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In the course of the faunistic inventory in Wadi Ramm Protected Area, a total of 34 species of reptiles representing nine families (Gekkonidae, Chamaeleonidae, Agamidae, Lacertidae, Scincidae, Varanidae, Leptotyphlopidae, Colubridae, and Viperidae) were recorded from different habitats in Wadi Ramm and its closest vicinity. Three species (Lacerta cf. kulzeri, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, and Ablepharus rueppellii) are considered to represent relicts from earlier, more humid periods. Habitat preferences for collected species are included.

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The Small Spotted-Lizard Mesalina guttulata is recorded for the first time from Um Elsheikh island at Dongonab Bay in the Red Sea State, Sudan

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This study includes a list of reptiles collected from Rumaila desert, south of Iraq, with a redescription of snake Eryx jayakary were given.

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The Iranian Plateau is an area of highly complex landscape and incredibly diverse habitats, from salt deserts to temperate forests. Such a heterogeneous environment, at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa, fuels the high diversity and uniqueness of the Iranian fauna and flora. Nevertheless, our understanding of the historical processes that shaped the Iranian biodiversity remains limited. In this context, we revisit the evolutionary history of the two most widespread lizard species on the Iranian Plateau (Eremias persica and Mesalina watsonana) to explore whether these two taxa of similar ecology have been subjected to similar historical processes. To achieve that, we performed a series of phylogenetic analyses and thoroughly tested all possible alternative topologies based on available mitochondrial sequences (cytochrome b and 12S ribosomal RNA). Additionally, we estimated the number of mitochondrial clusters based on a novel single-locus delimitation method and the time of their divergence, using recently inferred evolutionary rates for lacertid species. The results indicate that the two taxa have been shaped by similar physiographic and climatic barriers since both phytogenies split into similar geographical clusters. However, E. persica has twice as long evolutionary time on the Iranian Plateau than M. watsonana. The first divergence of E. persica was estimated in the Middle Miocene (~13 Mya), at the time of the major uplift of the Zagros mountain range. The Upper Miocene tectonic rearrangement that resulted in the uplift of the Alborz mountains coincides with the original split in M. watsonana (~6.6 Mya) and several contemporaneous splits within E. persica.

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Corpuscular Constants: hemoglobin, hematocrit (packed cell volume), and red cell count; also blood glucose and total plasma protein of the lizards Acanthodactylus scutellatus and Eremias brevirostris were determined. For Acanthodactylus scutellatus the mean values are : 8.5 g/100 ml, 30.0%, 1.135 x 106/mm3, 224.6 mg/100 ml, and 4.7 g %. For Eremias brevirostris the mean values are: 9.2 g/100 ml, 30.8%, and 1.424 x 106/mm3, 217 mg/100 ml, and 4.0 g % respectively. Electrophoretic mobilities of the three protein systems, serum, plasma and hemoglobin ere similar in the two lacertid lizards, but different from those previously obtained by the same author for two agamid lizards. Electrophoretic patterns of serum and plasma proteins consist in both lizards of four fractions, albumin, ل-globulin, â-globulin and م-globulin. The ل-globulin fraction was not resolved into and ل1 and ل-2- C12 as obtained in the agamid lizards. Regarding the relative proportions of the different protein fractions and the albumin: globulin ratio. both lizards showed but little variation from each other. In all individuals of the two species examined, no fibrinogen fraction was detected in their plasma patterns. Hemoglobin of both lizards behaved as a homogeneous single fraction slightly moving towards the anode. The rate of movement was nearly the same in both lizards, but it differed from that recorded for the agamid lizards.

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The present work provides a list of all amphibians and reptiles recorded from Iraq up to 2014. It includes 115 species (105 species of reptiles and 10 species of amphibians) dating back to 25 families (20 families of reptiles and 5 families of amphibians). Conservation status of each species was mentioned.

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A total of 70 herpetofauna species from 3 Orders and 18 Families were surveyed during a period of two years (2005-2007) in Southern Jordan. The Ophidia included Leptotyphlopidae, Typhlopidae, Boidae, Colubdridae, Atractaspididae, Elapidae and Viperidae. The Sauria included Gekkonidae, Chamaeleonidae, Agamidae, Lacertidae, Sincidae, Anguidae and Varanidae. Testudines included Cheloniidae, Dermochelyidae, Emydidae and Testudinidae. The species listed were all resident and mostly found throughout the year. The diversity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the study area likely encouraged species presence. The results reinforce the necessity for long-term inventory planning in order to understand the ecology and the dynamics of herpetofauna and other wildlife communities in the study area. The increasing human impact on the existing natural resources in Southern Jordan has threatened the ecology and diversity of wildlife species to such a degree that populations of anurans and many reptiles are declining in diversity, status and abundance. The author recommends improving cooperation of different parties to enhance public awareness and to implement environmental laws and legislation to conserve sensitive and rare species of herpetofauna.

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An extensive review on the taxonomic status, occurrence, geographical distribution, and the IUCN conservation status of 122 species/taxa (10 amphibians and 112 reptiles) belonging to 71 genera (8 genera of amphibians and 63 of reptiles) and to 25 families (5 families of amphibians and 20 families of reptiles) was made. As a part of Iraq’s unique biota, the knowledge of the herpetofauna of Iraq is poorly discovered and requires extensive field surveys, further research, and explorations in order to create full frame knowledge of its status and conservation.

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Species distribution modelling is a powerful tool that can gives us ecological insights about species distributions, and potential effects of environmental factors, in poorly known habitats. For the first time the distribution of terrestrial reptiles in Saudi Arabia was modelled, and environmental factors that affect their current distribution and richness investigated. Reptiles are a major vertebrate group in Saudi Arabia and protecting them should be a priority for conservation in such an arid environment. Temperature was the most important of eleven predictors. Maximum species richness of reptiles was predicted in the central plateau, north-western borders, and in coastal areas of Saudi Arabia. Overall, the predicted and the observed patterns of species richness followed a similar pattern. Our analysis revealed that large scattered parts of Saudi Arabia are considered under-sampled in terms of sampling efforts of terrestrial reptile species. Our results represent the most comprehensive description of terrestrial reptile diversity distributions and habitat suitability in Saudi Arabia to date.

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The Arabian Peninsula is an interesting area for research. This area has a complex geological history, a range of habitats and a number of known endemic species. However, to date, this area and its associated biodiversity has been poorly studied. The aims of this study were to investigate the phylogeography and to determine the species delimitation of a selected number of lizard species from the Arabian Peninsula. The phylogeography of fourteen co-distributed lizard species occurring within the Arabian Peninsula was investigated using a multispecies tree in STAR BEAST (*BEAST) to determine the divergence times and spatial patterns of the co-distributed species. Several common spatial and temporal patterns were identified among the different Arabian Peninsula species. The common patterns indicated close phylogeographic relationships between different regions and species. Importantly, these common patterns also corresponded to historical biogeographic processes. A wide range of ecological habitats was also detected for these groups of lizards and this was assumed to play a major role in establishing the current diversity and distribution patterns. In addition to detecting common patterns, this study also provided valuable information about the unique phylogeographical patterns shown by some of the studied species. Finally, this study also revealed patterns that provided strong evidence for the presence of multiple cryptic species within a species complex. Species delimitation methods were subsequently applied to two species that had previously demonstrated the potential for cryptic species within Acanthodactylus boskianus and A. opheodurus. Using a combined approach of genetic distance, allele networks, and Bayesian Phylogenetic and Phylogeography (BPP) analysis, this study was able to identify candidate species within A. boskianus and A. opheodurus. The mitochondrial DNA tree revealed potential candidate clades within these two species. These candidate species clades were then further examined at two nuclear loci and congruence was observed between the two markers for these clades. This congruence between mitochondrial and nuclear loci strongly indicates the discovery of several new species within A. boskianus and A. opheodurus, however further research is needed to confirm this discovery. In conclusion, this study provides the most detailed insight - to date - on the phylogeography and species delimitation of Arabian Peninsula lizards and provides the most up to date assessment of the diversity of the lizards in this important region.

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A total of 44 species of amphibians and reptiles are reported from Al Madinah Al Munawwarah Province, Saudi Arabia. They include two species of amphibian in two families (Bufonidae and Dicroglossidae) and 42 reptiles belonging to 16 families (Agamidae, Boidae, Chamaeleonidae, Colubridae, Elapidae, Gekkonidae, Lacertidae, Lamprophiidae, Leptotyphlopidae, Phyllodactylidae, Psammophiidae, Scincidae, Sphaerodactylidae, Varanidae, Typhlopidae, and Viperidae). Platyceps sinai, Psammophis sibilans, Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus, are recorded for the first time to the herpetofauna of Saudi Arabia. Range expansion for Euphlyctis ehrenbergii and Acanthocercus adramitanus to northern Saudi Arabia is reported. Our records expand the known distribution range of the Arabian Cobra, Naja arabica, further northwest

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Seventeen (17) and twenty-two (22) species of terrestrial reptiles were recorded from ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid and Harat al Harrah protected areas, respectively. Eight sites in ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid and eleven sites in Harat al Harrah were surveyed for the presence of reptiles. A comparison between the two protected areas’ reptile fauna is provided, with brief descriptions of their habitat preferences. Uromastyx aegyptia, categorised by the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable, occurs in both protected areas. Ptyodactylus puiseuxi is a new species record for the herpetofauna of Saudi Arabia. This study indicates the importance of protected areas within Saudi Arabia for the conservation of reptile biodiversity, the need for extension of the protected area network and additional biodiversity surveys in other regions. Studies on species richness, biology and population size for endangered species should be a priority for future studies.

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Tathleeth governorate in Aseer region of southwestern Saudi Arabia has been surveyed for 22 lizard species belonging to 6 families throughout three years started from 2015. A total of 412 specimens of these lizards were encountered and identified. Gekkonidae represented the major family inhabiting the region comprising more than 50% of the collected lizards. Agamidae was represented by 5 species comprising more than 23% of the recorded lizards. The other four families (Lacertidae, Scincidae, Chamaeleonidae and Varanidae) comprised approximately 20% of all the collected lizards. The current survey could be used as conservational clue for the herpetofauna of Tathleeth.

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We surveyed the historical Faid Hema, Ha’il region in Saudi Arabia and identified 22 species of reptiles (17 lizards and five snakes). We recorded for the first time nine reptiles (six lizards and three snakes) in the Faid Hema. Of these, one lizard, Mesalina adramitana, and two snakes, Cerastes gasperetti and Walterinessia aegyptia, were reported for the first time for the entire Ha`il region. We recorded 50% of all species for the entire study area at one site, which may be because it had three different habitat types near it (the Jannin mountain, soft soil, and firm, sandy soil). The next highest number of species we found was at an open site with firm, sandy soils and with gravel (containing 45.5% of the total species recorded), followed by a site that contained only sand (36.4% of the total). The lowest number of species was reported at an agricultural site, with only 13.6% of the total species found.

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A total of 46 reptilian species belonging to 9 families (Gekkonidae, Agamidae, Chamaeleonidae, Scincidae, Lacertidae, Varanidae, Boidae, Colubridae and Viperidae) are reported from Southern Jordan. Bunopus tuberculatus, Tropiocolotes steudneri and Phrynocephalus arabicus are new records, while Coluber elegantissimus is reported for the second time. A. population of horned Cerastes cerastes was found at Disah area. Remarks on the distribution of these reptiles are included. Acanthodactylus boskianus, Acanthodactylus tristrami, Acanthodactylus grandis, Acanthodactylus opheodurus, Acanthodactylus pardalis, Ophisops elegans, Mesalina guttulata, Lacerta laevis kulzeri.

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In this study, we identified the diversity of the freshwater, marine and terrestrial herpetofauna of the State of Kuwait. It consists of a total of 45 extant species; 44 species of reptiles and a single species of amphibian according to recent updated taxonomic studies. All specimens of reptiles collected and held in American and European natural history museums are documented. Four species are added to the herpetofauna of Kuwait: Chalcides ocellatus, Hydrophis lapemo ides, Hydrophis viperina, and Trapelus agnetae.

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TERRA TYPICA. Synd, between Karachi and Sukkur. DISTRIBUTION. The species is widely distributed on the whole Iranian Plateau and in Afghanistan, comes into southern Turkmenistan. In North Eurasia it occurs only in the south of Turkmenistan up to the vicinity of the town Chärjew in the east. Previously this form was considered as a subspecies of M. guttulata. CONSERVATION STATUS. In Turkmenistan the status of the populations is rather stable and does not require special conservation measures. It is protected on the territory of the Badkhyz Nature Reserve.

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One hundred seventy-seven species of amphibians and reptiles in sixty-fiv genera have been recorded from within the political boundaries of Iran. The actual number of species may prove to be somewhat less when problems of synonymy have been more extensively investigated. Thirty-three species or 19 per cent of the known herpetofauna, are represented in the present collection. The majority of these (21 species) were collected in the western foothills of the Zagros Mountains in southwestern Iran. Relatively few collections have been made in Iran, and many species have been recorded from single localities. Many taxonomic problems must await the collection of further specimens and examination of typical material. Distribution is incompletely known for all species. Many of the early locality records are not precise, and require confirmation. The aridity and prolonged hot season impose severe limitations on the fauna of the foothill region of southwestern Iran. The length of the growing seasonn varies with the duration of the winter and spring rainy season. The vegetation is almost entirely herbaceous in this area, and is extensively grazed by sheep and goats. By late spring the hills are completely denuded, The large numbers of insects, which coincide with the blooming of herbaceous plants in the spring, dwindle through the summer. Grasshoppers and ants form the bulk of the food supply for many species throughout the summer. Various behavioral adaptations enable the amphibians and reptiles to survive the long summer. Foraging activity begins in the early morning hours, diurnal lizards quickly reaching temperatures of normal activity by exposing a maximum surface area to the direct rays of the sun. As ambient temperatures rise, the period of activity is extended by utilization of small areas of shade (particularly the case with lacertids), brief dashes being made into direct sunlight. The agamid lizards may remain in the sun, but position themselves so that the sun´s rays strike a minimum surface area, and at a small angle. Agama agilis ascends low bushes during extremely hot periods, and thus may escape much of the reradiated heat from the hot ground surface. The agamid lizards may benefit from changes in their albedo. They are dark in color when basking, and much lighter during the heat of the day. These color changes may supplement behavioral temperature regulation. The reptiles retreat to shelter during the hottest hours. Deep crevices in limestone outcrops provide shelter for Agama nupta, Mabuya aurata septemtaeniata, and several of the snakes. Agama agilis and Eremias guttulata watsonana seek refuge under small rocks or in rock piles on level ground. The latter species also utilizes small holes and cracks in the hard-packed soil. A few small streams persist throughout the summer, ofter only as intermittent pools. In many dry stream beds, moisture may be found a few inches beneath the surface. A moist, cool, microclimate is also maintained in small caves and ssinkholes in the gypsium formations. These areas provide a summer refuge for the amphibians, and shelter nocturnal reptiles during the day. These cracks and crevices are also utilized by Agama nupta during the hottest hours, and presumably at night. Several species of geckos and snakes are able to exist in the area due to their nocturnal habits, and the fact that temperatures do not drop below their normal activity range at night during the summer. Dune-dwelling species are able to escape the severe midday temperatures by retreating the burrows a few inches below the sand surface. Anal temperatures indicate that the normal activity range for most of the diurnal lizards of southwestern Iran is between 38.0° and 42.0°C. Uromastix loricatus was actively foraging at times when its anal temperature exceeded 43°C. Agama agilis was consistently found in direct sunlicht, the anal temperature above 40°C. Critical maximum temperatures for most diurnal lizards are between 46° and 49°C. Both Uromastix loricatus and Scincus conirostris recovered from temperatures above 50°C. Cowles and Bogert (1944) found that the normal activity range of diurnal lizards of the deserts of the southwestern U.S. was approximately 35°-43°C., and that the lizards preferred temperatures of about 37°C. They found that lizards avoided temperatures above 40°C. Critical maximum temperatures were reported to bte 43°-49°C. As air and surface temperatures increased during the late spring and summer in southwestern Iran, a shift in the periods of reptilian activity was noted. During the moderate spring temperatures, activity was confined to the midday hours. By midsummer, foraging activity was noted only during the earliest daylight hours,a nd again in late afternoon. A detailed zoogeographic analysis of the Iranian herpetofauna must await more extensive locality data, and the analysis of many systematic problems. Nevertheless, it is apparent that the several geographic and ecologic provinces of Iran are characterized by distinct differences in the composition of their faunas. Southwestern Iran and the northwestern highlands have a greater number of species with Mediterranean affinities than do the regions east of the Zagros Mountains. Southeastern Iran shares species with Pakistan and India, while elements of the Central Asia fauna are present in the northeast of the country. Apparently there is a relatively high degree of ebndemism on the central plateau of Iran. A European fauna prevails north of the Elburz Mountains on the south coast of the Caspian Sea. The majority of amphibians and reptiles known Iran are restricted in their distribution to the Middle East. Southwest Asia has apparently existed as a geographic unit long enough to have developed a characteristic herpetofauna, particularly at the species level. Acanthodactylus cantoris blanfordi, Acanthodactylus cantoris schmidti, Eremias guttulata watsonana, Ophisops elegans elegans.

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Acanthodactylus cantoris blanfordi, Acanthodactylus cantoris schmidti, Acanthodactylus fraseri, Acanthodactylus micropholis, Apathya cappadocica urmiana, Eremias arguta, Eremias brevirostris, Eremias fasciata, Eremias grammica, Eremias guttulata, Eremias intermedia, Eremias lineolata, Eremias nigrocellata, Eremias persica, Eremias pleskei, Eremias scripta, Eremias strauchi, Eremias velox velox, Lacerta brandtii, Lacerta chlorogaster, Lacerta princeps princeps, Lacerta princeps kurdistanica, Lacerta saxicola defilippii. Lacerta saxicola raddei, Lacerta strigata, Lacerta trilineata media, Ophisops elegans.

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Acanthodactylus blanfordi, Acanthodactylus boskianus, Acanthodactylus grandis, Acanthodactylus micropholis, Acanthodactylus nilsoni, Acanthodactylus opheodurus, Acanthodactylus schmidti, Eremias acutirostris, Eremias andersoni, Eremias arguta, Eremias fasciata, Eremias grammica, Eremias intermedia, Eremias lalezharica, Eremias lineolata, Eremias nigrocellata, Eremias nigrolateralis, Eremias persica, Eremias pleskei, Eremias scripta, Eremias strauchi strauchi, Eremias strauchi kopetdaghica, Eremias velox velox, Lacerta brandtii, Lacerta cappadocica urmiana, Lacerta chlorogaster, Lacerta defilippii, Lacerta media media, Lacerta mostoufi, Lacerta praticola praticola, Lacerta princeps princeps, Lacerta princeps kurdistanica. Lacerta raddei raddei, Lacerta raddei vanensis, Lacerta steineri, Lacerta strigata, Lacerta valentini valentini, Lacerta zagrosica, Mesalina brevirostris brevirostris, Mesalina brevirostris fieldi, Mesalina watsonana, Ophisops elegans.

