Türkiye / North of Lake Van in the vicinity of Ercis. 

Species:

Darevskia sapphirina  (SCHMIDTLER et al., 1994)

Synonyms:

Lacerta sapphirina  SCHMIDTLER, 1994

Darevskia sapphirina  ARRIBAS, 1997

Common names:

Van Lizard (English)

Types:

Holotype: ZSM 170/1993, female.
Paratypes: ZFMK 57136, ZSM CAS, NMW.

Terra Typica:

Border Van/Agri, 30 km NW Erçis, 2000 m asl., Turkey.


Taxonomic notes:

Parthenogenetic unisexual species. As well as D. bendimahiensis and D. unisexualis comes from a cross of D. valentini (♂) and D. raddei (♀).

Named after the Latin noun “sapphirus”, a blue gem, referring to the characteristic blue lateral spots in this species.


Relevant taxonomic literature:

  • Schmidtler, J.F. & Eiselt, J. & Darevsky, I.S. (1994) -  Untersuchungen an Felseidechsen (Lacerta-saxicola-Gruppe) in der östlichen Türkei: 3. Zwei neue parthenogenetische Arten. -  Salamandra, Bonn, 30 (1): 55-70.    

  • Ciobanu, D.G. & Grechko, V.V. & Darevsky, I.S. (2003) -  Molecular Evolution of Satellite DNA CLsat in Lizards from the Genus Darevskia (Sauria: Lacertidae): Correlation with Species Diversity. -  Russian Journal of Genetics, Moscow, 39 (11): 1292-1305.    

    Чобану Д.Г., Гречко В.В., Даревский И.С. (2003) -  Молекулярная эволюция сателлитной ДНК CLSAT ящериц рода Darevskia (Sauria: Laeertidae): корреляция с видовым разнообразием. -  Генетика, 39 (11): 1527-1541.