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The mollusc fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is still considered as the best-known marine mollusc fauna in the world. The previous modern checklists of marine Mollusca were produced by joint teams of amateurs and professionals. During the last years the Italian Society of Malacology (Società Italiana di Malacologia – S.I.M.) maintained an updated version of the Mediterranean checklist, that served as the backbone for the development of the new Italian checklist. According to the current version (updated on April 1st, 2021), 1,777 recognised species of marine molluscs are present in the Italian Economic Exclusive Zone, including also the Tyrrhenian coasts of Corsica and the continental shelf of the Maltese archipelago. The new checklist shows an increase of 17% of the species reported in the 1995 Checklist. This is largely (yet not solely) due to the new wave of studies based on Integrative Taxonomy approaches. A total of 135 species (7.6%) are strictly endemic to the Italian waters; 44 species (2.5%) are alien and correspond to the 28% of the Mediterranean alien marine molluscs. All eight extant molluscan classes are represented. The families represented in the Italian fauna are 307, an increase of 14.6% from the first checklist, partly due to new records and partly to new phylogenetic systematics. Compared with the whole Mediterranean malacofauna, the Italian component represents 71% in species and 61% in families, which makes it a very remarkable part of the Mediterranean fauna.

Herein we revise several Recent Mediterranean species of the rissoid genus Alvania Risso, 1826: Alvania scabra (Philippi, 1844), Alvania sculptilis (Monterosato, 1877), Alvania sororcula Granata-Grillo, 1877, Alvania lucinae Oberling, 1970, Alvania josefoi Oliver & Templado, 2009 and Alvania scuderii Villari, 2017. They represent a rather homogeneous group of morphologically similar species, referred to as the Alvania scabra complex, which includes also some other species from the northeastern Atlantic. We designate a neotype for Rissoa scabra Philippi, 1844 and a lectotype for Rissoa oranica Pallary, 1900 to stabilize the use of the names. Alvania oranica (Pallary, 1900) is confirmed as a synonym of Alvania scabra (Philippi, 1844), and Alvania asperella (Granata-Grillo, 1877) is proposed as a synonym of Alvania sororcula (Granata-Grillo, 1877) [new synonymy]. Finally, we describe one new Mediterranean species: Alvania pizzinii Amati, Smriglio & Oliverio n. sp. from Levanzo Is., Sicily.

International audience; Excavated in 1949, Grotta dei Moscerini, dated MIS 5 to early MIS 4, is one of two Italian Neandertal sites with a large assemblage of retouched shells (n = 171) from 21 layers. The other occurrence is from the broadly contemporaneous layer L of Grotta del Cavallo in southern Italy (n = 126). Eight other Mousterian sites in Italy and one in Greece also have shell tools but in a very small number. The shell tools are made on valves of the smooth clam Callista chione. The general idea that the valves of Callista chione were collected by Neandertals on the beach after the death of the mollusk is incomplete. At Moscerini 23.9% of the specimens were gathered directly from the sea floor as live animals by skin diving Neandertals. Archaeological data from sites in Italy, France and Spain confirm that shell fishing and fresh water fishing was a common activity of Neandertals, as indicated by anatomical studies recently published by E. Trinkaus. Lithic analysis provides data to show the relation between stone tools and shell tools. Several layers contain pumices derived from volcanic eruptions in the Ischia Island or the Campi Flegrei (prior to the Campanian Ignimbrite mega-eruption). Their rounded edges indicate that they were transported by sea currents to the beach at the base of the Moscerini sequence. Their presence in the occupation layers above the beach is discussed. The most plausible hypothesis is that they were collected by Neandertals. Incontrovertible evidence that Neandertals collected pumices is provided by a cave in Liguria. Use of pumices as abraders is well documented in the Upper Paleolithic. We prove that the exploitation of submerged aquatic resources and the collection of pumices common in the Upper Paleolithic were part of Neandertal behavior well before the arrival of modern humans in Western Europe.

A new species of Marginellopsis Bavay, 1911, Marginellopsis herosae n. sp. and two new species of Granulina Jousseaume, 1888, Granulina morassii n. sp. and Granulina boyeri n. sp. are described and illustrated from the Red Sea and Djibouti. Marginellopsis herosae n.sp. represents the first Indo-Pacific record of a genus previously known by only one species from Cuba, Caribbean Sea. The biogeographic relevance of this finding and the possible Tethyan origin of the genus Marginellopsis is suggested. Micrographs of the type specimens of Granulina isseli (G. Nevill & H. Nevill, 1875), Granulina mariei (Crosse, 1867), Granulina cartwrighti (Sowerby, 1915) and Marginellopsis serrei Bavay, 1911 are provided.

The Atlantic-Mediterranean Bursa scrobilator (Linnaeus, 1758) complex is represented by three morphologically distinct forms, two that are extant corresponding to the nominal taxa Murex scrobilator Linnaeus, 1758 and Ranella coriacea Reeve, 1844, and one fossil corresponding to Murex nodosus Borson, 1825. The complex is here reviewed integrating morphological, molecular (mitochondrial COI marker) and paleontological data. The ‘scrobilator’ and ‘coriacea’ forms are proposed as two subspecies: Bursa scrobilator scrobilator (Linnaeus, 1758) with an Atlantic-Mediterranean distribution, and Bursa scrobilator coriacea (Reeve, 1844) with a West African range. The evolutionary relationships of the two recent subspecies with their most probable ancestor, the Mediterranean Miocene fossil B. nodosa, are also discussed.