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Relatively little is known about the ecology of lizards in Iran. This paper serves as a brief introduction to five representative biotopes and their associated lizard species living syntopically, based largely on my own observations. The selected localities are found in 1) Masjed Soleyman, foothills of the Zagros Mountains, Khuzestan; 2) Kupal dunes, on the Mesopotamian Plain, Khuzestan; 3) Shah ‘Abbas Caravanserai, Dasht-e Kavir, on the Central Plateau; 4) an abandoned village in Sistan, ruined buildings and loose loess substrate; 5) Hyrcanian Forest, northern slopes of lower Alborz Mountains and the Gorgan region. The biotopes are characterized briefly and the concept of syntopy is discussed.

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The collection of amphibians and reptiles made by the Street Expedition to Afghanistan 1965 consists of 247 specimens, including six species of amphibians and 38 species of reptiles. Definite Afghan localities are recorded for the first time for the following species: Agama agrorensis, Agama erythrogaster, Agama himalayana, Agama lehmanni, Agama nuristanica (new species herein described), Agama abdakhshana (new species herein described), Cyrtodactylus watsoni, Hemidactylus flaviviridis, Eremias nigrocellata, Eryx elegans (type was recorded as coming from Afghanistan, but n precise locality was given, An analysis of the zoogeographic significance of this and other collections from Afghanistan is contemplated for the future. Acanthodactylus cantoris, Eremias guttulata watsonana, Eremias nigrocellata, Eremias velox persica.

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Morocco is one of the richest countries in the Mediterranean Basin, comprising 120 terrestrial amphibians and reptiles, of which 30 are endemic species (25%). Remarkably, the genus Chalcides hits top record with nine endemic species out of 16 existing species. Updated distribution maps were elaborated for each species. A new species was added to the taxonomic list of endemics of Morocco. Three main distribution patterns regarding the occupied area and number of localities were identified: 1/ large, extensive, or widespread, 2/ punctual, and 3/ restricted distribution. Three main distribution patterns regarding the occupied region were identified: 1/ mountain, 2/ Atlantic, and 3/ southern Morocco. The areas apparently accommodating most of the endemic species are located within the Tangitan Peninsula, Atlantic coast, Rif Massif, and High and Middle Atlas.

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Some 500 Dhofar reptiles and amphibians are discussed and a minimum of 48 terrestrial species recognised for the area of which 5 were previously undescribed; these are a gecko, Hemidactylus lemurinus, and the lacertids Acanthodactylus felicis, A. opheodurus,A. masirae and Mesalina ayunensis; a new subspecies of gecko from north Oman, Bunopus spatalurus hajarensis is also reported. Various other species are reviewed; it appears that Bunopus abudhabi is a synonym of B. blanfordi, which is probably conspecific with B. tuberculatus, Hemidactylus parkeri is regarded as a subspecies of H. turcicus, the Arabian agamas of the Agama cyanogaster group are shown to include 2 species to which the names adramitana and yemenensis are applicable although their status relative to African populations in the group is not clear; A. jayakari is conspecific with A. flavimaculata, and A. neumanni with A. sinaita; Chamaeleo chamaeleon orientalis is similar to more northern populations of C. chamaeleon but C. c. arabicus is very well differentiated and may be a separate species, the use of genitalia in the classification of Acanthodactylus is emphasised and A. arabicus, A. blanfordi and A. schmidti are all given full species status; the recognition of Mesalina as a genus indepemdemt of Eremias is confirmed, it is suggestes that Atractaspis engeddensis may be conspecific with A. microlepidota and that Lytorhynchus gaddi is a synonym of L. diadema; the distinctive population of Echis carinatus in Dhofar appears to be closely related to those in south-west Arabia and adjoining Africa but animals from northern Oman and the rest of south-west Asia are very different. Additional specimens are reported of Bunopus s. spatalurus and Coluber thomasi, both previously known from only 2 individuals. Geographical variations of a number of species is discribed including 3 geckos that show very considerable differences within southern Dhofar: Hemidactylus homocolepis, H. yerburii and Tropiocolotes scorteccii. Observations on the ecology of many species are noted, especially for the aberrant gecko genus Pristurus, one species of which, P. carteri, behaves like a small, ground-dwelling diurnal agamid. Resource partition, at least amongst the lizards, appears to be largely based on parameters of time, food (especially prey size), hunting method and space. A number of forms occourring in both noreth Oman and Dhofar show differences in niche in the two areas apparently related to the presence of absence of a competitor. Several species are recorded from Dhofar for the first time including Bunopus spatalurus, Hemidactylus flaviviridis, H. turcicus parkeri, Pristurus minimus, Agama adramitana, Acanthodactylus boskianus,Mabuya tessellata, Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus and Lytorhynchus diadema. The herpetofauna of the area can be divided into a largely northern element of desert-adapted forms widespread in the Arabian peninsula and a more peripheral element in the south which shows considerably more affinity to south-west Arabia than to northern Oman. No reptile of amphibian endemics occur in the forested areas of Dhofar but 3 species present in the drymesic habitats on the north side of the mountains may be restricted to the region. Acanthodactylus opheodurus, Acanthodactylus felicis, Acanthodactylus masirae, Acanthodactylus boskianus, Acanthodactylus schmidti, Mesalina adramitana, Mesalina ayunensis.

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Aspects of the ecology of 23 lizard species found in the coastal lowlands of eastern Arabia are reported. Most forms occur in arid environments. The most obvious ecological separation is between diurnal and nocturnal species, the 10 latter all being geckos. Within these 2 groupings, species differ principally in microhabitat (particularly such features as distance from vegetation and ground softness), hunting techniques (sit and wait, active search or slow visual scanning) and the size of their mainly arthropod prey. However, 2 large diurnal forms are food specialists, feeding largely on plants and small vertebrates, respectively, and some diurnal species show differences in time of activity during morning. Body temperature of day-active species is controlled by posture, retreat into shade or burrows and use of the ground as a heat sink. Most nocturnal forms have body temperatures close to the ambient but they may sometimes be elevated in Bunopus tuberculatus, perhaps as a result of utilizing underground warmth. A wide range of predator avoidance techniques is used. Females are mainly gravid in spring. The number of eggs carried is low in species of small body size (often 1-2), suggesting that egg-laying is repetitive. Gross body shape is related to hunting and escape technique, foot structure to substratum type, and species living on soft sand have modifications that exclude sand from body orifices.

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The ability to shed (autotomize) all or part of the tail, usually in response to predator attack, and often to subsequently regenerate it is widespread in lizards and amphisbaenians and also occurs in a few snakes and in the tuatara. Most species possess a sophisticated intravertebral autotomy mechanism which seems to be primitive in the Squamata. This appears to have been independently lost in members of many groups, but some agamids and snakes have regained the ability to shed their tails by a simpler intervertebral means and a -number of agamids have also redeveloped tail regeneration as well. Breakable tails are used to evade capture in two main ways: by enabling reptiles to break away from predators that have grasped them by the tail and by providing a distraction which deflects the attention of the attacker away from the vulnerable head and body. It is argued that loss of caudal autotomy has occurred when the costs of tail shedding outweigh its benefits. Likely costs include the expense of regrowing the tail and the loss of a variety of possible tail functions that may cause partial incapacitation, at least until the tail regenerates. Benefits of autotomy are liable to be low if predation is rare, if the animal is able to protect itself effectively in other ways, if it is too slow to evade further pursuit after the tail is shed, or if the tail is small or unpalatable and consequently not likely to distract a predator. Benefit variation may well be greater than cost variation and therefore more important in initiating the loss of autotomy mechanisms. Many taxa that do not shed the tail appear to conform to the above interpretation, but in some cases, such as the Platynota, Agamidae and Chamaeleonidae, lack of intravertebral autotomy may reflect the history of these groups rather than being a direct result of present ecological pressures. The distribution of intervertebral autotomy in the Agamidae suggests that it may have evolved only in rather special circumstances where tail fragility is advantageous even in the absence of the ability to regenerate. Restriction ot autotomy planes to the tail-base, so that the whole organ is lost, a condition found in a number of relatively slow-moving geckoes, is interpreted as a means of ensuring that enough of the tail is shed to distract a predator from further pursuit. The stimulus necessary to induce autotomy can vary rapidly in individual lizards and at least some of these changes probably maximize the effectiveness of the tail-shedding mechanism. Differences in the readiness with which all or part of the tail is shed exist between species and are likely to reflect the balance of costs and benefits in particular cases. Variations in incidence of broken tails between species and populations may be due to such differences in fragility but many other factors may play a part, including the age structure of samples, incidence of unsuccessful attacks by predators and ability to evade predators after autotomy. There is a clear tendency for climbing lizards, especially those living on rock surfaces, to have higher incidences of broken tails than ground-dwelling species, perhaps because the tail is usually less important in locomotion in the first group. Many lizards possess conspicuously coloured tails and tail movements that seem likely to help distract attention from the head and body. Conspicuous tail colouring is more frequent and often better developed in young animals, which tend to be more vulnerable than adults, and in active species from open habitats where crypsis may not always be very effective. Conspicuous tails usually have contrasting light and dark areas in nocturnal forms but are often a single bright colour in diurnal ones, probably reflecting the visual capacities of their respective predators. The predominance of blue tails in day-active species may be because this colour is striking close to but not very arresting at a distance, so it may not attract predators from far away while still drawing their attention at close quarters.

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The basic anatomy of the lacertid hemipenis (intromittent organ) and methods for its investigation are described. In many members of the Lacertidae, the hemipenis has a structure quite unlike that of other squamate reptiles: the distal lobes of the retracted organ are complexly folded and there is a well-defined supporting structure of dense connective tissue, the armature. This incorporates blood sinuses and has an intramuscular portion embedded in the m. retractor penis magnus and two club-shaped bodies, the clavulae, that support the lobes in the erect organ. Unarmatured hemipenes occur in some lacertids and, like those of other squamates, possess sac-like lobes in the retracted state, but they are singular in having the lobes invested by the m. retractor penis magnus. It is argued that many of these apparently primitive hemipenes are in fact secondary derivatives of the armatured type. There is considerable inter-specific variation in hemipenial structure which is described systematically. In some cases this involves differences in size, asymmetry and simplification, which may arise as physical isolating mechanisms and is useful in distinguishing otherwise very similar species, particularly in the genus Mesalina (p. 1253). Other shared derived hemipenial features provide useful information about relationships between species and higher taxa and a summary of the hypotheses that they support is given (p. 1254).

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A key and check list is provided to the 96 species and six additional subspecies of lizards and two species of amphisbaenians known to occur in and around Arabia. Philochortus neumanni, Lacerta jayakari, Lacerta cyanura, Latastia longicaudata andersonii, Mesalina guttulata, Mesalina olivieri, Mesalina martini, Mesalina brevirostris, Mesalina ayunensis, Mesalina adramitana, Acanthodactylus orientalis, Acanthodactylus robustus, Acanthodactylus opheodurus, Acanthodactylus boskianus, Acanthodactylus felicis, Acanthodactylus yemenicus, Acanthodactylus masirae, Acanthodactylus opheodurus, Acanthodactylus gongrorhynchatus, Acanthodactylus haasi, Acanthodactylus schmidti, Acanthodactylus blanfordii, Acanthodactylus arabicus, Acanthodactylus grandis, Acanthodactylus tilburyi, Acanthodactylus scutellatus hardyi.

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The structure of copulatory organs is used very widely in systematics, both for differentiating species and for working out relationships. Differences between taxa may arise from a variety of sources, including non-homology, differences in other parts of the animal, direct selection on copulatory organs, development of physical isolating mechanisms and pleiotropic events. Physical isolating mechanisms seem likely to account for the abrupt differences, involving size, asymmetry and simplifications, that are useful in distinguishing very similar lacertid species. Although these differences usually seem to arise at the end of a speciation event they can simultaneously be the initiating mechanism in a second one. Copulatory organs appear to have high inherent stability, probably resulting from frequent location in strongly homoeostatic environments, single function, insensitivity to niche shift and inertia due to the need to conform to the genitalia of the opposite sex. This stability may be overridden at times by direct selection on the organs themselves or pleiotropic events. Such changes tend to be retained because efficiency in copulation depends not on any absolute genital architecture but on close conformity of the organs. It is the combination of relative stability and tangible input of varied change, which tends to be retained, that so often makes these structures good indicators of relationship.

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Arabia, including the arid lowland regions of Jordan, Syria, Iraq and southwest Iran, has approximately 128 species of terrestrial reptiles and about 7 of amphibians. Endemicity is high, 55% of species being largely or entirely confined to the area. Abrupt faunal discontinuities are present between Arabia and neighbouring regions, namely the Horn of Africa, the Sahara desert and the relatively mesic areas to the north. However, there must have been substantial interchange with these areas in the past. Within Arabia, the main Zoogeographie division is between the arid regions occupying most of the peninsula and much smaller, often more mesic areas of endemicity in the south. The former are mainly occupied by Saharo-Sindian taxa and have rather more affinities with the Sahara than to arid regions east of Arabia. Southern areas of endemicity include: 1. The southwestern coast, with affinities to the Horn of Africa and the inland deserts of Arabia. 2. The southwest and southern highlands which share a number of forms with northeast African relationships but differ significantly, the former having more, often endemic species with African affinities and a number with relatives in the Mediterranean and other northern mesic regions. The drier southern mountains have their own endemics, some of which have representatives in the öiddat al-HaräsIs area to the east. 3. The north Oman mountains also possess distinctive species and populations, some of which are related to forms in the less arid parts of the Iranian area. Finally there are a number of mesic forms distributed around the periphery of Arabia, and populations at oasis sites in the arid region which are probably relicts of forms more widespread in Quaternary pluvial phases.

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Differences in surface structure (ober- hautchen) of body scales of lacertid lizards involve cell size, shape and surface profile, presence or absence of fine pitting, form of cell margins, and the occurrence of longitudinal ridges and pustular projections. Phylogenetic information indicates that the primitive pattern involved narrow strap-shaped cells, with low posteriorly overlapping edges and relatively smooth surfaces. Deviations from this condition produce a more sculptured surface and have developed many times, although subsequent overt reversals are uncommon. Like variations in scale shape, different patterns of dorsal body microornamentation appear to confer different and conflicting performance advantages. The primitive pattern may reduce friction during locomotion and also enhances dirt shedding, especially in ground-dwelling forms from moist habitats. However, this smooth microornamentation generates shine that may compromise cryptic coloration, especially when scales are large. Many derived features show correlation with such large scales and appear to suppress shine. They occur most frequently in forms from dry habitats or forms that climb in vegetation away from the ground, situations where dirt adhesion is less of a problem. Microornamentation differences involving other parts of the body and other squamate groups tend to corroborate this functional interpretation. Microornamentation features can develop on lineages in different orders and appear to act additively in reducing shine. In some cases different combinations may be optimal solutions in particular environments, but lineage effects, such as limited reversibility and different developmental proclivities, may also be important in their genesis. The fine pits often found on cell surfaces are unconnected with shine reduction, as they are smaller than the wavelengths of most visible light.

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DNA sequence indicates the Lacertidae contain two subfamilies, Gallotiinae and Lacertinae, the latter comprising two monophyletic tribes, the Eremiadini of Africa and arid southwest and central Asia, and the Lacertini of Europe, northwest Africa and southwest and east Asia. Relationships within the 108 species of Lacertini are explored using mtDNA (291 bp cytochrome b; 329 bp 12S rRNA for 59 nominal species, and reanalysis of the data of Harris et al. 1998, and Fu 2000). The morphology of the tribe is reviewed and 64 of its characters (equivalent to 83 binary ones) also used to assess relationships. The Lacertini are assigned to 19 monophyletic units of 1 to 27 species, recognised here as the following genera (contents are indicated in brackets): Algyroides, Anatololacerta gen. nov. (L. danfordi group), Apathya (L. cappadocica group), Archaeolacerta (L. bedriagae), Dalmatolacerta gen. nov. (L. oxycephala), Darevskia (L. saxicola group), Dinarolacerta gen. nov. (L. mosorensis), Hellenolacerta gen. nov. (L. graeca), Iberolacerta (L. monticola group), Iranolacerta gen. nov. (L. brandtii and L. zagrosica), Lacerta s. str. (sand and green lizards, L. agilis group), Parvilacerta gen. nov. (L. parva and L. fraasii), Phoenicolacerta gen. nov. (L. laevis group), Podarcis (wall lizards), Scelarcis (L. perspicillata), Takydromus (Asian grass lizards), Teira (L. dugesii), Timon (ocellated lizards, L. lepida group) and Zootoca (L. vivipara). Both mtDNA and morphology indicate that Lacerta and Timon are sister taxa, and DNA suggests further possible relationships among genera (Fig. 1, p. 6). Neither DNA nor morphology indicates that the archaeolacertas (sometimes formalised as Archaeolacerta sens. lat.) form a clade. Instead, they are representatives of an ecomorph associated with living on rock exposures and using the narrow crevices that these contain. The Lacertidae probably arose in the European area, with the Gallotiinae later reaching Northwest Africa and the Canary Islands, and the ancestor of the Eremiadini invading Africa in the mid-Miocene. The Lacertini spread through much of their present European range and diversified, perhaps largely by repeated vicariance, around 12–16 My ago, producing the ancestors of the present mainly small-bodied genera, which then underwent often modest speciation. Three units spread more widely: the Lacerta-Timon clade of large-bodied lizards probably dispersed earliest, followed by Algyroides and then Podarcis. Overall, European Lacertidae show a pattern of repeated spread, often accompanied by restriction of previous groups. Expansion of Lacertini may have displaced earlier lacertid lineages from all or much of Europe; while spread of Podarcis may have restricted many other genera of Lacertini. The earlier expansion of the Lacerta-Timon clade probably did not have this effect, as difference in adult body size restricted competitive interaction with other forms. Several invasions of more distant areas also occurred: of East Asia by Takydromus over 10 My ago, and more recently of northwest Africa by Podarcis, Scelarcis and Timon, and Madeira by Teira. Relationships within the Eremiadini estimated from both mtDNA, and nDNA differ considerably from those based on morphology. They indicate relatively mesic forms may have diversified widely across Africa and given rise to at least three independent invasions of arid habitats. MtDNA also indicates that Lacerta andreanskyi belongs in the Eremiadini and may occupy a basal position there. It is assigned to a further new genus, Atlantolacerta gen. nov.

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In this paper we deal on the ultraviolet color (invisible to us): where we can find it, the capability of animals to see it and the advantages that this color perception offers to them. As the simplest way to detect it is the photography, we describe and review how to photograph the UV, as a result of 15 years of amateur experience, searching and testing nearly in complete blindness due to the lack of practical information about “how to do it”. We describe the different kinds of photography (chemical and digital); the cameras and objectives suitable (both astronomically expensive ones and cheap options); what are the best characteristics that the objectives should have for this purpose; the films suitable for their use in chemical photography; the different filters (current or discontinued) manufactured along the years; and the subtle combinations among the different materials to obtain pure UV photographs. This kind of scientific photography is mainly used in forensics, forgery detection, art dermatology and less in Natural History, despite the fact that a great part of animals see this color and use it in important questions of their biology as the social behavior, mate choice or the food search.

