Biological Conservation 72 (1995) 159-170 © 1995 Elsevier Science Limited Printed in Great Britain. All rights reserved 0006-3207/95/$09.50+.00 ELSEVIER 0006-3207(94)00078-6 MEDITERRANEAN ENDEMIC FRESHWATER OF

Pier Giorgio Bianco Dipartimento di Zoologia, Via Mezzocannone, 8, 80134 Napoli, Italy

Abstract The survival of native fishes in Italy is threatened by In Italy, as in several other circum-Mediterranean coun- a number of factors (pollution, habitat destruction and tries, there is a unique assemblage of endemic freshwater dam construction). In this article most attention will be fishes. Speciation processes, especially of endemic pri- paid to introductions of alien taxa. The reason for this mary or near-primary freshwater , most probably is that, while other factors rarely totally eradicate a occurred during the Lago Mare era of the Mediterranean from a river basin (as small perennial uncon- (about 5 million years BP). However, the present-day taminated river sections operate as genetic reservoirs distribution patterns are surely the result of events that for the fish fauna), an alien taxon may eliminate or occurred more recently, from the Pleistocene until histor- exterminate a native species by competition or predation ical times. However, natural events are now being super- from the whole basin. seded by anthropogenic interference with fish faunas. Three kinds of introductions (any human alteration Among the various negative human factors the most of the composition of the native fish fauna) have been harmful is the introduction of non-native species, which in recently proposed (Bianco, 1995): (1) trans-introduc- Italy are responsible for the present catastrophic situation. tions -- fish transfers between isolated river basins Of the 71 species currently with natural self-sustaining within the same political country; (2) cis-introductions populations in Italian waters, only 45 are natives. Of the -- transfers between branches of the same river basin; latter, only 16 (or fewer) have not been subjected to (3) iso-introductions -- transfers between different deliberate human transfers. In Italy there about 28 endemic political countries. Trans-introductions are the most Mediterranean taxa, but most have either been deliberately dangerous because they may be responsible for at least or accidentally introduced to areas outside their natural five kinds of negative interactions with the local native range. The result of this persistent practice on a little populations: (1) loss of genetic identity; (2) zoogeo- known and unique fish fauna is zoogeographic pollution, graphical pollution; (3) massive cases of interspecific massive cases of hybridization and loss of genetic identity hybridization; (4) reduction or by predation; by local native populations. The problem of freshwater or (5) by competition. Cis-introductions may produce fish conservation is not a matter of public concern in similar effects to those of trans-introductions when the Italy. Sport fishing has a political and econ~bmic value transfers are between tributaries separated by long and introductions are legally carried out and 'welcomed' distances. In iso-introductions, the introduced taxa by most fishermen; most biologists and conservationists sometimes originate from very distant and distinct zoo- are either unaware or unconcerned. geographic and are usually also genetically unrelated. Acclimatization is not always possible and Keywords: endemic, fish~ conservation, Italy. interactions with local communities are mostly by com- petition and predation. While in several parts of the world the effect of intro- INTRODUCTION duced species on native communities has been taken In Italy, as in several other circum-Mediterranean into consideration (Welcomme, 1984), in , very countries, there is a unique assemblage of primary and little attention has been paid to this subject (Lelek, near-primary freshwater fishes. Several are endemic 1987). taxa, possibly isolated from present Danubian elements In Italy, transfers of non-native species have brought since the Messinian era (about 5 million years BP) about an ecological disaster in terms of biogeographic, (Bianco, 1987a, 1990b), but the modern distribution genetic and faunistic pollution and the local extinction pattern seems to be a result of more recent events, such of native species (Bianco, 1990a). The current situation as local plate-tectonics along the Apennine ridge which in Italy is very similar, on a smaller scale, to what caused river captures between the headwaters of rivers occurred as a result of the introduction of non-native (Bartolini & Pranzini, 1988; Cattauto et al., 1988) and commercial species into Central African lakes, which river catchments that occurred on the continental shelf caused the extinction of hundreds of endemic species (the Adriatic in Italy) during the last wtirm glacial (Barel et al., 1985; Ogutu-Ohwayo, 1989). marine regression (10,000-15,000 years BP) (Bianco, In Italy, more than 20 years of active trans-intro- 1990b). ductions have caused a process of fish fauna 'homo- 159 160 P. G. Bianco

genization'. This is mostly due to stocking practices every other catchment in central and operated from a 'major dispersal centre' located in (Fig. 1): in this way, the identity and the limits of the near the town of , which carried two main Italian ichthyogeographic regions (Fig. 1) out introductions from the Po and Adige basins to have become confused (Bianco, 1990a).

• *'% X is f' # P

,o

4~ o~

. o o

%

/ :-

\..---.

11 0 0 C= D 0 0

a ,a

o,

%

0 200 I I I I I km %

Fig. 1. The main ichthyogeographic district in Italy: P, Padano-Venetian; T, Tuscano-Latium; S, Southern Italy. M, location of the fishery more involved in native freshwater fish transfers. Italian endemic freshwater fish 161

Table 1. Threatened species in localities where translocations occurred, with an indication of the translocated taxa most responsible for reductions or of native local populations

Native speciesa Locality Present status of native species Stocked (translocated) taxaa

Rutilus rubilio (TL) Lake Trasimeno Virtually extinct erythrophthalmus (PV) Rutilus rubilio (TL) Lake Bracciano Very seldom in the lake Rutilus aula (PV) Rutilus rubilio (TL) Lake Piediluco Nearly extinct Rutilus aula (PV) Rutilus rubilio (TL) River Tiber Seldom in main course of Alburnus alburnus arborella (PV) the basin genei (PV) Alburnus albidus (SI) Rivers of S Italy Endangered in all rivers of Rutilus rubilio (TL) southern Italy Leuciscus cephalus (PV + TL) Alburnus albidus (SI) Lake Monticchio Virtually extinct Rutilus aula (PV) Scardinius scardafa (TL) Lake Trasimeno Endangered Scardinius erythrophthalmus (PV) Scardinius scardafa (TL) Tiber, & Magra Rivers Endangered Scardinius erythrophthalmus (PV) Barbus fucini (TL) River Tiber Endangered Barbus plebejus (PV) Barbus fucini (TL) Arno, Ombrone & Magra Rivers Unknown Barbus plebejus (PV) Rutilus rubilio (TL) River Fiora Rare (PV)

" Original district of the species: PV, Padano-Venetian district (basins north of the River Vomano in Italy and north of the River Krka in Dalmatia on Adriatic slopes); TL, Tuscano-Latium district (basins between the River Serchio and the River Tiber on Tyrrhenian slopes); SI, Southern Italy. (Modified from Bianco, P. G. (1990a). Vanishing freshwater fishes in Italy. J. Fish Biol., 37A (Suppl.), 235-7. Reprinted by permission.)

