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Biodiversity Journal 2022, 13 (3): 481-752

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0481-0482
    Laurence Fazan
    Zelkova abelicea (Lam.) Boiss., 1879 (Ulmaceae Rosales)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.I.II
  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0483-0494

    Fayza Belmokhtar, Rahma Belmokhtar, Ahmed Kerfouf & Mohammed Bey Baba Hamed
    Morphometric analysis of three Mediterranean limpets Patella caerulea Linnaeus, 1758, P. rustica Linnaeus, 1758 and the endangered P. ferruginea Gmelin, 1791 (Gastropoda Patellidae) from the Algerian West Coast
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.483.494

    ABSTRACT
    The characterization of Patella caerulea Linnaeus, 1758, P. rustica Linnaeus, 1758 and P. ferruginea Gmelin, 1791 (Gastropoda Patellidae) has been a source of debate and controversy since they were proposed as species. This was due to the high shell variability, and some of them display intermediate characteristics. In the present work, samples of three species of Patella were examined and compared using several morphometric characters describing the shell and soft parts. 575 individuals of P. caerulea, 132 individuals of P. rustica, and 45 of P. ferruginea were sampled from Algerian West Coast. The biometry of the three species has been studied: length (L), width (Wi), height (H) of the shell and the weight (W) of every individual. A strong positive correlation was noted between these parameters for all three species. These parameters were used also for the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The three Patella species showed substantial morphology variability. P. rustica was easily recognized due to small brown spots near the shell apex. P. ferruginea (lamarckii form, rouxii form) were well identified from the other Patella species but for P. caerulea, a high morphological variability was noted between us in studied localities.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0495-0514

    Mohammed Biche, Khaoula Aroua, Nesrine Medani, Rachida Belguendouz, Lalia Boukhobza, Insaf Zaabta, Kaci Zakia, Lydia Dahmani, Cansu Ercan, Denis Achiri Tange, Mehmet Bora Kaydan & Abderahmane Chebli
    The armored scales (Homoptera Diaspididae) of Algeria
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.495.514

    ABSTRACT
    Diaspididae (Hemiptera Coccomorpha) is one of the largest and most diverse family of scale insects and it contains many agricultural parasites worldwide. The study collected data from those previously reported in the literature over the period of 123 years. The inventory includes armored scales collected from field samples in several regions of Algeria as well as from a bibliographic survey. A critical review of the literature on armored scales in Algeria revealed the presence of 114 species, with mainly a palearctic distribution belonging to 48 genera distributed in four tribes. The Diaspidini tribe is the most abundant (50 species, 24 genera), followed by the Aspidiotini (47 species, 18 genera) and the Parlatorini (13 species, 4 genera) and finally the Odonaspidini (2 genera, 2 species). According to our survey, conducted between 1987 and 2020, 79 species were recorded, belonging to 37 genera distributed in four tribes. Compared to the Maghreb countries, Algeria has a significant coccidological richness in relation to the total number of species.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0515-0530

    Andrea Lombardo & Giuliana Marletta
    The order Aplysiida (Gastropoda Heterobranchia) along the central-eastern coast of Sicily (Ionian Sea, Mediterranean)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.515.530

    ABSTRACT
    In the present study, the species belonging to the order Aplysiida found from 2017 to 2021 along the central-eastern coast of Sicily are shown. For each species, data on morphology, abundance, location and depth, substrates and habitats, seasonality and further remarks are here provided. Through the present study, it appeared that a total of 9 species is present along the surveyed area. Of these, 2 species (Aplysia sp. 1, Aplysia sp. 2) are probably new findings for the Mediterranean Basin, while 1 species (Petalifera cf. petalifera) represents a new record for the investigated area. Through this study, it was also highlighted that along the central-eastern coast of Sicily, the most common species is Aplysia dactylomela, an allochthonous invasive species. Finally, the predatory activity of the polychaete Hermodice carunculata against the two aplysiid species, A. dactylomela and A. fasciata, was documented.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0531-0585 - MONOGRAPH

    Pietro Lo Cascio, Giovanni Altadonna & Philippe Ponel
    Diversity and distribution of beetles in a Mediterranean volcanic archipelago: an updated checklist of the Coleoptera of the Aeolian Islands (Sicily, Italy)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.531.585

