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F. Angelelli et al.
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cal surveys for the realization of the Geological Map of
Italy, and the research activities in the ex-Italian African
colonies. Also fossils obtained by exchanges, purchas-
es, and donations must be added. Within the general
collection some sub-collections such as Didactics, Great
samples of isolated fossils, Foreign Sites, and Ichnofos-
sils are also included.
Historical collection (about 20.000 specimens)
(Angelelli, 2008), contains important collections includ-
ing several taxonomic groups collected and studied,
since the last century, by renowned scientists. The fos-
sils are catalogued both taxonomically (Graptolites,
Ammonites, Rudists, Ittiofauna) and by the name of the
researcher who collected or studied them. Among the
main ones: G. Bonarelli, M. Canavari, G. Di Stefano,
G. Checchia Rispoli, C. Crema, G. Curioni, T. Lipparini,
A. Malatesta, G. Meneghini. C.F. Parona, R. Rasetti,
P. and Vinassa de Regny. These collections are of ex-
tremely scientific importance because they include many
type-specimens (holotypes, lectotypes, plesiotypes,
etc.).
Vertebrate collection (about 3.000 specimens)
contains fossils belonging to the Plio-Pleistocene mam-
mal faunas recovered from sedimentary deposits of La-
tium, Tuscany, Sicily and of other Italian regions.
Plant collection (about 600 specimens) includes
both isolated remains mainly of Palaeozoic Pteridophy-
tae and Spermatophytae from Germany and material
from different Italian localities, among which the Mt. Ja-
no flora of the Carboniferous of Tuscany.

3.3 Alberto Malatesta Collection
This collection includes about 10.000 remains (di-
vided in two sections: vertebrates and invertebrates)
coming from the Marittime Alps, Emilia Romagna, Um- Fig. 9 - Bust of Quintino Sella, currently housed in the Collec-
bria, Latium, Calabria, Sicily, Egadi Islands and Sardi- tion of the Department for librarian activities, documentary and
nia. It mainly includes Plio-Pleistocene fossils deriving for information of ISPRA - Geological Survey of Italy.
both from the Geological Survey field campaigns carried Busto di Quintino Sella, attualmente conservato presso le Col-
out by Malatesta and from sub-collections originally lezioni del Dipartimento per le attività bibliotecarie, documentali
created by other scientists who preceded him such as e per l’informazione di ISPRA (Servizio Geologico d’Italia).
Crema, Aragona, Canavari, Coppi, De Stefani, Lawley,
Loss, and Nicosia. advena and Thericium (Thericium) lividulum antiquum
are new taxa (Figs. 10, 11). the first two being holotypes
3.3.1 Invertebrate section have been illustrated in the catalogue of the types
Among the many Plio-Pleistocene mollusc remains hosted in the Paleontological Collections of ISPRA (AN-
collected by Malatesta, it is worth to mention in primis GELELLI & ROSSI, 2004). Moreover, at Grammichele,
those coming from the deposits of Grammichele (Sicily) Thais (Polytropa) lapillus represents the first recovery of
and in secundis the collection coming from the Umbria this species in the Mediterranean Sea. This fauna
intrapenninic basin. The studies on the fossils sampled counts over 550 samples of gastropods and about 730
in Sicily and in Umbria produced two important mono- among scaphopods and bivalves. It’s about a sublitoral
graphs, both published on the Memorie per Servire alla fauna, a few deep sea”..”……poche decine di metri, con
descrizione della Carta Geologica d’Italia. The first one scogli e massi di rocce vulcaniche, coperti di Laminarie
is entitled “Malacofauna pleistocenica di Grammichele e Litotamni, fra i quali viveva una ricca epifauna di Pro-
(Sicilia)”, published in 1960 (I part) - 1963 (II part) vols. sobranchi, Mitili, Ostriche e Pettini. Gusci di Trochi e
XII; the second one is entitled “Malacofauna pliocenica delle altre forme della popolazione intercotidale proveni-
umbra”, published in 1974, vol. XIII. vano dalla sovrastante costa rocciosa. Infine l’azione
Those collections and the two monographs delle correnti ha permesso gli accumuli di resti di endo-
represent still today two masterpieces for the studies of fauna proveniente da banchi di sabbione tufaceo. Man-
the Plio-Pleistocene marine molluscs of Italy. The cano specie caratteristiche di fondi melmosi e di am-
Grammichele Pleistocene fauna was collected during biente salmastro ad indicare una costa ripida, di fronte
the geological field surveys in 1954, 1955 and 1958. al mare aperto e lontana dallo sfocio di corsi d’acqua.”,
The specimens mainly come from the deposits near as specified by the Author (MALATESTA, 1960, p. 22).
Catallarga and include 225 species and subspecies The Pliocene molluscan faunas of Umbria is much
(123 Gastropods, 4 Scaphopods, 98 Pelecypods), 3 of richer than the previous one both in quantity of picked
which Acmaea (Collisella) johannae, Cantharus (Pollia) material and in number of species, and it is the result of