Biodiversity Journal , 2012, 3 (3): 191-200

A contribution to the knowledge of the terrestrial Mammalian fau na of and its satellite islets (Maltese Archipelago)

Arnold Sciberras 1*, Jeffrey Sciberras 2, Michael Sammut 3 & Gaetano Aloise 4

133 ‘Arnest’, Arcade Str, Paola, ; email: [email protected] 224 ‘Camilleri Court’ flat 5, il-Marlozz Str, Mellieħa (Ghadira), Malta; email: [email protected] 311, Sqaq Rigu, Birkirkara, Malta; email: [email protected] 4Museo di Storia Naturale della Calabria e Orto Botanico, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, s.n., 87036 Rende, Italy; email: [email protected] *Corresponding author

ABSTRACT The present work aims to contribute to existing knowledge on Mammalia occurring on Comino and its satellite islets and to provide additional records collected between the years 1998-2012. At the present state of knowledge, on the islands of the Maltese Archipelago there are 19 different species of terrestrial (Erinaceomorpha: algirus . So - ricomorpha: etruscus , sicula . Chiroptera: Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum , R. hipposideros , Miniopterus schreibersii , Myotis punicus , Eptesicus serotinus , Nyctalus noctula , Pipistrellus pygmaeus , P. kulii , Plecotus austriacus , Tadarida teniotis . Lagomorpha: Oricto - lagus cuniculus . Rodentia: Apodemus sylvaticus , Rattus rattus , R. norvegicus , Mus musculus. Carnivora: Mustela nivalis ), more than half of which are bats. Out of 13 species listed here, 8 species are represented as new to the islands while 3 species are confirmed and 2 species are listed as unlikely occurring.

KEY WORDS Mammalia; Comino; Satellite islets; Maltese Islands.

Received 08.07.2012; accepted 18.08.2012; printed 30.09.2012

INTRODUCTION Lanfranco (1969) repeats these records in his work; Savona-Ventura (1982) focuses on giving Very little work is directed to Maltese Mam - new data on the mammals living on Comino and malia, and even less is known about their distri - . Baldacchino & Schembri (2002) along bution, especially with respect to the smaller with the life history of mammalia and herpetofauna islands. Some scattered notes provide some lite - of the Maltese Islands, give also some localities rature of past records. where the latter species were recorded. The first data on the mammalian fauna of the Recently Aloise et al. (2011) represented the Maltese Archipelago were reported by Gulia possibility that Crocidura sicula (Miller, 1900) is (1890). Busuttil & Borg (1925) were the first to present also on Comino. This latter record is con - attempt to list the mammalian fauna present on firmed in the present work. Comino Island. What follows is the current mammalian fauna Unfortunately their list only constitutes of Mal - known to occur or have occurred on the latter is - tese vernacular names and this often causes diffi - lands. In addition to bibliographic data available, culty in determining the precise species as local data were collected through direct observations, by names change through time and may refer to a num - collection of dead specimens and through discus - ber of closely related species. sion with local people. 192 A. S ciberrAS , J. S ciberrAS , M. S AMMut & G. A loiSe

All non-flying mammals of the Maltese Archi - lands, but it can be referred as the mainland with pelago, however, are thought to have been introdu - respect to its satellite islets. However, due to its ced, at different times, by Men. mono-geological component of Upper Coralline Limestone above sea-level, it has much less habi - tats than and Malta. Moreover with its small MaTeRIals aND MeThODs size, the range in topography is also limited, with a genaral tilt from South to North, identical incli - Study area nation to the one of Marfa Ridge. Cliffs are only dominant on the eastern and sou - The Maltese Archipelago consists of three main thwestern perimeters of the island, while only two islands, which are Malta, Gozo (Ghawdex) and Co - considerably long valleys exist there. Sand-dunes mino (Kemuna) and a number of minor islands, are minimal and localised. With respect to vegeta - islets and rocks. Comino, the third largest island of tion communites, Thyme garigue and Anthyllis - the Archipelago, is surrounded by following satel - Teucrium and Euphorbia melitensis phryganas are lite islands: Cominotto, Old Battery`s Rock, Lan - most common, with dense Hypericum aegyptium tern Point Rock, Comino Cliff Face Rock/ Pigeon garigues along the coast, followed by Pistacia len - Rock, Small Blue Lagoon Rock, Large Blue La - tiscus pseudomaquis further inland and few Pinus goon Rock, Ghemieri Rocks (Fig. 1; Table 1). halepensis woodland patches. Other phryganas are rare on Comino, but a con - Comino (Kemuna) siderable large population of Senecio bicolor exists on Comino, in some areas it is dense enough to Comino is the third largest island of the Maltese contribute to its own phrygana. Elsewhere in Mal - Islands, with an area of 2.7 km 2. Comino is also tese Islands, this species seems common in Malta considered to be the smallest of the three main is - and Gozo, and rare on the islets, but always scatte -