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The sclerotic ring consists of several bones that form in the sclera of many reptiles. This element has not been well studied in squamates, a diverse order of reptiles with a rich fossil record but debated phylogeny. Squamates inhabit many environments, display a range of behaviours, and have evolved several different body plans. Most importantly, many species have secondarily lost their sclerotic rings. This research investigates the presence of sclerotic rings in squamates and traces the lineage of these bones across evolutionary time. We compiled a database on the presence/absence of the sclerotic ring in extinct and extant squamates and investigated the evolutionary history of the sclerotic ring and how its presence/absence and morphology is correlated with environment and behaviour within this clade. Of the 400 extant species examined (59 families, 214 genera), 69% have a sclerotic ring. Those species that do not are within Serpentes, Amphisbaenia, and Dibamidae. We find that three independent losses of the sclerotic ring in squamates are supported when considering both evolutionary and developmental evidence. We also show that squamate species that lack, or have a reduced, sclerotic ring, are fossorial and headfirst burrowers. Our dataset is the largest squamate dataset with measurements of sclerotic rings, and supports previous findings that size of the ring is related to both environment occupied and behaviour. Specifically, scotopic species tend to have both larger inner and outer sclerotic ring apertures, resulting in a narrower ring of bone than those found in photopic species. Non-fossorial species also have a larger sclerotic ring than fossorial species. This research expands our knowledge of these fascinating bones; with further phylogenetic analyses scleral ossicles could become an extremely useful character trait for inferring the behaviour of fossil squamates.

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We report the impact of human-induced desertification on the species richness, abundance, and composition of sand dune flora and herpetofauna of North Sinai, Egypt. Our hypothesis was that degraded habitats would have reduced vegetation complexity, richness, and abundance, and consequently lower reptile species richness and abundance. We also hypothesized that desert lizards would not follow the typical generalist/specialist responses to habitat degradation found in other biomes. Instead, we predicted that because vegetation loss intensifies the environmental extremity of deserts, those species specialized for open and sandy environments would be more likely to persist in desertified habitats than would desert generalists. Our results showed that areas protected from vegetation loss did not have significantly higher vegetation richness or abundance except for only a few species. However, protected sites did have significantly higher percent veg etation cover and height. Habitat protection clearly had strong effects on the reptile community as species richness and abundances were significantly higher in protected sites. The composition of the reptile community between protected and unprotected sites differed significantly. Contrary to past studies in other environments, desert generalist species were not able to persist in degraded sites and were only found in protected sites. Specialist species were ubiquitous in that they occurred in both areas protected and unprotected from vegetation loss. We propose that the effects of disturbance on species composition (specialists or generalists) depends on whether the disturbance exacerbates or reduces environmental harshness and the conditions that favor specialization. In extreme environments, specialist and generalist responses to habitat degradation are opposite to that of more productive environments.

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Animals communicate via a variety of sensory channels and signals. Studies on acoustic and visual communication systems suggest that differences in the physical environment contribute to the variety of signalling behaviour, with species investing in those signals that are transmitted best under the local conditions. Whether or not environmental tuning also occurs in chemical communication systems has received much less attention. In the present study, we examined the effect of several aspects of the physical environment on the chemical communication system of lacertid lizards (family Lacertidae). The numbers of femoral pores are used as a proxy reflecting how much a particular species invests in and relies upon chemical signalling. Femoral pores are specialized epidermal structures that function as a secretion channel for the waxy substance produced by glands. In some lacertid species, the secretion carries infochemicals that play an important role in social communication. The number of femoral pores varies considerably among species. We have compiled data on femoral pore numbers for 162 species and tested for the effects of climate and substrate use. After correcting for body size and taking the phylogenetic relationships among the species into account, we found no effect of climate conditions or latitude on species pore numbers. Substrate use did affect pore numbers: shrub-climbing species tended to have fewer femoral pores than species inhabiting other substrates.

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Lizards communicate with others via chemical signals, the composition of which may vary among species. Although the selective pressures and constraints affecting chemical signal diversity at the species level remain poorly understood, the possible role of diet has been largely neglected. The chemical signals of many lizards originate from the femoral glands that exude a mixture of semiochemicals, and may be used in a variety of contexts. We analyzed the lipophilic fraction of the glandular secretions of 45 species of lacertid lizard species by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The proportions of nine major chemical classes (alcohols, aldehydes, fatty acids, furanones, ketones, steroids, terpenoids, tocopherols and waxy esters), the relative contributions of these different classes (‘chemical diversity’), and the total number of different lipophilic compounds (‘chemical richness’) varied greatly among species.We examined whether interspecific differences in these chemical variables could be coupled to interspecific variation in diet using data from the literature. In addition, we compared chemical signal composition among species that almost never, occasionally, or often eat plant material. We found little support for the hypothesis that the chemical profile of a given species’ secretion depends on the type of food consumed. Diet breadth did not correlate with chemical diversity or richness. The amount of plants or ants consumed did not affect the relative contribution of any of the nine major chemical classes to the secretion. Chemical diversity did not differ among lizards with different levels of plant consumption; however, chemical richness was low in species with an exclusive arthropod diet, suggesting that incorporating plants in the diet enables lizards to increase the number of compounds allocated to secretions, likely because a (partly) herbivorous diet allows them to include compounds of plant origin that are unavailable in animal prey. Still, overall, diet appears a relatively poor predictor of interspecific differences in the broad chemical profiles of secretions of lacertid lizards.

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Die Vorliegende Studie belegt das Vorkommen von Mesalina brevirostris BLANFORD, 1874 in der Türkei. Neun Exemplare (fünf Männchen, vier Weibchen) wurden in Akçakale (Sanliurfa) nahe der türkisch-syrischen Grenze am 6 und 7. Mai 2002 gefangen. Die Pholidosemerkmale der neun Exemplare aus Akçakale ähneln denen, wie sie mehrere Autoren für syrische Tiere angeben. Die Anzahl der Dorsalia-Querreihen ist bei den Exemplaren von Akçakale (49,0 - 57,0; Mittelwert 53,2) deutlich größer als bei Tieren aus dem östlichen und zentralen Syrien (36,0 - 47,0; Mittelwert 40,3). Nach metrischen, meristischen und Farbmuster-Merkmalen sind die neun Exemplare von Südost-Anatolien der typischen Form Mesalina brevirostris brevirostris zuzuordnen.

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A complete catalogue is provided for the type specimens of lacertid lizards in the herpetological collection of the Zoological Museum, Berlin, as of December, 1993. The collection contains a total of 514 type specimens, representing 63 taxa, of which 42 are currently regarded as valid at the specific or subspecific level. Types representing an additional four taxa appear to have been lost from the collection. The collections are especially rich in African lacertid types and in historically significant specimens collected early in the Nineteenth Century by Pallas, Eversmann, and Hemprich & Ehrenberg. Also present are the type series of many subspecies of Podarcis lilfordi and P. pityusensis described by Eisentraut.

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Algeria is a case study of biodiversity ignorance. To date, there are neither complete inventories for any taxa nor atlas across the country! Yet, Algeria is of great importance for global biodiversity. The coastal area of Algeria is part of the global biodiversity hostpot which is the Mediterranean perimeter and has several regional red spots of biodiversity. Moreover, the Saharan part encompasses a diversity of endemic organisms adapted to the strong conditions of drought. The Algerian authorities are deploying an ambitious project for conservation aiming to reach 50% of the country`s surface as protected areas! However, the location of these protected areas and their management don’t obey to a scientific evidence based, but are rather based on experts opinion. The main aim of this thesis is the study of the biodiversity ignorance distribution in Algeria by focusing on the `Linnean, Wallacean, and Darwinian Shortfalls` and to contribute to reduce them. The first chapter aims at reducing the Linnean Shortfall by proposing 1) a first checklist of reptiles and amphibians of Algeria which is the result of an accurate review of scientific publications on these taxa in North Africa. 2) a first pre-assessment of the conservation status of reptiles and amphibians of Algeria for the production of the first national red list. The second part of this manuscript deals with the ignorance of the geographical distribution of species. The purpose of this part is to map the ignorance which is defined as the difference between the expected specific richness diversity and the observed specific richness. The predicted species richness was modelled with two approaches: 1 ecological niche modelling with the maximum entropy method (MaxEnt) to predict the suitable habitats for each species and then add the different binary layers of species presence to calculate the specific richness. 2) Minimum convex polygon method was used to create range maps of each species and were auditioned to obtain predicted species richness. Both approaches have shown the same trend at a national scale: the concentration of the richest areas along the Saharan Atlas and the High Plateaus which are the transition zone between the Sahara and the Mediterranean part of Algeria. The opposition of the Saharan with a low species richness and the northern part with a higher species richness. Finally, the Saharan massifs of the Hoggar and Tassili form a very distinct zone with a much greater wealth compared to the rest of the Sahara. In terms of gaps, in the northern part, Kabylie, El Kala National Park and the Oran region are fairly well surveyed. In the Sahara, only a few points are clearly well prospected as Biskra, Bechar and some areas of the Hoggar and Tassili. The third part deals with the distribution of genetic llineages in the Maghreb. The aim of this section is to locate the phylogeographic breaks between the divergent eastern and western populations of the Maghreb and to try to understand the mechanisms that led to this pattern of genetic diversity. To answer these questions, I carried out a comparative phylogeography on 11 species of reptiles and amphibians with continuous and wide distribution in the Maghreb. Two suture zones have been identified: one zone on the border of Algeria and Morocco, the other in Kabylia west of the Soummam valley. The divergences between the eastern clades and the western clades occurred between the pre-Messinian periods up to the pliopleistocene boundary and were maintained in climatic refugia in the East and West of the Maghreb.

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This study is the first contribution to the evaluation of reptile diversity in different habitats of M’sila region, Algeria. We carried out 94 trips between 2016 and 2018 across three sites: Mergueb (six stations), L’mhazem (three stations) and Kaf Afoul (two stations), on average, accompanied by prospectors. Our aims were to make an inventory of reptilian species in this region, as well as to study their diversity, distribution, ecology and abundance. Altogether, we recorded 193 specimens belonging to 22 species: two turtles, one amphisbaenian, twelve lizards and seven snakes. Two species classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN were recorded: Uromastyx acanthinurus (Bell, 1825) and Daboia mauritanica (Duméril & Bibron, 1848). Statistical analysis revealed that the type of habitat directly influences the distribution of reptiles in the study area. Although this small area is rich in reptilian species, their abundance remains low and worrying.

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Kurze Vorstellung der drei Eidechsenarten Acanthodactylus felicis, A. opheodurus und Mesalina ayunensis aus der omanischen Provinz Dhofar.

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During two excursions to Syria (March/April and May 1994) 9 species of lacertid lizards were found (Acanthodactylus grandis, A. orientalis, A. tristrami, Lacerta media wolterstorffi L. cappadocica wolteri, L. l. laevis, L. (cf.) kulzeri, Mesalina brevirostris and Ophisops elegans ssp.). Three of them (A. tristrami, L. cappadocica wolteri and L. (cf.) kulzeri) are reported for the first time for this country. Concerning L. cappadocica, L. laevis, L. (cf.) kulzeri and O. elegans systematical questions are discussed. Ecological data are presented. Further amphibians and reptiles found during the excursions are listed, Coluber najadum is reported for the first time for Syria.

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On the basis of our observations, the distribution area of Mesalina guttulata is shown to be extended to the totality of Southern and Saharian Tunisia. M. olivieri has been found scattered over the whole southern portion of the country up to the Oued Medjerda. Differential coloration pattern and biotopes of the two species are described. It is proposed that M. guttulata could correspond to a more specialized and evolved taxon with respect to morphology and ecology.

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The herpetological populations in the islands of Zembra and Zembretta -- An extensive research of the Reptilian fauna on these two islands was conducted through three expéditions by the Tunis Science Faculty. The islands of Zembra is populated by three species of lizards Psammodromus algirus (Lacertids), Chalcides ocellatus (Scincids) and Hemidactylus turcicus (Gekkonids) and the three species of Colubrid snakes: Malpolon monspessulanus, Macroprotodon cucullatus, Coluber hippocrepis. On the Island of Zembretta only the three species of lizards mentioned above were found. Their distribution and biotope were precised. Two sea turtles visit their costal waters: Caretta caretta (Chelonids) and Dermochelys coriacea (Dermochelyids). The terrestrial herpetofauna on Zembra and Zembretta displays the fundamental characteristics of an insular environment — spécific poorness: the western slopes of the Cap Bon tip include 11 Lacertids, 7 Ophids, 3 Chelonids and 6 Batrachian species. — individual abundance in the Zembra Lacertid populations and even more on Zembretta. — composition unbalance: some species would not find convenient biotops or preys on these two islands but the absence of a few others species cannot be ecologically explained.

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Herpetologic fauna of Kerkennah islands: check list, geographic distribution and zoogeography. -- During a survey of Kerkennah islands, the check-list of Reptiles and Amphibians has been established to eleven species belonging to two classes, to seven families and to eleven genera. Geographic distribution on the islands and habitats of most species has been reported All species have a large distribution area in continental Tunisia and zoogeographic affinities are mainly with Mediterranean region.

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Cette note est destinée à faire le point sur le peuplement herpétologique du Maroc. Elle comprend: — Une liste des formes effectivement présentes au Maroc, avec les affinités biogéographiques des espèces, et éventuellement les travaux récents où ces formes sont étudiées. — Des commentaires sur les espèces africaines douteuses en Europe et européennes douteuses en Afrique. — Une liste des espèces à rechercher au Maroc. — Une discussion sommaire sur la systématique de certaines espèces marocaines.

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Mesalina watsonana is a well-known species of small lacertid lizards with an extensive species distribution that exhibits high genetic diversity. The species has a wide distribution range in Iran, some parts of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northwest India. This study aims to generate phylogenetic and phylogeographic evidence to derive taxonomic recommendations supporting. Furthermore, this species can be used as a model for examining Iranian Platuea`s historical biogeography. We conducted a very detailed sampling of its distribution and used genetic approaches. Phylogenetic analyses were done implementing two mitochondrial (Cytb and 16S) and one nuclear (C-mos) gene fragments. Combination of these results indicated that seven well-supported distinct clades exist within this species complex, i.e. Kerman clade, Esfarayen clade, Halil clade, Ardestan clade, M. watsonana clade, Bardaskan Clade, and Khuzestan Clade in Iran. Also, our results revealed that several distinct clades diverged due to geologic events when the Dasht-e-Kavir and the Zagros Mountains were formed. It seems that the ancestor of M. watsonana spread to Iranian Plateau before the formation of the Zagros Mountains. Orogenic activities of the Zagros Mountains and the formation of deserts have influenced the separation of these lineages from the Late Miocene by allopatric speciation. Generally, our findings suggest that each of the seven clades corresponding to distinct geographic regions deserves to be elevated to the species level.

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The Short-nosed Desert Racer, Mesalina brevirostris, is reported for the hamada north and northeast of Hermel, north-eastern Lebanon; the first confirmed record for this country. Older records, which may refer to Mesalina, are analysed. Data on size, pholidosis, and colour are pre- sented and discussed. The courtship ritual is described for the first time: after an introduction of 130 seconds the male bites the female’s groin. During the 75 seconds of copulation, the male em- ploys two series of tail-base motions. This repetition is unique among the lacertids. Also unique among the lacertids is the location of the bite-hold that the male maintains on the female. He grabs a piece of dorsolateral skin just above the base of her tail and can hold on for up to one hour. Five clutches per year, with 1-6 eggs (average 3.9), were produced. Fertilised eggs measured 7.0x11.7 mm and weighed 0.35 g. After 59 days at 25°C and 38 days at 29°C, juveniles of 23+38 mm and 0.35 g hatched. The young reach sexual maturity within one year. Increased agricultural use of the Lebanese habitat of M. brevirostris, the hamada, could endanger the future survival of the species in this country.

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The physical geography of Iraq is summarised. Using data from the relevant literature and current information from the Internet, a very provisional checklist of Iraqi amphibians and reptiles is presented. Ten amphibian species are reported for Iraq, and exactly 100 reptile species.

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An Egyptian pair of Mesalina olivieri from the Mediterranean coast of the northern Sinai produced at least three clutches of four eggs each within a year. The eggs measured 5.1x9.2 mm and 0.15 g (n=8) when first laid, which increased in size to 9.7x16.0 mm and 0.88 g (n=4) just prior to hatching. Hatchlings measured 20+38 mm (head-body+tail lengths) and 0.18 g (n=4). Incubation took 44-47 days at 29°C and 74 days at 25°C.

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The ultrastructure of the nuclei in the ovarian follicular cells has been examined in the lizards Acanthodacylus scutellatus hardyi, and Eremias brevirostris. During certain growth stages, the nuclei of the intermediate and the pyriform cells become large and conspicuous, and usually contain numerous morphologically variable nucleoli. The latter may be nucleolonemal, compact, ring-shaped, “filamentous”, “fine-filamentous”, “amorphous” or “course-granular” in type, and the number and type in each nucleus seems to be related to the developmental stage. The type of nucleolus may indicate different phases of activity in the nucleus and may also suggest an association with the production of different types of RNA.

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A phylogenetic-comparative approach was used to assess and refine existing secondary structure models for a frequently studied region of the mitochondrial encoded large subunit (16S) rRNA in two large lizard lineages within the Scincomorpha, namely the Scincidae and the Lacertidae. Potential pairings and mutual information were analyzed to identify site interactions present within each lineage and provide consensus secondary structures. Many of the interactions proposed by previous models were supported, but several refinements were possible. The consensus structures allowed a detailed analysis of rRNA sequence evolution. Phylogenetic trees were inferred from Bayesian analyses of all sites, and the topologies used for maximum likelihood estimation of sequence evolution parameters. Assigning gamma-distributed relative rate categories to all interacting sites that were homologous between lineages revealed substantial differences between helices. In both lineages, sites within helix G2 were mostly conserved, while those within helix E18 evolved rapidly. Clear evidence of substantial site-specific rate variation (covarion-like evolution) was also detected, although this was not strongly associated with specific helices. This study, in conjunction with comparable findings on different, higher-level taxa, supports the ubiquitous nature of site-specific rate variation in this gene and justifies the incorporation of covarion models in phylogenetic inference.

