Department of Earth Sciences

Selected research products

DELFINO M., 2020 (online first 2017). Early Pliocene anuran fossils from Kanapoi, Kenya, and the first fossil record for the African burrowing frog Hemisus (Neobatrachia: Hemisotidae). Journal of Human Evolution, 140: 102353. 

GEORGALIS G.L., DEL FAVERO L. & DELFINO M. 2020 (published online). Italy’s largest snake - redescription of Palaeophis oweni (Serpentes, Palaeophiidae) from the Eocene of Monte Duello, near Verona. Acta Paleontologica Polonica, 65: 11 pp. 

GEORGALIS G.L., INSACCO G., ROOK  L., SPADOLA F. & DELFINO M., 2020. Turtle remains from the late Miocene of the Cessaniti area, southern Italy-insights for a probable Tortonian chelonian dispersal from Europe to Africa. Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, 139: 1. [13 pp.] 

LORÉAL E., VILLA A., GEORGALIS G. & DELFINO M., inviato. Amphibians and reptiles from the late Miocene and early Pliocene of the Ptolemais area (Western Macedonia, Greece). Annales de Paleontologie, XX: 26 pp. 

MARTIN J.E., SMITH T., SALAVIALE C., ADRIEN J. & DELFINO M., 2020 (published online). Virtual reconstruction of the cranium of Bernissartia fagesii and current understanding of the neosuchian–eusuchian transition. Journal of Systematic Paleontology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2020.1731722

RACCA L.*, VILLA A., WENCKER L.C.M., CAMAITI M., BLAIN H.-A. & DELFINO M.*, 2020. Skull osteology and osteological phylogeny of the Western whip snake Hierophis viridiflavus (Squamata, Colubridae). Journal of Morphology, 2020: 1–26. 

VILLA A., BACCIOTTI M., SALA B. & DELFINO M. 2020 (published online). Early Biharian amphibians and reptiles from Monte La Mesa (Verona, northeastern Italy): a typical  herpetological association  from the Early Pleistocene of Veneto. Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana, 59: i-xx. 

VILLA A., BON M. & DELFINO M., 2020 (online first 2018). Trapped in a Roman well: amphibians and reptiles from Tenuta Zuccarello near Marcon, Venice, Italy. Historical Biology, 32(1): 55-70. 

BLAIN H.-A., FAGOAGA A., RUIZ-SANCHEZ F.-J., BISBAL-CHINESTA J.F. & DELFINO M., 2019. Latest Villafranchian climate and landscape reconstructions at Pirro Nord (southern Italy). Geology, 47(9): 829-832.

Camaiti M., Villa A., Wencker L.C.M., Bauer A.M., Stanley E.L. & Delfino M., 2019. Descriptive osteology and patterns of limb loss of the European limbless skink Ophiomorus punctatissimus (Squamata, Scincidae). Journal of Anatomy, 235: 313-345. 

DELFINO M., MARTIN J.E., de LAPPARENT de BROIN F. & SMITH T., 2019. Evidence for a pre-PETM dispersal of the earliest European crocodyloids. Historical Biology, 31(7): 845-852. 

GEORGALIS G.L., ARCA M., ROOK L., TUVERI C. & DELFINO M., 2019. A new colubroid snake (Serpentes) from the early Pleistocene of Sardinia. Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana, 58(3), 2019, 277-294 

GEORGALIS G.L., VILLA A., IVANOV M., ROUSSIAKIS S., SKANDALOS P. & DELFINO M., 2019 (online first 2017). Early Miocene herpetofaunas from the Greek localities of Aliveri and Karydia – bridging a gap in the knowledge of amphibians and reptiles from the early Neogene of southeastern Europe. Historical Biology, 31: 1045-1064. 

GEORGALIS G.L., VILLA A., IVANOV M., VASILYAN D. & DELFINO M., 2019. Fossil amphibians and reptiles from the Neogene locality of Maramena (Greece), the most diverse European herpetofauna at the Miocene / Pliocene transition boundary. Palaeontologia Electronica, 22.3.68: 1-99. 

MACALUSO L., CARNEVALE G., CASU R., PIETROCOLA D., VILLA A. & DELFINO M., 2019. Structural and environmental constraints on reduction of paired appendages among vertebrates. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 128(2): 473-485. 

