Razzetti, Edoardo

Firenze University Press: E-Journals

Acta Herpetologica 10(2): 161-162, 2015
ISSN 1827-9635 (print) © Firenze University Press 
ISSN 1827-9643 (online) www.fupress.com/ah
DOI: 10.13128/Acta_Herpetol-17181
Book Review: 
Pietro Giovacchini, Valentina Falchi, Sergio Vignali, Giacomo 
Radi, Luca Passalacqua, Fausto Corsi, Marco Porciani, 
Fabrizio Farsi. Atlante degli anfibi della Provincia di Grosseto (2003-
2013)
Edoardo Razzetti
Museo di Storia Naturale, Università di Pavia, Piazza Botta 9, I-27100 Pavia, Italy. E-mail: razzetti@unipv.it
In the past twenty years there has been a great inter-
est in the geographic distribution of amphibians and 
reptiles and considerable efforts have been spent to col-
lect, analyze and publish these records. A careful evalua-
tion of distribution data is of fundamental importance to 
establish the conservation priorities (e.g., Rondinini et al., 
2013) and to develop correct conservation programs. For 
the Italian territory, herpetological atlases are available 
for most of the regions and a complete national atlas was 
published few years ago with a synthesis of records col-
lected over two decades (Sindaco et al., 2006).
Tuscany has not been left behind and was the subject 
of specific herpetological researches that led to the pub-
lication of a regional atlas (Vanni and Nistri, 2006) and 
two provincial ones: Prato (Fancelli et al., 2005) and Sie-
na (Piazzini et al., 2005, 2010). Tuscany is generally con-
sidered well-studied since there are several local research-
ers, but few gaps in the distribution maps still exist as it 
is proved by the publication of this atlas of amphibians of 
the Province of Grosseto.
The book has been realized by a group of zoolo-
gists coordinated by Pietro Giovacchini of the Provin-
cial Office for Protected Areas and Biodiversity with the 
cooperation of a local ornithological group (Gruppo 
Ornitologico Maremmano - Studi Naturalistici “A. Ade-
mollo”). The colophon sports the patronage of Societas 
Herpetologica Italica.
The atlas is completely written in Italian, consists of 
113 pages and is a nice paperback edition in octavo (24×17 
cm). The volume is hosted in the “Quaderni delle Aree 
Protette” series which includes books that deal about mon-
umental trees, protected areas and archeology. It opens up 
with general chapters about geology, hydrography, climate 
and vegetation which are covered in good detail. Next is 
the section about material and methods which describe 
how data have been collected and analyzed.
The grid used for the maps in this study is the widely 
adopted UTM 10×10 km. With such large grid map there 
is the risk of overestimating the presence of the species 
also in a large Province like Grosseto (4504 km2): a 5×5 
km grid would probably be better even if research efforts 
required to ensure adequate coverage would be much 
higher (Sindaco et al., 2015). 
It is interesting the approach used to collect data that 
is quite unusual (but is rather common on the ornithologi-
cal ones), the maps have been based on a completely inde-
pendent dataset (collected between 2003 and 2013) this is 
the reason why the distribution maps presented for some 
species are slightly different (e.g., Rana italica) or, some-
times, striking different (e.g., Bombina pachypus) from the 
atlas of Tuscany (Vanni and Nistri, 2006). I feel that this 
makes the book even more valuable and original as there 
is no risk to confirm old doubtful data that cannot be veri-
fied. At the same time, this approach has a few potential 
drawbacks. For example I am wondering why the common 
salamander (Salamandra salamandra) was not discussed at 
all in the book even if three bibliographic data are available 
for the Province (cf. Vanni and Nistri, 2006). Maybe those 
data are questionable, maybe they are just very old, I have 