FISH INTRODUCTIONS IN ITALY and mostly did trans-introductions from north to south, while the fish farm mainly carried out While in the past, fish restocking mostly involved restocking across northern Italy. It has been estimated species of value either commercially or for angling that about 350 million native cyprinids (chub, barbel, (both exotics and natives), in the last 25-30 years, , rudd) were cis- and trans-introduced from the many 'less attractive' (for anglers and fishery managers) Padua-Venetian area, from the River Isonzo (which species were also involved in deliberate introductions. rises in Slovenia), as far as the eastern and The worst custom was stocking many catchments Regions (Ministero Agricoltura e Foreste, in peninsular Italy with 'white fish': a mixture of 1931; Bianco, 1987b). The fish distribution centre unidentified species, mostly native to northern Italy, trans-introduced conspecific and allospecific popula- including minnow, chub, barbel, cobitids, gobies, etc. tions of cyprinid species from northern basins (mostly (Bianco, 1990a). Some results of these practices, the Po, Adige and Lake Garda) to the River Tiber, recorded by the author in water bodies repeatedly sur- Lake Trasimeno and other basins in veyed in the last 10-15 years, are shown in Table 1. (Moretti & Gianotti, 1966; Sommani, 1969). These Official practices have allowed massive introductions practices have increased in the last 20-30 years when mostly from north to south, for nearly a century. From the official management of rivers was devolved to the the end of the last century until 1970, two major official regional and provincial level. institutions (the Rome and Brescia fish farm centres) By means of introductions, several species present as provided fish for introductions throughout Italy. The 'impurities' in the stocked samples were unintentionally Rome fish farm operated in central and southern Italy spread to several sites in Italy. This was the case for

Table 2. Native species with their original range

Species Range"

Lethenteron zanandreai PV, alpine basin of Rivers Po and Potenza Lampetra fluviatilis TL, River Magra and Sele Lampetra planeri TL, Rivers Magra and Sele and, on Adriatic slope, River Pescara Petromyzon marinus Peninsular Italy, seldom in large islands Acipenser sturio Adriatic and connected rivers Acipenser naccarii Upper and connected rivers Huso huso Adriatic Sea and connected rivers Salmo carpio Lake Garda Leuciscus lucumonis TL Scardinius scardafa TL and Scanno Lake (Pescara River basin) Barbatula barbatula NE alpine area of PV Aphanius fasciatus Insular and peninsular Italy Salaria fluviatilis Insular and peninsular Italy Gobius nigrieans TL and Sisto and Amaseno Rivers Knipowitschia punctatissima Basins of upper PV Cottus gobio PV and TL

" Abbreviations as in Table 1. 162 P. G. Bianco

Sabanejewia larvata in Lake Trasimeno, Leuciscus Table 4. Ichthyological integrity coefficients of some environ- souffia in the River Biferno, Chondrostoma genei in cen- mental or regional units and the whole of Italy tral Italy and Cobitis taenia and Alburnus alburnus Integrity coefficients~ arborella, natives of the Padua-Venetian , but now spread throughout Italy. The impact of this 'tradition' Units FC ZC GC on a fish fauna that was largely still unknown was catastrophic. Today we are unable to trace the original River Tevere 0.26 0.44 0-64 River Esino 0-28 0-86 0.33 range of any primary freshwater fish species. To do River Sangro 0.25 0-35 0.71 this, it must be deduced from the literature (when this Tuscano-Latium district 0.17 0.38 0.43 is available and credible), or better from examination Region 0.22 0.60 0-37 of historical collections preserved in Natural History Italy 0.19 0.53 0.35 Museums or other similar institutions (Bianco, 1987a). " FC, faunistic coefficients; ZC, zoological coefficients; GC, genetic coefficients. (Modified from Bianco, P. G. (1991b). Sui FISHES OF ITALY pesci d'acqua dolce del flume Esino. Atti Soc. Ital. Sci. Nat., 132, 49-60. Reprinted by permission.) In Italy, about 71 species are currently reported to be breeding in waters outside captivity: 45 are natives and 26 introduced. Of the native species, only 16 have till (mostly endangered diadromous species) have not been now escaped trans-introductions (Table 2), but nearly involved in human manipulations and trans-introduc- all are endangered by pollution and habitat destruc- tions. The Genetic Coefficient (GC) is 0.36, which tion. Most of the native species have been subjected to means that only 36% of original native species have authorized or clandestine trans-introductions (Table 3). not been contaminated by trans-introductions of con- To evaluate the level of degradation of the native fish specific populations or transplanted to one or more fauna in an environmental unit (lake, basin, region, localities outside their original range. The Zoological country), three integrity coefficients have been pro- Coefficient (ZC) is 0.53, which means that the original posed and calculated for several units by Bianco ranges of nearly half of all native species have been (1991a) and are shown in Table 4. In Italy as a whole, artificially altered. the status of the native fish fauna is seriously compro- In smaller units (Table 4) the situation is basically mised: the Faunistic Coefficient (FC) is only 0.17, the same as that described above for the whole of Italy: which means that only 17% of the original fish fauna the Esino shows the highest ZC value (0.86) because it

Table 3. Translocated native species with their original ranges (in parentheses), and new areas where they are established

Species Original range" New areas

Alosa fallax nilotica (M) Volcanic lakes of Latium Anguilla anguilla (M) Regularly stocked in many basins Esox lucius (PV) Peninsular and insular Italy Salmo trutta (M) Peninsular and insular Italy Salmo marmoratus (PV) Tiber basin in Central Italy Salvelinus alpinus (PV) Stocked in many alpine waters Thymallus thymallus (PV) Nera (River Tevere) Rutilus rubilio (TL) Appenine side of PV and SI Rutilus aula (PV) Some lakes of PV and SI Leuciscus cephalus (PV + TL) Rivers of SW Ligury, TL and SI Leuciscus souffia (PV + TL) Rivers of SW Ligury and River Biferno in SI Tinca tinca (PV + TL) Peninsular and insular Italy Scardinius erythrophthalmus (PV) Lakes and rivers of TL Alburnus alburnus arborella (PV) Lakes and rivers of Peninsular Italy Alburnus albidus (SI) Rivers Lao and Noce in SI Chondrostoma soetta (PV) Rivers and lakes of TL Chondrostoma genei (PV) Rivers of TL Gobio benacensis (PV) Two rivers of TL: Arno and Tiber Barbus plebejus (PV) Peninsular Italy Barbus meridionalis (PV) Several rivers of SW Ligury and TL Barbus fucini (TL) Rivers of central and SI Phoxinus phoxinus (PV) River Pora, SW Ligury Sabanejewia larvata (PV) Lake Trasimeno and Tiber basin Cobitis taenia (PV) From Ligury to TL and SI Atherina boyeri (M) Lakes of central Italy Gasterosteus aculeatus (M) Lakes Scanno and Villalago in SI Knipowitschia panizzae (M) Lake Trasimeno and Thyrrhenian coastal area of central Italy Padogobius martensii (PV) Rivers Magra and Amaseno Pomatoschistus canestrini (M) Gulf of Taranto

