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Pasquale Micali

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (3): 703–708

    Pasquale Micali & Daniel L. Geiger
    Additions and corrections to the Scissurellidae and Anatomidae (Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda) of the Mediterranean Sea, with first record of Sinezona semicostata Burnay & Rolán, 1990

    ABSTRACT
    New information on the scissurellids fauna, Scissurellidae and Anatomidae (Gastropoda Vetigastropoda), in the Mediterranean Sea is presented. Scissurella azorensis Nolt, 2008, is confirmed from several localities in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Sinezona semicostata Burnay et Rolán, 1990, a species until now known from Cape Verde and Canary Islands, is reported for the first time in the Mediterranean, based on the record of 12 specimens at Linosa island (Sicily Channel), 35 m. Anatoma crispata (Fleming, 1828) does not occur in the Mediterranean; earlier misidentified records are corrected. Anatoma eximia Seguenza, 1880, appears to be a cold water guest species at the type locality Gallina, Reggio Calabria.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (2): 521-528

    Pasquale Micali, Italo Nofroni, Riccardo Giannuzzi Savelli, Francesco Pusateri & Stefano Bartolini
    On Parthenina monozona (Brusina, 1869) and its variability (Gastropoda Heterobranchia Pyramidellidae)

    ABSTRACT
    Study of type material of Parthenina monozona (Brusina, 1869), preserved at Croatian Natural History Museum (CNHM), consisting of four specimens, three of which well preserved, has proved that this species is senior synonym of Parthenina intermixta (Monterosato, 1884). Brusina’s name has priority over monterosato’s name, because it is older. The polymorphism of this species is discussed.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 6 (1): 415-430 - MONOGRAPH

    Pasquale Micali, Italo Nofroni, Riccardo Giannuzzi Savelli, Francesco Pusateri & Stefano Bartolini
    Coen’s Pyramidellidae (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia): a revision of types
    Proceedings of the Eighth Malacological Pontine Meeting, October 4th-5th, 2014 - San Felice Circeo, Italy

    ABSTRACT
    Coen introduced several new nominal taxa in the Pyramidellidae and in most Mollusca families. The Coen types, now at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, have been examined; most of them are holotypes or lectotypes. Some lectotypes were already selected by van Aartsen, as stated in the label, therefore we have not done any further selection of types. The new pyramidellid species have been practically identified and named by Monterosato, and were all found in shell grit collected on the beach of Lido (a small island in front of Venice). None of the Coen’s new species seems to be valid.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 5 (4): 499–504

    Pasquale Micali
    On the presence of Notodiaphana atlantica Ortea, Moro et Espinosa, 2013 in the Mediterranen Sea, with notes on Retusa multiquadrata Oberling, 1970 and Cylichna mongii (Audouin, 1826) (Cephalaspidea Cylichnidae)

    ABSTRACT
    Notodiaphana atlantica Ortea, Moro et Espinosa, 2013 (Cephalaspidea Cylichnidae) is reported from various localities of Western and Central Mediterranean. Records of Retusa multiquadrata Oberling, 1970 are listed and discussed, most of them are considered to be based on N. atlantica. Possible synonymy between N. atlantica and R. multiquadrata is discussed, but former name is preferred. Based on the study of material from Suez channel, Bulla mongii Audouin, 1826 seems to be based on a very young specimen of the common species Liloa curta (A. Adams in Sowerby, 1850), but as Audouin’s name is older, then Bulla curta shall be considered synonym of Bulla mongii. Liloa mongii (Audouin, 1826) new combination is than proposed.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 5 (2): 209-212

    Pasquale Micali, Italo Nofroni & Carlo Smriglio
    Odostomia crassa Jeffreys, 1884 junior synonym of Tibersyrnola unifasciata (Forbes, 1844), new combination (Gastropoda Heterobranchia, Pyramidellidae)

    ABSTRACT
    Following the comparison with photos of type material of Odostomia crassa Jeffreys, 1884, (Gastropoda Pyramidellidae) deposited at the British Museum of Natural History, and further observations on specimens from whole Mediterranean, O. crassa is proved to be junior synonym of Eulimella unifasciata (Forbes, 1844). The latter is here placed in genus Tibersyrnola Laws, 1937 on the basis of the constant presence of flutings inside the whorls.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 4 (3): 415-418