Name of the Code Rank by Height Width (m) Length Distance from Topogra - Surface Soils islet/rock (fig.1 ) area (m) W-E (m) N-S the mainland phical in - Geology orientation orientation (m) clination

Cominotto O 3 >20 500 ~200 125 South to Upper Co - Terra North ralline Rossa

Large Blue La - M 6 20 170 57 50 South to Upper Co - Terra goon Rock North ralline Rossa

Small Blue La - N 11 18 27 70 110 West to Upper Co - Terra goon Rock East ralline Rossa

Pigeon Rock L 15 20 20 45 20 East to Upper Co - Inglin West ralline complex

Battery Rock J 22 6-7 18 9 4 East to Upper Co - Terra West ralline Rossa

Lantern Rock K 23 8 7 17 30 / Upper Co - / ralline Ghemieri Rocks X 19 6, 1, 2 14,14,10 19, 20, 38 10,82, 30 / Upper Co - / (3 rocks) ralline

Table 1. Characteristics of the Satellite islets of Comino (Maltese Archipelago). A contribution to the knowledge of the terrestrial Mammalian fau na of Comino and its satellite islets (Maltese Archipelago) 193

Figure 1. Satellite islets of Comino (Maltese Archipelago): Old Battery`s Rock (J), Lantern Point Rock (K), Comino Cliff Face Rock/ Pigeon Rock (L), Small Blue Lagoon Rock (M), Large Blue Lagoon Rock (N), Ghemieri Rocks (X), Comi - notto (O). red (not in dense clumps). Sub endemic rare plants Cominotto has three slopes, east to west from have be en noticed occuring sporadically on the is - its highest point to its sandy beach and nearby land, such as the Pelagian-Maltese endemics Lina - coast, south to north and west to east from the hi - ria pseudolaxiflora Lojacono and Daucus ghest point too. lopadusanus Tineo, while the other is Senecio pyg - Thymbra capitata , Convolvulus oleifolius , maeus D.C, a Sicilian-Maltese endemic. Teucrium fruticans , Brachypodium retusum and Anthyllis hermanniae are dominant species on the Cominotto (Kemunett) eastern side of the island, especially facing Co - mino. Euphorbia melitensis , and Pistacia lenti - By far, Cominotto is the largest islet near Co - scus are dominant on the highest point of the mino, with 9.9 ha; it is the second largest uninhabi - island. Darniella melitensis is dominant on the ted island of Malta. The island has an S-shaped south cliffs. topographical orientation. Euphorbia melitensis is also dominant on the Cominotto also has a similar altitude of the other northwest of the island. In winter, several annual nearby islets on the south east of the island. Cliffs species dominate the island, such as Convolvulus dominate the south coast, while a peninsula, larger althaeoides , Anthyllis vulneraria , Linum strictum , than Small Blue Lagoon Rock, is connected on the Linum trigynum , and Galactites tomentosa in the south east of Cominotto. disturbed patches of the island . Phagnalon graecum 194 A. S ciberrAS , J. S ciberAS , M. S AMMut & G. A loiSe

