Herpetology Notes, volume 14: 813-814 (2021) (published online on 26 May 2021)

Highest elevation record for the Italian three-toed skink Chalcides chalcides (Squamata: Scincidae)

Mattia De Vivo1,2,a,* , Mario Posillico1,a, Lorenza Lerda1, Maria Rosaria Cavallo1, and Wanda Amitrano1

The Italian three-toed skink (Chalcides chalcides for the species, extending its current range by almost Linnaeus, 1758) is a Mediterranean endemic scincid 150 m with respect to the previous known on Monte lizard, inhabiting Algeria, Libya, Italy and Tunisia. Pizzalto at 1928 m elevation (Carafa, 2016), which is C. chalcides is listed in Appendix III of the Bern located about 60 km southern than our observation. Even Convention and it is regarded as of “Least Concern” before, Caputo (2006) reported a maximum elevation both by the Global and Italian IUCN assessments (Miras of 1590 m, which was subsequently shifted to 1880 m et al., 2009a; Andreone et al., 2013). It is strictly diurnal elevation (Caputo et al., 2011). In Africa, the Italian with fossorial habits, and mainly occurs in grassy and three-toed skink has been mostly collected in coastal sunny habitats, but several aspects of the ecology of this or lowland areas (Giovanotti et al., 2007; Miras et al., species are poorly known (e.g., Capula et al., 2003). The 2009a; GBIF, 2021), although a report from El Bayadh Italian three-toed skink is mainly found between sea (Algeria) at about 1350 m elevation exists (GBIF.org, level and 600 m elevation (Caputo, 2006), but there are 2021). According to the Global Biodiversity Information a few previous observations at higher elevations. Before Facility (GBIF, 2021), the highest elevation reached our new observation, the highest record reported for this by C. chalcides in Africa was 1500 m for a specimen species was at 1928 m elevation (Carafa, 2016). collected in 1925 in Demnat (Morocco), although this During a survey on 24 July 2019 at Sirente-Velino area is outside the known current range according Regional Park (Abruzzo, Italy) within the activities of to both IUCN assessments. As other species of the the Life project ESC360 (LIFE17 ESC/IT/001), we genus Chalcides occur there, that record could actually found an individual of C. chalcides moving through represent a different Chalcides species. In Libya, Miras the grass (11:15 AM, 42.1504°N, 13.4518°E) at 2077 et al. (2009a) reported the species near Tripoli, at about m elevation. The site was located on a slight slope 550 m. As to the genus Chalcides, the highest reported with south-eastern aspect, and covered by secondary mesophilous meadows belonging to the Anthoxanto- Brachypodietum genuensis typicum syntaxon, in close proximity to snow-bed mesophytic meadows (Trifolio thalii-Festucetum nigrescentis) (Petriccione, 1993). The specimen, an adult, was captured by hand and photographed (Fig. 1), and then released unharmed where it was found. Our finding represents the uppermost elevation record