M, diadromus or of recent origin. Other abbreviations as in Table 1. Italian endemic freshwater fish 163

( 186 l) !!suatJmu ~n!qogopv d (9L6 I) !vzz!uuvd v!ttastg~od!u~l e. o (gL6 I) smvalnav snajsoJalsvD (ss~o,( O~-g~ ~ou!s) !dMoq vu!sawv (sJeo,~ Ot~-~E oou!s) v!uavl s!lt.qo D (sJe.O~ 0~-~ gou!s) vlvasv l m~afauvqv S (OL61 ) snu!xoqd snulxOttd

( ~ 181 ) !u!anf snq~vg 0 (~lr6 I-0~'6 [ ) snu!uva S!lVUO!p!satu snq~vg (oJojoq Jo ~61 ) ~nfaqald snq~vg .,.~x @861 ) ~?suaovuaq o!qo D (L E61 ) !suvg vutotso~puoqD (sJ~o£ O~-g~ o3u!s) vllaos muowoJpuoqD (L86I oJojaq) ynp!qlv snusnql V (L~6I) VllasoqJv snuJnqlv snuJnqlv (L ~61 ) snuqmtlqdoJttl,Oa sn!u!psvaS (~Jnluoo ql6I oou!s) VaUlt vgU!l (LE61) v~lho~ snos!ana 7 (lr~6I) snlvqda,~ snas!ona 7 (sap,o~ O~ g~ o3u!s) vlnv gnl!ln~f (sJp,o~ Of ~ ~3uls) O!l!qn,~ Ynl!ln~I (6961 ) SnllVUt'(ql SnllVUt~ql (0/,6[) snwJotuJvut OtUlVS (~anluo3 ql6[ oou!s) vllndl OUtlVS (Og61) s'n!anl x°s'9 (~anluz3 ql61 oou!s) Vll!ngun Vll!ngu V (0~;61 ) °.~!lOl!U XVllVf nS°lV (Z~06[) v.ztado!,ml uo!palsoz!ls (0061 ) s'ap!otulVS sn~aldosa!lN (~061 ) ynsoqq! g s!u~oda 7 (po!Jod Ul~tUOll) SllltVlant]v,~a d °~ ~ (~E61) ~?u.q]b n!snqutv D =.>. (L~61 ) SmVlg snanllS (9061 ) S'vlatu sn~nlvl~l (,(anluoo qlLI oou!s) snlvJnv yn!s~'v.tv) (pouod uetuo~l) o!d~v,~ snulad, f D (0661 ) uml,~!d UOl!q:~,(qavd (0661) v,~.~vdv.~oqs'wopna~ d (066 ! ) sn.tvum snapoq~t (1,861) nutwq sm2wqv (/, po[zod uemoll) sng!d Snllln~t (~961 u! filq!ssod) snsvu nu~olso.tpuoffD (~96I u! £lq!ssod) !z!~ngv v~ho,v ~'na~!ona7 (0~61 ) snuqnqlqdo~avut ~'nuo~oJo D ( 1981 ) vp!aq,fq musof ynuoga~oD (Xjnluo3 q161 oou!s) .s'nu!dlv snu!laalV~ (,~anluoo q161 oou!s) gnllmU,fql SnllVtU,ftl,£ (~Jnluo3 ql6I ~3u!s) vlln,tl O~lV~ (IrL6I) ~!s'ua!~vuoq ,~alsatlluopo (b po!Jod up,moll) rio I mo 7

