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Updated status of Anostraca, Notostraca and Spinicaudata... 13

Distribution: Palermo (PA); Carini (PA); Busto Palizzolo (TP); Custonaci (TP); Isola Longa
(TP); Favignana (TP); Siracusa (SR).
Chorology: Palearctic

6. Anostraca: Artemiidae

Artemia salina (L., 1758)
Occurrence sites: 1.06; 1.16.
Main bibliographical references: FARANDA, 1977; VANHAECKE et al., 1987 ; MURA, 1999.
Distribution: Trapani (TP); Marsala (TP); Siracusa (SR).
Chorology: Mediterranean

NOTES ON THE SPECIES

The present survey resulted in the finding of six large branchiopod
species. Two spinicaudatans and one notostracan among those reported as
present on the island were not found and are hereby listed on the basis of bib-
liographic data only. The lack of findings of Leptestheria dahalacensis, L. cf.
cortieri and Lepidurus apus lubbocki highlights the need for carrying out fur-
ther samplings on the island.
The phenology of the five species monitored from the winter 2000 to the
winter 2005 is shown in Fig. 3. It is clearly evident that, in Sicily, most of the
species are totally absent in the summer months, roughly from May to Sep-
tember. Branchipus schaefferi is the most eurythermal taxon among the Sicil-
ian ones, and proved to develop when water is available irrespective of the
season in which the ponding phases occur. In fact, it is the only species which
has also been found during summer months, despite the high water temper-

Figure 3 — Phenology of selected large branchiopod species.