The leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea (Vandelli, 1761) is an occasional trophic visitor of the Mediterranean basin. So far, very few individuals have been genetically analysed from this sea and none from Italy. We sequenced a mitochondrial DNA fragment of three specimens of D. coriacea found in recent years along the North-Adriatic and Tyrrhenian shores. They were all females approaching adult stage. Causes of death were attributable to the main threats for sea turtles in Mediterranean waters, all related to human activities (collisions with boats, entanglement in fishing nets and plastic debris ingestion). Two different mitochondrial haplotypes were observed, with the two North-Adriatic turtles sharing the same one. Compared to known Dermochelys sequences and previous genetic characterization of rookeries, these results suggest that the most probable origin of at least two of the three leatherbacks was the western Atlantic.
The nesting of sea turtles in Eastern Adriatic has not been previously reported, even though the possible nesting of the loggerhead turtle in Albania has been hypothesized. Data for nesting activities have been collected since 2002 along the Albanian coastline. Anecdotal evidence assembled over the years has provided important information regarding the possibility of the nesting of the loggerhead turtle in Albania. This study confirms the nesting of the loggerhead turtle in Albania. Although sporadic, it takes place along the entire Adriatic coast of Albania. This information shifts the border of nesting known so far from the northeast Ionian (Greece) to the southeast Adriatic Sea (Albania).
We report another nesting event by a loggerhead turtle in Ġnejna (Malta), in June 2018, with an extraordinary hatching rate of 99.1%. This follows the previously reported nesting in 2012 in the same bay, and the 2016 event in a nearby beach at Golden Bay, both beaches located in the NW of Malta. Before the 2012 record, scientifically recorded turtle nesting in Malta had only been reported dating back some 100 years, although in one paper it is alleged that turtles may have been nesting in Malta up until some 50-60 years ago. Noting that loggerheads have an average remigration interval of 2 years, it is possible that the same turtle that nested in 2012 came back to Ġnejna to nest again in 2018. It is hoped that DNA analysis, which ideally follows at a later stage, will determine whether it was the same turtle. Campaigns are currently ongoing to solicit greater reporting of nesting. Relocation of eggs is discussed. In this paper we also describe conservation measures that were set-up in this bay and in Golden Bay, including measures during hatching. Emergency conservation orders were issued in all the three nesting events, to protect the beaches in question from any major and potentially harmful activities. The sites were also surrounded and physically protected with a 24 hour monitoring scheme being set-up with the help of volunteers from Nature Trust Malta and government officials.
The Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea but, like other sea turtles, it is considered a threatened species. Improving anatomical knowledge on normal aspects of the species is important for correct diagnosis and proper therapy and, therefore, for improving the chances of a complete recovery and a fast reintroduction into the wild for a greater number of sea turtle bycatch and other mishaps. For this reason, 15 Loggerhead turtles, with clinically healthy eyes, were submitted to ocular ultrasonographic (US) examinations. The US exam was quick, non-invasive, and simple to perform and permitted researchers to assess all the ocular features.
F. judaica subsp. insignis rijetka je svojta u Europi. Do sada je zabilježena samo u Hrvatskoj, na nekoliko lokaliteta uz obalu istočnog Jadrana. F. judaica subsp. insignis se ovdje prvi put navodi za floru Bosne i Hercegovine, a rasprostranjenost taksona se proširuje na tri nova lokaliteta u Dalmaciji.
Ovdje predstavljamo nove nalaze dviju rijetkih vrsta hitri u Hrvatskoj, njihovu rasprostranjenost i opis staništa. Cylindera trisignata trisignata (Dejean, 1822) je zabilježena u Hrvatskoj, nakon 115 godina, na otoku Mljetu u zaljevu Blace. Jedinke su sakupljene na pješčanoj plaži, na udaljenosti od 5 do 6 m od mora. Cylindera arenaria viennensis (Schrank, 1781) pronađena je u Hrvatskoj, nakon 67 godina, u Podravini u Kloštru Podravskom. Sakupljena je na području koje se prije koristilo za vađenje pijeska i potom prepušteno prirodnoj sukcesiji. Obje vrste hitri zabilježene su na rijetkim prirodnim i poluprirodnim pješčanim stanišnim tipovima koji su ugroženi u Hrvatskoj. Opstanak ovih i drugih psamofilnih vrsta ovisi o odgovarajućem upravljanju i zaštiti tih staništa.
Vrsta Tachypeza yinyang Papp & Földváry, 2002 koja je opisana iz Mađarske po prvi put je zabilježena u Hrvatskoj. Dodatni podaci o njenom opisu te crteži habitusa i genitalija mužjaka su također priloženi.
Australska vrsta lisne buhe Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore, 1964 zabilježena je po prvi puta u Hrvatskoj. Rad donosi kratak pregled o novom štetniku s lokalitetom prvog nalaza.