We have compiled a complete list of new marine molluscan taxa introduced by Tommaso Allery Di Maria, Marquis of Monterosato (1841–1927). The dates of publication of every single work have been checked against available evidence, and an updated bibliography is also presented. Finally, the type material of all marine taxa expected to be in the collection Monterosato (presently preserved in the Museo Civico di Zoologia in Rome) has been searched in the main collection, and all retrieved specimens have been catalogued. A large majority of the material has been found, representative specimens of each taxon have been illustrated, and remarks on nomenclature and taxonomy have been provided yielding 42 new synonymies, 46 nominal taxa rediscovered, and 6 new combinations.

The evolution of the molluscan biota in Sabaudia Lake (Italy, central Tyrrhenian Sea) in the last century is hereby traced on the basis of bibliography, museum type materials, and field samplings carried out from April 2009 to September 2011. Biological assessments revealed clearly distinct phases, elucidating the definitive shift of this human-induced coastal lake from a freshwater to a marine-influenced lagoon ecosystem. Records of marine subfossil taxa suggest that previous accommodations to these environmental features have already occurred in the past, in agreement with historical evidence. Faunal and ecological insights are offered for its current malacofauna, and special emphasis is given to alien species. Within this framework, Mytilodonta Coen, 1936, Mytilodonta paulae Coen, 1936 and Rissoa paulae Coen in Brunelli and Cannicci, 1940 are also considered new synonyms of Mytilaster Monterosato, 1884, Mytilaster marioni (Locard, 1889) and Rissoa membranacea (J. Adams, 1800). Finally, human-driven environmental changes and cumulative anthropogenic pressures proved to be the whole driver of the constitution of the human-induced malacofauna studied, casting doubts on the correct use of the definition of “native fauna”. Se hizo un seguimiento de la evolución de la comunidad de moluscos en el lago Sabaudia (Italia, región central del mar Tirreno), considerando datos del siglo pasado y recurriendo a consultas bibliográficas, material tipo en museos y muestreos de campo realizados entre Abril de 2009 y Septiembre de 2011. Nuestro análisis biológico reveló la existencia de fases bien diferenciadas que muestran de modo claro el cambio definitivo de esta laguna inicialmente de aguas dulces que posteriormente se transformó en un ecosistema de influencia marina debido a la acción humana. El registro de taxones de subfósiles marinos sugiere un contexto ambiental similar en una época anterior, en concordancia con datos históricos. Este trabajo proporciona detalles faunísticos y ecológicos de la malacofauna del lago Sabaudia, dando especial importancia a las especies invasoras. Dentro de este amplio contexto Mytilodonta Coen, 1936, Mytilodonta paulae Coen, 1936 y Rissoa paulae Coen en Brunelli y Cannicci, 1940 son considerados nuevos sinónimos de Mytilaster Monterosato, 1884, Mytilaster marioni (Locard, 1889) y Rissoa membranacea (J. Adams, 1800). Por último, los cambios ambientales de génesis humana y la presión antropogénica a lo largo del tiempo determinaron la composición de la malacofauna estudiada, levantando dudas sobre el uso correcto del concepto “fauna nativa”.

""Brachycythara atlantidea (Knudsen, 1952) and B. beatriceae Mariottini, 2007, both species belonging to the family. Mangeliidae, are here moved to the genus Bela Gray, 1847, based on morphological shell features. The new epithets are:. Bela atlantidea (Knudsen, 1952) comb. nov. and Bela beatriceae (Mariottini, 2007) comb. nov. The recently described. Bela clarae Penˇas & Rola´n, 2008 is here considered a junior synonym of B. atlantidea according to a comparative scanning. electron microscopy analysis of the shells. The distribution of B. atlantidea in the Mediterranean basin is therefore reconsidered including all known records of B. clarae.""

The Mediterranean species of the genus Mitromorpha Carpenter, 1865 as currently conceived, are herein reviewed. The genus is represented in the Mediterranean Sea by eleven species, of which seven are here described as new, all included conservatively in the subgenus Mitrolumna Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1883: Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) columbellaria (Scacchi, 1836), Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) olivoidea (Cantraine, 1835), Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) karpathoensis (Nordsieck, 1969), Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) wilhelminae (van Aartsen, Menkhorst & Gittenberger, 1984), Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) alyssae n. sp., Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) bogii n. sp., Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) cossyrae n. sp., Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) nofronii n. sp., Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) mariottinii n. sp., Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) mifsudi n. sp., and Mitromorpha (Mitrolumna) tricolorata n. sp. Neotypes are designated for: Mitra columbellaria Scacchi, 1836, [currently Mitromorpha columbellaria (Scacchi, 1836) comb. nov.], and Mitrolumna algeriana Pallary, 1900 ex Monterosato ms. [currently Mitromorpha algeriana (Pallary, 1900) comb. nov.] considered as a synonym of Mitromorpha columbellaria (Scacchi, 1836). The latter is the oldest available name for the most common and widespread Mediterranean species of Mitromorpha. A lectotype is selected for Mitra leontocroma Brusina, 1866 [currently Mitromorpha leontocroma (Brusina, 1866) comb. nov.], previously considered as a junior synonym of Mitromorpha olivoidea (Cantraine, 1835) but here considered as a junior synonym of Mitromorpha columbellaria (Scacchi, 1836). Mitromorpha melitensis (Mifsud, 1993) is a synonym of Mitromorpha olivoidea (Cantraine, 1835). Mitromorpha mediterranea Mifsud, 2001 is a synonym of Mitromorpha columbellaria (Scacchi, 1836).

Based on shell characters, two new species of the gastropod family Trochidae, Jujubinus eleonorae n. sp. and Jujubinus trilloi n. sp., from the Sicily Channel are described. Shells of the new taxa were collected in the lower infralittoral of the Skerki and Talbot Banks, respectively. The new taxa are compared with Jujubinus curinii Bogi & Campani, 2005, morphologically the most closely related species.