MACALUSO L., MARTIN J.E., DEL FAVERO L. & DELFINO M., 2019. Revision of the crocodilians from the Oligocene of Monteviale (NE Italy) and the diversity of European eusuchians across the Eocene-Oligocene boundary. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, e1601098, 13 pages. 

RIO J.P., MANNION P.D., TSCHOPP E., MARTIN J.E. & DELFINO M., 2019 (early view). Reappraisal of the morphology and phylogenetic relationships of the alligatoroid crocodylian Diplocynodon hantoniensis from the late Eocene of the United Kingdom. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, XX: 1-51. 

SCHEYER T.M., HUTCHINSON J.R., STRAUSS O., DELFINO M., CARRILLO-BRICEÑO J.D., SÁNCHEZ R. & SÁNCHEZ-VILLAGRA M.R., 2019. Giant extinct caiman breaks constraint on axial skeleton of extant crocodylians. eLife, 8: e49972. 

SMIROLDO G., VILLA A., TREMOLADA P., GARIANO P., BALESTRIERI A. & DELFINO M., 2019. Amphibians in Eurasian otter Lutra lutra diet: osteological identification unveils hidden prey richness and male-biased predation on anurans. Mammal Review, 49: 240-255. 

VILLA A. & DELFINO M., 2019. A comparative atlas of the cranial osteology of European lizards (Reptilia, Squamata). Zoological Journal Linnean Society, 187: 828–928. 

VILLA A. & DELFINO M., 2019. Fossil lizards and worm lizards (Reptilia, Squamata) from the Neogene and Quaternary of Europe: an overview. Swiss Journal of Palaeontology,138(2), 177-211. 

VILLA A., DELFINO M., LUJÁN À.H., ALMÉCIJA S. & ALBA D.M., 2019. First record of Latonia gigantea (Anura, Alytidae) from the Iberian Peninsula. Historical Biology, 31(3): 371-382.

VILLA A., KIRCHNER M., ALBA D.M., BERNARDINI F., BOLET A., LUJÁN À.H., FORTUNY J., HIPSLEY C.A., MÜLLER J., SINDACO R., TUNIZ C. & DELFINO M., 2019. Comparative cranial osteology of Blanus (Squamata, Amphisbaenia).  Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 185(3): 693-716.

ZOBOLI D., SANCIU L., PILLOLA G.L. & DELFINO M., 2019. An overview of the crocodylian fossil record from Sardinia (Italy). Annales de Paléontologie, 105(2): 123-137. 

DELFINO M. & SÁNCHEZ-VILLAGRA M.R., 2018. A late Miocene pipine frog from the Urumaco Formation, Venezuela. Ameghiniana, 55: 210-214. [IF 1.299 ; Q3 (Paleontology)]

DELFINO M., CANDILIO F., CARNEVALE G., COPPA A., MEDIN T., PAVIA M., ROOK L., URCIUOLI A. & VILLA A., 2018. The early Pleistocene vertebrate fauna of Mulhuli-Amo (Buia area, Danakil Depression, Eritrea). Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana, 57(1): 27-44. [IF 1.191; Q3 (Paleontology)]

COSSU I.M., FRAU S., DELFINO M., CHIODI A., CORTI C. & BELLATI A., 2018. First report of Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758) from Sardinia (Italy). Acta Herpetologica, 13(1): 43-49. [IF 0.722; Q4 (Zoology)]

FRAZIER J., AZZARÀ V., MUNOZ O., MARCUCCI L.G., BADEL E., GENCHI F., CATTANI M., TOSI M. & DELFINO M.*, 2018. Leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, at Mid-Late Holocene archaeological sites in coastal Oman: clues of past worlds. PeerJ, 6:e6123. DOI 10.7717/peerj.6123 [34 pp.] [IF 2.353; Q2 (Multidisciplinary Sciences]

GEORGALIS G.L., VILLA A. & DELFINO M., 2018. The last amphisbaenian (Squamata) from continental Eastern Europe. Annales de Paléontologie, 104(2): 155-159. [IF 0.681; Q4 (Paleontology)]

SCHEYER T.M., DELFINO M., KLEIN N., BUNBURY N.J., FLEISCHER-DOGLEY F. & HANSEN D.M., 2018. Trophic interactions between larger crocodylians and giant tortoises on Aldabra Atoll, Western Indian Ocean, during the Late Pleistocene. Royal Society Open Science, 5: 171800. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.171800 [IF 2.515; Q2 (Multidisciplinary Science)]