~o

0

CY 164 P. G. Bianco belongs to the Padua-Venetian district from where species in the northern Mediterranean, sometimes living most trans-introductions originated and shares several in sympatry (Quignard & Douchement, 1991) is difficult species with it; Sangro has the higher GC value to understand. Introduced in lakes in central Italy. In because, until now, no trans-introductions of native upstream migratory populations trapped after cyprinids have occurred there. dam construction tend to assume the morphology of Of the 45 freshwater fish species native to Italy, most landlocked populations (lacustris ecophenotype) after a are endemic to the Mediterranean (28 species) few generations. (Appendix 1) and fall into the category of primary (25 Habitat. Pelagic and gregarious either in the sea or in species) or near-primary freshwater fishes (Bianco & lakes. The diet consists mainly of zooplankton, but in Miller, 1990). The general features of each species the sea and in rivers it is able to catch larger prey such and their current conservation status are given in the as fish and macro-crustaceans. following list. Conservation status. Migratory populations are gradually disappearing due to a number of factors such as pollution, river barrages, professional fishing and poaching. In LIST OF ENDEMIC MEDITERRANEAN SPECIES Italy it is progressively vanishing (Bianco, 1989). In IN ITALY Greece (Economidis, 1991), Spain (Doadrio et al., Petromyzonidae 1991) and other countries (Maitland, 1991) it is consid- Lethenteron zanandreai (Vladykov, 1955) -- ered as 'vulnerable'. Lamprecla padana Distribution. Endemic to the Padua-Venetian district, Salmonidae is one of a few remaining near-primary freshwater Salmo marmoratus (Cuvier, 1829) -- Trota marmorata fishes (Bianco & Miller, 1990) that has escaped trans- Distribution. Alpine slopes of the upper Adriatic basins introductions and for this reason may be considered as from the River Po to the River Isonzo in Italy (Som- a valuable biogeographical indicator (Bianco, 1992). mani, 1960) and the River Neretva in Dalmatia (Povz Habitat. Brooks or brooklets with clean water and et al., 1990). muddy or sandy bottoms, where the temperature Habitat. Sandy or gravelly bottoms of running or ranges from 5°C in winter to 19.5°C in summer standing clean and cold waters in the upper courses of (Bianco, 1986a). Alpine rivers and glacial lakes. Its zonation is down- Conservation status. Endangered by pollution and habitat stream of that of S. trutta. destruction (Bianco 1986a; Delmastro, 1986). It is now Conservation status. Present range reduced by human abundant only in the headwaters of the Po River near alteration of the habitat and competition and hybrid- the towns of Saluzzo, Villa-Franca and Biella (Alessio & ization with stocked S. trutta (Tortonese, 1980: Gandolfi, 1983) and in the Potenza River in east-central Forneris & Alessio, 1986, Marconato et al., 1986; Italy where it was recently found (Bianco, 1992). Forneris et al., 1990). S. marmoratus is being bred, reared and stocked in rivers and lakes. Successfully introduced Acipenseridae into the Tiber River basin (Sommani, 1962, 1969). Acipenser naccarii Bonaparte, 1836 -- Storione cobice Distribution. Endemic in the Adriatic drainage basin Salmo carpio Linnaeus, 1758 -- Carpione del Garda from the Po to Isonzo in Italy to Corfu in northern D&tribution. Endemic to Lake Garda. Greece (Tortonese, 1989). In the River Po it does not Habitat. The species has been bred and introduced into reach Piedmont, but is still present both upstream and several lakes in Italy (and in ) but unsuc- downstream of the Caorso dam on the River Po. cessfully (Melotto & Oppi, 1987). Habitat. Anadromous species. Main courses of rivers Conservation status. Since the 1970s has been artificially and shallow . Its present distribution has been restocked in Lake Garda but at present the species is reduced by habitat destruction or dam construction. seldom found in the lake and professional catches have Conservation status. The scarcity of the species in Italian decreased from about 20 tonnes a year in 1887 to less rivers may not be as severe as usually reported (Tor- than 5 tonnes a year between 1985 and 1988: overfishing, tonese, 1989). It is successfully being bred and reared in eutrophication and modification of spawning substrates captivity (Arlati et al., 1988). Conservation measures in- are responsible for its present decline (Melotto & Oppi, volve habitat preservation and installation of fish-passes 1987; Melotto & Alessio, 1990; Alessio et al.. 1991). on dams. Of the three sturgeon species living in Italy, A. naccarii is the only one at present in the Po basin (Rossi, et al., 1992): its presence upstream of dams suggest that Leuciscus lucurnonis Bianco, 1982 -- Cavedano di ruscello landlocked populations are established in the river. Distribution. Endemic to and Latium regions (Arno, Ombrone and Tiber river basins). Clupeidae Habitat. Brooks, brooklets and small rivers in the hill Alosa fallax nilotica (Geoffroy, 1827) -- Cheppia zone of the principal basins (Bianco, 1983, 1987a). (migratory form); Agone (landlocked form) Conservation status. It has not been subject to human Distribution. . Enters eastern Atlantic transfers and is an important biogeographic indicator. and western . The recognition of three sub- The species seems to be resistant to habitat alteration Italian endemic freshwater fish 165 and to trans-introductions of alien cyprinid stocks but eliminate the endemic Alburnus albidus and now infests in R. Ombrone is on the decrease caused by introduc- every river (Bianco, 1990a and personal observations). In tion of Chondrostoma genei (personal observations). the Tuscany and Latium regions it is still abundant, espe- cially in small torrential tributaries of the main fiver Leuciscus cephalus squalus Bonaparte, 1837 -- basins of the Arno, Ombrome and Tiber Rivers and in Cavedano isolated small rivers flowing into the . Distribution. This chub, with soft nine-branched rays, occurs in Italy and in the western except for Rutilus aula (Bonaparte, 1841) -- Triotto Albania (Bianco, 1986b). The species is common in Distribution. Endemic to the Padua-Venetian regions. peninsular Italy. Habitat. Lacustrine species that can colonize rivers in Conservation status. It is able to withstand pollution the absence of specialized riverine species. and habitat destruction. In Italy it is subject to exten- Conservation status. Since historical times it has been sive legal trans-introductions (Bianco, 1990a). Its origi- transplanted from north to central Italy. The species is nal range is not well known and it is possible that it now dominant in several central Italian lakes (Bianco was formerly absent from several rivers in southern & Taraborelli, 1985). Trans-introductions have hidden Italy. No particular measurements are needed at pre- the original distribution of R. aula in rivers on the sent to conserve the native populations. Massive trans- Adriatic slope of Italy (Bianco, 1991b). In the introductions have now surely altered any genetic Padua-Venetian regions the species is abundant locally evidence of isolation (Bianco, 1995). to the extent of being a pest.

