloritani mountains respectively). In addition, Acicula szigethyannae Subai, 1977 (Gastropoda Aciculidae), already known in peninsular Italy (from eastern Liguria to southern Calabria) and in eastern Sicily, is now confirmed as present in all central-eastern Sicily.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 11 (4): 0993-0999

    Agatino Reitano, Massimo Cresti & Davide Di Franco
    A new species of the Alvania pagodula group (Monterosato, 1890) from the Pliocene of Italy: A. agathae n. sp. (Gastropoda Rissoidae)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2020.11.4.993.999
    https://www.zoobank.org/References/4eb8612f-4d88-4200-be2f-e418e148694b

    ABSTRACT
    Alvania agathae n.sp. is described from the Pliocene of Italy. The new species is based on 17 fossil shells found in Pliocene layers of Sicily and Tuscany and belongs to the genus Alvania (Risso, 1826). Alvania agathae n.sp. is relatively close to A. spinosa (Monterosato, 1890), grouped within Alcidiella Cossmann, 1921, usually treated as a subgenus or synonym of Alvania. The description and the comparison with other Mediterranean similar fossil and living species are here reported. The possible phylogeny of the new, as well as related species included A. spinosa, is also discussed.