Papers by Lorenzo Rossi
Problematic Wildlife II, 2020
The impact of modern humans (Homo sapiens) on wildlife has increased in historical times with the... more The impact of modern humans (Homo sapiens) on wildlife has increased in historical times with the advent of the industrial era (Zalasiewicz et al. 2010), but our species has always had a negative effect on many animal populations (e.g., Braje and Erlandson 2013). Several carnivorous species suffered strong demographic loss, such as the gray wolf (Canis lupus), once the most widespread mammal in Eurasia and North America (Boitani et al. 2018). All species of the genus Ursus also had a decline in North America, Europe, and Asia, disappearing from North Africa (McLellan et al. 2017). Among the predators that suffered the impact of human, there are the big cats, mainly afferent to the genus Panthera (e.g., Dinerstein et al. 2007; Bauer et al. 2015; Jacobson et al. 2016). These animals have always represented for human beings not only competitors but also species of great emotional impact. In fact, they appear in prehistoric art (e.g., Bar-Oz and Lev-Yadun 2012; Killin 2013), in ancient folklore (e.g., Ge 2007), religion (Benson 1998), and heraldry (Ross 2006) as symbols of strength and pride. Some species have also been the focus of recreational (and sometimes controversial) activities in the past and present such as ancient games in arenas (Lindstrøm 2010), big game hunting (Storey 1991), ecotourism (Mossaz et al. 2015), and circus
Atti della Società dei Naturalisti e Matematici di Modena, 2021
Cryptozoology is a controversial discipline-often listed among the so-called pseudo-sciencesdedic... more Cryptozoology is a controversial discipline-often listed among the so-called pseudo-sciencesdedicated to the study of animal species whose existence is not supported by solid empirical evidence. Despite being characterised by a general lack of method, this paper will examine some aspects of cryptozoology that were developed and successfully used in the context of biological science. In a time characterized by ever-increasing loss of biodiversity, complex social relationships, and humanwildlife conflict, an interdisciplinary approach is an essential tool for conservation and a scientific approach to cryptozoology would bring about a beneficial contribution to the process.
Zoological Science, 2019
Historically, many local grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations have undergone substantial reduction... more Historically, many local grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations have undergone substantial reductions in size or become extinct. Among these, the wolf population once living in Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, was completely eradicated by human activity in the early decades of the 20th century. To gain a better understanding of the genetic identity of the Sicilian wolf, we used techniques for the study of ancient DNA to analyze the mitochondrial (mt) variability of six specimens stored in Italian museums. We were able to amplify a diagnostic mtDNA fragment of the control region (CR) in four of the samples. Two of the samples shared the same haplotype, differing by two substitutions from the currently most diffused Italian wolf haplotype (W14) and one substitution from the only other Italian haplotype (W16). The third sample showed a previously unreported wolf-like haplotype, and the fourth a haplotype commonly found in dogs. All of the wolf haplotypes analyzed in this study belonged to the mitochondrial haplogroup that includes haplotypes detected in all the known European Pleistocene wolves and in several modern southern European populations. Unfortunately, this endemic island population, which exhibited unique mtDNA variability, was definitively lost before it was possible to understand its taxonomic uniqueness and conservational value.
Bollettino del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona, 2018
A new endemic subspecies of grey wolf from the island of Sicily (Italy) is described. While usual... more A new endemic subspecies of grey wolf from the island of Sicily (Italy) is described. While usually considered extinct before 1940, there’s some
evidence it may have survived up to 1970. This wolf was widespread throughout the island and characterized by a smaller size and a paler
coloration than the Apennine wolf (Canis lupus italicus) from Central-Southern Italy.
This subspecies is described from a mounted specimen (the holotype) including also a separate skull stored at the Museo di Storia Naturale ‘La
Specola’, Università di Firenze, Italy. The three paratypes are: a) a mounted specimen stored at the ‘Museo Regionale Interdisciplinare di Terrasini’
in Terrasini (Palermo), Italy, b) a mounted specimen stored at the Museo di Zoologia ‘Pietro Doderlein’, Università di Palermo, Palermo,
Italy, c) a mounted specimen stored at the ‘Museo Civico Baldassarre Romano’ in Termini Imerese (Palermo), Italy.
This new subspecies is described as Canis lupus cristaldii subsp. nov. We suggest ‘Sicilian wolf ’ as common name for this new taxon.