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In the present study we use an unprecedented database of 5,535 distributional records to infer the diversity, ecological preferences and spatial distribution of the 60 species of terrestrial reptiles of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and use the 57 native species to test the effectiveness of the protected areas’ network in conserving this unique vertebrate fauna. We infer a time-calibrated phylogeny with 146 species of squamates and 15 genes including all UAE terrestrial reptile species to determine the phylogenetic diversity (PD) and evolutionary distinctiveness (ED) of the native species and to compare it with the distribution of the hotspots of native species richness. The results of this study indicate that the sampling effort is remarkable, covering 75% of the country’s territory representing nearly the entire climatic space of the UAE defined by the mean annual temperature and the total annual precipitation, as well as the multivariate climatic space defined by a principal component analysis (PCA). Species richness is highest in the northeast of the country, in a transitional area from sandy desert to the mountainous terrain of the Hajar Mountains. The highest PD of a single square cell of 10 arc-minutes grid is of 2,430 million years (my) of accumulated evolutionary history and the strong correlation between PD and species richness suggests that the raw number of species is a good surrogate to quantify the evolutionary history (i.e., PD). The species with the highest values of ED are those in families represented by only one species in the UAE. Finally, the assessment of the UAE protected areas shows that, despite their relevance in protecting the terrestrial reptiles, they do not offer adequate protection for some threatened species. Therefore, a reassessment of some of the protected areas or the creation of species specific conservation action plans are recommended in order to ensure the preservation of the unique diversity of UAE terrestrial reptiles.

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By means of both classical and geometric morphometric protocols, the authors analyzed sexual dimorphism and allometry of the head of the lacertid Mesalina balfouri (BLANFORD, 1881), endemic to the Archipelago of Socotra. As a result, males presented an isometrically bigger hean in comparison to females, whereas sexual dimorphism was non-existent in body size and head shape. In addition, a clear ontogenetic change of the head shape emerged. Possible explanations of the observed transformations are discussed.

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In the present work, we use an exceptional database including 5,359 records of 101 species of Oman’s terrestrial reptiles together with spatial tools to infer the spatial patterns of species richness and endemicity, to infer the habitat preference of each species and to better define conservation priorities, with especial focus on the effectiveness of the protected areas in preserving this unique arid fauna. Our results indicate that the sampling effort is not only remarkable from a taxonomic point of view, with multiple observations for most species, but also for the spatial coverage achieved. The observations are distributed almost continuously across the two-dimensional climatic space of Oman defined by the mean annual tempera- ture and the total annual precipitation and across the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the multivariate climatic space and are well represented within 17 out of the 20 climatic clusters grouping 10% of the explained climatic variance defined by PC1 and PC2. Species richness is highest in the Hajar and Dhofar Mountains, two of the most biodiverse areas of the Arabian Peninsula, and endemic species richness is greatest in the Jebel Akhdar, the highest part of the Hajar Mountains. Oman’s 22 protected areas cover only 3.91% of the country, including within their limits 63.37% of terrestrial reptiles and 50% of all endemics. Our analy- ses show that large areas of the climatic space of Oman lie outside protected areas and that seven of the 20 climatic clusters are not protected at all. The results of the gap analysis indi- cate that most of the species are below the conservation target of 17% or even the less restrictive 12% of their total area within a protected area in order to be considered adequately protected. Therefore, an evaluation of the coverage of the current network of protected areas and the identification of priority protected areas for reptiles using reserve design algorithms are urgently needed. Our study also shows that more than half of the species are still pending of a definitive evaluation by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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We discuss three aspects of the thermal biology of lacertid lizards. First, we provide an overview of the available data on field body temperatures (Tb), the thermal sensitivity of various performance functions and selected body temperatures in different species of lacertid lizards. We also briefly summarise information on the mechanisms of thermoregulation. Second, we discuss recent developments to estimate the »precision« of thermoregulation, and the contribution of distinct behavioural mechanisms. Finally, we revise available evidence for the existence of evolutionary adjustments of thermal characteristics in lacertid lizards. Existing studies have mainly dealt with within- and among-species differences in thermoregulatory behaviour (selected temperatures) and thermal physiology of adults (optimal temperatures, heating rates). Available data provide only limited evidence for clear-cut evolutionary shifts in thermal physiology characteristics along climatic gradients.

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An analysis of geographic distribution areas of the 41 taxa of Reptiles sampled or observed in the Aures massif is provided at two levels. At the overall level, eight groups of biogeographic affinities have been set apart; the number of mediterranean species (49 %) about equals that of saharian ones (46 %). 95 % of the total number of Reptiles species are of palearctic origin. At the regional level, we have distinguished three distribution types: (1) insular areas, isolated from populations of the neighbouring regions, with a continuous or a fragmented pattern in the Aurcs massif ; (2) parapatric areas with juxtaposed or overlapped ecological habitat ranges; (3) sympatric areas of allotopic or syntopic species. Hypothesis about origin and settlement of the Aures herpetofauna are infered.

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We have updated the list of the lizard species present in Qatar and produced the first distribution maps based on two field surveys in 2012 and 2013. We used the QND95/Qatar National Grid with a grid of 10 × 10 km squares for mapping. Our results show the occurrence of 21 lizard species in Qatar, from the 15 species indicated in the last biodiversity report conducted in 2004. The most abundant family found in Qatar is Gekkonidae with nine species (Bunopus tuberculatus, Cyrtopodion scabrum, Hemidactylus robustus, H. flaviviridis, H. persicus, Stenodactylus arabicus, S. slevini, S. doriae, Pseudoceramodactylus khobarensis), followed by Lacertidae with four species (Acanthodactylus schmidti, A. opheodurus, Mesalina brevirostris, M. adramitana), Agamidae with three species (Trapelus flavimaculatus, Uromastyx aegyptia, Phrynocephalus arabicus), Scincidae with two species (Scincus mitranus, Trachylepis septemtaeniata), and Varanidae (Varanus griseus), Sphaerodactylidae (Pristurus rupestris) and Trogonophiidae (Diplometopon zarudnyi) with one species each. The species richness fluctuated largely across Qatar between one and eleven species per grid square. We believe that the lizard fauna records in Qatar are still incomplete and that additional studies are required. However, our study here fills a gap concerning lizard biodiversity knowledge in the Gulf Region.

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We report, for the first time, evidence of predation by a shrike (Lanius sp.) on the lizard Mesalina adramitana. This is the first record of predation by shrikes on lizards in Qatar. Whilst we did not directly observe the event, the presence of shrikes in the area and the method of impalement indicate shrikes as the predator. The lizard was found freshly impaled on a palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera), at 150 cm above ground. Bird species of the genus Lanius are well-known predators of lizards, and in arid environments reptiles are likely common prey for these birds. We provide a review of literature concerning predatory events by shrikes on reptiles and amphibians. We suggest inspection of shrubs for animals impaled by shrikes can improve biodiversity inventories, complementing other commonly used methods.

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Studies on the herpetofauna of Tunisia’s numerous islands and islets began in 2000 thanks to targeted research programs. The data collected were compared and merged with others reported in the literature, thus obtaining an updated and detailed checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles present on the Tunisian islands.

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La présente étude vient apporter les premières données faunistiques et écologiques sur les amphibiens et reptiles en Kabylie de la Soummam, région dont, à notre connaissance, aucune étude n’a été consacrée à ce sujet auparavant. Le travail de terrain s’est étalé du début avril à fin juin 2006, en suivant un protocole d’échantillonnage par stations au niveau des principales zones humides de la région (cours d’eau permanents et mares temporaires) ainsi que de quelques milieux terrestres. Un total de 6 espèces d’amphibiens et 17 espèces de reptiles a été identifié dans la région. Les données recueillies sur le peuplement herpétologique et le milieu ont fait l’objet d’une discussion autour des aspects faunistiques, biogéographiques et écologiques de l’herpétofaune de la zone étudiée et dégager quelques pistes de recherche à développer dans l’avenir.

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During herpetological fieldwork from April 2013 to March 2014 on the herpetofauna of the counties of Saravan, Sib and Suran, Zaboli, Sarbaz, and Chabahar in south east of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Southeastern Iran a total of 97 specimens of lizards belonging to 19 species and five subspecies, 16 genera, and six families were collected and identified as follows: Calotes versicolor, Laudakia nupta nupta, L. n. fusca, Phrynocephalus scutellatus, Trapelus agilis agilis (Agamidae); Agamura persica, Bunopus tuberculatus, Cyrtopodion scabrum (Gekkonidae); Acanthodactylus blanfordii, A. micropholis, Eremias fasciata, E. persica , Mesalina watsonana, Ophisops elegans (Lacertidae); Ablepharus grayanus, Eumeces schneiderii zarudnyi, Ophiomorus brevipes, O. tridactylus (Scincidae); Uromastyx asmussi (Uromastycidae); and Varanus griseus caspius (Varanidae). The most diverse families of the present collection are the Lacertidae with six species, followed by Agamidae and Scincidae each with four species. Detailed information of each lizard species was also provided.

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The reptile and mammals fauna of North-East of Iran were investigated and the contraction and fragmentation of some species due to climatic changes and human activities were analyzed. The sampling was carried out in selected stations throughout the Great Khorsan. The results showed that there are approximately 71 reptiles (including 39 species of lizards, 32 snakes and one turtle) and 83 species of mammals. The exact number of vulnerable and threatened reptile and mammal species in Khorasan provinces is not clear, but there are at least 33 reptiles and 10 mammals categorized as threatened species. The distribution and population size of some species has greatly changed during recent years, most probably as a result of recent global warming, i. e. temperature rise, decrease of precipitation, drought and human harmful activities. The human activity in this region, especially urbanization, agricultural activities and cutting of shrubs has caused fragmentation and serious decline of population size in some species and even elimination of some local endemic population of relict species. The conservation of mammals and reptiles in the North-East of Iran demands organized collaborations including education of native people for protection of valuable vertebrate faunae of the area.

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Comparative analyses were carried out about the variability of the pileal shields of different species belonging to the family Lacertidae. The results of the comparisons have been evaluated in respect to the phylogenetical relationships existing between the different genera and species of the family.

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Zoogeographically, the Jordanian herpetofauna is heterogeneous, originating from four biogeographical regions (Oriental, Palearctic, Saharo-Sindian, and Afrotropical) and occupying four different ecozones. Ninetythree species and subspecies of amphibians and reptiles are recorded from Jordan, showing different distribution patterns. The Mediterranean ecozone harbours the highest number (35) of recorded species, followed by the Sudanian Tropical penetration zone (16), and the Badyiah ecozone (12), respectively. Jordan is not separated by natural boundaries from the surrounding countries, which prevents the operation of isolation mechanisms, and seems to result in the absence of endemism. There are, however, three areas of endemism within the Eastern Mediterranean region taken as one whole unit: the Badyiah shared by Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, the northern part of the Mediterranean ecozone shared by Lebanon, Israel, Syria and Jordan, and southwest Jordan, Israel and Sinai. Some Palearctic species such as Coluber schmidti and C. ravergieri are relicts of the postglacial period and continue to survive in refugal enclaves with delicate ecological patterns. The distribution of some species, such as Bufo viridis, Mauremys caspica rivulata, Natrix tessellata, Coluber ventromaculatus, C. jugularis asianus, Walterinnesia aegyptia, and Vipera palaestinae, has been greatly influenced by climatic as well as anthropogenic changes.

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The lizard fauna of Jordan is very diverse and forms 55.5% of the terrestrial herpetofauna of the country. Lizard species of Arabian origin form the highest percentage (43%) of the lizards, followed by Saharo-Sindian (35%), Palaearctic (20%) and only 2% with Afrotropical affinities. 69.1% of the lizard species inhabit two ecozones: Badia (Eastern Desert); and Wadi Araba and Wadi Rum. The Badia may form the focal point for the evolution of certain Acanthodactylus species. Jordan forms the southernmost limit of the distribution of some Palaearctic species (i.e. Lacerta media, L. laevis, Pseudopus apodus) and they inhabit the Mediterranean ecozone. The presence of diverse habitats in Jordan allowed certain allopatric congeneric species of the genus Ptyodactylus to live in isolation from one another. Southern Jordan and Wadi Rum are part of the Levantine land bridge and act as a “biogeographical filter”. Most of the species found in Wadi Rum are of Arabian affinities and their distribution does not extend towards the west.

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As Petra is increasingly becoming a major tourism destination in Jordan, this underlies not only challenges to conserve the habitats and species in Petra but also offers great opportunities to promote academic research and investigation, demonstrate sustainable development and initiation of environmentally sound development and nature based tourism. This investigation is based on both desktop studies and field missions. The desktop part is relied on reviewing various studies and reports that highlighting natural resources in the area. Two field missions were conducted aiming to document various information from related authorities and institutions operating in Petra and also to undertake ground truthing of habitats and species information. The missions also included interviews with Park staff, representatives from ongoing projects and initiatives in Petra (Seyaha-USAID) and many locals belonging to various tribes in Wadi Musa and The Bdul. The study presents a synthesis to findings from these studies and visits. Broadly, the park can be zoned into three mega zones: 1) Wadi Arabah and the steep gorges to the west including the Artemisia and annual grasses steppe to the west, 2) Mountainous ridges and rocky slopes of the Mediterranean region located almost centrally in the park and at the southern limit and part of the eastern borders and 3) Central basin and steep limestone scarps and weathered sandstone. Based on lists of key and indicator species, some key/sensitive sites of conservation value have been suggested. Aspects of grazing, agricultural activities, tourism and water resources and their implications on management schemes have been discussed.

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Zoogeographically, the Syrian herpetofauna is heterogeneous, originating from four biogeographical regions (Oriental, Palearctic, Saharo-Sindian and Afrotropical) and is characterized by the presence of five ecozones. 50% of the terrestrial herpetofaunal species are of palaearetic affinity while 32.3%, 14.6% and 3.1% are of Saharo-Sindian, Arabian and Afrotropical affinities, respectively. Five records of reptiles are new to the Syrian fauna: Emys orbicularis, Acanthodactylus opheodurus, Acanthodactylus schreiben syriacus, Pseudotrapelus sinaitus, Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis, and Lepto- typhlops macrorhynchus; Coluber rogersi is reported for the second time. An updated list of the herpetofauna of Syria is given.

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A total of 45 lizards (Acanthodactylus harranensis [n = 15], Acanthodacthylus schreiberi [n = 9] and Mesalina brevirostris [n = 21]) were collected from South and Southeastern Regions of Turkey and examined for helminth fauna. Acanthodactylus harranensis harbored 1 species of Nematoda (Skrjabinodon sp.), 1 species of Cestoda (Oochoristica tuberculata) and 1 species of Acanthocephala (Centrorhynchus sp. [cystacanth]). Acanthodactylus schreiberi harbored unidentified cysticercoids. Mesalina brevirostris harbored 1 species of Nematoda (Spauligodon saxicolae). All lizards represents new host records for the helminths reported in this study.

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We have studied the terrestrial reptile fauna of the northwest Yazd province (Iran) and present here some of the characters that we examined for common species in the region. In total, 50 specimens from eight families (six lizard families and two snake families) were collected from the region. The collected lizards belonging to 13 species were Laudakia nupta, Phrynocephalus maculatus, Phrynocephalus scutellatus, and Trapelus agilis (Agamidae); Agamura persica and Bunopus crassicaudus (Gekkonidae), Teratoscincus bedriagai (Sphaerodactylidae); Eremias fasciata, Eremias persica, Mesalina watsonana, and Ophisops elegans (Lacertidae); Varanus griseus (Varanidae), and finally Uromastix asmussi belonging to the Uromastycidae. The two species of snakes were Spalerosophis diadema schiraziana (Colubridae) and Psammophis schokari (Lamprophiidae). Based on these results, Agamidae and Lacertidae are the families with highest number of genera and the genera Eremias and Phrynocephalus had the most species. Among the collected lizards, Trapelus agilis, Mesalina watsonana, and Bunopus crassicaudus were the most abundant species in the northwest Yazd province.

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Reptiles are a successful group in subtropical arid regions. However, little is known about the drivers that influence the diversity of arid reptile communities. One approach is to investigate the variation in phylogenetic structure of the communities along a broad environmental gradient. In this study, I investigated these patterns in the communities of lacertids at the periphery of the Sahara Desert in Tunisia. The effect of the environment was assessed based on a set of variables describing the climate, topography, substrate and cover of perennial vegetation. The phylogenetic alpha diversity was described using the mean pairwise distance (MPD) and the mean nearest taxon distance (NTD) metrics. The analyses showed that the lacertid species could be clustered into three main ecological groups: mesic (Podarcis vaucheri, Psammodromus algirus, Psammodromus blanci, Timon pater), xeric (Acanthodactylus blanci, Acanthodactylus boskianus, Acanthodactylus maculatus, Mesalina olivieri, Ophisops occidentalis), and hyperxeric (Acanthodactylus dumerilii, Acanthodactylus longipes, Acanthodactylus scutellatus, Mesalina guttulata). The analyses also indicated that environment had a weak influence on species richness (15.7% of explained variance), but a strong effect on the phylogenetic (76.5% NTD, 89.5% MPD) structure. The lacertid communities tended to be phylogenetically clustered on sandy substrates under arid climate conditions, and overdispersed under more humid climatic conditions.

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Fezzan province (Libya) is a segment of true Sahara, is characterized by diverse habitats that are utilized as shelters and feeding ground for many desert wildlife species. Oases with water table near the surface are the most prominent feature in the Libyan desert. The diversity in habitats resulted in diversity in wildlife, as well as the plant cover (trees and bushes) is the most effective factor for the existence and the abundance of wild animals, in particular bird species. This study observed many species of reptiles, birds and mammals. In the study is also reported the rock hyrax Procavia capensis Pallas, 1766 (Hyracoidea Procaviidae) a rare and endemic species at the area.

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Western Iran in general and Ilam province in particular, has unique geographical and climatic conditions that support a rich flora and fauna. In view of the lack of in-depth studies of lizards of the region, an investigation was initiated in most areas of Ilam Province for an inventory of lizard species and their habitats. A total of 189 specimens were collected and identified from May 2005 to August 2009. Twenty one species belonging to 18 genera and 8 families were represented, including Agamidae: Laudakia nupta, Trapelus lessonae (formerly T. ruderatus), Trapelus ruderatus (formerly T. persicus); Eublepharidae: Eublepharis angramainyu; Gekkonidae: Bunopus tuberculatus, Cyrtopodion scabrum, Cyrtopodion heterocercum, Hemidactylus persicus, Stenodactylus affinis, Tropiocolotes helenae; Lacertidae: Acanthodactylus boskianus, Apathya cappadocica, Mesalina brevirostris, Ophisops elegans; Phyllodactylidae: Asaccus elisae; Scincidae: Ablepharus pannonicus, Eumeces schneiderii, Trachylepis aurata, Trachylepis vittata; Uromastycidae: Uromastyx loricatus; Varanidae: Varanus griseus griseus, Varanus griseus caspius. Comparing this list to the data provided by Anderson (1999), several lizards are reported for the first time in this region. With six species represented, gekkonids have the highest species diversity in the area.