TSCHOPP E., VILLA A., CAMAITI M., FERRO L., TUVERI C., ROOK L., ARCA M. & DELFINO M., 2018. The first fossils of Timon (Squamata: Lacertinae) from Sardinia (Italy) and potential causes for its local extinction in the Pleistocene. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 184(3): 825–856. [IF 2.909; Q1 (Zoology)]

VILLA A., ABELLA J., ALBA D.M., ALMÉCIJA S., BOLET A., KOUFOS G.D., KNOLL F., LUJÁN À.H., MORALES J., ROBLES J.M., SÁNCHEZ I.M. & DELFINO M., 2018. Revision of Varanus marathonensis (Squamata, Varanidae) based on historical and new material: morphology, systematics, and paleobiogeography of the European monitor lizards. Plos One, 13(12): e0207719 [IF 2.766; Q2 (Multidisciplinary Sciences]

VILLA A., BLAIN H.-A. & DELFINO M., 2018. The Early Pleistocene herpetofauna of Rivoli Veronese (Northern Italy) as an evidence for humid and forested glacial phases in the Gelasian of Southern Alps. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 490: 393-403. [IF 2.616; Q1 (Palaeontology)]

VILLA A., BLAIN H.-A., VAN DEN HOEK OSTENDE L. & DELFINO M., 2018. Fossil amphibians and reptiles from Tegelen (Province of Limburg) and the early Pleistocene palaeoclimate of The Netherlands. Quaternary Science Reviews, 187: 203-219. [IF 4.641; Q1 (Geosciences)]

VILLA A., DAZA J.D., BAUER A.M. & DELFINO M., 2018. Comparative cranial osteology of European gekkotans (Reptilia, Squamata). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 184(3): 857-895. [IF 2.909; Q1 (Zoology)]

VILLA A., KOSMA  R., ČERŇANSKÝ A. & DELFINO M., 2018. Taxonomical assessment of ‘Bavaricordylus’ Kosma, 2004 (Reptilia, Squamata). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, e1487844. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2018.1487844 [IF 1.738; Q1 (Paleontology)]

Colombero S., Alba D.M., D’amico C., Delfino M., Esu D., Giuntelli P., Harzhauser M., Mazza P.P.A., Mosca M., Neubauer T.A., Pavia G., Pavia M., Villa A. & Carnevale G., 2017. Late Messinian mollusks and vertebrates from Moncucco Torinese, north-western Italy. Paleoecological and paleoclimatological implications. Palaeontologia Electronica, 20.1.10A: 1-66. [IF 1.410; Q2 (Paleontology)]

DÍAZ ARÁEZ J.L., DELFINO M., LUJÁN À.H., FORTUNY J., BERNARDINI F. & ALBA D.M.*, 2017. New remains of Diplocynodon (Crocodylia: Diplocynodontidae) from the Early Miocene of the Iberian Peninsula. Comptes Rendus Palevol, 16: 12-26. [IF 1.433; Q2 (Paleontology)]

GEORGALIS G.L., ZOBOLI D, PILLOLA G. & DELFINO M., 2017. A revision of the trionychid turtle Procyclanorbis sardus Portis, 1901 from the late Miocene of Sardinia (Italy). Annales de Paléontologie, 103: 127-134. [IF 1.200; Q3 (Paleontology)]

GEORGALIS G.L., VILLA A. & DELFINO M., 2017. Fossil lizards and snakes from Ano Metochi - a diverse squamate fauna from the latest Miocene of northern Greece. Historical Biology, 29(6): 730-742. [IF 1.249; Q2 (Paleontology)]

GEORGALIS G.L., VILLA A. & DELFINO M., 2017. The last European varanid: demise and extinction of monitor lizards (Squamata, Varanidae) from Europe. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, e1301946 (7 pages). [IF 2.190; Q1 (Paleontology)]

GRACIA E., VARGAS-RAMÍREZ M., DELFINO M., ANADÓN J.D., GIMÉNEZ A., FAHD S., CORTI C., JDEIDI T.B. & FRITZ U., 2017. Expansion after expansion: dissecting the phylogeography of the widely distributed spur-thighed tortoise, Testudo graeca (Testudines: Testudinidae). Biological Journal Linnean Society, 121 : 641-654. [IF 2.532 ; Q3 (Evolutionary Biology)]

Martinetto E., Momohara A., Bizzarri R., Baldanza A., Delfino M., Esu D. & Sardella R., 2017. Late persistence and deterministic extinction of “humid thermophilous plant taxa of East Asian affinity” (HUTEA) in southern Europe. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 467: 211-231. [IF 2.375; Q1 (Palaeontology)]

NARVÁEZ I., BROCHU C.A., DE CELIS A., DELFINO M., ESCASO F., PÉREZ-GARCÍA A., RABI M. & ORTEGA F., 2017. Case 3743 – Allodaposuchus precedens Nopcsa, 1928 (Crocodyliformes: Eusuchia: Allodaposuchidae): proposed designation of a neotype. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature, 74: 95-101.

