×

The birth and development of the herpetology collection of theMuseo di Storia Naturale of the University of Florence are described. Early specimens, mainly turtles’ shells, date from the eighteenth century and are no longer found in the museum. At present the collection includes about 26,500 amphibians and 40,000 reptiles; it mostly increased at the end of 1800, due to Enrico Hillyer Giglioli’s work, and in the second part of the twentieth century, as a result of the studies of Benedetto Lanza and his colleagues. The most important specimens of the typical material are also mentioned.

×

Salamandra salamandra gigliolii Eiselt & Lanza, 1956 is reported with certainty for the first time in Central Tuscany (Chianti Mountains, Florence and Castelnuovo di Val de Cecina, Pisa). Triturus alpestris apuanus (Bonaparte, 1839), previously reported by Lanza (1977) in Lucolena (Greve in Chianti, Florence), is confirmed in this and two other localities of Chianti Mountains (vicinity of Lamole, Flornce and of Badia di Coltibuono, Siena). It also inhabits the small lake at Eremo di Camaldoli (Arezzo; 43°48´23”N – 11°49´11”E), making this the southernmost record of this species for the Apennine main chain. The three southernmost localities for Triturus vulgaris meridionalis (Boulenger, 1882) are Lago d´Averno (40°50´ N – 14!04´ E), Lageo di Patria (40°56´ N – 14°02´ E) [Bruno (1973b)] and Cicciano (40°58´ N – 14°32` E), 35 km NE of Naples. Rana catesbeiana Shaw, 1802 has surely acclimatized in the plain between Florence and Pistoia, as proved by the recent discovery of tadpoles and juveniles. Rana latastei Boulenger, 1879, cited by Capula (1980) as new to the Emilian plain, had been reported by Del Prato (1899) in the Emilian localities of Borgo Val di Taro and San Vitale de Baganza (Parma). While the species from Borgo Val di Taro could instead be Rana graeca Boulenger, 1891, the same is not true for this from San Vitale di Baganza, which is also mentioned by Pozzi (1980). Phyllodactylus europaeus Gené, 1839 occurs at «Multaragna», on the SW slope of Monte Limbara (Sardinia; about 980 m a.s.l.), the highest confirmed locality for this species, which is also reported for the first time in Ruia Island, N of Cape Comino (SE Sardinia). Also given are additions and corrections to the data reported on this geckonid by Vanni & Lanza (1978). Both Podarcis sicula caporiaccoi (Taddei, 1949) from Capraia Island (Tuscan Archipelago) and Podarcis sicula cettii (Cara, 1872) from Tavolara Island (SE Sardinia) exhibit a rare definite presence of the phenotype “concolor”. A description is given of Podarcis sicula (Rafinesque, 1810) from La Praiola Islet, located directly W of Capraia Island (Tuscan Archipelago), it can be referred to Podarcis sicula caporiaccoi (Taddei, 1949) despite the fact that it differs slightly from the population of the type locality. Coronella girondica Daudin, 1803 is reported for the first time in Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Chialina, near Ovaro, in the province of Udine), making this the easternmost record of this species in continental Italy. Vipera aspis heinzdischeki Sochurek, 1879 (type locality: Monte del Papa, near Lagonegro, in Basilicata) is considered as synonymous of Vipera aspis hugyi Schinz, 1833.