subsp. ginzbergeri is only present in the peninsula stern cliff face of the islet. Daucus carota and Li - of the island (Sciberras & Sciberras, 2010). monium melitensis are also dominant, but on a les - ser extent. Anthyllis hermanniae and Pistacia large Blue lagoon Rock (Il-hagra Ta’ lentiscus are rare on the islet. Bejn il-Kmiemen il-Kbira) No soil exists on the rock, vegetation is gro - wing on the debris (the accumulating debris) and Large Blue Lagoon Rock is the second largest in rough weather the lower area is inundated by islet of Comino. The islet has one slope, which is wave action (Sciberras & Sciberras, 2010). slightly steeper than that of Small Blue Lagoon Rock. The south perimeter is dominated by cliffs, Old Battery’s Rock (Gebla ta` taht il –Bat - except for a sizeable sea cave on its eastern side, terija) which goes right through the islet. Its topographic landscape shows that it used to form part of the col - This small rock is situated on the southeast of lapsed western valley of Comino. Comino under the old battery it is the second smal - The upper half is inhabited by vegetation. Hy - lest rock of Comino. Remnant soil exists on the pericium aegypticum is the dominant species all islet which is inundated by water wave action du - over the islet, while Daucus carota is dominant on ring rough weather. Till 2010 the flora of the islet the west side of the islet. Some patches are domi - consisted of 22 individuals of Inula crithmoides nated by Convolvulus oleifolius (Sciberras & Sci - (Sciberras & Sciberras, 2010). berras, 2010). lantern Point Rock (Gebla Tal-Ponta small Blue lagoon Rock (Il-hagra Ta’Bejn Rqiqa) il-Kmiemen iz-Zghira) Lantern Rock it is slightly smaller than Old Bat - Situated between Large Blue Lagoon and Co - tery’s Rock, it supports very little vegetation, only minotto, the Small Blue Lagoon Rock is the third two species, Limonium melitense and Inula cri - largest islet of Comino. Most vegetation also oc - thmoides . It is a large boulder of no more than 7 m curs on its upper half. Arthrocnemum macrosta - high, with another small boulder lying on top of it chyum and Daucus carota are the dominant species (Sciberras & Sciberras, 2010). all over the islet. Lygeum spartum entirely covers a small patch of soil. Lavatera arborea (Malva dendromorpha ), ResUlTs with only four specimens, barely survives near the Lygeum spartum and is only present on this islet in Erinaceomorpha Gregory, 1910 Comino`s Archipelago (Sciberras & Sciberras, G. Fischer, 1814 2010). Atelerix algirus (Lereboullet, 1842) Comino Cliff Face Rock/Pigeon Rock/Ta’ Algerian Taht il-Mazz Rock(ll-Gebla ta’ Taht il-Mazz) of Hedgehog of Maltese Islands was Ta’ Taht il-Mazz rock is the fourth largest islet uncertain for a long time. The Hedgehog was first near Comino. The islet is very steep, with vertical recorded for the Malese Islands by Gulia (1858), sheer cliffs on its east side facing the western cliffs which, however, erroneously considers this popu - of Comino, while its western is slightly less steep, lation belonging to europaeus . After the but still sheer. taxonomic revision of the Maltese specimens (Lan - The majority of species of plants occur on its franco, 1969), currently all the populations occur - west side and upper half of it, while only one spe - ring in the Maltese Archipelago belong to the cies inhabits its east side. Inula crithmoides is a do - species Atelerix algirus . minant species on the eastern face of the islet, Busuttil & Borg (1925) mention that a species while Darniella melitensis is dominant on the we - of hedgehog was imported to Comino from the nei - A contribution to the knowledge of the terrestrial Mammalian fau na of Comino and its satellite islets (Maltese Archipelago) 195

