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Michele Viganò

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (1): 033-038

    Andrea Corso, Ottavio Janni, Maurizio Pavesi & Michele Viganò
    Update to the status of Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) and Trithemis kirbyi Selys, 1891 for Italy and Central Mediterranean basin (Odonata Libellulidae)

    ABSTRACT
    An overview of the records of Pantala flavescens and Trithemis kirbyi for the Sicilian Channel islands and mainland Sicily, with comments on their possible status in this area, is provided. In light of the number of observed individuals, P. flavescens is likely to be regular in the studied area, with up to 30 individuals recorded per year since autumn 2012. Trithemis kirbyi, conversely, is only known from few scattered records, so that its status in the area remains to be elucidated. No evidence of reproductive behaviour nor of actual breeding in this area was hitherto found for any of the two species.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (1): 285-296 - MONOGRAPH

    Andrea Corso, Lorenzo Starnini, Michele Viganò & Justin J.F.J. Jansen
    A quantitative morphological geographical study from a widely distributed raptor: the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Fleischer, 1818 (Falconiformes Falconidae)
    Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 16th-18th 2014, Cefalù-Castelbuono (Italy)

    ABSTRACT
    Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Fleischer, 1818 (Falconiformes Falconidae) is considered a monotypic species. F. naumanni pekinensis Swinhoe, 1870 was described from Beijing, China. Although considered valid for most of the 20th century, some authors treated F. naumanni pekinensis as a synonym of F. naumanni naumanni, and subsequent authors have since regarded “pekinensis” as an invalid taxon. Recent field observations in Asia and Europe and museum studies have confirmed diagnosable differences in (fresh) adult males. Comparing morphology between nominate “naumanni ” and “pekinensis”, with the latter invariably showing more extensive grey on the wing coverts and darker and more saturated colours on both the underparts and upperparts, with all grey areas, including the hood, being a darker, deeper lead-grey. Females often have more extensive dark markings and a better-defined dark eye-line but apparently are indistinguishable in most cases. This study aims to re-evaluate F. naumanni pekinensis and to discuss geographic variation in the subspecies in a widely distributed raptor.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (1): 271-284 - MONOGRAPH

    Michele Viganò & Andrea Corso
    Morphological differences between two subspecies of Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata (Pallas, 1764) (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)
    Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 16th-18th 2014, Cefalù-Castelbuono (Italy)

    ABSTRACT
    Four subspecies of Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata Pallas, 1764) (Passeriformes Muscicapidae) are usually recognized within the Western Palaearctic. We carefully analysed two of these in order to determine and quantify their morphological differences: M. striata striata (inhabiting most of continental Europe east to the Ural mountains and a small portion of north-western Africa) and M. striata tyrrhenica Schiebel, 1910 (breeding on the Tyrrhenian islands of Corsica, Sardinia and the Tuscan Archipelago). We examined total of 58 Spotted Flycatcher specimens from Italian museums (of which 18 M. striata tyrrhenica) and obtained data about morphological features such as wing point, length and formula, and bill length, width and depth; furthermore, we investigated plumage colour using a spectrometer. Biometric measurements and an analysis of plumage streaking confirmed the presence of important differences between the two taxa; the colorimetric analysis did not produce the expected results, although it had some interesting implications concerning the preservation of museum specimens and their use in studies of plumage colour.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 3 (4): 459-478

    Andrea Corso, Ottavio Janni, Maurizio Pavesi, Michael Sammut, Arnold Sciberras & Michele Viganò
    Annotated checklist of the dragonflies (Insecta Odonata) of the islands of the Sicilian Channel, including the first records of Sympetrum sinaiticum Dumont, 1977 and Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) for Italy

    ABSTRACT
    In this paper we report data on the historical and recent status of all dragonfly species (Insecta, Odonata) recorded for the Sicilian Channel islands: the Pelagie islands and Pantelleria, politically belonging to Italy, and Maltese Archipelago islands. The number of species known for the former group of islands raises from 7 to 20. Of these, 2 are new for the Italian fauna, namely the Desert Darter Sympetrum sinaiticum, noticed through likely sightings starting from 2010 on Lampedusa, and confirmed through voucher specimens collected in April 2012, and the Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens, first noticed in October 2012 on Lampedusa and Linosa; while Calopteryx sp. cf. haemorrhoidalis, Ischnura genei, Aeshna mixta, Orthetrum nitidinerve, Orthetrum coerulescens anceps, Crocothemis erythraea, Sympetrum striolatum, S. meridionale, Brachythemis impartita, Trithemis annulata and T. kirbyi, already known for Italy, are new for the Italian islands of the Sicilian channel. The Maltese fauna includes at present 18 recorded species; the previously reported Trithemis arteriosa is to be deleted from the list, since the concerned specimen upon re-examination proved to be T. annulata.