The Sardinian grass snake, Natrix helvetica cetti, is an endangered endemic snake
subspecies with a restricted and highly fragmented geographic distribution. Information on …

Ophidiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces
ophidiicola (Oo). To date, Oo presence or associated disease condition has been recorded …

The genus Vipera encompasses most species of medically significant venomous snakes of
Europe, with Italy harbouring four of them. Envenomation by European vipers can result in …

This work presents an updated dichotomous key to all snake species of Europe, based on
morphological, morphometric and distributional characters. It gathers data from both the last …

For decades, the evolutionary role of melanism in reptiles has been highly debated.
According to the thermal melanism hypothesis, melanistic phenotypes should provide …

Melanism, the process of heavier melanin deposition, can interact with climate variation at
both micro and macro scales, ultimately influencing color evolution in organisms. While the …

The salamander killing fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), recently
introduced from Asia, is threatening salamander populations in different parts of Europe. In …

Planning conservation actions requires detailed information on species' geographic
distribution. Species distribution data are most needed in areas hosting unique or …

Investigating population structure, parameters, and growth over time is vital for conserving
endangered taxa like the Apennine yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata pachypus) in …

The recently updated IUCN Red List assessment indicates endemic amphibians in southern
Europe are threatened by imminent arrival of the invasive pathogen Batrachochytrium …