Sciurus Meridionalis (Rodentia, Sciuridae)
Published by Associazione Teriologica Italiana Volume 28 (1): 1–8, 2017 Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy Available online at: http://www.italian-journal-of-mammalogy.it doi:10.4404/hystrix–28.1-12015 Research Article New endemic mammal species for Europe: Sciurus meridionalis (Rodentia, Sciuridae) Lucas A. Wauters1,∗, Giovanni Amori2, Gaetano Aloise3, Spartaco Gippoliti4, Paolo Agnelli5, Andrea Galimberti6, Maurizio Casiraghi6, Damiano Preatoni1, Adriano Martinoli1 1Environment Analysis and Management Unit - Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, Via J. H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese (Italy) 2CNR - Institute of Ecosystem Studies, c/o Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza - Rome University, Viale dell’Università 32, 00185 Roma (Italy) 3Museo di Storia Naturale della Calabria ed Orto Botanico, Università della Calabria, Via Savinio – Edificio Polifunzionale, 87036 Rende (CS) (Italy) 4Società Italiana per la Storia della Fauna “G. Altobello”, Viale Liegi 48, 00198 Roma (Italy) 5Museo di Storia Naturale, Università di Firenze, Sezione di Zoologia “La Specola”, Via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze (Italy) 6ZooPlantLab, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano (Italy). Keywords: Abstract Sciurus meridionalis squirrels Combining genetic, morphological and geographical data, we re-evaluate Sciurus meridionalis, Southern Italy Lucifero 1907 as a tree squirrel species. The species, previously considered a subspecies of the endemic species Eurasian red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, is endemic to South Italy with a disjunct distribution with respect to S. vulgaris. The new species has a typical, monomorphic coat colour characterized by Article history: a white ventral fur and a very dark-brown to blackish fur on the back, sides and tail.
[Show full text]