no idea why and I will have to discover it by my own. 
162 Edoardo Razzetti
Each species account (12 species are listed) opens 
with a “General description” particularly useful for 
field identification which includes also few taxonomic 
remarks. Next is “Distribution in Italy” and “Ecological 
and biological notes” both well-written and supported by 
the essential citations. The “Distribution in the Province 
of Grosseto” is the core subject of this book and is a com-
prehensive evaluation of all the record collected by the 
authors together with altitudinal distribution and habitat 
types (for which maps and histograms are detailed in the 
opposite page). All in all the coverage of the data is excel-
lent and apparently no areas have been overlooked. Sec-
tions about the “Status and conservation measures” and 
“Museum’s specimens” close each account.
The final chapters are dedicated to the “Conclusive 
insights” including wide area analyses, conservation sta-
tus, laws protecting local amphibians and the action 
plans. Since in Italy the Provinces have legislative pow-
ers on the protection of biodiversity and the protection of 
the territory, these chapters have been written with care 
and competence.
Finally one special mention goes to the pictures of 
the book that, despite the fact that are quite small, are 
some of the best I have ever seen. They usually include 
a full picture, larval stages and a portrait for most of the 
species. Giacomo Radi, that realized them, not only is 
able to capture the essence of amphibians in their habi-
tat, but also to create pleasing images that show the most 
important aspects of their biology.
The printed version of the book can be requested at 
the Province of Grosseto, whereas the e-book is avail-
able at no cost from several websites including the one of 
Societas Herpetologica Italica.
REFERENCES
Fancelli E., Nistri A., Vanni S. (2005): Anfibi e Rettili, 
Biodiversità in provincia di Prato, vol. 1. Amministra-
zione provinciale di Prato, Arcidosso (GR).
Piazzini S., Favilli L., Manganelli G. (2005): Atlante degli 
Anfibi della Provincia di Siena (1999-2004). Quaderni 
Naturalistici 1, Amministrazione provinciale di Siena, 
Siena.
Piazzini S., Favilli L., Manganelli G. (2010): Atlante dei 
Rettili della Provincia di Siena (2000-2009). Quaderni 
Naturalistici 2, Amministrazione provinciale di Siena, 
Siena.
Sindaco R., Doria G., Razzetti E., Bernini F. (2006): 
Atlante degli anfibi e dei Rettili d’Italia / Atlas of Ita-
lian Amphibians and Reptiles. Societas Herpetologica 
Italica, Edizioni Polistampa, Firenze.
Sindaco R., Razzetti E., Liuzzi C. (2015): Il nuovo proget-
to atlante della Societas Herpetologica Italica. In: Atti 
X Congresso Nazionale della Societas Herpetologica 
Italica (Genova, 15-18 ottobre 2014), pp. 21-30. Doria 
G., Poggi R., Salvidio S., Tavano M., Eds, Ianieri Edi-
zioni, Pescara.
Rondinini, C., Battistoni, A., Peronace, V., Teofili, C. 
(2013): Lista Rossa IUCN dei Vertebrati Italiani. 
Comitato Italiano IUCN e Ministero dell’Ambiente e 
della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare, Roma.
Vanni, S., Nistri A. (2006): Atlante degli Anfibi e dei Ret-
tili della Toscana. Università degli Studi di Firenze, 
Museo di Storia Naturale, Sezione Zoologica “La Spe-
cola”, Regione Toscana, Firenze.


Pietro Giovacchini, Valentina Falchi, Sergio Vignali, Giacomo Radi, Luca Passalacqua, Fausto Corsi, Marco Porciani, Fabrizio Farsi. Atlante degli anfibi della Provincia di Grosseto (2003-2013)

http://www.fupress.net/index.php/ah/article/download/17181/16645

Pietro Giovacchini, Valentina Falchi, Sergio Vignali, Giacomo Radi, Luca Passalacqua, Fausto Corsi, Marco Porciani, Fabrizio Farsi. Atlante degli anfibi della Provincia di Grosseto (2003-2013)

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Firenze University Press: E-Journals