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The analysis of biogeographical structure and patterns of endemism are central topics of biogeography, but require exhaustive distribution data. A lack of accurate broad-scale information on the distribution of reptiles has so far limited the analyses of biogeographical structure. Here we analysed the distribution of reptiles within the broad-sense Western Palearctic to assess biogeographical regionalization using phylogenetic and non-phylogenetic approaches, identified areas of endemism and evaluated the environmental factors pro- moting community uniqueness and endemism. We gathered distributional records from the literature and from the field, mapping the distribution of all the Western Palearctic reptiles on a 1-degree resolution grid. bsim dissimilarity and hierarchical clustering was used to identify bioregions, analysing data both at the species and at the genus level, and considering phylogenetic dissimilarity. Consensus areas of endemism were identified on the basis of the optimality criterion. We then assessed whether biogeographical structure is related to present-day climate, insularity, orography and velocity of climate change during the Late Qua- ternary. The genus-level analysis identified five main biogeographical regions within the Western Palearctic, in partial agreement with previous proposals, while the species-level analysis identified more bioregions, largely by dividing the ones identified by genera. Phylogenetic bioregions were generally consistent with the non- phylogenetic ones. The strongest community uniqueness was observed in subtropical warm climates with seasonal precipitation and low productivity. We found nine consensus areas of endemism, mostly in regions with limited velocity of Quaternary climate change and warm subtropical climates. The biogeographical structure of Western Palearctic reptiles is comparable to what has been observed in other vertebrates, with a clear distinction between the Saharo-Arabian-Sindian and Euro-Mediterranean herpetofaunas. Unlike other vertebrates, in reptiles the highest uniqueness and endemism is observed in dry climates, but the velocity of climate change during the Quaternary remains a major driver of endemism across all the vertebrates.

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A phylogeny of the family Lacertidae was derived from DNA sequences of six mitochondrial genes. Only a few nodes were confidently resolved using maximum parsimony, although the data yielded a total of 1664 phylogenetically informative characters. The lacertids grouped into two subfamilies, the Gallotiinae which includes genera Gallotia and Psammodromus, and the Lacertinae which includes the remaining lacertids. The Lacertinae split into two additional groups. The African group included all African and Arabian lacertids and two Eurasian genera, Eremias and Ophisops; the remaining Eurasian lacertids were included in the Eurasian group. Most of the relationships within the African and Eurasian groups cannot be confidently resolved. A permutation tail probability test suggested that there is very little character covariance in the data to support these unresolved relationships. A recent explosive speciation hypothesis was invoked to explain the lack of structure of the data. The common ancestor of the Eurasian group, as well as the ancestor of the African group, experienced simultaneous, or almost simultaneous, multiple speciation events, which left none or very few characters fixed on the internodes. The phylogenetic reconstruction at the family level will be very difficult, if not impossible. Future phylogenetic research should focus on lower levels.

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Climatic conditions changing over time and space shape the evolution of organisms at multiple levels, including temperate lizards in the family Lacertidae. Here we reconstruct a dated phylogenetic tree of 262 lacertid species based on a supermatrix relying on novel phylogenomic datasets and fossil calibrations. Diversification of lacertids was accompanied by an increasing disparity among occupied bioclimatic niches, especially in the last 10 Ma, during a period of progressive global cooling. Temperate species also underwent a genome- wide slowdown in molecular substitution rates compared to tropical and desert-adapted lacertids. Evaporative water loss and preferred temperature are correlated with bioclimatic parameters, indicating physiological adaptations to climate. Tropical, but also some popu- lations of cool-adapted species experience maximum temperatures close to their preferred temperatures. We hypothesize these species-specific physiological preferences may con- stitute a handicap to prevail under rapid global warming, and contribute to explaining local lizard extinctions in cool and humid climates.

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The terrestrial reptiles oft he UAE the lizards, snakes and a single species of amphisbaenian or worm lizard. There are no extant native crocodiles, tortoises or freshwater terrapins. Lizards, snakes and amphisbaenians are all classified under the reptilian order Squamata, in the suborders Sauria, Serpentes and Amphisbaenia respectively. Characterised by their dry, scaly skin, which protects them from drying out, and by their reliance on external heat sources to maintain their body temperatures, reptiles are well-suited to hot and arid areas. In Arabia, reptiles are a major component of the desert and mountain ecosystems and a total of at least 54 species of terrestrial reptile are found in the UAE. So far, a comprehensive handbook covering all of the UAE reptiles in detail is not available. The Handbook to Middle East Amphibians and Reptiles (Leviton et al. 1992) does not cover the species of the mountains or Northern Emirates and gives little information on natural history. Useful general sources of information are Wild about Reptiles (Jongbloed 2000) and Terrestrial Reptiles of Abu Dhabi (Baha El Din 1986).

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From the 26th of April until the 3rd of May I had a herpetological trip to Oman together with Javier Aznar, Javier Gallego and Gabriel Martinez. During these eight days we were able to find and photograph 48 reptile- and 2 amphibian species. The trip started in Maskat and took us by Al-Qabil, Thumrait to Salalah and back by Al-Qabil, Nizwa, Ibri, Barka to Maskat. The course of this journey is presented in chronological order.

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Une comparaison de l`herpétofaune du Maroc et de la Jordanie est esquissée. Ces deux pays ont été choisis parce qu`ils se situent aux extrémités ouest et est de la Méditerranée, et que j`ai eu l`opportunité d`y séjourner plusieurs fois. Bien que distants de 3 700 km l`un de l`autre, ces deux pays présentent de nombreuses affinités dans la composition de leurs herpétofaunes respectives. Ceci est dû entre autres à des configurations géographiques en partie comparables. En revanche, l`isolation des plaines de l`ouest Marocain par les chaînes de l`Atlas et l`influence océanique très marquée ont favorisé la persistance d`espèces relictuelles endémiques et la différentiation d`espèces distinctes de part et d`autre de l`axe atlasique, alors que la Jordanie ne comporte aucune espèce endémique à ce seul pays. Enfin, le Maroc est presque huit fois plus étendu que la Jordanie, ce qui n`est pas négligeable quand on s`intéresse à la richesse spécifique d`un pays. En effet, le Maroc compte au moins 119 espèces d`amphibiens et de reptiles et la Jordanie, 100 espèces. Dans l`état actuel des connaissances taxonomiques, 13 espèces sont encore considérées comme les mêmes au Maroc et en Jordanie, presque toutes cependant représentées par des sous-espèces bien différenciées et/ou par des lignées très divergentes. Trente-deux genres sont communs aux deux pays, dont beaucoup sont des taxons des régions arides et désertiques, zones toutes plus ou moins reliées entre elles et non séparées par des barrières géographiques très anciennes. Vingt-sept genres présents au Maroc sont inconnus en Jordanie et 24 genres présents en Jordanie sont inconnus au Maroc. Contrairement aux similitudes des deux herpétofaunes, les différences sont surtout marquées chez les espèces méditerranéennes, auxquelles se joignent quelques éléments afro-tropicaux absents de Jordanie. Plusieurs exemples de couples d`espèces Maroc / Jordanie ont été commentés sur la base de photos originales prises dans les deux pays. Le genre Mesalina a fait l`objet d`une attention particulière, avec la mise en évidence de deux espèces supplémentaires pour la Jordanie: Mesalina bahaeldini et M. microlepis.

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The list of the amphibians and reptiles of Western Sahara includes 46 species (4 amphibians and 42 reptiles), while 13 further species unknown in this area could conceivably be discovered there. Among the important facts, we exclude Tarentola boehmei from the fauna of Western Sahara, and report on the effect of the Jbel Ouarkziz which acts as a biogeographical boundary, separating the herpetofaunal elements from Morocco (north of the Jbel Ouarkziz) and from Western Sahara. The herpetofauna of Western Sahara is composed as follows: 10 species can be considered as being of Mediterranean affinities, 2 as North Saharan, 19 as purely Saharan, 7 as being of Sahelian affinities, 4 are tropical relicts and 4 are limited to the oceanic fringe of the Sahara and can be considered as `continental Macaronesian endemics`. This confirms that the herpetofauna of Western Sahara is mainly of Saharan origin but that this area is, in spite of its apparently uniform landscape, a biogeographical cross-roads for Amphibians and Reptiles. This can be related to the wide latitudinal amplitude of Western Sahara and by the climate contrast between the oceanic fringe, comparatively humid and temperate, and the remaining of the country, subject to a dry Saharan climate with strongly contrasted temperature.

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A total of 302 specimens of amphibians and reptiles were sampled from Al-Arish town and four stations around it during 12 months period of study from January to December, 1988. 21 Species belonging to 11 famillies were occurred in the area comprising; one toad: Bufo viridis., 2 marine turtles; Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas and other 18 terrestrial reptilian species. Acanthodactylus scutellatus was the most dominant cursorial species found in all sand dunes of the mean area in all the year seasons constituting about 30% of the total capture. Mabuya vittata was firstly recorded in Sinai. Six reptilian species were appended to the fauna of Al-Arish area, they are Agama stellio vulgaris, Ptyodactylus hasselquistii guttatus; Lytorhynchus diadema; Psammophìs schokari; Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas. The highest catch number of individuals occurred in station 1 (82 specimens) while the lowest number was in station 5 (15 specimens). Seasonal distribution indicated that the highest catch number occurred during spring (87 specimens) while the lowest crop occurredin winter (47 specimens).

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Mesalina guttulata follows a seasonal reproductive cycle in Israel which commences in autumn and concludes in spring. Mean clutch size (n = 16) was 4.2±1.3 SD, range 1-6. One is a new minimum clutch size for this species. Males and females of M. guttulata reach maturity at 36 mm and 43 mm snout vent length, respectively. Mature females were larger than males. There was no suggestion that females produce multiple clutches. The correlation between female body size and clutch size was not significant.

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Se aportan los resultados herpetológicos de una expedición científica realizada en abril-mayo de 2012 al sur de Niger, una remota zona que incluye la Reserva Natural de Termit & Tin Toumma. Se observaron 27 especies de reptiles y tres de anfibios. Debido al elevado des- conocimiento herpetológico de la región, muchas de las nuevas citas aumentan o cubren gran- des vacios en la distribución de las especies halladas.

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Plusieurs séjours au Maroc entre 1974 et 1978 effectués soit dans le cadre de la RCP 249 du C.N.R.S. soit à l`occasion de voyages touristiques ont permis de rassembler des informations complémentaires sur l`herpétofaune marocaine. Captures, observations de spécimens écrasés sur les routes, mues et déterminations visuelles ont permis d`établir le texte qui suit. Il nous a paru intéressant de rassembler les observations ainsi obtenues avant leur Intégration dans un atlas des Reptiles du Maroc qui devrait voir le jour sous peu. Le découpage régional qui a été retenu est celui qui a été proposé par J. BONS (1967). Les observations les plus originales sont marquées d`un astérisque (*) et certaines sont commentées dans la conclusion.

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n this study the Check list lizards of Iraq were investigated. by reviewing the old and new data as well as carrying out field work and study of material in the Natural history Museum of Iraq as well as many departments and colleges in various universities, are discussed.Further, various relevant websites in the Internet specialized lizards. I found in this study 7 families, 27 genera and 50 species distribution in the different parts of Iraq. During this study I found Asaccus saffinae (Afrasiab & Mohamad, 2009) the first time in SheraSwar Cave in the Saffine Mountain near Erbil, Kurdistan and the first record new species in Iraq and found Ptyodactylus puiseuxi (Boutan, 1893) the first time in same area . Also found Carinatogecko heteropholis(Minton, S. Anderson, and J. A. Anderson, 1970) Which is one of the endemic species in western Iran in the Erbil western Zagros foothills in Erbil. Trapelus ruderatus (Olivier, 1804) found in the central of Iraq. Cyrtopodion scaber (Heyden, 1827) Previously found in southern Iraq But recently also recorded in the center and northern Iraq. Varanus nesterovi (Bohme, Ehrlich, Milto, Orlov & Scholz, 2015) new species in the northern of Iraq. Lacerta media (Lantz & Cyren, 1758) found newly in central and northern of Iraq and Timon kurdistanicus, Apathya cappadocica (Werner, 1902) (Suchow, 1936) northern of Iraq. I note the two families were finding Previously in Iraq and they did not record any new genus and species in Iraq.

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In recent years there has been an exponential increase in the amount of published DNA sequences, as it has become one of the most popular sources of data for reconstructing phylogenies. A number of studies have attempted to resolve the relationships of groups of lacertids using mitochondrial DNA sequence data, in particular Podarcis and Gallotia (e.g. THORPE et al., 1994; 1996; GONZALEZ et al., 1996; FU et al., 1997; HARRIS, 1997; HARRIS et al., 1998a; 1999; CASTILLA et al., 1999a,b). Reassessment of these data suggest some alternative phylogenies to those previously published, and also highlight possible problems. Two studies have attempted to unravel the phylogeny of the whole family using mitochondrial DNA sequences (FU, 1998; HARRIS et al., 1998b). By combining these essentially congruent data sets, and reanalysing levels of support for the phylogenies produced, a more complete estimate of relationships across the family is produced. This is then compared to alternative sources of evidence, primarily morphological (ARNOLD, 1989), biochemical (MAYER & BENYR, 1994) and karyological (OLMO et al., 1993). Reasons for discrepencies are discussed, as are the relative advantages and disadvantages of the different sources of phylogenetic inference.

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Additional data on the distribution of terrestrial herpetofauna from Morocco are pre- sented, based on fieldwork carried out in March and May 2008. Thirty-eight species were recorded from 78 localities. Some of these represent considerable range extensions for the species, indicating that more prospection is needed to complement the existing knowledge of herpetofauna from this country.

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DNA sequences from parts of the 12S, 16S and cytochrome b mitochondrial genes, which totalled 1049 aligned base pairs, were used to estimate the relationships of 49 species of Lacertidae, including representatives of 19 out of the 23 recognized genera and 23 species of the paraphyletic genus Lacerta. These data were used, together with morphological information, to estimate the relationships within the family. Molecular evidence corroborates the monophyletic status of many genera and species groups originally based on morphology. It indicates that Psammodromus forms a clade with Gallotia, which is the sister taxon of all other lacertids. These comprise three units: the primarily Afrotropical armatured group; the largely Oriental Takydromus; and the west Palaearctic Lacerta and its derivatives, Podarcis and Algyroides. Morphology also supports the first three assemblages, but suggests that they are derived from a paraphyletic Lacerta. Within Lacerta and its allies, DNA sequence analysis corroborates the affinity of some members of each of the subgenera Lacerta s. str. and Timon, and of the L. saxicola group. It also supports the relationship of L. monticola, L. bonnali and L. horvathi, and suggests that the L. parva–L. fraasi clade and L. brandti are not related to Psammodromus–Gallotia, as morphology indicates, but instead are associated respectively with the L. danfordi and L. saxicola groups. DNA sequence data provide additional evidence that the eastern Arabian `Lacerta` jayakari and `L.` cyanura are members of the armatured clade and also sister species. Our analysis supports an origin for present lacertids in west Eurasia. The armatured clade invaded Africa, probably in the mid-Miocene, spreading widely and evolving increasingly xeric-adapted forms, one lineage of which later moved back into the Palaearctic. `Lacerta` jayakari and `L.` cyanura are assigned to Omanosaura, Lutz and Mayer 1986. The name Gallotiinae Cano, Baez, Lopez-Jurado and Ortega, 1984 is available for the Gallotia–Psammodromus clade, Eremiainae Shcherbak 1975 for the armatured clade and Lacertinae for Lacerta, Podarcis and Algyroides. Two new subgenera of Lacerta are proposed here: Caucasilacerta for L. saxicola and its allies, and Parvilacerta for L. parva and L. fraasi.

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A survey of the herpetofuna was conducted as part of a general biota survey of the Sudan. Sudan, with its vast territory, diverse climate, ecosystems, and habitats, is expected to have large variation in herpetofuna. In the current study investigation of lizards and geckos diversity has been conducted. During the current survey fourteen species were encountered including one species not previously documented. Family Agamidaeis represented by three species Agama spinosa, Uromastyxocellataand Pseudotrapelussinaitus. Eight speciesfrom the family Gekkonidae were recorded, these includedTropiocolotes steudneri, Ptyodactylus sp, Tarentola annularis, Stenodactylus sthenodactylus, Hemidactylus sp, Hemidactylus robustus, Ptyodactylus ragazzii and Cyrtopodion scabrum. The family Lacertidae is represented by two species,Acanthodactylus boskianus and a new record in Sudan of Mesalina guttulata. Family Scincidae is represented by two species Trachylepis quinquetaeniata and Chalcides ocellatushumilis.

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We report observations on the natural history of lizards in the Gando Protected Area, within the Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran. The identity of the lizards is recorded, along with remarks on some meristic characteristics. Brief descriptions of their habitats are also given with a distribution map. Lizards (n = 132) were collected and photographed in 2008-09. Twelve species belonging to 9 genera and five families were found: Agamidae: Laudakia melanura lirata, Trapelus agilis, Laudakia fusca; Gekkonidae: Bunopus tuberculatus, Cyrtopodion scabrum, Hemidactylus persicus, Hemidactylus flaviviridis; Lacertidae: Mesalina brevirostris, Mesalina watsonana, Acanthodactylus blanfordi; Scincidae: Eumeces schneiderii zarudnyi; Varanidae: Varanus griseus caspius. This is the first record of Mesalina brevirostris in southeastern Iran.

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The evolutionary diversification of many terrestrial vertebrate groups is strongly linked to climatic events in the Cenozoic, the period from 65 Million years ago to today when modern animals first appeared. I investigated the effects of Cenozoic climate change on the taxonomic and morphological diversification of the Old World lizard family Lacertidae, with particular emphasis on the African radiation. African lacertids exhibit an unusual pattern of diversification, in which their highest species richness occurs in deserts north and south of the equator, despite being spread throughout the continent. This disparity is particularly surprising given that desert lacertids are thought to be evolutionarily younger than their mesic-dwelling relatives, suggesting increased diversification rates in arid habitats. To identify the evolutionary factors underlying this pattern, I use a combination of phylogenetic, morphological and ecological techniques. In Chapter 1, I apply Bayesian methods and fossil-based calibrations to molecular sequence data to construct a time-calibrated phylogeny for Lacertidae. I estimate that the family arose in the early Cenozoic, with the majority of their African radiation occurring in the Eocene and Oligocene. In Chapter 2, I describe changes in lacertid body shape across biomes and substrates, and find widespread morphological convergence in similar habitat types. I suggest that in addition to foraging demands, fluctuating and extreme climatic conditions, largely driven by precipitation and temperature, contribute to morphological convergence across independent arid-dwelling clades. Finally, I test if ancestral transitions in ecology, morphology, and rates of diversification temporally coincide with paleoclimatic events in the Cenozoic. I use High Resolution X-ray Computed Tomography to characterize changes in the skull related to life in arid habitats, and apply maximum likelihood methods to test if the origins of those traits temporally coincide with significant shifts in habitat, diversification rates and climatic changes. My results show that African lacertids experienced three major peaks in diversification, accompanied by the evolution of suites of arid-adapted morphological traits. These changes coincide with climatic shifts in Africa, including the transition from closed forests to open grasslands and savanna in the late Oligocene, prior to the peak temperatures of the mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum, and following the formation of the Benguela current leading to hyper-aridity in southern Africa. I conclude that deserts are important centers for reptile evolution, but that expected changes in climate due to global warming may outpace the ability of arid-dwelling species to adapt and persist in the future.