PAVIA M., DELFINO M., LOZAR F., MARTINETTO E., PAVIA G. & CARNEVALE G., 2017. Il patrimonio paleontologico conservato nel Museo di Geologia e Paleontologia dell’Università degli Studi di Torino. Museologia Scientifica Memorie, 17: 76-80.

SEN S., DELFINO M. & KAZANCI N., 2017. Çeştepe, a new early Pliocene vertebrate locality in Central Anatolia and its stratigraphic context. Annales de Paléontologie, 103: 149-163. [IF 1.200; Q3 (Paleontology)]

VILLA A., TSCHOPP E.D., GEORGALIS G.L. & DELFINO M., 2017. Osteology, fossil record and palaeodiversity of the European lizards. Amphibia-Reptilia, 38: 79-88. [IF 1.105; Q2 (Zoology)]

Blain H.-A., Delfino M., Berto C. & Arzarello M., 2016. First record of Pelobates syriacus (Anura, Amphibia) in the Early Pleistocene of Italy. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 96: 111-124. [IF 1.278; Q3 (Paleontology)]

CIRILLI O., BENVENTI M.G., CARNEVALE G., CASANOVAS VILAR I., DELFINO M., FURIÓ M., PAPINI M., VILLA A. & ROOK L.*, 2016. Fosso della Fittaia: the oldest Tusco-Sardinian late Miocene endemic vertebrate assemblages (Baccinello-Cinigiano Basin, Tuscany, Italy). Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia, 122(2): 13-34. [IF 0.851; Q4 (Paleontology)]

Georgalis G.L., Szyndlar Z., Kear B.P. & Delfino M., 2016. New material of Laophis crotaloides, an enigmatic giant snake from Greece, with an overview of the largest fossil European vipers. Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 109: 103-116. [IF 1.533; Q3 (Geosciences)]

Georgalis G.L., Villa A. & Delfino M., 2016. First description of a fossil chamaeleonid from Greece and its relevance for the European biogeographic history of the group. The Science of Nature, 103: 1-12. DOI 10.1007/s00114-016-1336-5 [IF 1.191; Q2 (Multidisciplinary Sciences)]

GEORGALIS G.L., VILLA A., VLACHOS E. & DELFINO M., 2016. Fossil amphibians and reptiles from Plakias, Crete: a glimpse into the earliest late Miocene herpetofaunas of southeastern Europe. Geobios, 49: 433-444. [IF 1.431; Q2 (Paleontology)]

LUJÁN À.H., DELFINO M., ROBLES J.M. & ALBA D.M.*, 2016. The Miocene tortoise Testudo catalaunica Bataller, 1926, and a revised phylogeny of extinct species of genus Testudo (Testudines: Testudinidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 178(2): 312-342. [IF 2.711; Q1 (Zoology)]

MARTIN J.E., DELFINO M. & SMITH T., 2016. Osteology and affinities of Dollo’s goniopholidid (Mesoeucrocodylia) from the Early Cretaceous of Bernissart, Belgium. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, e1222534. (27 pages) [IF 2.114; Q1 (Paleontology)]

Martin J.E., Delfino M., Garcia G., Godefroit P., Berton S. & Valentin X., 2016. New specimens of Allodaposuchus precedens from France: intraspecific variability and the diversity of European Late Cretaceous eusuchians. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 176(3): 607-631. [IF 2.711; Q1 (Zoology)]

Scheyer T.M. & Delfino M., 2016. The late Miocene caimanine fauna (Crocodylia: Alligatoroidea) of the Urumaco Formation, Venezuela. Palaeontologia Electronica, 19.3.48A: 1–57. [IF 1.400; Q2 (Paleontology)]

VILLA A., ROČEK Z., TSCHOPP E., VAN DEN HOEK OSTENDE L.W. & DELFINO M., 2016. Palaeobatrachus eurydices n. sp. (Amphibia, Anura), the last Western European palaeobatrachid. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, e1211664. (15 pages) [IF 2.114;  Q1 (Paleontology)]

