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Maria Stella Colomba

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (4): 927-936

    Fabio Liberto, Andrea Corso, Roberto Viviano, Maria Stella Colomba & Ignazio Sparacio
    A new species of the genus Milax Ellis, 1926 (Gastropoda Pulmonata Milacidae) from Lampedusa Island (Sicilian Channel, Italy)

    ABSTRACT
    Milax lopadusanus n. sp. (Gastropoda Pulmonata Milacidae) is described from Lampedusa Island, the biggest of the islands of the Pelagie Archipelago (Sicilian Channel, Italy). The new species is characterized by: greyish-brown body, with distinct yellowish keel; conical, smooth stimulator, with a raised crest along one side and spermatophore characterized by conic anterior part, covered on one side by bifurcated spines with the two apexes thorny; posterior part cylindrical, covered by smaller and most dense spines on all sides. Additional faunistic, biological and taxonomical notes are provided.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (1): 279-310 - MONOGRAPH

    Ignazio Sparacio, Tommaso La Mantia, Maria Stella Colomba, Fabio Liberto, Agatino Reitano & Salvo Giglio
    Qanat, Gebbie and water source: the last refuge for the malacologica freshwater fauna in Palermo (Sicily, Italy)

    ABSTRACT
    The surroundings of Palermo were characterized, over the centuries, by the presence of many natural environments of great ecological and faunal importance. These environments were placed in a context characterized by minimal and sustainable urban development and large agriculture areas, dedicated to the development of tree crops such as citrus and orchards. These crops were supported by an imposing irrigation system that, using natural resources such as watercourses, wells and springs, collected and distributed water in soils through tanks, gebbie, qanat, irrigation channels (saje), etc. Fresh water mollusks, like many other animal and vegetable organisms, spread from the natural freshwater environments in this artificial water system, thus creating a unique and varied ecosystem. The subsequent urban development of the city of Palermo and the destruction of many of those natural environments has further enhanced the ecological role of the artificial freshwater systems as an important refuge for the native fauna and flora. In the present study, we report on freshwater molluscs observed in the territory of Micciulla, a large relict area occupied almost entirely by an old citrus, now located inside the city of Palermo. In this area there are some springs, an extensive array of artificial freshwater to irrigate the crops, and the qanat Savagnone located in the “Camera dello Scirocco”. The results obtained by census of different populations of freshwater mollusks confirm the importance of these environments and the growing role they play as the last refuges for fauna and flora originally linked to natural humid environments.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (3): 365-384

    Fabio Liberto, Agatino Reitano, Salvatore Giglio, Maria Stella Colomba & Ignazio Sparacio
    Two new Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily (Italy)

    ABSTRACT
    In the present paper the Authors describe two new Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily (Italy): Muticaria cyclopica n. sp. from SE-Sicily and Siciliaria calcarae orlandoi n. ssp. from W-Sicily. The two new species are described by virtue of their distinctive conchological and anatomical features. Additional biological and taxonomic notes are provided.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (1): 481-490 - MONOGRAPH

    Fabio Liberto, Maria Stella Colomba, Agatino Reitano, Salvatore Giglio & Ignazio Sparacio
    The endemic door snail of Marettimo (Egadi Islands, Sicily, Italy): Siciliaria (Siciliaria) scarificata (Pfeiffer, 1857) (Pulmonata, Clausiliidae)
    Proceedings of the Eighth Malacological Pontine Meeting, October 4th-5th, 2014 - San Felice Circeo, Italy

    ABSTRACT
    The door snail Siciliaria (Siciliaria) scarificata (L. Pfeiffer, 1856) (Pulmonata Clausiliidae) is redescribed. The species is endemic to Marettimo (Egadi Islands, Sicily, Italy) and it is the only one of the genus Siciliaria Vest, 1867 living in this island. Siciliaria scarificata can be morphologically identified by the presence of a high columellar lamella, ascending in a double “S” curve, a wide anterior upper palatal plica, long basal plica, sulcalis present; clausilium plate distally less narrowed; genitalia are characterized by very short bursa copulatrix duct; short diverticulum of bursa copulatrix; penial papilla conic and short. Notes about its taxonomy, biology and conservation status are also provided.