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Background: Although current molecular clock methods offer greater flexibility in modelling evolutionary events, calibration of the clock with dates from the fossil record is still problematic for many groups. Here we implement several new approaches in molecular dating to estimate the evolutionary ages of Lacertidae, an Old World family of lizards with a poor fossil record and uncertain phylogeny. Four different models of rate variation are tested in a new program for Bayesian phylogenetic analysis called TreeTime, based on a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences. We incorporate paleontological uncertainty into divergence estimates by expressing multiple calibration dates as a range of probabilistic distributions. We also test the reliability of our proposed calibrations by exploring effects of individual priors on posterior estimates. Results: According to the most reliable model, as indicated by Bayes factor comparison, modern lacertids arose shortly after the K/T transition and entered Africa about 45 million years ago, with the majority of their African radiation occurring in the Eocene and Oligocene. Our findings indicate much earlier origins for these clades than previously reported, and we discuss our results in light of paleogeographic trends during the Cenozoic. Conclusion: This study represents the first attempt to estimate evolutionary ages of a specific group of reptiles exhibiting uncertain phylogenetic relationships, molecular rate variation and a poor fossil record. Our results emphasize the sensitivity of molecular divergence dates to fossil calibrations, and support the use of combined molecular data sets and multiple, well-spaced dates from the fossil record as minimum node constraints. The bioinformatics program used here, TreeTime, is publicly available, and we recommend its use for molecular dating of taxa faced with similar challenges.

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While global variation in taxonomic diversity is strongly linked to latitude, the extent to which morphological disparity follows geographical gradients is less well known. We estimated patterns of lineage diversification, morphological disparity and rates of phenotypic evolution in the Old World lizard family Lacertidae, which displays a nearly inverse latitudinal diversity gradient with decreasing species richness towards the tropics. We found that lacertids exhibit relatively constant rates of lineage accumulation over time, although the majority of morphological variation appears to have originated during recent divergence events, resulting in increased partitioning of disparity within subclades. Among subclades, tropical arboreal taxa exhibited the fastest rates of shape change while temperate European taxa were the slowest, resulting in an inverse relationship between latitudinal diversity and rates of phenotypic evolution. This pattern demonstrates a compelling counterexample to the ecological opportunity theory of diversification, suggesting an uncoupling of the processes generating species diversity and morphological differentiation across spatial scales.

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In this study an attempt has been done to sample various populations of Mesalina watsonana throughout the range of dispersion in Iran. The intraspecific relationship of different populations was checked according to the statistical methods. With regards to different color patterns of the species on the Iranian Plateau, it was assumed that the species has more variability, but after collecting, surveying and analyzing the data, it was been concluded that all of the observed differences are related to the environmental conditions and factors. The analysis of morphological data specially in scalation suggests that all populations of Mesalina watsonana in Iran can be divided into two new taxa: one is related to the Zagros foothills and another being related to the east of Iran. In this study we couldn’t prepare samples from eastern edge of the range of distribution of Mesalina watsonana from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Also I use molecular method with available samples of Mesalina watsonana from some parts of Iran. Samples were amplified by Cyt b gene and were sequenced, then was drawn a phylogenetic tree by Maximum Parsimony (MP) with PAUP 4.0 software. According to the MP tree, Mesalina watsonana populatioons on the Iranian Plateau show 5 differentioated clades presumably.

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The aim of this study is to detect areas of endemism in lizards in Iran. This is the first study of its kind focusing on this subject. Areas of endemism for two families of lizards (Lacertidae and Gekkonidae) that have the highest number of endemic species than other lizard families in Iran were identified by Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE). Distribution data were collected from previous studies on the Iranian lizards and also from the recent literature on the descriptions of new endemic species. A total of 81 species of lizards were available for analysis. The study area was divided into a 2° × 2° grid of 63 Operational Geographic Units (OGUs). PAE was applied to the data matrix to detect areas of endemism and detected eight areas of endemism in southwestern Iran and near the Persian Gulf. Southern Iran is the main region where most species from Arabia came into Iran and were stopped in their dispersal. Two grids in southern and northeastern Iran were recognized as the areas with the highest density of species in the studied families. Lacertidae and Gekkonidae did not have a shared endemic species in the region (cells 59 and 60) but the area of endemism identified by PAE in the Persian Gulf region suggests that exchange between Iranian and Arabian herpetofauna was very high during interglacial periods. The distribution pattern of the endemic species of these families is concentrated in the region of the Alborz and the Zagros Mountains, but the single area of endemism in southern Iran has an important role in the historical biogeography of the Iranian herpetofauna. During interglacial periods, the Persian Gulf acted as a corridor between the herpetofauna of the two sides and this suggests the importance of this area of endemism for the Gekkonidae family. Also, the OGUs with the highest density of species are located around the country and, the lowest density is in the Central Plateau. PAE detected eight areas of endemism in southwestern Iran, but according to the number of species per units, two OGUs can be identified as high density in northeastern and southern Iran.

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In this study we review the species of lizards in the genus Mesalina (Lacertidae) and present a new key for their identification. We also obtained five photos of each species from the British Museum of Natural History that illustrate the dorsal, lateral (right and left), and ventral views of the head and the femoral pores of each species. The papers with the original descriptions of each species were reviewed and used in preparation of the key. Some remarks about the habitat, natural history, updated distribution map and previous taxonomic changes are explained.

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Over three years (2009-2012), several habitats of Mesalina watsonana were investigated and recorded with GPS. 100 locations were recorded in four major areas: east and the northeast of Iran, central part of the Iranian Plateau, southern Iran, and the east slopes of the Zagros Mountains in Qom Province. According to this study, the species is mainly concentrated in foothills, and most locations in this study are situated between an altitude of 500-1500 m.

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The Persian Long-tailed Desert Lizard, Mesalina watsonana, is one of the most common and most widely distributed lizards on the Iranian Plateau extending from Iran to Pakistan and Afghanistan. The species is frequently encountered in various types of habitats. We collected over 600 distributional records from available literature, museum collections, and our own field work and used bioclimatic and land cover characteristics to develop a model of potential distribution for M. watsonana. According to the model, the most important factors limiting the distribution of M. watsonana are: precipitation in wettest quarter exceeding 250–300 mm, precipitation in coldest quarter lower than 40 mm and exceeding 250 mm, altitudes above 2500 m and slopes steeper than 10.5°. The model suggests that most of the Iranian Plateau is suitable for the species except for some isolated areas such as the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut deserts in Iran, Helmand basin in Afghanistan, the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan, the western Chagai-Kharan deserts of Pakistani Balochistan, and Thar and Cholistan deserts in eastern Pakistan. The most important factor in these regions appears to be the extremely low rainfall during coldest quarter of the year. The outer boundary of the distribution of M. watsonana follows important biogeographic barriers that are also clearly delimited by climatic conditions.

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During extensive fieldwork surveys from August 2009 to September 2011, 60 specimens of Mesalina watsonana were collected from 10 localities representing 3 population groups in Iran. Owing to clear sexual dimorphism, a total of 39 males were selected and examined for various meristic and morphological characters. Statistical analyses (multivariate analyses such as principal component analysis, canonical variate analysis, and cluster analysis) were used to compare morphological variations among specimens from these 3 population groups in Iran. These groups were separated geographically, apparently due to barriers such as Dasht-e-Kavir and Dasht-e-Lut. According to the multivariate analyses, Mesalina watsonana can be divided into 2 major morphological groups in Iran. The Zagrosgroup is related to 2 others; the southern and eastern groups clearly separate and show a break between themselves.

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This paper reports more than 400 original data on the Lebanese herpetofauna (covering 5 amphibians and 44 reptiles), deriving from museum collections and recent field observations. The most interesting data concern: (a) Cyrtopodion amictopholis, a species known only from Mt. Hermon, reported for the first time from Mt. Lebanon Range; (b) Lacerta fraasi, previously con- sidered endemic to the Mount Lebanon Range, also recorded from Antilebanon; (c) the occur- rence of Macrovipera lebetina is confirmed with certainty from two localities in the north. New records are given for many species known in Lebanon only on the basis of very few and often old reports.

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The distribution of herpetofauna on the Arabian Peninsula is generally poorly known, particularly in Saudi Arabia. The King Abdulaziz Royal Nature Reserve (KARNR) in east-central Saudi Arabia is in an area predicted to have high reptile species richness, yet there is no baseline reptile checklist for the reserve. Knowing which species occur within a protected area is vital for ensuring that conservation strategies and long-term monitoring are effective. Here, we provide the first detailed list of reptile fauna occurring in the KARNR. This study recorded a total of 31 species from 1,551 observations, including 25 lizards and six snakes. A desktop study identified three additional species, bringing the total number of herpetofaunal species known in the KARNR to 34. Two of the species found in the reserve are of conservation concern: Uromastyx aegyptia (VU) and Tropiocolotes wolfgangboehmei (DD). Through species accumulation curves we were able to determine that the sampling methods implemented during the survey were adequate, and we predicted that the species richness of the reserve is likely as much as 38 species. Prior to this study, only 82 reptile records (30 species) were known from the study area, so we add a significant number of new records to the reserve and an additional four species that were previously unknown from the region.

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A total of 23 herpetofaunal species, including 2 frogs, 15 lizards, 5 snakes and one tortoise were reported from Nalut, Al-Jomayyel and Wazen provinces in Libya during the period November 2003- June 2004. Of these, 2 frogs and 16 reptile species were added to Nalut herpetofauna. This study confirms the occurrence of Scincopus fasciatus in Libya (Sindaco, 1995) and suggests the prevalence of Uromastyx acanthinura in the Libyan west. In contrast, some species such as Mesalina rubropunctata was rare in western Libya.

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The herpetofauna of southwestern Libya has been surveyed during 2005- 2006. Overall, two amphibian and 18 reptile species were found; of these, 16 reptile species are reported for the first time for Morzoq Province and one lizard, Tarentola mauritanica, for Sabha Province.

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Surveys along the coastal stretch, from Sandspit to Cape Monze, were undertaken during March 2003 to March 2006, to study the species of lizards. A total of 11 species of lizards belonging to 6 genera were reported from the area.

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total of 12 Mesalina brevirostris specimens collected from Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa, Turkey were examined in terms of pholidosis characters, morphometric measurements and color-pattern features. Akcakale and Ceylanpinar populations were differentiated from one another in the number transversal series of ventral plates (TVP) according to the results of the Mann–Whitney U-test. The main characteristics of the specimens collected from Ceylanpinar are within variation limits mentioned in the literature.

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The life and work of the Alsatian Louis Amédée Lantz (1886-1953), a pioneer of European herpetology. A trained and professional research-chemist, the Alsatian Louis Amédée Lantz was an active and particularly dynamic herpetologist. His residence of nearly twelve years in Russia enabled him to make several field trips to regions such as the Caucasus and Iran. He always carried with him a home made telescopic net that he used to catch lizards. That net became symbolic of Lantz for most people around him. He realized significant herpetological collections mainly deposited in the Museum of the Zoology Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. Soon after the Russian Revolution in 1917, he had to leave the country and stayed for a few years in France before joining England. During this period, Lantz visited the French Pyrenees and the Mediterranean border (Hyeres Islands, Bandol), enabling him to discover for the first time oviparous populations of common lizard and also to describe a new species of lizard from the French Pyrenees. Lantz is also at the origin of the discovery of unisexual reproduction by parthenogenesis in reptiles. His collaboration with the Swedish amateur herpetologist Otto Cyrén, whom he met through the German herpetologist Willy Wolterstorff, was particularly successful throughout his career. Lantz died at the age of 66 years, in Switzerland, as he was about to join the team of herpetologists at the Natural History Museum in Paris.

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This study provides observation on 21 species of amphibians and reptiles obtained during various field trips in Afghanistan from 2007 to 2018. The core of this study is distributional data collected mostly by the second author of this paper that were systematically evaluated. Our records show a notable expansion of the current distribution range for several species and highlight the need for more extensive further sampling within the entire country. The first record of Cyrtopodion agamuroides (Nikolsky, 1900) complex for Afghanistan is presented here, increasing the number of herpetofauna in the country to 117 species.

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The Afrotropical element in the Arabian herpetofauna is concentrated in the southwestern mountainous region, whereas everywhere else in the peninsula the reptile fauna is Saharo-Sindian. There is a high degree of correspondence between the reptile faunas of the Yemens and Somalia. A remarkable faunistic resemblance also exists between the relict faunas of SW Arabia and Morocco. Three evolutionary levels can be distinguished among Ethiopian taxa in Arabia and are interpreted as evidence of different times of faunal contact: 1. Old relicts (genus level) of a Palaeogene (pre continental drift) Arabian/North African fauna (Pristurus, Trogonophidae); 2. Endemic species closely related to East African species (most probably Miocene); 3. Species distributed on both sides of the Bäb al-Mandab (Pleistocene). Contrary to the Saharo-Sindian faunal elements, there is good evidence that groups 2 and 3 used a landbridge across the Bäb al-Mandab for faunal exchange: the Miocene closure of the southern outlet of the Red Sea and a Pleistocene land connection due to eustatic sea level change.

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Little is known about altitudinal distribution of lizards in Iran. In the present study we studied distribution pattern of members of family Lacertidae along the eleveatinal gradient in Iran. To determine environmental drivers of distribution pattern of 48 lizard species, all known valid members of family Lacertidae, along elevational gradient in Iran. Firstly, we classified Iran digital elevation model (DEM) based on 100m intervals, that resulted in 56 altitudinal bands and number of species in each band was recorded. Secondly, we extracted mean value of following variables; altitude, slop, area, solar radiation index (SRI), normalized differences vegetation index (NDVI), annual precipitation, precipitation of wettest month, precipitation of driest month precipitation, precipitation of wettest quarter, precipitation of driest quarter, and precipitation of warmest quarter, and using VIF measure correlated variables were removed. Finally, we performed a multiple regression and found that area and precipitation of warmest quarter are the most important drivers of distribution pattern of family Lacertidae along elevational gradient in Iran. General distribution pattern of family Lacertidae was unimodal and maximum number of species living from 1475 m to 1675 m.

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The assessment of biodiversity by means that ignore the evolutionary relationships of the living forms can be quite misleading, resulting in the over-evaluation of some morphs and the ignorance of other evolutionary significant units. Molecular phylogeny, which is a potentially powerful tool for the conservation of biodiversity, provides essential evidence for setting conservation priorities on several taxa. Phylogenetic analyses can identify cryptic, genetically distinct lineages as well as non-distinctive lineages earlier perceived as separate taxa. The herpetofauna of the east Mediterranean region, which could be considered as one of nature’s most intensively active evolutionary laboratories, serves as an excellent example. Phylogenetic analyses on several lacertid taxa of this area have revealed cases of hidden diversity, paraphyly, new species and new endemics. In several cases the presence of cryptic species (Podarcis levendis, P. cretensis), species with very restricted distributions (P. gaigeae, P. milensis), paraphyletic (M. guttulta) or even polyphyletic species (O. elegans) were revealed. Such cases impose a considerable revision of the taxonomic views and conservation priorities. Based on these findings, many questions have been answered and certainly new ones have emerged, contributing not only to our knowledge on the east Mediterranean herpetofauna, but to broader issues of conservation biology, prioritizing conservation efforts and enhancing the need for a new multidisciplinary and innovative tool for screening and re-evaluating biodiversity.

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Aim We explored the phylogenetic relationships of species of Mesalina, using one nuclear and two mitochondrial loci. This genus of lacertid lizards is widely distributed in North Africa and the Middle East and our goal was to develop a scenario capable of explaining the current distribution and evolutionary patterns within the genus in the context of the wider historical biogeography of the region. Location North Africa and the Middle East. Methods The assembled dataset consisted of 193 Mesalina individuals, representing 12 species distributed across the geographical range of the genus. Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods were used to support phylogenetic inferences on two mitochondrial (cytochrome b and 16S ribosomal RNA) and one nuclear (beta-fibrinogen intron 7) markers. Palaeogeographical and palaeoclimatic data were used to support the inferred phylogeographical patterns. Results Mesalina lizards exhibit high genetic diversity and complex phylogenetic patterns, leading to an unsatisfactory systematic hypothesis of one paraphyletic and three polyphyletic traditional species. The estimated divergence times place the origin of the genus in the early Miocene (c. 22 Ma) and the divergence of most currently recognized species in the middle to late Miocene. The inferred ancestral distribution suggests that the genus and most of its species originated somewhere in Arabia or the Middle East, with the exception of the Mesalina olivieri complex, which may be of African origin. Main conclusions Phylogenetic reconstruction based on the three loci studied suggests a higher than expected cryptic diversity of Mesalina in North Africa and the Middle East. We suggest that the tectonic movements of the Arabian plate, coupled with the climatic changes occurring since the Miocene, may be responsible for the phylogeographical patterns of North African and Middle Eastern Mesalina.

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Mesalina is a widespread lacertid genus occurring throughout the Saharo-Sindian region from North Africa to Pakistan. It has been through a series of taxonomic revisions, but the phylogenetic relationships among the species remain unclear. In this study we estimate the phylogeographic structure of M. guttulata across most of its distributional range and we evaluate the relationships between M. guttulata and the sympatric species M. brevirostris and M. bahaeldini using partial mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences (cyt b and 16S). M. guttulata and M. brevirostris represent species complexes, whereas M. bahaeldini considered before as M. guttulata is a recently described species with very restricted distribution. Here we present the first evidence that M. guttulata is a paraphyletic taxon with respect to M. bahaeldini, while M. brevirostris proves to be a polytypic species or even a species complex, confirming previous studies. Although mtDNA markers have several properties that make them suitable for phylogeographic studies, they are not free of difficulties. Phylogeographic inferences within and between closely related species can be mislead by introgression and retention of ancestral polymorphism (incomplete lineage sorting). However, the present distribution pattern, the estimated times of divergence and the significant variation in morphology within M. guttulata led us to accept that the paraphyletic pattern observed, is most likely due to inaccurate taxonomy. Our hypothesis is that what has hitherto been considered as intraspecific variation, actually reflects species-level variation. Furthermore, our biogeographic analyses and the estimated time of divergences suggest that the present distribution of M. guttulata was the result of several dispersal and vicariant events, which are associated with historical changes (climatic oscillations and paleogeographic barriers) of late Miocene and Pliocene period.