VLACHOS E. & DELFINO M., 2016. Food for thought: sub-fossil and fossil chelonian remains from Franchthi Cave and Megalopolis confirm a glacial refuge for Emys orbicularis in Peloponnesus (S. Greece). Quaternary Science Reviews, 150: 158-171. [IF 4.797; Q1 (Geosciences)]

Ghinassi M., Oms O., Papini M., Scarciglia F., Carnevale G., Sani F., Rook L., Delfino M., Pavia M., Libsekal Y., Bondioli L., Coppa A., Frayer D. & Macchiarelli R., 2015. An integrated study of the Homo-bearing Aalat stratigraphic section (Eritrea): An expanded continental record at the Early–Middle Pleistocene transition. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 112(A): 163-185. [IF 1.326; Q3 (Geosciences)]

Vlachos E., Kotsakis T. & Delfino M., 2015. The chelonians from the latest Miocene-earliest Pliocene locality of Allatini and Pylea (east Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece). Comptes Rendus Palevol, 14: 187-205. [IF 1.047; Q3 (Paleontology)]

ROOK L., DELFINO M. & SAMI M., 2015. I vertebrati fossili della cava del Monticino di Brisighella: una finestra sui popolamenti continentali del Mediterraneo nel Miocene superiore. In: Lucci P. & Piastra S. I Gessi di Brisighella e Rontana. Studio multidisciplinare di un’area carsica nella Vena del Gesso Romagnola. Memorie dell’Istituto Italiano di Speleologia, S. II, 28: 79-100.

Delfino M. & de Vos J., 2014. A giant crocodile in the Dubois Collection from the Pleistocene of Kali Gedeh (Java). Integrative Zoology, 9: 141-147. [IF 1.904; Q1 (Zoology)]

DELFINO M., ZOBOLI D., CARNEVALE G. & PILLOLA G.L., 2014. The rediscovered holotype of Palaeopython sardus Portis, 1901 from the Miocene of Sardinia belongs to a fish, not a snake. Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana, 53(2): 53: 89-92. [IF 0.953; Q3 (Paleontology)]

Alba D.M., Delson E., Carnevale G., Colombero S., Delfino M., Pavia M. & Pavia G., 2014. First joint record of Mesopithecus and cf. Macaca in the Miocene of Europe. Journal of Human Evolution, 67: 1-18. IF 3.733; Q1 (Anthropology)]

Alba D.M., Colombero S., Delfino M., Martínez-Navarro B., Pavia M. & L. Rook, 2014. A thorny question: the taxonomic identity of the Pirro Nord vertebrae. Journal of Human Evolution, 76: 92-106. [IF 3.733; Q1 (Anthropology)]

Andreone F., Bartolozzi L., Boano G., Boero F., Bologna M., Bon M., Bressi N., Capula M., Casale A., Casiraghi M., Chiozzi G., Delfino M., Doria G., Durante A., Ferrari M., Gippoliti S., Lanzinger M., Latella L., Maio N., Marangoni C., Mazzotti S., Minelli A., Muscio G., Nicolosi P., Pievani T., Razzetti E., Sabella G., Valle M., Vomero V. & Zilli A., 2014. Italian natural history museums on the verge of collapse? ZooKeys, 456: 139-146. [IF 0.933; Q3 (Zoology)]

Bartolini S., Cioppi E., Rook L. & DELFINO M.*, 2014. Late Pleistocene fossils and the future distribution of Rana temporaria along the Apennine Peninsula (Italy). Zoological Studies, 53:76 (10 pp.). [IF 0.776; Q3 (Zoology)]

BLAIN H.-A., AGUSTÍ J., ROOK L., LORDKIPANIDZE D. & DELFINO M.*, 2014. Paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental context of the Early Pleistocene hominins from Dmanisi (Georgia, Lesser Caucasus) inferred from the herpetofaunal assemblage. Quaternary Science Reviews, 105: 136-150. [IF 4.572; Q1 (Geosciences, Multidisciplinary)]

BOLET A., DELFINO M., FORTUNY J., ALMÉCIJA S., ROBLES J.M. & ALBA D.M., 2014. An amphisbaenian skull from the European Miocene and the evolution of Mediterranean worm lizards. PLoS ONE. 9(6): e98082. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0098082; http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0098082;jsessionid=4F64BF229E4BA01B4EB58F01DA99CC44 [IF 3.234; Q1 (Multidisciplinary sciences)]

