Minelli, A et al. published by "Edizioni Calderini" Via Emilia Levante, 31 - Bologna, Italy. 1995 ISBN-88-7019-966-5
Originally reviewed by Adrian Norris in 1996.
Published in Journal of Conchology (1996), Vol.35
13 Caudofaveata, Solenogastres, Polyplacophora, Monoplacophora.
14 Gastropoda Prosobranchia, Heterobranchia Heterostropha.
15 Gastropoda Opisthobranchia, Divasibranchia, Gymnomorpha.
16 Gastropoda Pulmonata.
17 Bivalvia, Scaphopoda.
18 Cephalopoda.
This publication is one of a series of annotated check-lists covering the fauna of Italy, published under the auspices of the European Community in collaboration with Italian Ministry of Nature Conservation and the Italian Fauna Scientific Committee. Parts 13 to 18 inclusive cover the land, freshwater and marine mollusca of Italy.
This publication should help all those like me who have struggled over the years trying to make sense of the extensive molluscan fauna of Italy and its thousands of synonyms. However, like most publications of this type it also shows up the rate at which our knowledge of the molluscan fauna is expanding and, in some cases, contracting depending on lumpers or splitters. Having a specific interest in terrestrial slugs I checked the Pulmonate list produced by de Marco Bodon, Leonardo Favilli, Faico Giusti and Giuseppe Manganelli and found that the authors have listed 61 species. However, 4 of these, 3 Limax and 1 Deroceras, do not have specific names in the list. This appears, in some part, to be due to a conflict of opinion as to which of the several names available is correct. Several species names described by one or more of the above authors in recent years do not appear in the list. Several names found in previous check-lists are also missing. It would have helped if a much larger synonym had been available; it is difficult to establish if the missing names have been synonymised or not. I would also have found the volume much more useful if the various sub-genera had been included.
It was also interesting to note that three species currently included on the British list have been synchronised. Arion sylvaticus is included within Arion circumscriptus, Cochlicopa lubricella within lubrica and perhaps the most surprising of all, Vallonia excentrica is synonymised with Vallonia pulchella.
A good and fairly extensive bibliography is included with each section, as is a simple index. The various lists also indicate the distribution of the various species, divided into 5 sea areas, and 4 land areas. North & South Italy, Sardinia and Sicily.
The volume includes computer reference numbers for each genus and species, which suggests that some movement may be on the way towards a full computerized mapping scheme for Italy. If so, I look forward to seeing the results in due course.