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An update on the status of native and exotic freshwater fishes of I taly
Author(s) -
Bianco P. G.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied ichthyology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1439-0426
pISSN - 0175-8659
DOI - 10.1111/jai.12291
Subject(s) - phoxinus , biology , leuciscus , freshwater fish , endangered species , genus , zoology , ecology , introduced species , critically endangered , endemism , fishery , minnow , fish <actinopterygii> , habitat
Summary An updated, corrected checklist of both native and established alien freshwater fish species in Italy is given based on molecular, morphological and biogeographical data. Some 12 native species, reported as conspecific with transalpine species in official Italian ichthylogical literature, are in fact endemics. Previous taxonomic confusion has resulted in the introduction of several alien species, either with official stockings or mixed in as impurities. Rehabilitated species include the cyprinids S cardinius hesperidicus, S cardinius scardafa and T elestes savigny from northern Italy, as well as S qualius ruffoi and the Telestes comes from southern Italy. S qualius albus is a junior synonym of S . squalus . The endemic gudgeon, previously assigned to the genus R omanogobio , is returned to the genus G obio ( G . benacensis) . P hoxinus lumaireul is a junior synonym of P . phoxinus . Among the S almonidae, S almo cenerinus is a junior synonym of S . marmoratus , while S almo farioides represents the trout species of the A driatic lineage for which a neotype is designated. T hymallus aeliani represents the endemic lineage of grayling of the Adriatic populations. The esocid E sox cisalpinus is an endemic pike species and E sox flaviae is a junior synonym; the extensive exportation as well as the presence of this species throughout E urope is possibly due to humans. Among sculpins, C ottus scaturigo and C . ferrugineus are junior synonyms of C . gobio . The I nternational U nion for C onservation of N ature ( IUCN ) categories for native species of Italy are updated. At present, 52 native freshwater fish species are listed: 2 are extinct ( A cipenser sturio and H uso huso ), 12 are critically endangered, 7 endangered, 10 vulnerable, 3 near‐threatened, 15 low concern and 3 data‐deficient; 35 species are the result of human transfers. Among the 51 introduced species, 6 are recently established ( L euciscus leuciscus , O reochromis niloticus, P oecilia reticulata , X iphophorus helleri, A matitlania nigrofasciatus , H emichromis sp.), 37 are already established, 5 are probably established and 3 are non‐established C hinese carp, maintained in the wild by intensive stockings. The family most involved is the C yprinidae, with 22 alien and 20 native species.