ghbouring islands of Malta or Gozo probably by ghted; presumably these remains belong to the lat - the ornithologist A. Schembri, in the 19th Century, ter species. On 18.III.2012 a dead specimen of to control infestations of Blattaria sp. Lanfranco Crocidura sicula was found drowned in a bucket (1969) and Savona-Ventura (1982) seem not to re - presumably full of rain water close to the Northern spond to the presence of this species to the island Coast, confirming the presence of a population of while Baldacchino & Schembri (2002) state that this species on the island. this species is not present. On 19.X.2011 a lower jaw bone of Crocidura Two of the authors (A. Sciberras and J. Sci - sp. was found on Cominotto (A. Sciberras, J. Sci - berras) have recorded this species 8 times over a berras and L. Pisani, unpublished data) but the pre - time span of 14 years and in one occasion sence of a population of Crocidura Wagler, 1832 (23.XI.2005) a nest was found containing 5 on this islet is not confirmed. The Sicilian young. Specimens were encountered mostly in is absent from all the other smaller islands. the centre of Comino Island, particularly in a lo - cation known as Ta` Caruana. Several naturalists informed the authors however that during the Chiroptera Blumenbach, 1774 1990`s several specimens saved from Maltese Rhinolophidae Gray, 1825 roads, especially from Mġarr to Miżieb area, were released on the island for safety reasons. Rhinolophus hipposideros minimus (Heu - Both white and dark forms were encountered glin, 1861) Lesser Horseshoe Bat on the island. The status of the population present in Comino is unknown.The Algerian Hedgehog is This species was already more commonly present in Comino, Malta and Gozo, but is absent known in Gozo and less in Malta, which is repor - from all the other smaller islands. ted by the early work on the Maltese Islands (see Borg et al., 1997 and references therein). On 12.III.2004 a dead specimen was found in Soricomorpha Gregory, 1910 a location known as Il-Ħazina on Comino Island Soricidae G. Fischer, 1814 by one of the authors (A. Sciberras). This species t is a new record for this island. Crocidura sicula (Miller, 1900) Sicilian shrew Vespertilionidae Gray, 1821

In the Maltese Archipelago is confirmed the Myotis punicus Felten, Spitzenberger & presence of two species of Soricidae: Suncus etru - Storch, 1977 Mediterranean Mouse-eared Bat scus (Savi, 1822) and Crocidura sicula . On the basis of current knowledge S. etruscus occurs only Taxonomy and distribution of the Mouse-eared in Malta, and C. sicula , classified as C. suaveolens , bat of the Maltese Islands have been debated for is recorded only from the island of Gozo (Schem - a long time, because of its morphometric peculia - bri & Schembri, 1979). Only recently has advan - rities. In the past reported as M. oxignatus (Lanza, ced the possibility that this species is present on 1959; Van den Brink, 1967; Lanfranco, 1969), Comino (Aloise et al., 2011). was then reported to M. blyti punicus and studied Two specimens were obtained from the analy - in detail (Felten et al., 1977; Savona-Ventura, sis of Asio otus (Linnaeus, 1758) pellets found 1984a, 1984b; Borg, 1998; Borg & Cachia-Zam - from beneath the nest of the latter. Although most mit, 1988, 1994; Borg et al., 1990; 1997; Borg, likely the latter specimens were caught from Co - 1998). M. punicus actually up to now is found on mino, there is also the possibility that the speci - Malta and Gozo. mens were caught from Gozo by the predator and On 12.III.2004 and 22.XI.2005 a specimen of then expelled on the nesting site. Similar pellets this species was found in a subterranean area close were collected by A. Sciberras containing Rattus to the Comino tower. This is the first record for the sp. remains and were retrieved where Asio flam - island. On the Maltese Archipelago, this species meus (Pontoppidan, 1763) was occasionally si - was formerly common but has suffered immense 196 A. S ciberrAS , J. S ciberrAS , M. S AMMut & G. A loiSe