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the Lacertidae is one of the most diverse and widespread lizard families throughout Eurasia and Africa. Several studies so far have attempted to unravel the phylogeny of Lacertidae using morphological and mole- cular data. However, the intra-family relationships remain unclear. in an effort to explore the phylogenetic relationships within the family Lacertidae, a concatenated dataset of 5727 bp from six genes (two nuclear and four mitochondrial) and 40 genera was assembled based on GenBank database. Phylogenetic inference analy- ses were conducted using Maximum Parsimony (MP), Bayesian inference (Bi) and Maximum Likelihood (ML), revealing that even a combined dataset of both mitochondrial and nuclear genes is not able to resolve the phylogenetic relationships of the Lacertidae family under the tribe level.

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During recent years several lizard taxa were added to the faunal list of Pakistan. Descriptions and new records are scattered in different publications in the herpetological literature. The present paper puts the information together, and provides a comprehensive list of recent publications on the lizards of Pakistan.

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We provide the first complete list of the present and lost amphibian and reptile type specimens of the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt and the Museum Wiesbaden Naturhistorische Landessammlung. The Darmstadt collection cur- rently houses primary types of 5 taxa (holotypes) and secondary types of addi- tional 15 taxa (paratypes). The Wiesbaden collection includes primary types of 13 taxa (8 represented by holotypes, 4 by syntypes and 1 by lectotype). Furthermore, the primary types of 6 taxa formerly housed at the Museum Wiesbaden are consid- ered lost. In several cases, we comment on the current status of the taxa present in the collections. Bufo spinulosus var. arapensis Andersson, 1908 was obviously over- looked and neglected in the literature. It is here considered a junior synonym of Chaunus spinulosus (Wiegmann, 1834). The largest specimen of the type series is designated as lectotype (MWNH 153/1). The current status of Hylambates rufus var. aubryioides Andersson, 1908, as a junior synonym of Leptopelis modestus (Werner, 1898) is rejected.

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In this third paper on the herpetofauna of Oman, three families are treated: eleven Lacertidae, six Scincidae and one varanid. New records, notes on ecology and localities are combined with data from literature.

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This paper comprises, the collections made in four northern provinces of Afghanistan (Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat, Malmana, Kataghan) and In the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar which is separated from the Central Asiatic Subregions by the mountain range of Hindu-Kush. In all, 135 Individuals belonging to 34 species were determined. The herpetofauna of the northern provinces was compared with that of Nangahar. In this province 9 species, [Gmnodactylus sp. (kachhensis ssp. nov.?), Calores versicolor, Uromastyx hardwicki, Varanus bengalensis, Oligodon arnensis, Fowleya piscator, Psammophis leithiand Bungarus coeruleus], typical of the Oriental Region, were fund but the forms typical of the Turanian zone are missing here. This specific structure of the herpetofauna arranges the -Nangahar provinces [the drainage area of the Kabul River in the environs of Jalad-Abad] to the Oriental Region. In the Nangarhar province a new form belonging to Gymnodactylus kachhensis was found. Its taxonomy was not solved.

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The dangers of helminth infestations for lizards, particularly infestations with nematodes und cestodes, are reported. Infection routes, diagnoses, und treatments are described.

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This study substantiates the presence of Mesalina brevirostris BLANFORD, 1874 in Turkey. A total of nine specimens (five males and four females) was collected from Akçakale (§anliurfa) in the vicinity of the Turkish- Syrian border on May 6 and 7, 2002. The pholidosis characteristics of the nine specimens recorded from Akçakale are quite similar to those given by various researchers for Syrian specimens. According to the numbers ofdorsalia, the Akçakale specimens (49.0 - 57.0, mean 53.2) have clearly greater values than those in eastern and central Syria (36.0 - 47.0, mean 40.3). Regarding metric, meristic, colour and pattern characteristics, the nine specimens from south-eastern Anatolia appear assignable to the typical form, M. brevirostris brevirostris.

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Turkey is biogeographically diverse and consequently has a rich herpetofauna. As a result of active herpetological research, the number of species has steadily increased in recent years. I present here a new checklist of amphibian and reptile species distributed in Turkey, revising the nomenclature to reflect the latest taxonomic knowledge. In addition, information about the systematics of many species is also given. In total 35 (19.4%) amphibian and 145 (80.6%) reptile species comprise the Turkish herpetofauna. Among amphibians, 16 (45.7%) anurans and 19 urodelans (54.3%) are present. Among reptiles, 11 (7.6%) testudines, 71 (49%) saurians, 3 (2.1%) amphisbaenians and 60 (41.3%) ophidians are considered part of the herpetofauna. The endemism rate in Turkey is considered relatively high with a total of 34 species (12 amphibian species – 34.3% and 22 reptile species – 15.2%) endemic to Turkey, yielding a total herpetofaunal endemism of 18.9%. While 38 species have not been threat-assessed by the IUCN, 92 of the 180 Turkish herpetofaunal species are of Least Concern (LC), 13 are Near Threatened (NT), 10 are Vulnerable (VU), 14 are Endangered (EN), and 7 are Critically Endangered (CR). In addition, 6 species are in the DD (Data Deficient) category.

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Herpetological research in Somalia dates from 1881 (G. Revoil`s Expedition) and progressively spread over most of the Somali territory thanks above all to the scientific missions conducted by R.H.R. Taylor (1929–34), G. Scortecci (1931, 1953, 1957) and, since 1959, by the University of Florence and the « Centro di Studio per la Faunistica ed Ecologia Tropicali » of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Florence, Italy). According to this list of the amphibians and reptiles reported to date for the Somali Democratic Republic, there are 27 species of amphibians, four of which (= 14.8%) are endemic; all these species belong strictly to the Ethiopian subregion sensu Darlington (1957). A monotypic genus, Lanzarana, is endemic. The reptiles are represented by at least 200 species. Excluding the marine species (six turtles and one snake), there are 194 species, of which 75 (= 38.6%) ar endemic to Somalia. Four genera are endemic: Xenagama (Agamidae), Haackgreerius gen. n. (Scincidae), Aeluroglena and Brachyophis (Colubridae). The majority of the Somali reptilian fauna is composed of species belonging strictly to the Ethiopian subregion sensu Darlington (1957): 164 species (= 84.5%). The remaining 30 species (= 15.5%) have a different, prevalently south-Mediterranean geonemy. Some reptiles inhabiting both Somalia and south-west Arabia confirm the well-known close biogeographic relationship existing between the two countries.

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Most herpetological research in Eritrea was conducted during the period 1827–1930 and was almost exclusively the preserve of Italian enthusiasts, who concentrated their efforts within an 80 km radius of Asmara. Virtually no field work has been undertaken on the Eritrean mainland in the past 65 years and a great deal still remains to be learned about the composition, distribution and status of the herpetofauna. The 109 species provisionally listed in the present work (Anura 19, Testudines 9, Crocodylia 1, Sauria 45, Serpentes 35) are predominantly savanna (37.5%) and deserticolous (33.1%) forms and the Eritrean highlands are impoverished by aridity. Of eight taxa which extend into this region from the Ethiopian Plateau, only three appear to be genuinely montane and the ability of the remainder to colonise lowland sites elsewhere in their ranges is taken as evidence of their resistance to drought conditions. Rhinotyphlops erythraeus (Scortecci 1928), which is known only from the type locality at an altitude of 2200 m, might conceivably be an Eritrean montane endemic, but the two nominally endemic anurans have no evident associations with high elevations and may therefore extend into neighbouring territories. The taxonomic status of Phrynobatrachus tellinii Peracca 1904 is very uncertain, but it has been possible to reach more definite conclusions about Rana cornii Scortecci 1929 and R. demarchii Scortecci 1929 following examination of the single surviving syntype of each species, recently rediscovered in London. The evidence from these specimens is that R. cornii is a junior synonym of Ptychadena schubotzi (Sternfeld 1917), while the name demarchii seems to represent a valid species which is most appropriately retained in the genus Rana (sensu DUBOIS 1992), at least until its relationships can be more satisfactorily determined on the basis of fresh material.

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This review lists Agama smithii Boulenger 1896 as a synonym of Agama agama (Linnaeus 1758), Agama trachypleura Peters 1982 as a synonym of Acanthocercus phillipsii (Boulenger 1895) and describes for the first time Acanthocercus guentherpetersi n. sp. Without more convincing evidence, Chamaeleon ruspolii Boettger 1893 cannot be accepted as specifically distinct from Chamaeleo dilepis Leach 1819, nor Chamaeleo calcaricarens Böhme 1985 from C. africanus Laurenti 1768. Consequently, 101 species of lizard are currently recognised in Ethiopia, of which some 40% appear to be denizens of the Somali-arid zone. This significant proportion is attributable in part to the importance of the Horn of Africa as a centre for reptilian diversification and endemicity, in part to the fact that this lowland fauna was rather extensively sampled during the 1930s, but also to the conspicuous neglect of lizards in other regions of the country. Mountain and forested habitats are widespread in Ethiopia, so it seems extraordinary to record only five saurian species which are believed to be endemic in such environments. The inference that there are many more still to be discovered has important implications for conservation, because montane forest is known to be among the most threatened of Ethiopian biomes and there is clearly an urgent need for its herpetofauna to be more thoroughly researched and documented.

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Aim To map and assess the richness patterns of reptiles (and included groups: amphisbaenians, crocodiles, lizards, snakes and turtles) in Africa, quantify the overlap in species richness of reptiles (and included groups) with the other terrestrial vertebrate classes, investigate the environmental correlates underlying these patterns, and evaluate the role of range size on richness patterns. Location Africa. Methods We assembled a data set of distributions of all African reptile species. We tested the spatial congruence of reptile richness with that of amphibians, birds and mammals. We further tested the relative importance of temperature, precipitation, elevation range and net primary productivity for species richness over two spatial scales (ecoregions and 1° grids). We arranged reptile and vertebrate groups into range-size quartiles in order to evaluate the role of range size in producing richness patterns. Results Reptile, amphibian, bird and mammal richness are largely congruent (r = 0.79–0.86) and respond similarly to environmental variables (mainly productivity and precipitation). Ecoregion size accounts for more variation in the richness of reptiles than in that of other groups. Lizard distributions are distinct with several areas of high species richness where other vertebrate groups (including snakes) are species-poor, especially in arid ecoregions. Habitat heterogeneity is the best predictor of narrow-ranging species, but remains relatively important in explaining lizard richness even for species with large range sizes. Main conclusions Reptile richness varies with similar environmental variables as the other vertebrates in Africa, reflecting the disproportionate influence of snakes on reptile richness, a result of their large ranges. Richness gradients of narrow-ranged vertebrates differ from those of widespread taxa, which may demonstrate different centres of endemism for reptile subclades in Africa. Lizard richness varies mostly with habitat heterogeneity independent of range size, which suggests that the difference in response of lizards is due to their ecological characteristics. These results, over two spatial scales and multiple range-size quartiles, allow us to reliably interpret the influence of environmental variables on patterns of reptile richness and congruency.

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The present paper provides the results of the herpetological investigations carried out on the Kuriat Archipelago, in the Khnis Bay, and the islet of Jbel, off the harbor of Echebba. Six reptile species on the whole have been found on the studied islets. Tarentola fascicularis (Daudin, 1802), familia Phyllodactylidae, occurring on Great Kuriat, and Trachylepis vittata (Olivier, 1804), familia Scincidae, detected on all the three islets, are recorded for the first time for the islands of Tunisia.

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The present paper provides the results of the herpetological investigations carried out on thesatellite islets of Djerba and the Kneiss Archipelago, and an updated list of their herpetofauna.On the whole, the faunal assemblage of the eleven visited islets includes seven species of reptiles, whose richness seems to be related to the islet size. Stenodactylus sthenodactylus (Lichtenstein, 1823) and Malpolon insignitus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1827) are new records, respectively, for the Djerba satellites and the Kneiss Archipelago, while new localities we rerecorded for the previously known species.

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Anhand der Ergebnisse einer Sammelreise des Natural History Museum of Crete (NHMC) im April 1999 werden neue Ergebnisse zur Herpetofauna Syriens vorgestellt. Wir sammelten an 30 Lokalitäten insgesamt 391 Exemplare in 43 Arten. Die Ergebnisse erweitern unser Wissen über die Verbreitung mehrerer Arten. Die systematische Stellung von vier Arten (Rana bedriagae, Ptyodactylus sp., Lacerta kultzeri, Mabuya aurata) wird im Lichte neuerer Revisionen der syrischen Herpetofauna diskutiert.

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In order to study the composition of the south Kabylie’s herpétofauna (Bouira’s and Bordj Bou Arreridj’s wilaya), we have chosen six different ecological areas. 19 species (1 Amphibian and 18 Reptiles) have been inventoried. They are mainly of mediterranean origin (12 species of 19) with 3 species typically North Africans (Timon pater, Chalcides chalcides and Mesalina olivieri). But in this herpétofauna we have found two saharian species (Psammophis schokari and Mesalina olivieri). The field analysis of the species distribution showed that the landscape composition played an important role. Some species such as P. algirus frequented various areas, others such as Natrix natrix and Natrix maura preferred humid areas, Acanthodactylus erythrurus localized in biotopes with sandy substratum, also Timon. pater who frequents forests, on the six community studied none presents q high diversity. The main important specific riches were observed in the low scrub (10 species). The intermediate situation that corresponds to the average of the diversity and the regularity was observed in the rocky open ground and the low scrub.

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Sexual selection contributes to the diversity of chemical signals in various animal groups. Lizards are good model species to study how sexual selection shapes signal diversity, as they are a chemically oriented taxonomic group with different levels of social interactions. Many lizard species bear epidermal glands secreting a waxy mixture of lipids and proteins, which are used in intraspecific communication. Previous among-species comparative analyses failed to find a relationship between the strength of sexual selection with the composition of the lipid blend in lizards. Here, we extend the investigation to the proteinaceous fraction. By using a phylogenetically informed approach, we correlated the average electrophoretic profiles of the protein from the femoral glands of 36 lacertid lizard species with the level of sexual dimorphism in size and shape, which are proxies for the strength of sexual selection. We found that as sexual size dimorphism advances, five distinct molecular weight regions in the protein profile increased their expression. Using tandem mass spectrometry, we successfully identified one of these five proteins: a carbonic anhydrase—an enzyme catalyzing the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide. Our findings suggest that proteins may be the target of sexual selection, as an active semiochemicals or as a dynamic support to other molecules: sexual selection may act indirectly on semiochemicals (namely lipids) by modifying the matrix (namely proteins).

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The checklist is based primarily on extensive collections made by the United States Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3) in Egypt. Forms listed are those that are known or expected to occur in Egypt (including Sinai), and those that have been reported from Egypt without further verification. The systematic lists contain original citations, references to major faunal works, and the most recent reviews of each particular group. From the 3.424 specimens obtained, adequate distributional data are now available for most forms in Egypt. Maps showing collecting localities for each species are also presented for use in future sympatric and ecological studies.

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Taxonomic changes and new findings concerning the subfamily Eremiainae in Africa are summarized to update SZCZERBAK`s (1975) catalogue of the African Sand Lizards. Furthermore, a key to the species and subspecies of the genus Pedioplanis is provided.

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A commented lacertids list for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, including the Arabian Peninsula and Asia is given.

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The albumins from 41 species of the family Lacertidae representing a substantial part of genera as well as infrageneric groups of the collective genus Lacerta s.l. were investigated by means of the MCF technique. The data allow a chronological estimation of the most important radiation events and their correlation with paleogeographical facts. Our results are in remarkable contradiction to the phylogeny presented by ARNOLD (1989a) based mainly on morphological characters. The most important phylogenetic relationships are: 1. The genera Gallona and Psammodromus are already isolated from the other taxa since the Oligocene. We assess these main branches as subfamilies Gallotiinae and Lacertinae. 2. Lacerta s.str. and Lacerta subgenus Zootoca form the sister group of the remaining Lacertinae. 3. A colonization of Africa in the Lower Miocene has led to a separation in two lines, with mainly Eurasian and African members respectively. 4. ARNOLD`S (I.e.) `Ethiopian and advanced Saharo-Eurasian clade` proved to be a paraphyletic unit, one group of genera being more closely related to European taxa. All techniques applied to the systematics of Lacertidae hitherto are critically discussed. An area-time- hypothesis concerning the phylogeny of Lacertidae is presented. Key words: Lacertidae, phylogeny of; Gallotiinae subfam. nov.; Lacertinae subfam. nov.; micro complement fixation; albumin evolution.

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ree more or less different morphotypes of Mesalina brevirostris Blanford 1874 have been distinguished within the territory of Syria: (1) Lowland form, (2) Western (interme- diate) form and (3) Jabal al Arab form. We sequenced parts of the mitochondrial gene for cytochrome b (836 bp) of M. brevirostris samples from four Syrian and two Jordan localities and parts of the 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes of two selected Syrian samples to estimate the phylogenetic relationships among the given morphotypes. Two main clades with a divergence of about 10% in cyt-b were obtained. e first one involves the representatives of all three morphotypes and is divided further into three weakly divergent subclades: (i) Lowland form and partly also the Western form, (ii) J. al Arab form and population from northern Jordan, (iii) population from the eastern Jordan (area of Azraq). is situation indicates a high variability of haplotypes in a relatively small area. e second main clade consists of the remaining representatives of the Western form and reveals a cryptic undescribed taxon being hidden (syntopic occurrence) within the Western form (s.l.). e results suggest that the Syrian Lowland and J. al Arab forms might represent two different subspecies of M. brevirostris which evolved in a comparatively short time. e former form has been traditionally associated with the name M. b. brevirostris. e latter can be assigned to the name M. b. microlepis Angel 1936. A problem rises from the position of the holotype of microlepis, which morphologically fits rather the J. al Arab form than the other morphotypes, although according to the molecular data the today’s topotypes belong to the Lowland form. is can be explained by the changes in the distribution of the respec- tive form due to current aridisation process. A particular question concerns the taxonomic position of the Azraq population. Finally, only the cryptic undescribed taxon in western Syria may be assigned to the in- termediate western morphotype. e degree of morphological differentiation of this form is discussed.

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The family Lacertidae encompasses more than 250 species distributed in the Palearctis, Ethiopis and Orientalis. Lacertids have been subjected in the past to several morphological and molecular studies to establish their phylogeny. However, the problems of convergent adaptation in morphology and of excessively variable molecular markers have hampered the establishment of well supported deeper phylogenetic relationships. Particularly the adaptations to xeric environments have often been used to establish a scenario for the origin and radiation of major lineages within lacertids. Here we present a molecular phylogenetic study based on two nuclear marker genes and representatives of 37 lacertid genera and distinct species groups (as in the case of the collective genus Lacerta). Roughly 1600 bp of the nuclear rag1 and c-mos genes were sequenced and analyzed. While the results provide good support to the hitherto suggested main subfamilies of Gallotiinae (Gallotia and Psammodromus), Eremiainae and Lacertinae [Harris, D.J., Arnold, E.N., Thomas, R.H., 1998. Relationships of lacertid lizards (Reptilia: Lacertidae) estimated from mitochondrial DNA sequences and morphology. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 265, 1939–1948], they also suggest unexpected relationships. In particular, the oriental genus Takydromus, previously considered the sister-group to the three subfamilies, is nested within Lacertinae. Moreover, the genera within the Eremiainae are further divided into two groups, roughly corresponding to their respective geographical distributions in the Ethiopian and the Saharo-Eurasian ranges. The results support an independent origin of adaptations to xeric conditions in different subfamilies. The relationships within the subfamily Lacertinae could not be resolved with the markers used. The species groups of the collective genus Lacerta show a bush-like topology in the inferred Bayesian tree, suggesting rapid radiation. The composition of the subfamilies Eremiainae and Lacertinae as well as their phylogeography are discussed.