  • 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, 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, 3 (4): 571-582

    Maria Stella Colomba, Fabio Liberto, Agatino Reitano, Walter Renda, Giuseppe Pocaterra, Armando Gregorini & Ignazio Sparacio
    Molecular studies on the genus Medora H. et A. Adams, 1855 from Italy (Gastropoda Pulmonata Clausiliidae)

    ABSTRACT
    In Italy, the genus Medora H. et A. Adams, 1855 includes two species: M. italiana (Küster, 1847) and M. dalmatina (Rossmässler, 1835). In particular, populations ascribed to M. italiana were, and still are, the focus of several works aiming at better understanding the real taxonomic value of these entities and defining their presence on the Italian territory. In order to contribute to the improvement of the current knowledge on the organization of the genus at different taxonomic levels, several populations were investigated by analysing 16S rDNA, COI and ITS2 gene partial sequences. Phylogenetic reconstructions were obtained by the Maximum Likelihood algorithm. Although further studies are needed, preliminary data suggest that the genus Medora shows a much more complex and articulate differentiation than hypothesized so far.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 3 (3): 251-258

    Maria Stella Colomba, Agatino Reitano, Fabio Liberto, Salvatore Giglio, Armando Gregorini & Ignazio Sparacio
    Additional data on the genus Muticaria Lindholm, 1925 with description of a new species (Gastropoda Pulmonata Clausiliidae)

    ABSTRACT
    Morphological analysis and molecular genetic studies conducted on the genus Muticaria Lindholm, 1925 (Pulmonata Clausiliidae) in Sicily allowed to identify a new species which is described in the present paper.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 3 (3): 201-228

    Fabio Liberto, Salvatore Giglio, Maria Stella Colomba & Ignazio Sparacio
    New and little known land snails from Sicily (Mollusca Gastropoda)

    ABSTRACT
    In the present paper are reported new and little known land snails from Sicily (Mollusca Gastropoda). Particularly, Platyla similis (Reinhardt, 1880) (Aciculidae) and Rumina saharica Pallary, 1901 (Subulinidae) are first recorded in the island; new taxonomic data, useful for a better systematic classification, are provided on two little-known taxa, Lampedusa lopadusae nodulosa Monterosato, 1892 (Clausiliidae) and Cernuella (Cernuella) tineana (Benoit, 1862) (Hygromiidae); and finally, a new species of slug, Tandonia marinellii n. sp. (Milacidae), currently known from North-Western Sicily, is described.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 2 (2): 073-084

    Maria Stella Colomba & Armando Gregorini
    Genetic diversity analysis of the durum wheat Graziella Ra, Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn. (Poales, Poaceae)

    ABSTRACT
    For the first time, the durum wheat Graziella Ra was compared to four Italian durum wheat varieties (Cappelli, Grazia, Flaminio and Svevo) and to Kamut in order to preliminary characterize its genome and to investigate genetic diversity among and within the accessions by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) and α-gliadin gene sequence analysis. The main aim of the study was an attempt to determine the relationship between the historic accession Graziella Ra and Kamut which is considered an ancient relative of the durum subspecies. In addition, nutritional factors of Graziella Ra were reported. Obtained results showed that (i) both AFLP and SSR molecular markers detected highly congruent patterns of genetic diversity among the accessions showing nearly similar efficiency; (ii) for AFLPs, percentage of polymorphic loci within accession ranged from 6.57% to 19.71% (mean 12.77%) and, for SSRs, from 0% to 57.14% (mean 28.57%); (iii) principal component analysis (PCA) of genetic distance among accessions showed the first two axes accounting for 58.03% (for AFLPs) and 61.60% (for SSRs) of the total variability; (iv) for AFLPs, molecular variance was partitioned into 80% (variance among accessions) and 20% (within accession) and, for SSRs, into 73% (variance among accessions) and 27% (within accession); (v) cluster analysis of AFLP and SSR datasets displayed Graziella Ra and Kamut into the same cluster; and (vi) molecular comparison of α-gliadin gene sequences showed Graziella Ra and Kamut in separate clusters. All these findings indicate that Graziella Ra, although being very similar to Kamut, at least in the little part of the genome herein investigated by molecular markers, may be considered a distinct accession showing appreciable levels of genetic diversity and medium-high nutritional qualities.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 2 (1): 027-034

    Fabio Liberto, Walter Renda, Maria Stella Colomba, Salvatore Giglio & Ignazio Sparacio
    New records of Testacella scutulum Sowerby, 1821 (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Testacellidae) from Southern Italy and Sicily

    ABSTRACT
    In the present paper we report on Testacella scutulum recently recorded for a few regions of Southern Italy and Sicily. An updated distribution map, anatomical remarks and feeding behaviours of collected specimens are related in order to extend and improve general knowledge on these terrestrial molluscs.