Leuciscus souffia muticellus Bonaparte, 1837 -- Vairone Alburnus alburnus arborella (Bonaparte, 1841) -- Arborella Distribution. Pan-Italian. The southern limits are prob- Distribution. Padua-Venetian regions and the whole of ably the Vomano River on the Adriatic and the peninsular Italy, western Balkans to Albania (Bianco, Volturno River on the Tyrrhenian side. Introduced in 1980). Liguria (Balma et al., 1989). Habitat. It has been transplanted throughout Italy: this Habitat. Riverine fish living in moderately cold waters lacustrine species contributed to the elimination or of hill regions (the Thymallus zone of Huet, 1949) decline of native populations of Rutilus rubilio in lakes (Spillmann, 1961; Tortonese, 1970). Currently the and lowland rivers of the Tuscany and Latium regions species occurs in every suitable habitat. (Bianco, 1987a, 1990a). It is increasing in abundance in Conservation status'. The species is safe. Locally, its most basins in northern Italy as a result of eutrophica- occurrence could be the result of clandestine trans- tion (Giussani & Ruffoni, 1985). introductions, as for example in the River Biferno in southern Italy (Bianco, 1987a). Alburnus albidus (Costa, 1838) -- Vulturino Distribution. Endemic to southern Italy in the area be- Scardinius scardafa (Bonaparte, 1837) -- Seardafa tween the Rivers Volturno and Trigno in the north and Distribution. Central Italy and western Balkans. From Sinni and Alento in the south (Bianco, 1980). a biogeographic point of view, this species and the Habitat. It was formerly abundant in all rivers in common rudd S. erythrophthalmus are distinct taxa southern Italy. (Bianco, 1990a). Conservation status. The species has been introduced Habitat. Parts of lakes and lower reaches of rivers rich south of the River Alento into the Rivers Lao and in aquatic vegetation. Noce (Bianco, 1990a). In the last 10 years, its conserva- Conservation status. Trans-introductions of common tion status has deteriorated (Bianco, 1980 and personal rudd from north to central Italy have brought about observations). Most rivers are now infested with trans- the extinction of this species in nearly all basins. In planted stocks of Rutilus rubilio which have relegated Italy, a single (possibly non-native population) survives A. albidus to the lower reaches. Hybridization with L. in Lake Scanno in the region (Bianco, unpub- eephalus is another reason for the decline (Bianco, 1982), lished data). To avoid extinction, no more trans-intro- ductions of any species of rudd should be carried out. Chondrostoma soetta Bonaparte, 1840 -- Savetta Distribution. Endemic to the Padua-Venetian regions. Rutilus rubilio (Bonaparte, 1837) -- Rovella Habitat. Gregarious, mostly lacustrine species, quite Distribution. Endemic to central Italy. common in the main stretches of principal rivers and in Habitat. Riverine species that can also colonize lakes in lakes (Tortonese, 1970), absence of specialized lacustrine species. Conservation status. Transplanted to several basins out- Conservation status. Probably a native of central Italy; the side its original range (Balma et al., 1989; Bianco, 1989; present distribution in southern Italy and (Tigano & Trisolini et al., 1991). Its introduction into artificial Ferrito, 1986) is the result of trans-introductions (Bianco lakes in central Italy (Salto and Turano) contributed to & Taraborelli, 1985). It has vanished from several lakes in the local extinction of native species (Balma et al., central Italy as result of transfers of Rutilus aula and 1989; Bianco, 1989). The species is locally a pest, espe- other more lacustrine cyprinids (Bianco & Taraborelli, cially in some sites where it has been stocked (Balma et 1985). In the rivers of southern Italy, R. rubilio tends to al., 1989). Endangered in the River Isonzo because of 166 P. G. Bianco competition with the alien C. nasus (Pizzul et al., in Habitat. As the above species. press). Conservation status. Transplanted into several rivers in southern Italy. In 1987 was accidentally introduced into the Chondrostoma genei (Bonaparte, 1839) -- Lasca Rivers Agri and Sinni ( region) (Bianco, 1987a). Distribution. Endemic to the Padua-Venetian regions In the main rivers of central Italy (Rivers Arno, Ombrone, of Italy. Tiber) it and Barbus plebejus now occur sympatrically Habitat. Running waters of the foothill zone of moun- (Bianco, personal observations). Stopping trans-intro- tain regions, with gravelly or sandy bottoms. Deep ductions is the first step to conserve this species. water in lakes. Conservation status. It has been introduced into central Cobitidae Italy at least since 1976 and is now present outside its Sabanejewia larvata (De Filippi, 1859) -- Cobite native range in all the main rivers of the Tuscany and mascherato Latium regions (Bianco, 1989). This species is regularly Distribution. Endemic to the Padua-Venetian regions. transplanted together with other cyprinid species as Detailed distribution still unknown. 'white fish' (Bianco, 1989). It is quite common in all Habitat. Standing and running waters in the lowland localities and its range is progressively enlarging as a re- and hill zones with sandy or muddy bottoms rich in sult of trans-introductions. Safe, but locally endangered. vegetation. Conservation status. Transplanted to Lake Trasimeno Gobio benacensis (Polllini, 1816) -- Gobione and the River Tiber basin (Bianco, 1989). Habitat Distribution. Endemic to the Padua-Venetian region at destruction is probably the main reason for the local least as far as the Esino River (Bianco, 1991b). decline in native populations. Habitat. Running clean waters with gravelly or sandy bottoms. Cobitis taenia bilineata (Canestrini, 1866) -- Cobite comune Conservation status. Introduced at least in the River Arno Distribution. Endemic to the Padua-Venetian regions. (Bianco & Taraborelli, 1986). The species is progressively Habitat. Standing or running waters of the lowland vanishing from several sites in northern Italy because of and hill zones of the mountain region, with soft (sandy habitat destruction (Delmastro, 1981; Marconato et al., or muddy) bottoms used by the species to hide during 1986). Habitat preservation is the main conservation the day (Marconato et al., 1986). measurement to be adopted to save the species. Conservation status. The current range of this loach throughout Italy results from legal, illegal and acciden- Barbus meridionalis caninus Bonaparte, 1839- tal trans-introductions (Bianco 1987a, b). It seems to be Barbo canino a species quite resistant to river pollution (Bianco, Distribution. Endemic to the Padua-Venetian regions: 1991a). The species may be considered safe although according to preliminary work by P. Berrebi (pers. locally it has disappeared through habitat destruction. comm.), Italian populations differ from those of the rest of Europe. Cobitis taenia zanandreai Cavicchioli, 1965 -- Habitat. Running waters of the upper