1 Reparto Carabinieri Biodiversità Castel di Sangro, Castel di Sangro (AQ), 67031, Italy. 2 Present address: Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nangang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan. a These authors contributed equally. Figure 1. The Chalcides chalcides specimen caught on 24 * Corresponding author. E-mail: July 2019 at 2077 m elevation within Parco Regionale Sirente [email protected] Velino (Massa d’Albe municipality, L’Aquila Province, Italy). © 2021 by Herpetology Notes. Open Access by CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Photo by Mattia De Vivo. 814 Mattia De Vivo et al. elevation refers to the West Canary skink (C. viridanus) Capula, M., Filippi, E., Luiselli, L. (2003): Chalcides chalcides at 2800 m (Miras et al., 2009b). (three-toed skink): communal hibernacula. Herpetological The Sirente-Velino Regional Park is included within Bulletin 83: 30–31. Caputo, V. (2006): Chalcides chalcides (Linnaeus, 1758). In: the Mediterranean ecoregion, which is highly susceptible Atlante degli anfibi e dei rettili d’Italia, p. 514–517. Sindaco, of being influenced by climate change. For both, this R., Doria, G., Razzetti, E., Bernini, F., Eds., Florence, Italy, area and the whole country, modelling efforts showed Edizioni Polistampa. how some habitats and plants (including grasslands Caputo, V., Guarino, F.M., Giovannotti, M. (2011): Chalcides inhabited by C. chalcides), as well as insects and birds, chalcides (Linnaeus, 1758). In: Fauna d’Italia, Volume 45: might be affected by climate change with a reduction Reptilia, p. 298–310. Corti, C., Capula, M., Luiselli, L., Razzetti, in their range (Petriccione, 2005; Urbani et al., 2017; E., Sindaco, R., Eds., Rome, Italy, Calderini. Carafa, M. (2016): Atlante dei Rettili del Parco Nazionale della Brambilla et al., 2020). As to our finding, the presence Majella. Riconoscimento, distribuzione, biologia, ecologia of C. chalcides at such a high elevation might be an e conservazione. Documenti tecnico-scientifici del Parco effect of an overall increase in average temperature, as Nazionale della Majella, vol. 9. this species usually occurs at lower elevations. In Italy, GBIF (2021): GBIF Occurrence Download. Available at: https:// Miras et al. (2009a) reported C. chalcides up to 1270 doi.org/10.15468/dl.7txj99. Accessed on 7 April 2021. m, while Caputo (2006) reported a 1590 m elevation Giovannotti, M., Cerioni, P.N., Kalboussi, M., Aprea, G., Caputo, limit. More recently Caputo et al. (2011) and then V. (2007): Phylogeographic inferences from the mtDNA variation of the three-toed skink, Chalcides chalcides (Reptilia: Carafa (2016) shifted this limit up to 1880 m and 1928 Scincidae). Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular m, respectively. Thus, the increasing elevation recorded and Developmental Evolution 308(3): 297–307. through time could suggest an upward elevation shift Miras, J.A.M., Cheylan M., Nouira M.S., Joger, U., Sá-Sousa, P., favoured by growing temperatures, but chance of not Pérez-Mellado, V., et al. (2009a): Chalcides chalcides. The IUCN detecting or searching for Chalcides at higher elevations Red List of Threatened Species 2009: e.T61473A12473373. and the fact that reptiles have a secretive way of life Available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS. and are difficult to detect, may also be the reason that T61473A12473373.en. Accessed on 28 December 2020. Miras, J.A.M., Pérez-Mellado, V., Martínez-Solano, I. (2009b): only recently this species has been detected at higher Chalcides viridanus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species elevations. Only systematic and standardised monitoring 2009: e.T61490A12480456. Available at: https://dx.doi. of species at different elevations through years may org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T61490A12480456.en. prove the shift of species range up-wards. In conclusion, Accessed on 08 April 2021. also considering the lack of in-depth information on the Petriccione, B. (1993): Flora e vegetazione del massiccio del ecology of the Italian three-toed skink, further studies Monte Velino (Appennino centrale). Corpo Forestale dello are needed to understand the response of this species to Stato, Rome. Collana Verde vol. 92. Petriccione, B. (2005): Short-term changes in key plant communities increasing temperature and, more generally, to climate of Central Apennines (Italy). Acta Botanica Gallica 152(4): change. 545–561. Urbani, F., D’Alessandro, P., Biondi, M. (2017): Using Maximum Acknowledgements. We are grateful to Antonio Romano, Ernesto Entropy Modeling (MaxEnt) to predict future trends in the Filippi and Aziz J. Mulla for the improvements on an earlier draft, distribution of high-altitude endemic insects in response to to Anamarija Žagar for her suggestions on the manuscript and climate change. Bulletin of Insectology 70(2): 189–200. to the personnel of Riserva Naturale Orientata Monte Velino and Nucleo Carabinieri Tutela Biodiversità di Magliano de’ Marsi for logistic support in field surveys. Funding was provided by Life project ESC360 (LIFE17 ESC/IT/001).

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