Voles from the Genus Microtus are rodents with a subterranean lifestyle. Central Italy is populat... more Voles from the Genus Microtus are rodents with a subterranean lifestyle. Central Italy is populated by two species of the Genus, the North-Western Microtus savii and the South-Eastern endemic Microtus brachycercus. Although morphometric features able to help distinguish M. savii from M. brachycercus are lacking, a peculiar morphology of the anterior end of the first lower molar is typical, but not exclusive, of M. brachycercus. Since some skulls with a compatible dental morphology were collected from Long-eared owl pellets in Umbria (Central Italy), a genetic assessment was deemed necessary to verify the possible presence of M. brachycercus outside of its known distribution range. Hemimandibles were isolated and used for both genetic and morphometric dental analyses. Despite the fact that this could suggest the presence of a M. brachycercus population, genetic analyses confirmed the species attribution to the M. savii complex, showing peculiar genetic polymorphisms that can either b...
Between September 2009 and August 2010, a nine-day preliminary study was carried out in Val di Bo... more Between September 2009 and August 2010, a nine-day preliminary study was carried out in Val di Bove (Sibillini National Park) for an inventory of small terrestrial mammals. The study was conducted within the “Progetto per la Realizzazione di un Laboratorio Ambientale ad Uso Scientifico e Didattico per lo Studio Interdisciplinare del Paesaggio Naturale nella Val di Bove (Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini)” promoted by CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) of Marche region and financed by Ministero dell’Ambiente. Bibliographic research, naturalistic method, hair-tubes and live trap were used. The following taxa were recorded: Talpa cfr. romana, Sorex sp., Bicoloured white-toothed shrew, Crocidura leucodon (Soricomorpha), Red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, Edible dormouse, Glis glis, Savi’s pine vole, Microtus gr. savii, Apodemus sp., Black rat, Rattus rattus (Rodentia). Some information are reported about colour and biometric measures collected from a Red squirrel female killed by a vehicle.
The distribution of the snow vole Chionomys nivalis along the Apennines needs updates and detaile... more The distribution of the snow vole Chionomys nivalis along the Apennines needs updates and detailed studies. In particular, the presence on some mountains should be confirmed with more recent objective findings. In the present work, a revision is made of the snow vole’s presences on the Sibillini Mountains, considering bibliographic records and a museum specimen. Then details are given about the capture of an individual in 2014. This specimen allows to confirm in an objective way the presence of the species on the Sibillini Mountains in recent times and the genetic analysis allowed the comparison with other European specimens.
Voles from the Genus Microtus are rodents with a subterranean lifestyle. Central Italy is populat... more Voles from the Genus Microtus are rodents with a subterranean lifestyle. Central Italy is populated by two species of the Genus, the North-Western Microtus savii and the South-Eastern endemic Microtus brachycercus. Although morphometric features able to help distinguish M. savii from M. brachycercus are lacking, a peculiar morphology of the anterior end of the first lower molar is typical, but not exclusive, of M. brachycercus. Since some skulls with a compatible dental morphology were collected from Long-eared owl pellets in Umbria (Central Italy), a genetic assessment was deemed necessary to verify the possible presence of M. brachycercus outside of its known distribution range. Hemimandibles were isolated and used for both genetic and morphometric dental analyses. Despite the fact that this could suggest the presence of a M. brachycercus population, genetic analyses confirmed the species attribution to the M. savii complex, showing peculiar genetic polymorphisms that can either b...
Between September 2009 and August 2010, a nine-day preliminary study was carried out in Val di Bo... more Between September 2009 and August 2010, a nine-day preliminary study was carried out in Val di Bove (Sibillini National Park) for an inventory of small terrestrial mammals. The study was conducted within the “Progetto per la Realizzazione di un Laboratorio Ambientale ad Uso Scientifico e Didattico per lo Studio Interdisciplinare del Paesaggio Naturale nella Val di Bove (Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini)” promoted by CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) of Marche region and financed by Ministero dell’Ambiente. Bibliographic research, naturalistic method, hair-tubes and live trap were used. The following taxa were recorded: Talpa cfr. romana, Sorex sp., Bicoloured white-toothed shrew, Crocidura leucodon (Soricomorpha), Red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, Edible dormouse, Glis glis, Savi’s pine vole, Microtus gr. savii, Apodemus sp., Black rat, Rattus rattus (Rodentia). Some information are reported about colour and biometric measures collected from a Red squirrel female killed by a vehicle.
The distribution of the snow vole Chionomys nivalis along the Apennines needs updates and detaile... more The distribution of the snow vole Chionomys nivalis along the Apennines needs updates and detailed studies. In particular, the presence on some mountains should be confirmed with more recent objective findings. In the present work, a revision is made of the snow vole’s presences on the Sibillini Mountains, considering bibliographic records and a museum specimen. Then details are given about the capture of an individual in 2014. This specimen allows to confirm in an objective way the presence of the species on the Sibillini Mountains in recent times and the genetic analysis allowed the comparison with other European specimens.
Uploads
Papers by Angela Gaggi