hill zone of Cobite del Volturno mountain regions. It tends to occur further upstream Distribution. Apparently only in the Volturno basin. than the congeneric and sympatric B. plebejus plebejus. Habitat. As for C. taenia bilineata. Conservation status. Progressively decreasing every- Conservation status. Very rare because of habitat where because of habitat destruction. In some cases destruction (Bianco, personal observations). From meristic organic pollution may favour the expansion of local and biometric characters (Zanandrea et al., 1965), populations (Marconato et al., 1986). Transplanted at C. taenia zanandreai seems to be intermediate between least into Liguria (Balma et al., 1989) and the River Sabanejewia larvata and Cobitis taenia bilineata. Could Ombrone (Bianco, personal observations). the Volturno loach be an intergeneric stabilized hybrid resulting from artificial introduction of both species? Barbus plebejus plebejus Bonaparte, 1839 -- Barbo padano Cyprinodontidae Distribution. Endemic to the Padua-Venetian regions. Aphaniusfasciatus Nardo, 1827 -- Nono Habitat. Running waters of the hill and lowland zones Distribution. Mediterranean endemic species. Its detailed of rivers. distribution seems to be complementary to that of other Conservation status. As a result of massive trans-intro- cyprinodontid species with which it usually does not occur ductions mainly from the Po basin to every river in cen- sympatrically (Villwock, 1970; Bianco & Miller, 1989). Its tral Italy (Arno, Ombrone and Tiber) (Bianco, 1990a), eastern limit is near the Dardanelles: it does not enter the the species is now infesting several basins: this practice Black Sea (Banarescu, 1964; Parenti, 1981). Absent in has caused genetic and zoogeographic pollution and hybri- Spain and Algeria, where it is replaced by A. iberus and in dization with B. fucini (Bianco, personal observations). France (Villwock & Scholl, 1982; Doadrio et al., 1991). Habitat. Competition and predation seem to be factors Barbus fucini Costa, 1838 -- Barbo cavaliere limiting the spread of the species, which is potentially Distribution. Endemic to the Tuscany and Latium regions. able to colonize every kind of habitat up to a salinity Italian endemic freshwater fish 167 around four to five times that of the sea. The most Habitat. Coastal lagoons, estuaries and the lower common habitats are transitional environments such as reaches of rivers. Springs and brooks near the coast brackish waters (Bianco, 1989). with mud and vegetation (Forneris et al., 1990). Conservation status. Habitat destruction, decline in salt Conservation status. Unknown. works and competition with other species (mainly Gam- busia affinis) are responsible for the local decline or CONCLUSIONS extinction of the species (Bianco & Ahnelt, in press). (I) Italy has two ichthyogeographic regions with Blennidae very rich endemic faunas which probably originated Salar&flUV~ltilis (Asso, 1801) -- Cagnetto and spread since the Lago Mare phase of the Mediter- Distribution. Mediterranean endemic species present in ranean until historical times. every continental river with a rocky outlet as well as (2) Of the 71 species established in the wild, 45 are those on major islands (Bianco & Taraborelli, 1988). natives. Among the natives, 25 are primary or near-pri- Habitat. Running clean water in the lower reaches of mary freshwater fishes with ranges restricted to Italy or rivers with stony or gravelly bottoms. Italy and the western Balkans, three taxa are Mediter- Conservation status. The species is in danger of extinc- ranean endemics and the others also occur in non- tion in Spain (ICONA, 1986; Doadrio et al., 1991), safe Mediterranean countries. in Greece (Economidis, 1991) while in Yugoslavia it is (3) Anthropogenic habitat modifications and intro- not counted as an endangered species (Povz et al., ductions have severely altered the natural abundance 1990). In central Italy the species is in danger of extinc- and composition of local fish faunas. From the Roman tion, mainly from river pollution (Bianco, 1989 and period till modern times, introductions have been personal observations). responsible for the irreversible processes of 'Danubiza- tion' of the fish fauna in the Padua-Venetian regions Gobiidae and 'Paduanization' of western-central Italy, Tuscany Padogobius nigricans (Canestrini, 1876) -- Ghiozzo di and Latium regions. The final result will probably be a ruscello general 'homogenization' of the whole Italian fish Distribution. Endemic to the Tuscano-Latium regions. fauna. Habitat. Small rivers with fast running water and with (4) Very few instruments exist for saving our en- stony bottom. demic species. The present traditional practice of using Conservation status. Very common in the past in every legal introductions to replenish the abundance and di- suitable habitat. Today is still locally common but en- versity of local fish faunas for the enjoyment of sport dangered in several rivers because of rising temperatures fishermen is supported by strong economic and politi- and habitat destruction (Bianco, 1989; Miller, 1990). cal pressures. The only chance for the survival of endemic species is for them to survive by themselves Padogobius martensii (Gunther, 1861) -- Ghiozzo padano and to win the fight against the alien (sometimes con- Distribution. Endemic to the Padua-Venetian regions, specific) populations. was introduced into the Rivers Amaseno and Magra (5) In order to restore and conserve of our fish fauna (Bianco & Miller, 1990). the following actions need to be taken urgently: Habitat. Small rivers in the hill zone with fast running water and stony bottom. (a) Stop all kinds of legal introductions, especially those Conservation status. Still very common in several Apen- using stocks of native species of unknown origins; nine streams. Is locally rare because of organic pollu- (b) If legal stockings are required, the health and tax- tion and habitat destruction (Bianco, 1989). onomic status of samples must be severely controlled and the number of alien taxa must be reduced to a few Knipowitsch& punctatissima (Canestrini, 1864) -- long-introduced species as carp, tench, pike, etc., or Panzarolo sterilized or non-self maintaining species; Distribution. Endemic to north-eastern Italy. (c) Studies of the distribution and mapping of Habitat. Springs and cold clean streams on the plain residual 'pure' native populations, in particular of each (Miller, 1990). It is sometimes associated with the endemic Mediterranean species, in the whole of Italy; Paduan goby. The species is endangered by habitat (d) Projects for local reintroductions of species destruction, especially that caused by lowering of the restoration using local known native populations; water table. In the Emilia region it survives now in a (e) Last, but not least, reduce the political and eco- single spring (Forneris et al., 1990). nomic pressure of sport and commercial fishing.

