Chilopodi della Riserva Naturale Regionale Monte Rufeno e aree adiacenti (Lazio, Italia centrale).

Abstract

Centipedes of the Natural Regional Reserve Monte Rufeno and adjacent areas (Latium, Central Italy) (Chilopoda). Based on the results of faunistic and ecological research carried out in 1989-2006, the centipedes of the Natural Regional Reserve Mount Rufeno (2,892 ha) and the adjacent Natural Monument Forest of Sasseto (61 ha) (Latium, Central Italy) are represented by 27 species. Given the variety of sampling methods used (pitfall traps, sifting soil, hand collecion), the faunistic knowledge about the Reserve is considered satisfactory (24 species); still incomplete is the information on the Forest of Sasseto (12 species), especially for Geophilomorphs. An analysis of the main chorotypes shows a very high percentage of species with wide distribution in Europe (51.8%), low is the percentage of species with wide distribution in the Mediterranean Basin (18.5%) and with broad distribution in Palearctic Region (7.4%); Italian endemic elements are represented by 6 species (22.2%), all of south-europaean affinity and more or less restricted to the Apennine range. The Quercus cerris oak forest, the more representative forest type by extension in the area, host 19 species. The most constant elements in this forest type are Eupolybothrus fasciatus, Lithobius cassinensis, L. castaneus, Cryptops parisi, Geophilus richardi, all termophilous or termo-mesophilous forest species; mesophilous elements are few represented or absent. The mesophilous mixed broadleaved forest of Sasseto is also characterized by a large number of species (12); Eupolybothrus grosspies and Strigamia acuminata, both mesophilous Central- Europaean species, generally typical of the more internal montane mesophilous forest formations in Central Apennine, are the most characteristic species. Relatively rich are also the Castanea sativa forest(10 species), whose coenosis consists of mesophilous or termo-mesophilous forest species, and the coniferous reforestations (10 species), in which species of the adjacent Quercus cerris forest are present. Ten species of centipedes are also present in the Alnus riparian forest, which community is characterized by mesophilous elements as Eupolybothrus grossipes and L. tylopus, both also present in the Forest of Sasseto. Rather poor is the Quercus ilex forest (8 species), no characterizing species are present in this forest formation.