    ABSTRACT
    This paper provides a faunal inventory of the Coleoptera of the Aeolian Islands, including both the list of 669 species so far recorded and its update with 192 new records for the archipelago. Sericoderus brevicornis Matthews, 1890 (Corylophidae) is new for Italy; for Anthicus crinitus La Ferté-Sénectère, 1849 (Anthicidae) the second record in Italy is given; Pangus scaritides (Sturm, 1818), Tachyura curvimana (Wollaston, 1854) (Carabidae), Arthrolips convexiuscula (Motschulsky, 1849) (Corylophidae), Dignomus irroratus (Kiesenwetter, 1851) (Ptinidae), Megaloscapa punctipennis (Kraatz, 1856) (Staphylinidae), Aclees taiwanensis Kôno, 1933, Cryphalus numidicus Eichhoff, 1878 and Hypothenemus leprieuri (Perris, 1866) (Curculionidae) are new for Sicily; Migneauxia crassiuscula (Aubé, 1850) (Latridiidae) and Phloeotribus cristatus (Fauvel, 1889) (Curculionidae) are confirmed for this region. For 193 species new distributional data are also given; among these latter, some concern the narrow endemics Firminus massai Arnone, Lo Cascio et Grita, 2014 (Scarabaeidae), Catomus aeolicus Ponel, Lo Cascio et Soldati, 2020, Leptoderis zelmerloewae Ferrer, 2015, Nalassus pastai Aliquò, Leo et Lo Cascio, 2006 (Tenebrionidae) and Pseudomeira aeolica Bellò, Pesarini et Pierotti, 1997 (Curculionidae). The inventory highlights an increasing abundance of alien species, some of which have only recently been reported at national or regional scale, that evidently spread rapidly even in isolated environments such as an archipelago. Some biogeographical considerations on the beetle fauna of these islands are given in the discussion.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0587-0596

    Nesma Abir Daas, Asma Boukari & Noureddine Soltani
    The wedge clam Donax trunculus Linnaeus, 1758 (Bivalvia Donacidae) as bioindicator for monitoring of the Annaba gulf (Algeria): measurements of lipid and malondialdehyde rates during the reproduction (Spring 2021)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.587.596

    ABSTRACT
    The present study aimed to assess the potential impact of pollution on total lipid levels as well as the response of a lipid peroxidation biomarker, malondialdehyde (MDA) in a sentinel and edible species, Donax trunculus Linnaeus, 1758 (Bivalvia Donacidae). The samples were collected during the major spawning phase (spring) over three months (March, April, May) in year 2021 from two selected sites in the Gulf of Annaba: El Battah (reference site), and Sidi Salem (polluted site). Biochemical analyses showed a significant increase in total lipid levels determined in the mantle of D. trunculus in individuals from El Battah compared to those from Sidi Salem. The highest values are observed during the first two months (March, April), which corresponds to the accumulation of reserves at the beginning of reproduction. The lowest rates are recorded at the end of the breeding season (May) corresponding to the period of emission of gametes which is privileged by the increase in temperature. Sex differences reveal an accumulation of reserves and a greater energy allocation in females compared to males during reproduction. Measurement of MDA indicates an increase in rates recorded in individuals from Sidi Salem compared to those from El Battah. Moreover, sex differences demonstrate a greater response in females compared to males. Overall, the results obtained demonstrated that the Gulf of Annaba is subjected to stress conditions from anthropogenic origin that are more pronounced in the populations of D. trunculus from Sidi Salem, linked to the level of pollution of this site. Thus, D. trunculus appears to be an appropriate sentinel species for the assessment of ecotoxicological risk in the Gulf of Annaba.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0601-0612 - MONOGRAPH

    Teodora Marius Teofilova
    Conservation significance and habitats variety in the Western Rhodope Mts. as a factor for the diversity of the ground beetles (Coleoptera Carabidae)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.601.612

    ABSTRACT
    This study concerns the Western Rhodope Mts. (Southern Bulgaria), their conservationally significant habitats and the carabid beetles occurring in them. The available significant habitats are systematized and the threats to the existence of the important carabid species are assessed. Connections of the carabids with specific habitats and the attachment to particular environmental conditions are discussed. Anthropogenic impact in the area is also assessed. The main threats and problems related to the degradation and destruction of natural habitats and, hence, decreasing the conservation significance of the area, are established.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0613-0616 - MONOGRAPH

