THE CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST Nature Trust (Malta) VOLUME 4 PART 1 MALTA, 2003 - 2004 THE CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 2003 - 2004 CONTENTS Page JANSSEN, A.W. Fossils from the lower globigerina limestone formation at Wardija, Gozo (Miocene, Aquitanian), with a description of some new pteropod species (Mollusca, Gastropoda) ................................................ 1 MIFSUD, C., SAMMUT, P. & CACIDA, C. On some alien terrestrial and freshwater gastropods (Mollusca) from Malta ..................................... 35 HALSTEAD, D.G.H & MIFSUD, D. Silvanidae and Laemophloeidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) from the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean) ............................................................................................................ 41 SULTANA, J. & BORG, J.J. Medlycott's drawings of Maltese natural history ..................................................................... 47 SAMMUT,P. Arenipses sabella (Hampson, 1901) and Myelois circumvoluta (F ourcroy, 1785) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) new to the lepidopterofauna of the Maltese Islands ..................................................... 49 SAMMUT, P., SAMMUT, A., CATANIA, A., SEGUNA. A & MAGRO D. New records ofNoctuidae (Lepidoptera) from the Maltese Islands ................................................ 51 FALZON, M-A. Migration of the painted lady Vanessa cardui 1. (Lepidoptera) in the island of Malta (Central Mediterranean)............................................................................................................ 55 BORG,J.J~ Notes on the status, distribution and morphology of the pygmy white-toothed shrew Suncus etruscus (Savi, 1822) in Malta (Mammalia, Insectivora, Soricidae) .......................................................... 61 MIFSUD, D., FARRUGIA C. & SAMMUT P.M. On the introduction of Paranthrene tabaniformis (Rottemburg, 1775) in Malta (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Sesiidae). ... 65 SCHEMBRI, T., FERGUSON, I.K. & SCHEMBRI, P.J. Revision of the records of shark and ray species from the Maltese Islands (Chordata: Chondrichthyes) ..... 71 SHORT COMMUNICATIONS ...................................................................................... 105 Galea Bonavia, C. Carchcharoles megalodon (Agassiz) (Lamnidae: Neoselachae): A historical note; Borg, J.J. & Sultana, J. The presence of the black rat Rattus rattus on Fungus Rock (Maltese Islands; Falzon, M-A. Tripterygion delaisi (Pisces, Perciformes, Tripterygiidae), A new species for the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean); Sammut P. First record of Lymantria dispar (Rambur, 1837) (Lepidoptera:Lymantriidae) from the Maltese Islands Nature Trust (Malta) In 1998, three N.G.O.s which shared the common aim ofpromoting awareness, conservation and study ofMalta's natural heritage decided to join forces so as to form a single, more effective association. The organisations were the Society for the Study and Conservation ofNature, which was founded in 1962, and the more recently formed groups Arbor and Verde. The merger resulted in the formation ofNature Trust ( Malta) which was officially launched by His Excellency the President ofthe Republic on Friday, Sh January 1999. In June 2001, another organisation, the Marine Life Care Group also joined Nature Trust (Malta). The aims ofNature Trust (Malta) are to enhance public awareness and appreciation ofthe rich biodiversity ofthe Maltese Islands through educational campaigns, conservation schemes and research projects. "The Central Mediterranean Naturalist" is the official scientific journal of Nature Trust (Malta). All papers submitted for publication therein are peer-reviewed prior to acceptance. Special thanks to Dr. A. W. Janssen, Prof. P.J. Schembri and the Entomological Society ofMalta. EDITOR: DA VID DANDRIA TYPESETTING AND LAYOUT: DAVID DANDRIA PRINTED AT COLOUR IMAGE, MGARR, MALTA © 2004 NATURE TRUST (MALTA) Price: Lm3.00 The Central Mediterranean Naturalist 4(1): 1-33 Malta: December 2003 FOSSILS FROM THE LOWER GLOBIGERINA LIMESTONE FORMATION AT W ARDIJA, GOZO (MIOCENE, AQUITANIAN), WITH A DESCRIPTION OF SOME NEW PTEROPOD SPECIES (MOLLUSCA, GASTROPODA) Arie W. Janssen ABSTRACT Phosphatised fossil assemblages of four samples from the Lower Globigerina Limestone Formation at Wardija (SE Gozo, Malta) were analysed, with special emphasis on holoplanktonic molluscs (Gastropoda: Heteropoda and Pteropoda). The upper sample (sample 4) is from the lower main phosphorite level (C 1), samples 1 to 3 are respectively from c. 3 m, 5 m and 7.50 m above the base of the Lower Globigerina Limestone. Phosphatised faunal elements were separated from the limestone sediment by formic acid treatment. The fossil assemblages yielded a surprising number of species new for the