  • 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, 14 (1): 0241-0254

    Fabio Liberto, Maria Stella Colomba, Agatino Reitano, Roberto Viviano & Ignazio Sparacio
    On the taxonomy of Siciliaria grohmanniana (Rossmässler, 1836) (Gastropoda Clausiliidae)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2023.14.1.241.254

    ABSTRACT
    In the present paper the taxonomy of Siciliaria grohmanniana (Rossmässler, 1836) (Gastropoda Clausiliidae) is revised through the study of literature data and type series. Clausilia decollata Potiez et Michaud, 1838, C. grohmanniana var. minor Schmidt, 1868, C. grohmanniana var. crassilabris Monterosato, 1894, C. grohmanniana var. densa Monterosato, 1894, C. grohmanniana panormitana Paulucci, 1878 and C. subdiaphana Benoit, 1882 are confirmed synonyms of S. grohmanniana grohmanniana. A neotype is selected for C. panormitana. A lectotype is selected for Clausilia rubra Benoit, 1882 and S. grohmanniana addaurae De Mattia, Reier et Haring, 2021 is considered its junior synonym.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 10 (4): 527-546 - MONOGRAPH

    Fabio Liberto, Maria Stella Colomba & Ignazio Sparacio
    New data on the genus Albinaria (Pulmonata Clausiliidae) from the Astypalea Island and neighboring islets (Dodecanese Archipelago, Greece)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2019.10.4.527.546

    ABSTRACT
    In this work, the authors investigated the genus Albinaria Vest, 1867 (Pulmonata Clausiliidae) from the Astypalea Island and the nearby islets of Ofidoussa and Kounoupi (Dodecanese Archipelago, Greece). The two endemic subspecies known, Albinaria (Albinaria) brevicollis astropalia (O. Boettger, 1883) and A. (A.) brevicollis maltezana Nordsieck, 2015 are redescribed and illustrated for shell and genital morphology. Furthermore A. (A.) brevicollis cf. sica Fuchs et Käufel, 1936 is reported for the first time from the north-east Astypalea, and two new subspecies, A. (A.) brevicollis granoi n. ssp. and A. (A.) brevicollis cristinae n. ssp. are here described from North-West Astypalea and Ofidoussa Islet, respectively.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 10 (4): 517-526 - MONOGRAPH

    Maria Stella Colomba, Armando Gregorini, David P. Cilia, Fabio Liberto, Agatino Reitano & Ignazio Sparacio
    Molecular studies on the genus Muticaria Lindholm, 1925 (Pulmonata, Clausiliidae) from the Maltese Islands
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2019.10.4.517.526

    ABSTRACT
    The present study has been carried out with focus on Muticaria macrostoma group from the Maltese Islands to characterize and define, from a molecular standpoint, their identity and relationships with topotypical Sicilian Muticaria (i.e. M. syracusana, M. neuteboomi, M. cyclopica and M. brancatoi). Molecular study included amplification of 16S rDNA (ca. 300 bp) and COI (ca. 700 bp) gene partial sequences which were used for single and combined gene analysis by Bayesian Inference to achieve the phylogenetic reconstructions with the highest posterior probabilities. Obtained results showed that, within M. macrostoma group, the taxa mamotica and oscitans can be elevated to the specific rank, thus bringing to three the Maltese Muticaria species, i.e. M. macrostoma, M. mamotica, and M. oscitans; whereas scalaris may be considered a subspecies, or even a synonim. Present findings confirmed the validity of the Sicilian species M. syracusana, M. neuteboomi, M. cyclopica and M. brancatoi. Furthermore, the populations of the Sicilian and Maltese Muticaria seem to belong to two different levels of differentiation. Finally, we have also examined some Lampedusa populations but the position of this genus still remains to be clarified. In particular, it is confirmed that Lampedusa and Muticaria are different genera, but at present, the relations within the Lampedusa group need further studies to be analysed in details.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 10 (4): 499-516 - MONOGRAPH

    Agatino Reitano, Fabio Liberto, Maria Stella Colomba, Ignazio Sparacio & Rossana Sanfilippo
    Notes on some interesting species of Mollusca Gastropoda of the Monterosato collection preserved into the “Museo di Scienze della Terra” of Catania (Italy)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2019.10.4.499.516

    ABSTRACT
    In the year 2008, the then named Department of Geological Sciences of the University of Catania came into possession of malacological material belonging to Tommaso Di Maria, baron of Allery and marquis of Monterosato (Palermo, 1841–1927), an important malacologist specialized in the systematics of continental and mostly marine and fossil molluscs from the Mediterranean Sea and north east Atlantic. The small collection also includes interesting lots of shells belonging to other Sicilian naturalists such as the abbot Giuseppe Brugnone (Caltanissetta, Italy) and Pietro Calcara (Palermo, Italy). In this malacological collection, some interesting taxa little known and difficult taxonomic interpretations have been found. The rediscovery of the Aghatina mandralisci Calcara, 1840 and Lachesis retifera Brugnone, 1880 probable lectotypes, and the taxonomy of Helix schwerzenbachi Calcara, 1841 and Helix cupani Calcara, 1842 (syntypes) are discussed. Particularly, A. mandralisci is proposed as a synonym of Allopeas gracilis (Hutton, 1834), H. schwerzenbachi is proposed as a synonym of Punctum (Punctum) pygmaeum (Draparnaud, 1801), and H. cupani is proposed as a synonym of Xerotricha conspurcata (Draparnaud, 1801).