Papers by Davide Di Franco
In this paper we report on the presence of two non-native and invasive species of bivalve
mollusk... more 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.
Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia
Here we report for the first time on the presence of ichthyosaurs in Sicily, southern Italy. The ... more Here we report for the first time on the presence of ichthyosaurs in Sicily, southern Italy. The deposit of origin (Mufara Formation) can be dated to the upper Carnian (Tuvalian substage) based on a typical association of ammonites, one of which (Shastites sp.) is embedded in the sediment still encrusting one of the bone specimens recently found. The latter consist of two isolated vertebral centra that are referred to the Ichthyosauria thanks to their disk-like shape (i.e. they are much taller than long) combined with the amphicelous condition, lack of transverse processes, and presence of rib articulations on the central sides. The largest specimen is more precisely an anterior dorsal vertebra from an adult individual, ascribed to Shastasauridae indet. By the presence of elongated reniform diapophyseal facets, cranially not truncated, and absence of parapophyses. The smaller specimen represents an anterior cervical element from an immature individual of a likely smaller-sized, inde...
Biodiversity Journal
The presence of Maja goltziana D'Oliveira, 1888 (Decapoda Brachyura Majidae) is confirmed in the ... more 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.
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Papers by Davide Di Franco
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.
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.