Key words: Canis lupus cristaldii subsp. nov. Angelici and Rossi, 2018, Sicilian wolf, extinction, Sicily.
Although empirical data are necessary to describe new species, their discoveries can be guided fr... more Although empirical data are necessary to describe new species, their discoveries can be guided from the survey of the so-called circumstantial evidence (that indirectly determines the existence or nonexistence of a fact). Yet this type of evidence, generally linked to traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), is often disputed by field biologists due to its uncertain nature and, on account of that, generally untapped by them. To verify this behavior and the utility of circumstantial evidence, we reviewed the existing literature about the species of apes and monkeys described or rediscovered since January 1, 1980 and submitted a poll to the authors. The results show that circumstantial evidence has proved to be useful in 40.5% of the examined cases and point to the possibility that its use could speed up the process at the heart of the discovery and description of new species, an essential step for conservation purposes.
In this note we report on two recent sightings of lion, Panthera leo senegalensisMeyer, 1826 (Mam... more In this note we report on two recent sightings of lion, Panthera leo senegalensisMeyer, 1826 (Mammalia Felidae), one of which made by the authors, in Mole National Park (Ghana) during our last field research in April, 2015. We also obtained a camera trap picture of a probable serval individual, Leptailurus serval Schreber, 1776 (Mammalia Felidae), a species not recorded in the Park since 1976. Our conclusions indicate how the cat status in Mole National Park is very little known.
In 1986, a new species of the genus Lipophrys, L. heuvelmansi, was described by the ichthyologist... more In 1986, a new species of the genus Lipophrys, L. heuvelmansi, was described by the ichthyologist
François Charousset. On the basis of two sampled specimens from the Adriatic Sea (Croatia),
the author made a detailed description of the new species. From the author’s description, we noticed
a striking resemblance between this species and Microlipophrys canevae (Vinciguerra, 1880). In order
to eliminate any doubt about the identity of this fish, we analyzed the paratype preserved at the Zoological
Museum of Lausanne (Switzerland) and compared it with a male specimen of Microlipophrys
canevae sampled in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy). From this comparison, we can establish that Lipophrys
heuvelmansi Charousset, 1986 should be considered junior synonym of Microlipophrys canevae (Vinciguerra,
1880).
Problematic Wildlife A Cross-Disciplinary Approach, 2015
Cryptozoology is still generally considered a non-academic discipline based on a mostly pseudosci... more Cryptozoology is still generally considered a non-academic discipline based on a mostly pseudoscientific approach aimed at studying animals whose existence is not yet supported by incontrovertible physical evidence. This chapter aims to present a critical review of the most important published attempts at defining this discipline in order to propose a new and scientifically acceptable definition of “cryptozoology” and to suggest how to integrate it with the present approach to conservation by helping in the discovery of new species and the rediscovery of supposedly extinct ones. The results of this review indicate that, although several cryptozoological hypotheses present pseudoscientific claims, the cryptozoological method can be considered scientific overall and, despite to the claims of some critics, cryptozoology is not redundant with respect to zoology.
The lion in Ghana: its historical and current status.— Historically, the lion (Panthera leo) popu... more The lion in Ghana: its historical and current status.— Historically, the lion (Panthera leo) population in Ghana
has been little studied and its status is poorly documented. Currently, after recent unsuccessful attempts to
find signs of the presence of the species, many authors believe that the Ghanaian lion population is most likely
extinct. In an attempt to gather more data, since 2005 we have been carrying out lion surveys in the most
important parks and other protected areas of Ghana, mainly focusing on Mole National Park (MNP). We have
also been extensively reviewing the literature in an attempt to reconstruct the history of the presence of the
lion in the country. Although our research has not provided unequivocal evidence of the presence of the lion,
we have collected circumstantial evidence that suggests that a small lion population might still be present in
MNP and its surrounding areas.
Popular science by Lorenzo Rossi
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Papers by Lorenzo Rossi
evidence it may have survived up to 1970. This wolf was widespread throughout the island and characterized by a smaller size and a paler
coloration than the Apennine wolf (Canis lupus italicus) from Central-Southern Italy.