Knipowitschia panizzae (Verga, 1841) -- Ghiozzetto di laguna ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Distribution. Endemic to several Adriatic and Ionian river basins of Italy and western Balkans: introduced This work forms part of the program 'Componenti into Lake Trasimeno and coastal lagoons on the Extrapale Artiche della Fauna Italiana Mediterranea' Tyrrhenian coast of Italy (Bianco, 1989). supported by MURST. 168 P. G. Bianco

REFERENCES Bianco, P. G. & Ahnelt, H. (in press). The freshwater fishes from islands. Biol. Gallo-Hellenica. Alessio, G. & Gandolfi, G. (1983). Censimento e dis- Bianco, P. G. & Miller, R. R. (1989). First record of the tribuzione attuale della species ittiche nel bacino del Po. valencid Valencia letourneuxi (Sauvage) in Quad. Ist. Ric. Acque, 67. (Greece) and remarks on the family Valencidae (Cyprin- Alessio, G., Melotto, S. & Oppi, E. (1991). Indagini fonda- odontiformes). Cybium, 13, 385-7. mentali sulla biologia del carpione, Salmo carpio L., del Bianco, P. G. & Miller, P. J. (1990). Yugoslavian and other lago di Garda. Riv. IdrobioL, 29, 51-68. records of the Italian freshwater goby Padogobius martensii Arlati, G., Bronzi, P., Colombo, L. & Giovannini, G. (1988). and a character polarisation in gobioid fishes. Z Nat. Hist., Induzione della riproduzione nello storione italiano 24, 1289-302. Acipenser naccarii allevato in cattivit/t Riv. ltaL AcquacoL, Bianco, P. G. & Taraborelli, T. (1985). Contributo alia 23, 94-6. conoscenza del genere Rutilus Rafinesque in Italia & Balcani Balma, G., Bianco, P. G. & Delmastro, G. (1989). Specie it- occidentali. BoIL Mus. Reg. Sci. Nat., Torino, 3, 131-72. tiche d'acqua dolce alloctone ed autoctone nuove per il ver- Bianco, P. G. & Taraborelli, T. (1986). Gobio gobio benacen- sante tirrenico della Liguria. Ann. Mus. St. Nat., Genova, sis (Pollini 1816) sottospecie valida per l'Italia (Pisces, 87, 311-18. Cyprinidae). Boll. Mus. civ. St. nat. Verona, 11,525-36. Banarescu, P. (1964). Pisces-Osteichthyes In Fauna Republicii Bianco, P. G. & Taraborelli, T. (1988). I pesci rinvenibili in Populare Romine, No. 13. Academia Republicii Populare acqua dolce nelle isole mediterranee e presenza di Gasteros- Romine, Bucharest. teus aculeatus del fenotipo semiarmatus in Sardegna. Bull. Barel, C. D. N., Dorit, R., Greenwood, P. H. et aL (1985). EcoL, 19, 247-54. Destruction of fisheries in 's lakes. Nature, Lond., Cattauto, C., Cencetti, C. & Gregori, L. (1988). Lo studio dei 315, 19-20. corsi minori dell'Italia Apenninica come mezzo d'indagine Bartolini, C. & Pranzini, G. (1988). Evoluzione dell'idrografia sulla tettonica del Plio/Pleistocene. Boll Mus. St. Nat. Lu- nella Toscana centro-settentrionale. Boll. Mus. St. Nat. Lu- nigiana, 6-7, 7-10. nigiana, 6-7, 79-83. Delmastro, G. (1981). I pesci del bacino del Po. Clesav, Milano. Bianco, P. G. (1980). Remarks on the genera Alburnus and AI- Delmastro, G. (1986). Problemi relativi all'introduzione di burnoides and description of a neotype for Alburnus albidus species esotiche di pesci nella acqua dolce italiane. Quad (Costa, 1938), senior synonymous of Alburnus vulturius Ente Tutela Pesca, Udine, 14, 85-9. (Costa, 1838) (Pisces, Cyprinidae). Cybium, 9, 314. Doadrio, I., Elvira, B. & Bernat, Y. (eds) (1991). Peces con- Bianco, P. G. (1982). Hybridization between Alburnus albidus tinentales Espanoles. Coleccion Tecnica ICONA - CSIC, (C.) and Leuciscus cephalus cabeda R. in Italy. J. Fish Biol, Madrid. 21,593-603. Economidis, P. (1991). Check list of freshwater fishes of Greece. Bianco, P. G. (1983). Leuciscus lucumonia n.sp. from Italy Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, Athens. (Pisces, Cyprinidae). Senkenlo. BioL, 64, 81-7. Forneris, G. & Alessio, G. L. (1986). Cento norme pratiche Bianco, P. G. (1986a). Lethenteron zanandreai (Vladikov, per allevare trote, carpe e pescigatto. REDA, Milan. 1955). In The freshwater fishes of Europe, ed. J. Holcik. Forneris, G., Paradisi, S. & Specchi, M. (1990). Pesci d'acqua Aula-Verlag, Wiesbaden, Vol 1, 23746. dolce. C. Lorenzini, Udine. Bianco, P. G. (1986b). The zoogeographic units of Italy and Giussani, G. & Ruffoni, T. (1985). Biology and growth of the western Balkans based on cyprinid species ranges (Pisces). bleak Alburnus alburnus alborella in two lakes (lago Mag- Biologia Gallo-Hellenica, 12, 291-9. giore and lago di Varese) characterized by a different Bianco, P. G. (1987a). L'inquadramento zoogeografico dei trophic level. Mem. Ist. Ital. ldrobiol., 43, 147-59. pesci d'acqua dolce d'Italia e problemi determinati delle Huet, M. (1949). Aperqu des relations entre la ponte et les falsi-ficazioni faunistiche, biologia e gestione dell'lttiofauna populations piscicoles dans les eaux courantes. Schweiz. Z. autoctone. Atti II. Cony. AIIAD, Torino, 41-65. nydroL, 11,333-51. Bianco, P. G. (1987b). Sugli ibridi denominati 'leppa' ICONA (1986). Lista Roja de los vertebrados de Espana. Min- della controversia storica Chiappi-Bellotti (1902-1904) isterio Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentacion, Madrid. (Pisces, Cyprinidae). Atti Soc. itaL Sci. nat., Milano, 128, Lelek, A. (1987). Threatened fishes of Europe. In The fresh- 249-60. water fishes of Europe. Aula-Verlag, Wiesbaden. Bianco, P. G. (1989). I pesci delle acque interne del . In Maitland, P. S. (1991). Conservation of threatened freshwater Regione Lazio, Piano pluriennale per la tutela della fauna fish in Europe. Nature & Environment Series, No. 46. Coun- autoctona in vie di estinzione: Pesci. Regione Lazio, Asses- cil of Europe Press, Strasbourg. sorato Agricoltura, Rome, Vol 6. Marconato, A., Salviati, S., Maio, G. & Marconato, E. Bianco, P. G. (1990a). Vanishing freshwater fishes in Italy. J. (1986). La distribuzione dell'ittiofauna nella provincia di Vi- Fish Biol., 37A, (Suppl.), 235-7. cenza. Assessorato Pesca Provincia di , Vicenza. Bianco, P. G. (1990b). Potential role of the palaeohistory of Melotto, S. & Alessio, G. (1990). Biology of carpione, Salmo the Mediterranean and Paratethys basin on the early dis- carpio L., an endemic species of Lake Garda (Italy). ,L Fish persal of Europe-Mediterranean freshwater fishes. IchthyoL Biol., 37A (Suppl.), 687-98. Explor. Freshwaters, 1, 167-84. Melotto, S. & Oppi, E. (1987). Stato attuale delle conoscenze Bianco, P. G. (1991a). Proposta di impiego di indici e di sul carpione, endemismo benacense. Atti 2 °Conv Ass. itaL coefficenti per la valutazione dello stato di degrado dell'it- Ittiol. Acque dolci, Torino, 23949. tiofauna autoctona delle acque dolci. Riv. IdrobioL, 29, Miller, P. J. (1990). The endurance of endemism: the 13149. Mediterranean freshwater gobies and their prospects for Bianco, P. G. (1991b). Sui pesci d'acqua dolce del flume survival. J. Fish BioL, 37A (Suppl.), 145-56. Esino. Atti Soc. ItaL Sci. Nat., 132, 49-60. Ministero Agricoltura e Foreste (1931). La pesca nei mari e Bianco, P. G. (1992). Zoogeographical implications on a first nelle acque interne italiane, Vol. 2. Roma. record of Lethentron zanandreai (Vladikov, 1955) in central Moretti, G. P. & Gianotti, F. S. (1966). Ipesci e la pesca nel Italy. IchthyoL Explor. Freshwaters, 3, 183-6. lago Trasimeno. Cam. Com. Ind. Agric., Perugia. Bianco, P. G. (1995). Introductions, chief elements of native Ogutu-Ohwayo, R. (1989). The decline of the native fishes of freshwater fish degradation and use of indices and coeffi- lakes and Kyoga () and the impact of cients in quantifying the situation in Italy. Proc. Worm introduced species, especially the , Lates niloticus Fish. Congress, Theme 3: Protection of Aquatic Biodiversity, and the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Environ. BioL pp. 174-97. Fishes, 27, 81-96. Italian endemic freshwater fish 169