decrease in the 1980`s and according to Baldac - the authors (A. Sciberras) on 6.VII.2001. This is chino & Schembri (2002) the current population the first record for Cominotto island. consists of only around 250-300 specimens. Tadarida teniotis (Rafinesque, 1814) Pipistrellus kuhli (Kuhl, 1817) European free-tailed bat Kuhl’s Pipistrelle A skull of this species was retrieved from This species was presumed rare in the Maltese Larus sp. pellet from Large Blue Lagoon Rock Archipelago before 1969 (Gulia, 1890; Lanfranco, (13.6.2011 A. and J. Sciberras leg.). Although the 1969) but according to a 1990 study (Borg et al., shape and size of the island suggest that, probably, 1990, 1997) the latter was found to be more fre - the was preyed on a different site than quent and it had a distribution all over the three where the remains were found, this is an intere - main islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino. sting record because besides being new to the islet, this species is extremely rare and was repor - Pipistrellus pygmaeus (Schreber, 1774) ted from the Maltese Islands twice before the di - Soprano Pipistrelle scovery of this skull. The first time was in 1993 in a locality known Busuttil & Borg (1925) record the presence of as Cittadella on the island of Gozo where 2 speci - two species of bats, noting that one preferred roo - mens were observed hunting insects under street sting in cracks while the other in caves. Lanfranco lights. The same specimens were noted till mid - (1969) repeats this record. Savona-Ventura (1982) May in the same locality. Another specimen was observed several specimens in flight and entering recorded flying close to the cliffs of Ħad - Dingli crevices at Santa Marija bay on VIII.1977. None in Malta in November of 1996 (Baldacchino & were captured, and so the records are only from di - Schembri, 2002). To add to the interest on the rect observations. It was suggested to be similar to same islet where the skull was located, on Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber, 1774). Nowa - 8.VIII.2010 the same authors observed gulls, days it is being considered that Pipistrellus pyg - identified as Larus michahellis (Naumann, 1884) maeus (Leach, 1825) is the likely species to exist by M. Sammut, hunting bat specimens that approa - in the Maltese Archipelago (Baldacchino & ched the vicinity of a colony of 7 gulls that were Schembri, 2002). resting on the islet. Several specimens were noted in flight by the This was just before sunset. It could be that this three of the authors (A. and J. Sciberras, M. Sam - species does occasionally predate on bats as it was mut) and from field observations they look to be a noted to predate on other terrestrial species such Pipistrellus sp., but none were ever recovered for as Podarcis filfolensis (Bedriaga, 1876). It could taxonomic identification. Several specimens were also be that the bat was caught away from this site also observed flying over Cominotto and landing even offshore and it was regurgitated locally. in crevices of Comino Cliff Face Rock.

Plecotus austriacus (Fischer, 1829) Carnivora Bowdich, 1821 Grey Long-eared Bat Mustelidae Fischer, 1817

Present on Malta, Gozo and Comino, the spe - Mustela nivalis (Linnaeus, 1766) Weasel cies was reported already by Gulia (1890, 1914), Lanza (1959) and Van den Brink (1967) as P. au - Baldacchino & Schembri (2002) state that this ritus (Linnaeus, 1758). Baldacchino & Schembri species locally is restricted in the Maltese Islands (2002) state that this species had a distribution all to the island of Malta. It is very scarce on the main over the three main islands. Although the authors island but it is widespread and observations of never observed this species on Comino a dead spe - this species range from the North to the South of cimen was found on Cominotto Beach by one of the main island of Malta. A contribution to the knowledge of the terrestrial Mammalian fau na of Comino and its satellite islets (Maltese Archipelago) 197

