Theriofauna of Site of Community Importance Poggi di Prata (Grosseto, Central Italy): terrestrial mammals and preliminary data on Chiroptera

Abstract

Information about mammal species richness is scarce from the site Poggi di Prata (Central Italy). We performed a three-year survey with camera traps and spotlight surveys. Data on road kills and owl pellets were also collected. Bats were sampled through a bat acoustic detector, active search and occasional observations. A total of 33 native species were recorded, from seven orders: Erinaceomorpha (N = 1), Soricomorpha (N = 3), Rodentia (N = 7), Lagomorpha (N = 2), Chiroptera (N = 10), Carnivora (N = 8), Artiodactyla (N = 2). Five exotic species (Dama dama, Myocastor coypus, Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus and Mus musculus) are present, and an additional exotic, Sylvilagus floridanus, has been recorded in the 1990s, but never established. Rhinolophus hipposideros, is Endangered in Italy, R. euryale, R. ferrumequinum, Canis lupus and Capreolus c. italicus) are Vulnerable, while Eptesicus serotinus and Plecotus auritus are Near Threatened. The presence of two Italian endemic taxa, Capreolus c. italicus and Lepus corsicanus, is noteworthy.