Atlante degli Anfibi e dei Rettili d’Italia / Atlas of Italian Amphibians and Reptiles

Most Western and Central European countries have recently compiled national atlases of their herpetofaunas. The Italian effort to map the national harpetofauna has been noteworthy for its generation of many regional and provincial atlases, as well as a preliminary atlas (Societas Herpetologica Italica, 1996) prior of the publication of the definitive work. The result is a spectacular, highly readable and highly useful volume. The book provides a dual Italian/English text, making it accessible to a broad range of readers.The book begins with an engaging history of Italian herpetology by Violani and Barbagli. This well illustrated chapter, with portraits of herpetologists and illustrations and titles pages from their works covers the gamut from the earliest forays into herpetology to the great collectors of the 19th and 20th centuries. Among the more illustrious names included are Aldrovandi, Redi, Malpighi, Vallisneri, Spallanzani, Rafinesque, Rusconi, Panizza, Genè, Peracca, Camerano, Lessona, Bonaparte, Jan, Scortecci, and Doria.Chapter two, by Massimo Delphino, summarizes the fossil record of the living species. The Miocene to Holocene record is surprisingly representative of the living diversity, with 38 taxa represented plus another 11 genera that are extant, but no longer occur in Italy (e.g. Tomistoma, Agama, Varanus, Eryx). This chapter is illustrated by drawings of selected fossils and small photograph of the corresponding living tax.Chapter three overviews the genesis of the atlas project and relevant data gathering. The project and relevant data gathering. The project was begun in 1994 and resulted, only two years later, in the publication of the provisional atlas (Societas Herpetologica Italica, 1996). Over the intervening years many regional and provincial atlases were published. In all over 70,000 data points were plotted on 3382 10 x 10 km UTM coordinates. These were gathered by more than 900 collaborators. Although most of Italy has been at least moderately well covered by this effort, 7% of the 10 x 10 km units (chiefly in Basilicata and Sardinia) have no records for any species.A short chapter on altitudinal distribution present data in the form of bar graphs by province and shows the result of a simple cluster analysis. Figure 4.1 (p.142) would have been easier to use had the areas mentioned been clearly indicated on the map. The final prelude to the accounts themselves is a checklist with taxonomic remarks. Ninety-one species (40 amphibian and 51 reptiles) inhabit territory. The list is accompanied by extensive endnotes that provide useful information on dates of publication of names, ICZN rulings, recent generic allocation, and instances of taxonomic confusion, conflict, or uncertainty in the Italian herpetofauna.The species accounts themselves begin with a convenient “how to read distributional maps” section. Each account except two of the sea turtles, Chelonia midas and Dermochelis coriacea, and the naturalizes Red -Eared slider, Trachymys scripta, is accompanied by full page, color, topographic map, marked with a half degree grid. Plotted points are divided into 1984 and earlier records, 1985 and later records from the SHI database, other records without specific locality (some provinces provided only imprecise localities to protect the animals), and doubtful records. Account sections are: taxonomy, general distribution, comments on the distribution maps, habitat, altitudinal distribution, annual activity cycle, reproduction, and status of population in Italy. All accounts are illustrated by multiple color photos. For some species these include eggs, larvae or juveniles, and view of courtship. In general the quality of the photos is good – only a photo of the venter of Bombina pachipus (p.274) appears out of  focus. The provenance of most photos is noted and the majority of photos actually depict Italian specimens.Chapter 7 by Corti, Lo Cascio and Razzetti is an overview of the Italian island herpetofaunas. The island groups include the relatively extensive island groups surrounding Sardinia and Sicily and off the coast of Tuscany, as well as the smaller archipelagos and islands of Liguria, Latium (the Pontine islands), Venetia, and southern Italy (Calabria, Basilicata, Calabria and Apulia). An extensive table provides species lists by island and a short text section outlines relevant literature and taxonomic issues as many subspecies and even species have been described from them.Razzetti and Sindaco briefly discuss 15 additional unconfirmed taxa that may or may not occur in Italy. Some are introductions, whereas others approach the borders of Italy and might eventually be added to the fauna. Most interesting is the bizarre case of Rana Osca, which the authors concludes is a synonym of R.italica – it was described multiples times, once in an unlocatable reference of uncertain date, and its type material appears to have disappeared within a decade of its description.A biogeographic chapter by Bologna and Mazzotti reviews the geological history of Italy from the mid-Tertiary onwards and emphasizes the diversity of spatial patterns reflected by the herpetofauna and the resulting biogeographic mosaic. Anmong the faunal components recognized are widespread Euro-Asiatic elements, Western and Eastern Mediterranean forms, North African species, and peninsular, Sardinian, and Sicilian endemics. Of particular note are taxa with affinities outside of Europe, e.g., Speleomantes and Proteus, each with North America sister taxa. A variety of hiostorical factors, includuing the Messinian Salinity crisis and glacial advance and retreat, are proposed to explain some of the observed affinities of the fauna. Italian endemism at the species level is especially high for amphibians (50%), whereas reptile endemism is lower (17%) and largely restricted to Sardinia and Sicily, which are the most distinctive herpetofaunal regions of the country based on cluster analysis.The last two chapters deal with herpetofaunal conservation and legislation. In Chapter 10, Roberto Sindaco evaluates the status of Italian herpetofauna. Like most amphibians and reptiles worldwide, a lack of data regarding threats and population sizes necessitates categorization based chiefly on areas of occupancy and habitat fragmentation. All taxa are assigned to categories based on this information as well as the proportion of the global range in Italy and, for endemics, the specific nature of their distribution (e.g. Insular or mainland). In the following chapter Vincenzo Ferri outlines the complex set of regulation than govern the protection of the herpetofauna. This includes European, Italian, and provincial statues, some of which protect certain species and others of which focus on habitat protection. Tables summarize the categorization of each species under the Bern Convention, and most by the Habitats Directive, and CITES. All species are covered under the Bern Convention and most by the Habitat Directive, but only sea turtles, tortoises, and Vipera ursinii are CITES listed. Twenty one regional and provincial laws affecting amphibians and reptiles are also summarized.As is fitting for such a comprehensive volume, the bibliography includes more than 1500 references, a resource in itself, as noted by Benedetto Lanza in his preface of the book. In a welcome change from many recent books, a good deal of care seems to have been paid to bibliographic accuracy. Finally the book concludes with short bibliographical sketches of the 54 authors who contributed to the volume, photo credits, and a taxonomic index listing entries by genus, species, and both English and Italian common name. Unfortunately the references only relate to the species accounts proper; mentions in other chapters not cited.Aside from the inadequacy  of the index, I find little to criticize in this aesthetically attractive volume. Although my knowledge of Italian is rudimentary, it appears that the English translation is faithful. The information provided is up-to-date and I especially appreciate the fact that potentially confusing taxonomic and distributional issues are explained and that the reader is lead to the original literature throughout the book. This volume is a testament to the vibrant harpetological community in Italy today. In addiction to producing this Atlas, the highly active Societas Herpetologica Italica has also recently launched the predominantly English language journal, Acta Herpetologica. I highly recommend the Atlas of Italian Amphibians and Reptiles to anyone with an interest in any aspect of the European herpetofauna.