Whilst most observations of this species are of and it is suggested that these must be escapees single individuals, a den with cub s was observed from O. cuniculus hunting parties. in Balluta area (Wardija Limits) (A. Sciberras, 5.IV.2002, unpublished data) and an adult with Rodentia Bowdich, 1821 five cubs was observed at Mtahleb (M. Sammut Muridae Illiger, 1815 & C. Cachia Zammit, 13.XI.2010, unpublished data), although illegal, most of the specimens Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout, 1769) (from Qammieħ and Aħrax headlands in Brown rat Mellieħa) have been killed for taxidermal purpo - ses. On 23.IV.2012, one of the authors (M. Sam - The Brown Rat is considered common, but can mut) saw an adult specimen of this species at a be very common and, under certain conditions, can location known as Il-Hazina (Comino island) mo - become particularly problematic. ving swiftly from behind a rubble patch. Its presence has been detected on all the major Following that it climbed from behind a rub - islands, Cominotto and many other smaller islands. ble wall and popped up on the rubble wall where The presence of rats on the Comino and Cominotto it was seen very well and could be identified wi - Islands is referred by Busuttil & Borg (1925), thout any doubt. It disappeared again as swiftly as while Lanfranco (1969) mentions this species and it had appeared. It was seen in the afternoon and Rattus rattus , Savona-Ventura (1982) observed a though the author remained in the area for over an specimen of the species on Cominotto in IX.1975. hour it was not seen again. Baldacchino & Schembri (2002) also record the An indication of the presence of species on presence of the species on Comino. the island is the finding of 3 dead specimens of Presently including the period of observations Rattus norvegicus and a young specimen of Oryc - stipulated above, this species is numerous on the tolagus cuniculus near Comino`s pig farm islands and was recorded on the following islets (6.V.2004, A. Sciberras, unpublished data). These (A. Sciberras, unpublished data): , carcasses showed signs that they had been killed Qawra Point or Ta’ Fra Ben islet, Selmunett Is - and dragged from the neck, and less than 50 cm land, Large Blue Lagoon Rock, Ħalfa Rock, and away a den similar to the one observed at Balluta Taċ-Ċawl Rock. On and Selmunett was discovered. Island, it is known of its devastating impact on the No cubs or adults were observed despite the Insular biodiversity (Baldacchino & Schembri, constant monitoring. Interestingly, people who 2002; Sciberras, 2007; Sciberras & Schembri, have lived all their lives and constantly patrol the 2008). island of Comino have never seen the species on the island (S. Vella, pers. comm.). It is also worth Rattus rattus (Linnaeus, 1758) Black Rat noting that Mustela putorius furo (Linnaeus, 1758) was once observed on Comino in the 1970`s (M. The Black Rat is reported as present and Psaila, pers. comm.). common on Malta, Gozo, Comino and some of In the past feral specimens have escaped from the satellite islets. Busuttil & Borg (1925) record rabbit hunters which visited the island (S. Vella, the presence of rats on the Comino and Comi - pers. comm.). One of the authors (A. Sciberras) notto Island while Lanfranco (1969); Savona- also has reports on Mustela sp. being present in Ventura (1982) states in III.1978 he found a dead Gozo but after checking the site (an area known specimen of this species. as Munxar) 3 feral specimens of M. putorius furo Baldacchino & Schembri (2002) and Aloise et were noted roaming free. One of the authors (J. al. (2011) also record the presence of this species Sciberras) received reports by locals of Mustela on Comino including Malta and Gozo and state sp. at San Blas Bay. that it is common. The species is also known for After observing the site and description of the Fungus rock (Borg & Sultana, 2003). locals it was confirmed that a few specimens of M. From experience with data also collected from putorius furo were present at the site. Lanfranco a local Pest control company, this species is nu - (1969) also records the latter feral species in Malta merous where it is present but it does have a re - 198 A. S ciberrAS , J. S ciberrAS , M. S AMMut & G. A loiSe

stricted distribution. Most records of specimens A local resident introduced this species from come from and neighbouring harbour ci - Gozo again in several occasions as he did with ties. In all the years of observations and data col - other species (Sciberras, 2009). Today the Comino lection, this species was never encountered on population is the largest in density when compared Comino or its satellite islets. to the size with other Maltese Islands. The populations recorded in past literature on Mus musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) Cominotto and Selmunett are extinct (Sciberras House mouse unpublished data). It is interesting to note that in the Maltese Archipelago, two colour morphs Widespread and very common, the House occur: the brown form and the yellow form. The Mouse is abundand throughout. Present on all Maltese population consists of almost entirely the major islands, although not proven, its presence brown form with occasional yellow and hybrids can be regarded as likely also on the islands of with domestic rabbits. Domestic rabbits are gene - smaller size, because of its unique ecological rally set free because of some kind of illness such characteristics. as VHD (Viral Hemorrhagic Disease), Myxoma - Busuttil & Borg (1925) reported the presence tosis and the most commonly found Ear Cancer. If of a mouse on Comino and so did Savona-Ven - these survive they sometimes interbreed with the tura (1982) when he noted a specimen at Santa wild stock (Sciberras, 2006). Marija Bay in 1977. Since it was not caught, it The Gozo population has both forms in equal could not be certain whether it was this species numbers, whilst the Comino population constitutes or Apodemus sylvaticus (Linnaeus, 1758). Seve - entirely of the yellow form and only on very rare ral specimens were caught annually on the north occasions, slightly darker specimens are noted. Coast of Comino as a part of pest control treat - ment. From 34 studied samples all specimens re - sulted in being M. musculus . CONClUsIONs