Maltese Archipelago, or even new to science. Comparison with other holoplanktonic mollusc assemblages, especially those from the Aquitaine Basin in France demonstrates that there is a certain resemblance with the Chattian fauna of e.g. st. Etienne-d'Orthe (Spoelia torquayensis, Vaginella? tricuspidata), but the presence of some other species, such as Gamopleura melitensis and Vaginella sannicola indicate that the age of the Lower Globigerina Limestone presumably is Early Aquitanian. Samples 2-3 yielded also a comparatively rich assemblage of benthic molluscs (especially small-sized gastropods), most of which are illustrated here (PIs 1-3). The holoplanktonic molluscs are illustrated on PIs 3-4. The following species are introduced: Heliconoides vanderweideni sp. nov., Bowdenatheca miocenica sp. nov., Clio (s. lat.) ghawdexensis sp. nov., and Edithinella bonaviai sp. nov. Note: This paper is a revised and extended version ofInternal Report nr. 161 of the Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum Naturalis (Palaeontology Department - Cainozoic Mollusca), at Leiden, the Netherlands, dated 13 April 2001. INTRODUCTION Fossils in the Maltese Globigerina Limestone Formation are predominantly found as phosphoritic casts. Two main phosphorite levels separate the three subdivisions of this formation (Rehfeld & Janssen, 1995) and a varying number of subordinate levels containing phosphoritic nodules or clasts is present in the Middle and Upper Globigerina Limestone. Up to now such subordinate occurrences were not yet known from the Lower Globigerina Limestone, of Aquitanian age, below the main phosphoritic level C1, separating the Lower and Middle Globigerina Limestone. Mr Charles Galea Bonavia (Attard, Malta), however, drew my attention to a locality, where a level bearing phosphorites is present below C1, and he was kind enough to demonstrate the site during a visit in October 2000. Further details on this section were observed on February 7, 2001, at that time also two additional levels with small phosphorites were found below C1, more samples were collected and a concise description of the section was made. Abbreviations used in this paper: MNHN: Musee National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France. NHMM: Natural History Museum, Mdina, Malta RGM: Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum 'Naturalis', Leiden, The Netherlands (palaeontology Department, Cainozoic Mollusca), formerly Rijksmuseum van Geologie en Mineralogie. H: shell height W: shell width H/W-ratio: shell height/shell width x 100 1 Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum Naturalis, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands; currently: 12, Triq tal-Harnrija, Xewkija VeT 110, Gozo, Malta. [email protected]; website: http://sites.waldonet.net.mtlariewe/ LOCALITY The locality is situated at Wardija, near Wardija Point, on the extreme SW comer of the island of Gozo, at coordinates UTM 268.886 (Fig. 1). At this place the Cl phosphorite level crops out as a significant harder level on top of the Lower Globigerina Limestone, which in r--:-T-:---:p""""'~8=7~~~'"7='"~?~;] turn overlies the Lower Coralline Limestone, rising from the sea as a high (> 125 m) vertical cliff. Situated close to the studied site is a'< Punic-Hellenistic "sanctuary" (Buhagiar, 1988), a deep excavation in the top of the Lower Globigerina Limestone, roofed by the solid sediment of the Cl phosphorite level. Above Cl a small portion of . Middle Globigerina Limestone may still be present, but was not observed. The eroded coastal Miocene sediments are unconformably overlain in this area by presumably Holocene sediments (grey sandy clay) up to a thickness of some 6 meters, that especially in their basal part contain a terrestrial mollusc fauna yielding species in an assemblage hardly or not differing from the actual living fauna. An overview oflri--~""":';:~'-'-.;.~+";""""":;''''''':-~~-~':-.'-:~~l--'c7~,;...~.tsts.-:--1 the locality is given in Fig. 2 Fig. 1. Situation of sample locality, at Wardija, near The thickness of the Lower Globigerina Limestone could not be Wardija Point, Gozo, Malta. measured accurately but is estimated to be c. II m. Several thin (Topographical map of Malta) : 25.(00) layers of concentrated fossil material are present below the base of C I. Most of this fossil material consists of non-phosphatised fragments of irregular sea urchins, but three levels below Cl also contain small phosphorite concretions. Each ofthese three levels yielded pteropods: even in the field internal casts of Vaginella sannicola could be recognised, as well as some rare specimens of Gamopleura melitensis. The same Lower Globigerina Limestone is intensively quarried for building stone, at a distance of less than 1 krn (indicated on the map of Fig. 1). DESCRIPTION OF SECTION 11.25 - 11.50 m Phosphorite concentration with many corals and specimens