    Vera D’Urso, Antonino Puglisi, Rosario Grasso & Maria Teresa Spena
    Notes on the Sicilian cave-dwelling species of Auchenorrhyncha (Insecta Rhynchota)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.613.616

    ABSTRACT
    Up to now, there are very few species of troglobitic Auchenorrhyncha identified for Europe outside the Macaronesian region belonging to the Cixiidae family. From the biospeleological point of view, Sicily is a very interesting island because the presence of both limestone caves and lava tubes that allow a variety of specialized taxa belonging to different groups of Invertebrates. Concerning Auchenorrhyncha, at least two obligately cave-dwelling species belonging to Ibleocixius D’Urso et Grasso, 2009 and Cixius Latreille, 1804 genera inhabit the Sicilian caves. Ibleocixius is a troglobitic genus, endemic from Sicily with a unique species, Ibleocixius dunae, living in a limestone cave of the Hyblean plateau (South-eastern Sicily). Recently, a new troglobitic taxon (under description) has been found in some lava tubes on the Etna volcano; it belongs to Cixius genera, to C. pallipes-wagneri group. Both taxa live on the roots that penetrate the caves. They have a different palaeogeographic history. Ibleocixius dunae is a paleoendemic taxon showing strong degree of troglomorphy, and the genus differs from Cixius and related taxa in a different arrangement of several characters which are also present in other taxa. Cixius n. sp. is a neoendemic taxon showing morphological characters close to those of the epigean species Cixius wagneri sensu Holzinger et al. (2003).

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0617-0621 - MONOGRAPH

    Francesco Giuseppe Galluzzo, Valentina Cumbo, Gaetano Cammilleri, Andrea Macaluso, Antonio Vella, Gianluigi Maria Lo Dico, Vincenzo Ferrantelli & Salvatore Seminara
    Comparison between aluminum bioaccumulation in samples of the Muscovy duck Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Aves Anatidae) from the city and the country
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.617.621

    ABSTRACT
    Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758) is an anatid originating from South America, easily adapted to the European climate. In this work, feathers and blood were used as samples from living individuals to evaluate the bioaccumulation of aluminum. The determination of Al accumulation was performed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The analysis was conducted in the “Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia” (Palermo, Italy) with validated methods (accredited by ACCREDIA) for biodiversity monitoring and analysis of fauna samples. Samples were collected from a total of twenty individuals of C. moschata, ten samples coming from a park in the city center of Palermo (Southern Italy, Parco d’Orleans), and ten from the field of Monreale (Palermo). Blood from city samples showed a higher level of aluminum than city samples; feathers have had an opposite trend. Al median value determined in blood was ±4,27259 mg/Kg and ±2,61815 mg/Kg respectively for the city (Palermo) and Monreale. In feathers, the median value was ± 402,24218 for samples collected in city and ±1260,75603 for samples collected in Monreale. The concentration levels of Al in feathers were higher in Monreale samples than in Parco D’Orleans, probably because the individuals that live in nature attend the reservoirs where pollutants are poured.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0623-0626 - MONOGRAPH

    Valentina Cumbo, Francesco Giuseppe Galluzzo, Gaetano Cammilleri, Antonio Vella, Andrea Macaluso, Ilaria Rizzuto, Antonino Pisano, Vincenzo Ferrantelli & Salvatore Seminara
    Testing heavy metals biomonitoring through birds of prey as top predators
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.623.626