At the present state of knowledge, on the is - Lagomorpha Brandt, 1855 lands of the Maltese Archipelago are 19 different Leporidae Fischer, 1817 species of terrestrial mammals (Erinaceomorpha: Atelerix algirus ; Soricomorpha: Suncus etruscus , Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758) Crocidura sicula ; Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum , Wild Rabbit R. hipposideros , Miniopterus schreibersii , Myo - tis punicus , Eptesicus serotinus , Nyctalus noc - Busuttil & Borg (1925) reported the presence tula , Pipistrellus pygmaeus , P. kulii , Plecotus of a rabbit on Comino and this was repeated by austriacus , Tadarida teniotis ; Lagomorpha: Lanfranco (1969). This species was very common Orictolagus cuniculus ; Rodentia: Apodemus syl - at their time and it is presumed that this species vaticus , Rattus rattus , R. norvegicus , Mus mu - was introduced around 1890`s on the latter Island. sculus ; Carnivora: Mustela nivalis ), more than Prisoners and soldiers during 1914-1918 did short half of which are bats. work on the rabbit population on Comino. As regards the island of Comino and its satel - In 1969 Comino was declared a protected area lite islands, most of these species are present from hunters and the rabbit population must have (68,4%), not being up to now verified the presence benefited, however Savona-Ventura (1982) assu - of S. etruscus and A. sylvaticus , among the non- med the survival of the animal through its scattered flying, and R. ferrum-equinum , M. schreibersii , E. dropping and not so much on the sightings. He also serotinus and N. noctula among the bats. recorded the species on Cominotto by finding With the species listed above, Busuttil & Borg droppings of the latter in IX.1975. In the 1980`s, (1925) reported that a certain Captain Stivala re - Myxomatosis was introduced and the Maltese po - leased on the island of Comino a pair of Gazella pulation was virtually wiped out as happened with sp. These bred successfully but were eradicated by the Comino population. prisoners during the First World War. A contribution to the knowledge of the terrestrial Mammalian fau na of Comino and its satellite islets (Maltese Archipelago) 199