Colombero S., Angelone C., Bonelli E., Carnevale G., Cavallo O., Delfino M., Giuntelli P., Mazza P., Pavia G., Pavia M. & Repetto G., 2014. The Messinian vertebrate assemblages of Verduno (NW Italy): another brick for a latest Miocene bridge across the Mediterranean. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie Abhandlungen, 272(3): 287-324. [IF 0.519; Q4 (Paleontology)]

Luján à.h., Alba D.M., Fortuny J., Carmona R. & Delfino M., 2014. First cranial remains of Cheirogaster richardi (Testudines: Testudinidae) from the Late Miocene of Ecoparc de Can Mata (Vallès-Penedès Basin, NE Iberian Peninsula): taxonomic and phylogenetic implications. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 12(7): 833-864. [IF 3.727; Q1 (Paleontology)]

Luján À.H., Delfino M., Casanovas-Vilar I. & Alba D.M., 2014. Taxonomy of subgenus Temnoclemmys Bergounioux, 1958 (Testudines: Geoemydidae: Ptychogasterinae) based on new material from the Vallès-Penedès Basin (NE Iberian Peninsula). Comptes Rendus Palevol, 13: 277-295. [IF 1.192; Q2 (Paleontology)]

Martin J.E., Smith T., de Lapparent de Broin F., Escuillié F. & Delfino M., 2014. Late Paleocene eusuchian remains from Mont de Berru, France and the origin of the alligatoroid Diplocynodon. Zoological Journal Linnean Society, 172: 867–891. [IF 2.717; Q1 (Zoology)]

Siori M.S., Boero A., Carnevale G., Colombero S., Delfino M., Sardella R. & Pavia M., 2014. Early Pleistocene small vertebrates from Monte Argentario (central Italy). Paleoecological and biochronological implications. Geobios, 47(6):403-418. doi:10.1016/j.geobios.2014.10.001 [IF 1.243; Q2 (Paleontology)]

DELFINO M. & ATZORI M., 2013. An update on the Early Pleistocene herpetofauna from Pirro Nord. Palaeontographica Abteilung A Palaeozoology – Stratigraphy, 298: 19-29. [1.455; Q2 (Paleontology)]

Delfino M. & Rossi M.A., 2013. Fossil crocodylid remains from Scontrone (Tortonian, Southern Italy) and the Late Neogene Mediterranean biogeography of crocodylians. Geobios, 46: 25-31. [1.187; Q2 (Paleontology)]

Delfino M., Rage J.-C., Bolet A., Alba D.M., 2013. Early Miocene dispersal of the lizard Varanus into Europe: reassessment of vertebral material from Spain. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 58(4): 731-735. [1.722; Q2 (Paleontology)]

Delfino M., Scheyer T.M., Chesi F., Fletcher T., Gemel R., Macdonald S., Rabi M. & Salisbury S., 2013. Gross morphology and microstructure of type locality ossicles of Psephophorus polygonus Meyer, 1847 (Testudines, Dermochelyidae). Geological Magazine, 150(5): 767-782. [2.177; Q2 (Geosciences, Multidisciplinary)]

Bauer A.M., Ceregato A. & Delfino M., 2013. The oldest herpetological collection in the world: the surviving amphibian and reptile specimens of the museum of Ulisse Aldrovandi. Amphibia-Reptilia, 34: 305-321. [1.138; Q2 (Zoology)]

Rook L., Croitor R., Delfino M., Ferretti M.P., Gallai G. & pAVIA M., 2013. The Upper Valdarno Plio-Pleistocene vertebrate records: an historical overview, with notes on palaeobiology and stratigraphic significance of some important taxa. Italian Journal of Geosciences, 132(1): 104-125. [1.679; Q2 (Geosciences, Multidisciplinary)]

Rook L., Ghinassi M., Carnevale G., Delfino M., Pavia M., Bondioli L., Candilio F., Coppa A., Martínez-Navarro B., Medin T., Papini M. & Libsekal Y., 2013. Stratigraphic context and paleoenvironmental significance of minor taxa (Pisces, Reptilia, Aves, Rodentia) from the late Early Pleistocene palaeoanthropological site of Buia (Eritrea). Journal of Human Evolution, 64: 83-92. [3.867; Q1 (Anthropology)]