    ABSTRACT
    The Experimental Zooprofilactic Institute of Sicily (Italy) has great opportunities and validated methods (accreditated by an important national control unit like ACCREDIA) for biodiversity monitoring and analysis of fauna samples. Fauna recovery centers of Bosco di Ficuzza (Palermo) and Colli San Rizzo (Messina) routinely send dead specimens to the Institute to perform every category of analysis. Valuating heavy metals content in top predators is a strong instrument for territory and biodiversity health monitoring to take actions for management. In this study some specimen members of Buteo buteo (Linneus, 1758) species were investigated for Pb and Cd content. The methodology used for determination was performed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. Results show that in sample 1 Pb levels exceed cut-off values in organs: the liver accumulate a concentration of 4.668 mg/Kg and the muscle 0.200 mg/Kg. For sample 2, Pb and Cd were absent in both organs. Sample 3 reveals a very high concentration of Pb in the liver, with a value of 2.928 mg/Kg; this is probably due to a reiterated presence in the diet of prey killed by lead pellets. Liver of sample 3 accumulated even an high concentration of Cd (3.948 mg/Kg) justified by prey consumption, as rock partridge, rats or rabbits that probably feed on plants treated with agrochemicals.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0627-0639 - MONOGRAPH

    Aya Algadry, Esra’a Dorman, Essam Bourass & Khaled Etayeb
    The role of constructed wetlands in the conservation of biodiversity: a case study on birds diversity in Al-Hadba treatment plant, Tripoli, Libya
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.627.639

    ABSTRACT
    Urbanization as a result of human population increase has led to the depletion of natural resources and the destruction of natural wetlands. In contrast, the establishment of treatment and purification of plants has led to the creation of new wetlands (constructed wetlands). Although these new ecosystems established for the treatment of municipal wastewater, and subject to operational and maintenance disturbances, many studies have demonstrated that numbers of bird species using such sites are reasonably higher than expected. The present study has investigated the role of Al-Hadba treatment plant in the conservation of biodiversity and the diversity of birds in particular. This paper emphasizes that, this area is one of the stopover sites for migrating birds, especially aquatic birds, ducks and long-legged waders. A total of 74 species were recorded during the period of study. Moreover, this study observed the breeding of four species; Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris, Cattle egret Bubulcus ibis, Moorhen Gallinula chloropus, Black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus. Some factors such as drought, predation and disturbance were affecting the abundance of individuals at the study area.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0641-0650 - MONOGRAPH

    Antonino Dentici
    Araneofauna (Arachnida Araneae) of Mount Pellegrino (Sicily, Italy). Fourth contribution to knowledge of the Sicilian spider fauna
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.641.650

    ABSTRACT
    In this work I report on the presence of some Araneae species new or interesting for Sicily and a preliminary checklist of the Araneofauna of the mountain massif “Monte Pellegrino” located in the territory of Palermo (Sicily, Italy) including: Altella lucida (Simon, 1874) (Dictnydae), Agyneta saxatilis (Blackwall, 1844) (Linyphiidae), Anatolidion gentile (Simon, 1881) (Theridiidae) and Heliophanus auratus C.L. Koch, 1835 (Salticidae). Additional biological, literature, chorotype and distribution are indicated.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0651-0662 - MONOGRAPH

    Marco Masseti
    On the elusive origin of the wild goat, Capra aegagrus Erxleben, 1777, on the island of Montecristo (Italy)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.651.662

    ABSTRACT
    The origin of the wild goats currently living on the small island of Montecristo in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy) is still discussed. Their phenotypic characteristics, described as those of the Asia Minor wild goat, also called pasang or Bezoar goat, Capra aegagrus Erxleben, 1777, would point to an initial nucleus introduced around the Neolithic age. There are, however, also those who hypothesise the importation of the ungulates by the monks who colonised Montecristo from the 5th century AD onwards. Some authors are instead of the opinion that a small herd of goats from the - not better identified - kingdom of Montenegro was introduced by the Crown Prince of the House of Savoy, Vittorio Emanuele III, at the end of the 19th century, with the aim of restocking the local big game. It seems that this rumour began to spread in the aftermath of his marriage to Jelena (Elena), the daughter of the ruler of Montenegro. If that was indeed the case, the question would arise as to what kind of domestic or wild goats these animals from Montenegro might have been. In the latter case, the debate should involve the improbable diffusion of the Asia Minor pasang in the Balkan peninsula.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0665-0672

    Kamila Gacem & Farid Mezerdi
    Diversity of aphids and their natural enemies on peach orchards (Prunus persica L. Batsch) in Lakhdaria at Bouira (Algeria)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.665.672a

    ABSTRACT
    Few insects that live on peach, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, were considered pests. Aphids were one of the major pests there. To change the product to organic, we should know more about the pests and their natural enemies to use better organic decisions. The monitoring was conducted from March to May 2019 in a peach orchard in Lakhdaria at Bouira. Six species of aphids were considered important pests on peach trees. aphids attacked the peach orchard, and they were feeding on the young leaves, causing stunted growth. Natural enemies of aphids were essential agents in balancing their populations and an alternative to using insecticides to control these pests. Six predator species were identified: three ladybugs (Coleoptera Coccinellidae), two hoverflies (Diptera Syrphidae), one species of Neuroptera (Chrysopidae) and three parasitoids (Braconidae).