A population of Felis silvestris catus (Schreber, Borg J.J. & R. Cachia-Zammit, 1994. Diet of the Barn Owl 1777) introduced in the 1980`s was exceeding over Tyto alba in a rural area in Gozo. Il-Merill, 28: 24-25. 20 specimens around Comino hotel (Northern Borg J.J., Fiore M., Violani C. & Zava B., 1990. Obser - Coast) in the late 1990`s and it was eradicated by vations on the Chiropterofauna of Gozo, Maltese Is - environmentalists for the protection of the native lands. Bollettino Museo Regionale Scienze Naturali Torino, 8: 501-515. wildlife of Comino. This update on the mammalian Borg J.J. & Sultana J., 2003. The presence of the black fauna was a result of observations, made indirectly rat Rattus rattus on Fungus Rock (Maltese Islands). while the authors were conducting other studies or The Central Mediterranean Naturalist, 4: 105-106. surveys mostly entomological, herpetological or or - Borg J.J., Violani C. & Zava B., 1997. The Bat Fauna of nithological. the Maltese Islands. Myotis, 35: 49-65. Upon further investigation, especially on spe - Busuttil V. & Borg T., 1925. Dizjunarju Enciklopediku. cies most critical (eg. Crocidura sicula and Chi - Vol.5, E. Lombardi, Malta, 4267-4268. roptera), would be necessary to verify the status of Felten H., Spitzenberger F. & Storch G., 1977. Zur Klein - the population, to guarantee their conservation in säugerfauna West-Anatoliens. Senckenbergiana bio - logica, 58: 1-44. the Archipelago. Gulia G., 1858. Repertorio di Storia Naturale (di Malta). Tip. Anglo-Maltese, Valletta, 245 pag. Gulia G., 1890. Elenco dei Mammiferi Maltesi. Il Natu - aCKNOWleDGeMeNTs ralista Maltese, 1: 2-3. Gulia G., 1914: Uno sguardo alla Zoologia delle "Isole A. and J. Sciberras are in debt to Esther Sciber - Maltesi". - IX. Congrès International de Zoologie, ras, Romario Sciberras and Luca Pisani for their Monaco, sect. 4: 545-555. constant assistance in the field. Special thanks go Lanfranco G., 1969. Maltese Mammals- (Central Medi - terranean), Progress Press, Malta, 28 pp. to Professor Patrick J. Schembri, Alfred. E. Baldac - Lanza B., 1959. Chiroptera, 187-473. In: Toschi A. & chino and Pietro Lo Cascio for providing useful Lanza B., Mammalia: Generalità, Insectivora, Chirop - contacts and some literature. Thanks also go to tera. Fauna d’Italia, IV, Calderini, Bologna, 485 pp. Mario Gauci for his hospitality during Gozo visits. Savona-Ventura C., 1982. The mammalian fauna of Co - Mark Psaila and Salvu Vella are acknowledged for mino and neighboring islets. Potamon, 1: 137-139. sharing their observations. Savona-Ventura C., 1984a. Observations of the Genus Myotis in Maltese caves. Potamon, 1: 77-78. Savona-Ventura C., 1984b. A study of the genus Myotis Kaup (1829) in Malta (Mammalia, Chiroptera: Ve - ReFeReNCes spertilionidae). The Central Mediterranean Natura - list, 1: 51-54. Aloise G., Baldacchino A.E. & Amori G., 2011. Croci - Schembri P.J. & Schembri S.P., 1979. On the occurrence dura sicula Miller, 1900 (Mammalia, Soricidae): a of Crocidura suaveolens Pallas (Mammalia, Insecti - possible new record from Comino island (Maltese Is - vora) in the Maltese Islands with notes on other Mal - lands). Biodiversity Journal, 2011, 2: 145-148. tese . The Central Mediterranean Naturalist, Baldacchino A.E. & Schembri P.J., 2002. Amfibji, rettili, 1: 18-21. u mammiferi fil-gzejjer Maltin. Sensiela Kullana Sciberras A., 2006. Domestic rabbits in countryside cause Kulturali, Nru. 39. Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza, for concern. (Press release) The Malta Independent. Il-Pieta, Malta, xii + 256 pp. April 12th pg.7. Baldacchino A.E. & Azzopardi J., 2007. L-Għasafar li Sciberras A. & Lalov S.V., 2007. Notes on the impact jbejtu fl-ambjent naturali tal-gżejjer Maltin. Malta of the black rat ( Rattus rattus L.) on the flora and University Publishers Ltd., Msida, Malta. fauna of Fungus Rock (Maltese Islands). The Central Borg J.J., 1998. The lesser mouse-eared bat Myotis blythi Mediterranean Naturalist, 4: 207-210. punicus Felten, 1977 in Malta. Notes on status, mor - Sciberras A. & Schembri P.J., 2008. Conservation Sta - phometrics, movements and diet (Chiroptera: Vesper - tus of St Paul`s Island Wall Lizard ( Podarcis filfo - tilionidae). Il Naturalista Siciliano, 22: 365-374. lensis kieselbachi ). Herpetological Bulletin, 105: Borg J.J. & R. Cachia-Zammit, 1988. Avian, Chiropteran 28-34. and other remains in Barn Owl Tyto alba pellets from Sciberras A., 2009. Short notes on the introduced Avi - Gozo. Il-Merill, 24: 12-13. fauna of Comino Island and some of their interactions 200 A. S ciberrAS , J. S ciberrAS , M. S AMMut & G. A loiSe

to local Herpetofauna. The Central Mediterranean Archipelago. The Central Mediterranean Naturalist, Naturalist, 5: 46-49. 5: 31-42. Sciberras J. & Sciberras A., 2010. Topography and Van Den Brink F.H., 1967. A field guide to the mammals Flora of the Satellite islets surrounding the Maltese of Britain and Europe. Collins. , 221 pp.