    Pasquale Micali, Walter Renda & Salvatore Ventimiglia
    New report of Aperiovula juanjosensii Pérez et Gómez, 1987 (Gastropoda Ovulidae) for the Sicilian coast

    ABSTRACT
    One living specimen of Aperiovula juanjosensii Pérez et Gómez, 1987 (Gastropoda Ovulidae) was found in the Strait of Messina (North-East Sicily), at Punta Faro at a depth of about 90 m. The specimen was found in the fishing rest, in a sample rich of Myriapora truncata (Pallas, 1776), but with presence of Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826) and Eunicella cavolinii (Esper, 1791). The gorgonian Villogorgia bebrycoides (Koch, 1887), indicated as host in literature, even if should be present in the area, has not been found. A. juanjosensii was described for the area of Canary Islands and Atlantic Marocco and, up to now, only shown for a location of the Italian coast, without additional data.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 3 (2): 151-152

    Pasquale Micali & Alberto Villari
    New report of Neolepton discriminatum Palazzi et Villari, 2001 for Ustica island (Bivalvia, Veneroida, Neoleptonidae)

    ABSTRACT
    A complete specimen and two loose valves of Neolepton discriminatum Palazzi et Villari, 2001 were found in Ustica island, at Punta Spalmatore at a depth of about 30 m. Up to now, this species was known only for the original description, based on specimens collected inside submarine caves of the coast near Taormina (North-Eastern Sicily). In the same sample of shell grit it was encountered also a specimen of Skeneoides digeronimoi La Perna, 1998, a species the description of which is based on material collected inside a cave of Ustica, on the opposite side of the island, about four miles away from Punta Spalmatore.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 2 (4): 217-220

    Riccardo Giannuzzi Savelli, Pasquale Micali, Italo Nofroni & Francesco Pusateri
    Odostomia brevicula Jeffreys, 1883 junior synonym of Turbonilla amoena (Monterosato, 1878) (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, Pyramidellidae)

    ABSTRACT
    Based on the study of the type material of Odostomia brevicula Jeffreys, 1883, deposited in the United States National Museum Washington (USNM), this doubtful taxon appears to be based on two immature shells of Turbonilla amoena (Monterosato, 1878) of which it shall be considered a junior synonym.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (4): 0817-0821

    Danilo Scuderi & Pasquale Micali
    Megastomia conspicua (Alder, 1850) (Gastropoda Pyramidellidae) parasitic on Sabella spallanzanii (Gmelin, 1791) (Polychaeta Sabellidae) with notes on the modality of interaction
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.4.817.821

    ABSTRACT
    The finding of living specimens of the pyramidellid gastropod Megastomia conspicua (Alder, 1850) (Gastropoda Heterobranchia Pyramidellidae) attached to the tube of the fanworm Sabella spallanzanii (Gmelin, 1791) (Polychaeta Sabellidae) allowed observations on the parasitic activity of the mollusc on this latter. Moreover, the external soft parts of the mollusc were described and figured for the first time. Hypothesis on the peculiar color of both the shell and mollusc of this species and its mimetic role were finally furnished.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (2): 0427-0434

    Danilo Scuderi, Morena Tisselli & Pasquale Micali
    Melanella cyclopia n. sp. (Gastropoda Eulimidae) from Eastern Sicily
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.2.427.434

    ABSTRACT
    Melanella cyclopia n. sp. (Gastropoda Eulimidae) is described based on tens of shells found in shell grit taken in various localities located in a short length of Northern coast of Catania (Eastern Sicily, Ionian Sea), between 20 and 45 m depth. Findings include a liven taken specimen, whose soft parts have been observed and drawn. The new species is characterized by a well-rounded, swollen, solid shell similar to some Mediterranean congeners, but peculiar on account of some protoconch and shell details and a different external morphology of the soft parts. Differences from similar species from Eastern Atlantic, Red Sea, as well as Indo-Pacific are hereafter discussed.