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0673-0684

    Emanuele Mancini, Francesco Tiralongo, Fabio Collepardo Coccia, Daniele Pieracci, Enea Tentoni & Stefano Cerioni
    The wels catfish Silurus glanis Linnaeus, 1758 (Actinopterygii Siluriformes) in Italian waters: a review with first report in the Bolsena lake (Italy)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.673.684

    ABSTRACT
    The wels catfish Silurus glanis Linnaeus, 1758 (Actinopterygii Siluriformes) is the largest freshwater fish in the European waters and is considered a generalist predator capable of rapidly adapting both to new habitat and to new prey sources. This alloctonous species affects various ecological groups and its presence can generate adverse effects on native fish communities. In Italian waters, S. glanis was introduced since the first decades of the XX century and to date is reported in several rivers and within some lakes. In August 2020, a single specimen of S. glanis was caught by trammel net off Bolsena lake by professional fishermen; the specimen has been donated to the C.I.R.S.Pe. (Italian Fishery Research and Studies Center). In laboratory the individual was identified, photographed, and the stomach content was analyzed. In this work, we report the presence of S. glanis in the Bolsena lake, the largest volcanic lake in Europe and besides we provide a systematic review on the presence of the species in the Italian freshwater.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0685-0693

    Ingrid N. Visser, Krista van der Linde, Sarah E. Richard, Tracy E. Cooper, Terry M. Hardie & Rick Bout
    Can a leopard seal, Hydrurga leptonyx de Blainville, 1820 (Mammalia Phocidae), change its spots? (Spoiler alert: at least one adult female can)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.685.693

    ABSTRACT
    Leopard seals, Hydrurga leptonyx de Blainville, 1820 (Mammalia Phocidae) have variable spots on their pelage, allowing for identification of individuals. We monitored a subset of spots (n=40) on the face and neck of an adult female leopard seal residing in New Zealand. We compared images that were 1,701 days (~4 years and 8 months) apart. The use of scars, acquired from wounds, allowed for cross-matching and confirmation that this was the same individual. We investigated if the spots were more visible when the animal was wet or dry. We found that all 40 spots were visible during this time period and when the animal was both wet and dry. However, they were better defined, and therefore more visible, when the pelage was wet. Additionally, we identified a number of new and emerging spots, none of which masked or obscured the 40 aforementioned spots. These changes illustrate that diligence must be applied when matching individuals over long periods, to ensure that mis-matches and missed matches do not occur. Our findings do not invalidate photo-ID studies for leopard seals, rather they show that this is a robust system of identification, as spots were not lost over time and spot patterns were an effective tool for both individual identification and observing pigmentation change.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0695-0706

    Hiba Rezzag Mahcene, Mohamed Said Ramdani, Abdelhak Sebbih, Tarik Meziane, Françoise Denis, Ouided Maamcha, Patrick Georges Thiery Moanono & Tarek Daas
    Diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in the Algerian East Coast
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.695.706

    ABSTRACT
    Marine biodiversity play a fundamental role in the ecology and functioning of benthic communities. The study of the structure of benthic macroinvertebrate peoples is an excellent tool for evaluating the impact of human activities on the ecological quality of lotic environments. However, little data is available on the diversity, structure and ecology of benthic macroinvertebrates of the Algerian east coast. The main purpose of this work is to present an inventory of the current faunistic data general at three sites of study in Algerian east coastline: El-Kala, Annaba and Skikda. After doing the morphometric analysis of all the individuals, this study allowed to the identification of several species of macroinvertebrates. The variations in the distribution of these macroinvertebrates at different sites are related to external factors (temperature, salinity, dissolved O2), that would have an impact on the abundance of the species of marine fauna of the Algerian east coastline.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0707-0716