This subspecies is described from a mounted specimen (the holotype) including also a separate skull stored at the Museo di Storia Naturale ‘La
Specola’, Università di Firenze, Italy. The three paratypes are: a) a mounted specimen stored at the ‘Museo Regionale Interdisciplinare di Terrasini’
in Terrasini (Palermo), Italy, b) a mounted specimen stored at the Museo di Zoologia ‘Pietro Doderlein’, Università di Palermo, Palermo,
Italy, c) a mounted specimen stored at the ‘Museo Civico Baldassarre Romano’ in Termini Imerese (Palermo), Italy.
This new subspecies is described as Canis lupus cristaldii subsp. nov. We suggest ‘Sicilian wolf ’ as common name for this new taxon.
Key words: Canis lupus cristaldii subsp. nov. Angelici and Rossi, 2018, Sicilian wolf, extinction, Sicily.
François Charousset. On the basis of two sampled specimens from the Adriatic Sea (Croatia),
the author made a detailed description of the new species. From the author’s description, we noticed
a striking resemblance between this species and Microlipophrys canevae (Vinciguerra, 1880). In order
to eliminate any doubt about the identity of this fish, we analyzed the paratype preserved at the Zoological
Museum of Lausanne (Switzerland) and compared it with a male specimen of Microlipophrys
canevae sampled in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy). From this comparison, we can establish that Lipophrys
heuvelmansi Charousset, 1986 should be considered junior synonym of Microlipophrys canevae (Vinciguerra,
1880).
has been little studied and its status is poorly documented. Currently, after recent unsuccessful attempts to
find signs of the presence of the species, many authors believe that the Ghanaian lion population is most likely
extinct. In an attempt to gather more data, since 2005 we have been carrying out lion surveys in the most
important parks and other protected areas of Ghana, mainly focusing on Mole National Park (MNP). We have
also been extensively reviewing the literature in an attempt to reconstruct the history of the presence of the
lion in the country. Although our research has not provided unequivocal evidence of the presence of the lion,
we have collected circumstantial evidence that suggests that a small lion population might still be present in
MNP and its surrounding areas.
Popular science by Lorenzo Rossi
evidence it may have survived up to 1970. This wolf was widespread throughout the island and characterized by a smaller size and a paler
coloration than the Apennine wolf (Canis lupus italicus) from Central-Southern Italy.
This subspecies is described from a mounted specimen (the holotype) including also a separate skull stored at the Museo di Storia Naturale ‘La
Specola’, Università di Firenze, Italy. The three paratypes are: a) a mounted specimen stored at the ‘Museo Regionale Interdisciplinare di Terrasini’
in Terrasini (Palermo), Italy, b) a mounted specimen stored at the Museo di Zoologia ‘Pietro Doderlein’, Università di Palermo, Palermo,
Italy, c) a mounted specimen stored at the ‘Museo Civico Baldassarre Romano’ in Termini Imerese (Palermo), Italy.
This new subspecies is described as Canis lupus cristaldii subsp. nov. We suggest ‘Sicilian wolf ’ as common name for this new taxon.
Key words: Canis lupus cristaldii subsp. nov. Angelici and Rossi, 2018, Sicilian wolf, extinction, Sicily.
François Charousset. On the basis of two sampled specimens from the Adriatic Sea (Croatia),
the author made a detailed description of the new species. From the author’s description, we noticed
a striking resemblance between this species and Microlipophrys canevae (Vinciguerra, 1880). In order
to eliminate any doubt about the identity of this fish, we analyzed the paratype preserved at the Zoological
Museum of Lausanne (Switzerland) and compared it with a male specimen of Microlipophrys
canevae sampled in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy). From this comparison, we can establish that Lipophrys
heuvelmansi Charousset, 1986 should be considered junior synonym of Microlipophrys canevae (Vinciguerra,
1880).
has been little studied and its status is poorly documented. Currently, after recent unsuccessful attempts to
find signs of the presence of the species, many authors believe that the Ghanaian lion population is most likely
extinct. In an attempt to gather more data, since 2005 we have been carrying out lion surveys in the most
important parks and other protected areas of Ghana, mainly focusing on Mole National Park (MNP). We have
also been extensively reviewing the literature in an attempt to reconstruct the history of the presence of the
lion in the country. Although our research has not provided unequivocal evidence of the presence of the lion,
we have collected circumstantial evidence that suggests that a small lion population might still be present in
MNP and its surrounding areas.