Scheyer T.M., Aguilera O.A., Delfino M., Fortier D.C., Carlini A.A., Sánchez R., Carrillo-Briceño J., Quiroz L. & Sánchez-Villagra M.R., 2013. Crocodylian diversity peak and extinction in the late Cenozoic of the northern Neotropics. Nature Communications, 4:1907. doi: 10.1038/ncomms2940; http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v4/n5/full/ncomms2940.html [10.742; Q1 (Multidisciplinary Sciences)]

Delfino M. & Smith T., 2012. Reappraisal of the morphology and phylogenetic relationships of the alligatoroid Diplocynodon deponiae (Frey, Laemmert and Riess, 1987), based on a three-dimensional specimen. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 32(6): 1358-1369. [IF 1.674; Q2 (Paleontology)]

DELFINO M., LUJÁN À.H., CARMONA R. & ALBA D.M., 2012. Revision of the extinct Pleistocene tortoise Testudo lunellensis Almera and Bofill, 1903 from Cova de Gràcia (Barcelona, Spain). Amphibia-Reptilia, 33: 215-225. [IF 0.680; Q3 (Zoology)]

Delfino M., PiTRUZZELLA G. & BAILON S., 2011. The Late Pliocene amphibians and reptiles from “Capo Mannu D1 Local Fauna” (Mandriola, Sardinia, Italy). Geodiversitas, 33(2): 357-382. [IF 1.266; Q2 (Paleontology)]

Piras P., Salvi D., Ferrara G., Maiorino L., Delfino M., Pedde L. & Kotsakis T., 2011. The role of post-natal ontogeny in the evolution of phenotypic diversity in Podarcis lizards. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 24: 2705-2720. [IF 3.276; Q1 (Ecology)]

Courses

• Erpetologia (SVB0174)
  Scienze Naturali, Scienze dei Sistemi Naturali,
  Evoluzione del comportamento animale e dell’uomo
• Laboratorio di Scavo Paleontologico (non attivato a partire dall'AA 2018-2019) (MFN1298)
  Scienze Naturali, Scienze dei Sistemi Naturali,
  Evoluzione del comportamento animale e dell’uomo
• Museologia Naturalistica (SVB0274)
  Scienze Naturali, Scienze dei Sistemi Naturali,
  Evoluzione del comportamento animale e dell’uomo
• Museologia Naturalistica (SVB0274)
  Scienze Naturali, Scienze dei Sistemi Naturali,
  Evoluzione del comportamento animale e dell’uomo
• Paleontologia (MFN0694)
  Scienze Naturali, Scienze dei Sistemi Naturali,
  Evoluzione del comportamento animale e dell’uomo

Research topics

Si interessa ad aspetti di paleontologia, morfologia, sistematica, filogenesi, e biogeografia degli anfibi e dei rettili. Le principali linee di ricerca riguardano il contributo dei fossili alla conoscenza della filogenesi dei coccodrilli e dell’evoluzione dei popolamenti erpetologici europei e dell’area mediterranea. Si è inoltre occupato dell’identificazione e dell’interpretazione dei resti dell’erpetofauna rinvenuti in associazione con fossili umani di Eritrea, Georgia, Kenya, Indonesia, Israele, Italia, Oman e Sudan.

Research projects

• Biogeografia e paleoecologia dei vertebrati messiniani italiani
• Diversificazione morfologica nel tempo profondo: analisi comparativa in gruppi selezionati di vertebrati
• L'evento climatico di 1 Ma in Africa orientale: interpretazione di trends e ritmi di dinamica ambientale attraverso l'analisi di indicatori biotici e abiotici (PRIN 2012)
• Paleobiodiversità, paleobiogeografia e paleoecologia dei vertebrati messiniani italiani: confronto tra record marino e continentale

Activities in agenda

See my calendar

Academic bodies

• Consiglio di Dipartimento
• Didattica

• LM SSN - Commissione Medaglia d'Argento
• LM SSN - Commissione Monitoraggio e Riesame
• LM SSN - Commissione Riconoscimento Titoli Accademici Esteri
• LM SSN - Delegato per la valutazione della didattica
• LM SSN - Giunta Didattica
• LT Scienze Naturali - Commissione Riconoscimento Titoli di Studio Esteri e Internazionalizzazione
• LT Scienze Naturali - Delegati per l'Orientamento

Office hours

Si riceve su appuntamento telefonico o via e-mail.