    Gianfranco Curletti & Uitsiann Ong
    Contribution to knowledge of the genus Agrilus Curtis, 1825 (Coleoptera Buprestidae) of Taiwan. Part 1
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.707.716
    https://www.zoobank.org/References/06076fc3-4a7a-45c6-bd40-c84c10662b52

    ABSTRACT
    Years of research carried out by one of the Authors on the Taiwanese Buprestidae fauna, led to the discovery several taxa unknown to science. In this first contribution, seven new species belonging to the genus Agrilus Curtis, 1825 are described and illustrated: A. coccinellus n. sp., A. fongmuorum n. sp., A. pylades n. sp., A. convexivertex n. sp., A. clavulatus n. sp., A. rhusphagus n. sp., A. firmianae n. sp.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0717-0728

    Alberto Villari & Danilo Scuderi
    Mainly Mediterranean Rissoellidae (Heterobranchia Acteonimorpha?) with the description of Rissoella camillae n. sp.
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.717.728
    https://www.zoobank.org/References/a02f63e2-eb8e-43b8-80d9-a86bc0b47252

    ABSTRACT
    The present paper is focused on the Mediterranean representatives of the neglected Gastropod family Rissoellidae, but some other not Mediterranean species are treated and figured for comparisons. This family comprises species of minute dimensions and almost smooth and transparent spiral shell. This has led to errors and misidentifications and an objective difficulty in the correct discrimination among species. Quite the opposite, the chromatism of external soft parts is clearly different according to species: in particular the form, width and colour of the hypobranchial gland seen through the transparent shell is a peculiar character for different species. In fact, in recent times taxonomy of Rissoellidae has been reviewed in several geographic areas starting from the animal coloration, with encouraging results. In the Mediterranean the three “classical” species need a modern revision and their taxonomical position should be evaluated to well define single taxa. In the present paper the taxonomy of Mediterranean Rissoellidae is approached starting from the animal chromatism, defining the single species according to shell and soft parts differences and solving long-standing taxonomical problems. On the basis of both shell and external soft parts morphological characters, Rissoella camillae n. sp. is also described as new, increasing to five the number of extant species in this geographical area.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0729-0742

    Ignazio Sparacio, Najla Mohamed Abushaala, Abdelmuhsen Abusneina & Fabio Liberto
    Morphological and anatomical data on some populations of Helix pronuba Westerlund, 1879 (Gastropoda Helicidae) from North Africa
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.729.742

    ABSTRACT
    New morphological and anatomical data on some populations of Helix (Helix) pronuba Westerlund, 1879 (Gastropoda Helicidae) are provided. In particular, the populations from North Africa are examined morphologically and compared with the topotype from Crete (Greece). The genital organs of a population of Libya are also described.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (3): 0743-0750

    Djennane Asmaa, Mahroug Samira & Benhamiche Samia
    GC/MS Analysis of essential oil composition of Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. (Brassicaceae) from Western Algeria
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.3.743.750

    ABSTRACT
    For the first time in Algeria, the quality and variability of the chemical composition of the essential oil isolated from the aerial parts of Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. (Brassicales Brassicaceae) were studied in two ecologically different regions of Western Algeria. The yields obtained by hydrodistillation are 0.11% for the region of Tessala (wilaya of Sidi Bel Abbes), 0.19% for Beni-Saf (wilaya of Ain-Temouchent). Analysis by GC and GC/MS allowed us to identify 62 compounds in the essential oil from the Beni-Saf region and 54 in that of Tessala. The majority compounds in two regions show quantitative variability and are, respectively, linalol (24.78%; 26.95%), eucalyptol (9.12%; 11.57%), linalyl acetate (18.90%; 20.85%), cis-dihydro-terpinyl acetate (5.38% ; 9.73%), estragole (4.26%; 3.99%), α-terpineol (3.39%; 4.48%), geranyl formate (1.93%; 2.21%), terpineu, 4-o1 acetate (1.88%; 2.32%), ß-myrcene (1.84%; 1.89%), ß-pinene (1.24%; 1.05%) and e-ß-ocimene (1.16%; 1.94%).