Parenti, L. (1981). A phylogenetic and biogeographic analysis Tigano, C. & Ferrito, V. (1986). Sulla presenza di Rutilus ru- of cyprinodontiform fish (Teleostei, Atherinomorphs). Bull. bilio in Sicilia (Pisces, Cyprinidae). Animalia, 13, 109-24. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 168, 341-557. Tortonese, E. (1970). Osteichthyes, parte L Fauna d'Italia, Pizzul, E., Specchi. M. & Valli, G. (in press). Prime osservazioni Vol. X. Calderini, Bologna. su Chondrostoma nasus nasus (Osteichthyes, Cyprinidae) Tortonese, E. (1980). I salmonidi italiani. Quad. Ente Tutela nel Friuli Venezia Guilia. Atti 4 ° Cony. Ass. ital. Ittiol. Pesca, Udine, 2, 1-11. Acque dolci, Trieste. Tortonese, E. (1989). Acipenser naccarii, Bonaparte, 1936. In Povz, M., Leiner, S., Mrakovcic, M. & Popovic, J. (1990). The freshwater fishes of Europe, Vol. I (II), ed. J. Holcik. Rare and endangered fishes from Yugoslavian Adriatic Aula-Verlag, Wiesbaden, pp. 285-93. rivers. J. Fish Biol., 37A (Suppl.), 247-9. Trisolini, R., Franzoi, P. & Rossi, R. (1991). Struttura e Quignard, J. P. & Douchement, C. (1991), Alosa fallax dinamica di popolazione di alcune specie di ciprinidi, (Lac6p6de 1803). In The freshwater fishes of Europe, Vol 2, Leuciscus cephalus (L. 1758), cavedano; Chondrostoma soetta Clupeidae, Anguillidae. ed. H. Hoestlandt. Aula-Verlag, Bonaparte, 1840, savetta; Rutilus pigus (Lackp~de, 1804), Wiesbaden, pp. 212 96. ~ nei laghi di Suviana e Brasimone. Riv. idrobiol., 30, Rossi, R., Grandi, G., Trisolini, R., Franzoi, P., Carrieri, A., 201-29. Dezfuli, B. & Vecchietti, E. (1992). Osservazioni sulla biologia Villwock, W. (1970). Distribution, ecology and relationship e la pesca dello storione cobice Asipenser naccarii Bonaparte, of and Mediterranean cyprinodonts of the nella parte terminale del flume Po. Atti Soc. Ital. Sci. Nat., Aphanius. Journ. ichthyol., CIESM, Rome, pp. 89-92. 132, 121-42 Villwock, W. & Scholl, A. (1982). Betrachtungen sum tax- Sommani, E. (1960). II Salmo marmoratus Cuv. : sua origine e onomische Status eines neuen Aphanius iberus (Cyprin- distribuzione nell'Italia settentrionale. Boll. Pesca Piscic. odontidae : Pisces) aus dem Oued Zousfana, Igli/Nordwest Idrobiol., 15, 40-7. Algerien. Mitt. hamb. zool. Mus. Inst., 79, 267-71. Sommani, E. (1962). Esperimenti di allevamento di trota Welcomme, R. L. (1984). International transfers on inland marmorata. Boll. Pesca Piscic. Idrobiol., 17, 243-8. fish species. In Distribution biology and management of ex- Sommani, E. (1969). Variazioni apportate all'ittiofauna otic fishes, ed. R. Courtenay & R. Stauffer. J. Hopkins dall'attivith dell'uomo. Boll. Pesca Piscic. Idrobiol., 29, University Press, Baltimore & London, pp. 22~40. 149-66. Zanandrea, G., Cavicchioli, G. & Guarnieri, P. (1965). Sui Spillmann, C. J. (1961). Poissons d'eau douce. In Faune de cobitidi italiani. Ricerche sistematiche e faunistiche. Arch. France, Paul Lechevalier, Paris, pp. 149-57. Zool. Ital., 50, 233-59.

APPENDIX 1. ENDEMIC OR MEDITERRANEAN FRESHWATER FISHES LIVING IN ITALY WITH THEIR ORIGINAL RANGES (IN PARENTHESES) AND PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN TRANSLOCATED

PETROMYZONIDAE Lethenteron zanandreai (Vladykov, 1955) Alpine basin of PV ACIPENSERIDAE Acipenser naccarii Bonaparte, 1836 Upper Adriatic Sea and connected rivers CLUPEIDAE Alosa fallax nilotica (Geoffroy, 1827) Insular and peninsular Italy SALMONIDAE Salmo marmoratus Cuvier, 1817 (PV) Tiber basin in central Italy Salmo carpio Linnaeus, 1758 Lake Garda CYPRIN1DAE Alburnus albidus (Costa, 1838) (SI) River Lao and Noce in SI Alburnus alburnus arborella (Bonaparte, 1841) (PV) Lakes and rivers of Peninsular Italy Barbusfucini Costa, 1838 (TL) Rivers of central Italy and SI Barbus meridionalis caninus Bonaparte, 1839 (PV) Several rivers of SW Ligury and TL Barbus plebejus Bonaparte, 1839 (PV) Peninsular Italy Chondrostoma genei (Bonaparte, 1839) (PV) Rivers of TL Chondrostoma soetta Bonaparte, 1840 (PV) Rivers and lakes of TL Gobio benacensis (Pollini, 1816) (PV) Two rivers of TL: Arno and Tiber Leuciscus cephalus squalus Bonaparte, 1839 (PV + TL) Rivers of SW Ligury, TL and SI Leuciscus lucumonis Bianco, 1982 (TL) Leuciscus souffia muticellus Bonaparte, 1837 (PV + TL) Rivers of SW Ligury and R. Biferno Rutilus aula (Bonaparte, 1841) (PV) Some lakes of PV and SI and River Ombrone Rutilus rubilio (Bonaparte, 1837) (TL) Appenine side of PV and SI Scardinius scardafa (Bonaparte, 1837) TL and Scanno lake of Pescara river basin COBITIDAE Cobitis taenia zanandreai Cavicchioli, 1965 River Volturno and coastal lagoons of Latium Cobitis taenis bilineata (Canestrini, 1866) (PV) From Ligury to TL and SI Sabanejewia larvata (De Filippi, 1859) (PV) Lake Trasimeno and Tiber Basin CYPRINODONTIDAE Aphanius fasciatus Cuvier & Valenciennes, 182 l Insular and peninsular Italy 170 P. G. Bianco APPENDIX 1 contd

GOBIIDAE Knipowitsehia panizzae Verga, 1841 Lake Trasimeno and Thyrrhenian coastal area of central Italy Knipowitschia punctatissima (Canestrini, 1864) Basins of upper PV Padogobius martensii (Gtinther, 1861) (PV) Rivers Magra and Amaseno Padogobius nigricans Canestrini, 1867 TL and Sisto and Amaseno Rivers BLENNIIDAE Salariafluviatilis Asso, 1801 Insular and peninsular Italy

Abbreviations as in Table 1.