Despite its inhospitable appearance and lack of any ... - Udine Cultura

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Olm (Proteus anguinus)
discovered (Proteus anguinus parkelj)
genetically similar to the stygobiont
populations of the same area, and
thus suggesting that groundwater
populations are more recent.
Recent molecular analyses reveal that
there may be more stygobiont olm
species.
In Italy, olms are known to inhabit only
alkaline water in caves of the Trieste
and Isonzo Karsts. An isolated
population, introduced from Slovenia
in 1850, still lives in Grotta Parolini at
Oliero (Vicenza).
Olms are the only Italian stygobionts
listed as priority species in the Habitats
Directive; they are also included in
Annex IV and are therefore under strict
protection.
■ Italian stygofaunal provinces
Some olm specimens, coming from Slovenia,
were introduced into the Oliero cave system
(Veneto) in 1850
As analysis of previously described taxonomic groups suggests, the present
geographical distribution of stygobiont species in Italy is the result of a series
of events which took place in ancient times (historical factors) and, to a lesser
extent, of ecological factors, which occour in “real time”. The role played by
both is described in the chapter on ecology.
Since the evolution of many Italian taxonomic groups was similar over time,
because they were affected by the same palaeogeographical events, Italy is
divided into areas with similar fauna, particularly endemics. These areas are
called stygofaunal provinces. Although these generalisations cannot tell us
directly what the present fauna composition of a specific aquifer is, because
this is also influenced by local events, they do describe the present situation
of Italian stygobionts and explain where the most important endemic
locations are found.
Dinaric province. This area includes only the easternmost portion of Italy -
the so-called “classic” Karst - an elliptical area of 200 km 2 , whose
stygobionts are similar to those of the Karst in Slovenia, Istria and Dalmatia.
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