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Observational data collected from bibliography and during herpetological surveys in northern Morocco between 1989 and 2014 were plotted to generate updated distribution maps of amphibians and reptiles using a UTM 5 x 5 km grid system. Eleven amphibians and 53 reptiles were observed, including three amphibians and nine reptiles endemic to Morocco. In both taxonomic groups, three distinct species categories were identified in the area: widely distributed species, species restricted to particular environmental characteristics, and species with small and / or fragmented distributions. For total species richness, 10 areas of high diversity were identified. These areas were common to all taxonomic groups and correspond roughly to Mediterranean-type habitats. Amphibians constitute a relatively homogeneous group according to their habitat selection patterns while reptiles can be grouped in three assemblages: 1) generalist species with broad distributions in northern Morocco; 2) species occupying Mediterranean environments, generally abundant in the north-western region; and 3) species that occupy arid habitats, frequently found in the eastern region. The topographic complexity of northern Morocco apparently creates micro-environmental conditions for each group and is related to high levels of species diversity observed: 78% and 52% of the total number of amphibians and reptiles of Morocco, respectively. These findings strengthen the status of northern Morocco as a priority area for herpetofauna conservation at the national level

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Der Verfasser besuchte Tunesien Anfang April 1978 und berichtet von den Arten, die er da vorfand. Chalcides ocellatus und Tarentola mauritanica wurden häufig beobachtet, besonders in Sousse. Ertaunliche Mengen von mMauremys caspica leprosa wurden in dem kleinen Fluss ´Oued Hamdoun`bei Sousse gesehen, sie wurden aber auch in Kairouan und Gabès anagetroffen. Natrix maura wurde in Sousse und Kairouan immer im oder beim Wasser gesehen, oft ist dieses Wasser hier brackig. Zum Schluss gibt der Verfasser einen Determinationsschlüssel zu den tunesischen Amphibien-, Eidechsen- und Schildkrötenarten mit wissenscjaftlichen, französischen, niederländischen und manchmal auch arabischen Namen.

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Aim Body size is instrumental in influencing animal physiology, morphology, ecology and evolution, as well as extinction risk. I examine several hypotheses regarding the influence of body size on lizard evolution and extinction risk, assessing whether body size influences, or is influenced by, species richness, herbivory, island dwelling and extinction risk. Location World-wide. Methods I used literature data and measurements of museum and live specimens to estimate lizard body size distributions. Results I obtained body size data for 99% of the world`s lizard species. The body size–frequency distribution is highly modal and right skewed and similar distributions characterize most lizard families and lizard assemblages across biogeographical realms. There is a strong negative correlation between mean body size within families and species richness. Herbivorous lizards are larger than omnivorous and carnivorous ones, and aquatic lizards are larger than non-aquatic species. Diurnal activity is associated with small body size. Insular lizards tend towards both extremes of the size spectrum. Extinction risk increases with body size of species for which risk has been assessed. Main conclusions Small size seems to promote fast diversification of disparate body plans. The absence of mammalian predators allows insular lizards to attain larger body sizes by means of release from predation and allows them to evolve into the top predator niche. Island living also promotes a high frequency of herbivory, which is also associated with large size. Aquatic and nocturnal lizards probably evolve large size because of thermal constraints. The association between large size and high extinction risk, however, probably reflects a bias in the species in which risk has been studied.

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Aim Temperature influences most components of animal ecology and life history – but what kind of temperature? Physiologists usually examine the influence of body temperatures, while biogeographers and macroecologists tend to focus on environmental temperatures. We aim to examine the relationship between these two measures, to determine the factors that affect lizard body temperatures and to test the effect of both temperature measures on lizard life history. Location World-wide. Methods We used a large (861 species) global dataset of lizard body temperatures, and the mean annual temperatures across their geographic ranges to examine the relationships between body and mean annual temperatures.We then examined factors influencing body temperatures, and tested for the influence of both on ecological and life-history traits while accounting for the influence of shared ancestry. Results Body temperatures and mean annual temperatures are uncorrelated. However, accounting for activity time (nocturnal species have low body temperatures), use of space (fossorial and semi-aquatic species are ‘colder’), insularity (mainland species are ‘hotter’) and phylogeny, the two temperatures are positively correlated. High body temperatures are only associated with larger hatchlings and increased rates of biomass production. Annual temperatures are positively correlated with clutch frequency and annual longevity, and negatively correlated with clutch size, age at first reproduction and longevity. Main conclusions Lizards with low body temperatures do not seem to have ‘slower’ life-history attributes than species with high body temperatures. The longer seasons prevalent in warm regions, and physiological processes that operate while lizards are inactive (but warm enough), make environmental temperatures better predictors of lizard life-history variation than body temperatures. This surprisingly greater effect of environmental temperatures on lizard life histories hints that global warming may have a profound influence on lizard ecology and evolution.

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Faunal lists are important tools in ecology, biogeography, and conservation planning. Such lists can identify gaps in our knowledge of the distribution and taxonomy of regional faunas, and highlight issues needing further study. We present an up to date list of all land vertebrates occurring in Israel. We identify 786 species, of which 551 are birds, 130 are mammals, 97 are reptiles and eight are amphibians. Of these 369 species breed in Israel (including reintroductions), 199 (mostly birds) are regular visitors and 182 are accidental. Fourteen other species are invasive, and 22 species are extinct. We identify issues with the taxonomy and status of several species, and note recent developments in our understanding the Israeli land vertebrate fauna.

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Aim We provide a new quantitative analysis of lizard reproductive ecology. Comparative studies of lizard reproduction to date have usually considered life-history components separately. Instead, we examine the rate of production (productivity hereafter) calculated as the total mass of offspring produced in a year. We test whether productivity is influenced by proxies of adult mortality rates such as insularity and fossorial habits, by measures of temperature such as environmental and body temperatures, mode of reproduction and activity times, and by environmental productivity and diet. We further examine whether low productivity is linked to high extinction risk. Location World-wide. Methods We assembled a database containing 551 lizard species, their phylogenetic relationships and multiple life history and ecological variables from the literature. We use phylogenetically informed statistical models to estimate the factors related to lizard productivity. Results Some, but not all, predictions of metabolic and life-history theories are supported. When analysed separately, clutch size, relative clutch mass and brood frequency are poorly correlated with body mass, but their product – productivity – is well correlated with mass. The allometry of productivity scales similarly to metabolic rate, suggesting that a constant fraction of assimilated energy is allocated to production irrespective of body size. Island species were less productive than continental species.Mass-specific productivity was positively correlated with environmental temperature, but not with body temperature. Viviparous lizards were less productive than egg-laying species. Diet and primary productivity were not associated with productivity in any model. Other effects, including lower productivity of fossorial, nocturnal and active foraging species were confounded with phylogeny. Productivity was not lower in species at risk of extinction. Main conclusions Our analyses show the value of focusing on the rate of annual biomass production (productivity), and generally supported associations between productivity and environmental temperature, factors that affect mortality and the number of broods a lizard can produce in a year, but not with measures of body temperature, environmental productivity or diet.

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Aim: Small geographic ranges make species especially prone to extinction from an- thropogenic disturbances or natural stochastic events. We assemble and analyse a comprehensive dataset of all the world’s lizard species and identify the species with the smallest ranges—those known only from their type localities. We compare them to wide-ranging species to infer whether specific geographic regions or biological traits predispose species to have small ranges. Location: Global. Methods: We extensively surveyed museum collections, the primary literature and our own field records to identify all the species of lizards with a maximum linear geo- graphic extent of <10 km. We compared their biogeography, key biological traits and threat status to those of all other lizards. Results: One in seven lizards (927 of the 6,568 currently recognized species) are known only from their type localities. These include 213 species known only from a single specimen. Compared to more wide-ranging taxa, they mostly inhabit relatively inaccessible regions at lower, mostly tropical, latitudes. Surprisingly, we found that burrowing lifestyle is a relatively unimportant driver of small range size. Geckos are especially prone to having tiny ranges, and skinks dominate lists of such species not seen for over 50 years, as well as of species known only from their holotype. Two- thirds of these species have no IUCN assessments, and at least 20 are extinct. Main conclusions: Fourteen per cent of lizard diversity is restricted to a single location, often in inaccessible regions. These species are elusive, usually poorly known and little studied. Many face severe extinction risk, but current knowledge is inadequate to properly assess this for all of them. We recommend that such species become the focus of taxonomic, ecological and survey efforts.

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The authors present an actualized and commented list of the amphibia and reptilia species noted in Morocco. The changes witch happened during the 16years after the last checklist established by BoNS(1972) are discussed. These are new additions (species recently discovered in Morocco and new taxa for Science, sorne of witch resulting from systematic modifications of other species or subspecies) and changes of names (new combinations) or status. Problems concerning the exact delimitation of several species are discussed, insisting particularly on the most conflictual groups (e.g. Chalcides, Aoenthodactylus). Thus we think that the number of species in the present checklist is probably surestimated. Taking in account these problems, we must consider this inventory as provisional, till clearing up the several questions still in suspense.

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This note describes general patterns of winter activity in lizard populations along a latitudinal gradient with an approximate range of twelve degrees (26 to 38°N) in southern Europe and North Africa. We make use of qualitative data gathered through the last ten years in the area, as well as much more accurate quantitative data obtained from periodic censuses covering the whole year cicle in certain populations. Results allow us to impute a great importance to the activity observed in the unfavourable season. This activity seems to be an attribute at the population level and shows a great variability between and within species and populations.

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The etymology of the reptiles, especially the lizards of Iran has not been completely presented in other published works. Iran is a very active geographic area for any animals, and more especially for lizards, due to its wide range deserts and ecology. We have attempted to ascertain, as much as possible, the construction of the Latin binomials of all Iranian lizard species. We believe that a review of these names is instructive, not only in codifying many aspects of the biology of the lizards, but in presenting a historical overview of collectors and taxonomic work in Iran and Middle East region. We have listed all recorded lizards of Iran according to the order of the scientific names in the book of Anderson, The Lizards of Iran. All lizard species and types have been grouped under their proper Families, and then they have been alphabetically ordered based on their scientific binominal nomenclature. We also examined numerous published works in addition to those included in the original papers presenting each binomial.

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New records of 20 reptile species and subspecies on the Red Sea coast of Sinai Peninsula and Eastern Desert in Egypt are given. A zoogeographical analyses of the herpetofauna and comparison of the species compositions re- sults to estimate the biodiversity for each subregion of Eastern Egypt. The faunal richness, taxonomic diversity and endemism level in hyperarid deserts of the Egypt are discussed. Mountainous South Sinai and southern part of the South Eastern Desert is suggested to consider as biodiversity hotspots in Eastern Egypt.

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Two Acanthodactylus boskianus and three Mesalina guttulata were recorded on the surface at day time, 12 January 2022 in the South Eastern Desert, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt. The weather was clear full day, in the middle of the day the air temperature reached +240C. Lizards not only actively moved, but also demonstrated foraging behavior. This is the first doc- umented record of winter activity of lacertids in Egypt.

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The herpetofauna of Wadi El Gemal National Park, Eastern Desert, Egypt currently includes 28 reptile species. Three large wadies, Wadi El Gemal, Wadi Abu Ghusoun and Wadi Sartout, were observed as a model of the spe- cies composition within the national park. Species assemblages, taxonomic and ecological diversity, and the biogeographical affinities of reptiles in the specific environment of the hyperarid desert are discussed.

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Jordan has a very diversified morphology, which is reflected also in the diversity of its herpetofauna. A total 90 amphibian and reptilian species is known to inhabit Jordan. Of those three are amphibians, with the fourth species most probably already extinct, 47 are lizard species, 35 are snake species and five turtle species. The amphibians are represented by three different families, lizards and snakes both by seven families and turtles by four families. The distribution, ecology and systematics for most species are given.

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Through the kindness of Dr. O. Kodym, the National Museum (Nat. Hist.), Prague has obtained a small collection of reptiles from Libya. The collection comprises a total of 15 specimens of eleven reptile species collected in the surroundings of the town of Agedabia (30`45` N, 20`18` E ; SW Cyrenaica). Besides rather common North African reptile species, the collection also includes one specimen of a snake of genus Lytorhynchus. The specimen corresponds to the taxon Lytorhynchus kennedyi K. SCHMIDT, 1939, reported so far only from the Near East. This paper presents a brief description of this specimen and a list of the other reptile species contained in the collection. The nomenclaturel status of L. kennedyi is discussed.

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A study of morphometrical and meristic characters of 82 museum specimens of Mesalina brevirostris from Syria, Jordan and Iraq revealed the existence of conspicuous morphological variation of this species in Syria. Discriminant analysis carried out in six pholidotic characters confirmed an assortment of the examined material into three forms: (1) “Lowland form” distributed mainly in lower altitudes (up to 500-600 m) of the “Desert” and “Desert-steppe” regions of central and eastern Syria and probably also in higher altitudes of the same climatic zone in south- western Syria. (2) “Western form”, occurring at least in higher altitudes (600-800 m) of the western part of the country at the frontier between “Desert- steppe” and “West-Syrian steppe” climatic regions. (3) “J. Arab form”- most divergent morphotype inhabiting eastern slopes of the Jabal al Arab mountains (alt. ca. 1000 m) at south- western frontier of “Desert-steppe” climatic region. A possible effect of climatic factors on the distribution of the individual Syrian forms of M. brevirostis is discussed.

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The present study was based on the observations and captures of reptiles in the Northern Algerian Sahara (2011-2013). The studied habitats were the erg (sand dunes), palm grove, reg, Sebkha, and urban sites. We have identified 30 species (20 Saurians, 9 Ophidians and one Testudines) these species are classified into two orders (Anura and Squamata), 12 families and 22 different genera. Among the identified species, 7 protected species in Algeria and 5 species endemic to the Mediterranean. A total of 93.3% (28 species) are assessed as Least Concern and one species was considered to be Data Deficient (Scincopus fasciatus). One species is listed as near threatened (Uromastix acanthinurus). The highest species richness was noticed in the palm groves with 19 species as well as the Shannon diversity index= 3.35. The evenness is at its highest in the sebkha and the urban site with 0.9 and 0.86. The correspondence factorial analysis showed that some species were characteristic of habitats such as Tarentola neglecta and Tarentola deserti which are a specific species of the urban sites and the palm groves, while Scincus scincus was a specific species of the Erg. The generalized linear model showed that the geographic coordinate, spatiotemporal factors and human activity have significant effect on the distribution of reptiles.

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The spatial and seasonal variations in amphibian and reptile diversity were studied in different biotopes (lowlands, desert pavements “Reg,” Sabkhas “salt lakes,” date palm groves, wadis, and urban sites) at the Algerian Sahara Desert. No prior research has explored the connection between the distribution of reptiles and amphibians in Algeria’s Sahara and the environmental diversity of biotopes and landscapes. This study aimed to address this significant knowledge gap by investigating the relationships between Saharan habitats and landscapes and their impact on herpetofaunal presence, abundance, and diversity. The diversity of amphibians and reptiles was assessed based on quantitative data of species captures using nonparametric diversity indices, species richness accumulation curves, and similarity analysis. At the Region of Oued Righ (Northern Sahara Desert), we identified 3 amphibians, 19 lizards, and 10 ophidian species. These 32 species (approximately 30% of the Algerian herpetofauna) were classified into 2 orders (Anura and Squamata), 15 families, and 23 different genera.The study area included 8 protected species in Algeria and 9 endemic species to the Mediterranean region, including 1 amphibian and 7 species of reptiles. Acanthodactylus dumerilii was the most abundant species (20.5% of the total), whereas Chalcides ocellatus occurred in 32.9% of specimens. The highest values of species richness were recorded in palm groves with 22 species and Shannon’s diversity index (H’) was 3.5,whereas the lowest values were obtained in Sabkhas (5 species) and urban sites (7 species).The number of individuals experienced significant variations between study biotopes and seasons. Overall, species richness estimators (Chao2 and Jackknife1) revealed that the current survey achieved 90% of inventory completeness. Estimates and interpolations of species richness showed higher values in urban sites, palm groves, desert pavements, and wadis compared to Sabkhas and lowlands where completeness ranged between 90% and 100%. The analysis of similarity indicated low similarity values (<50%) between biotopes studied. The highest similarities were noted between the mesic biotopes (Sabkhas, wadis, and palm groves), the xeric and undisturbed biotopes (desert pavements and lowlands), whereas urban sites showed a distinct herpetofaunal community that was completely different of that recorded in Sabkhas, wadis, and lowlands.

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The reptile`s fauna of Sabzevar was investigated during 10 years (2003-2013). In total 42 species belonging to 29 genera, 13 families and two orders (Squamata and Testudines) were collected and identified. The most diverse group in the area is lizards with 23 species, followed by snakes with 18 species and the testudines with one species. The most diverse families are Colubridae, Lacertidae with 8 and Gekkonidae with 5 species respectively, followed by Agamidae with 4 species, Viperidae, Boidae and Scincidae with 3 species each, Lamrophiidae and Spherodactylidae with 2 species and 4 families Elapidae, Thyphlopidae, Varanidae and Testudonidae with only one species each.

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Seventeen species of reptiles and one species of amphibians have so far been reported from the Kavir Protected Region in the Kavir desert of Iran. These are Agamura per- sica, Agama a. agilis, Phrynocephalus scutellatus, Phrynocephalus maculatus, Varanus griseus caspius, Eremias andersoni, Eremias persica, Mesalina guttulata watsonana, Eumeces schneiderii princeps, Ophiomorus nuchalis, Coluber k. karelini, Coluber rho- dorhachis ladacensis, Psammophis schokari, Spalerosophis diadema schirazianus, Echis carinatus, Pseudocerastes p. persicus and Bufo kavirensis. A species of Uromastyx, probably U. asmussi, is also registrated from the area. Agama b. blanfordi, Phryno- cephalus helioscopus persicus and Ophisops e. elegans are reported from areas south and west of the Kavir Protected Region but might as weil occur inside it. Some taxo- nomic questions are discussed and data concerning habits and distribution are presented.

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The global struggle to conserve as many species as possible with limited resources requires an improvement of our knowledge on the distribution of biodiversity. In Iran, the state of knowledge is poor for most groups of organisms, except few vertebrate groups and vascular plants. Reptiles are one of the best known, most diverse vertebrate groups in Iran, with a high rate of endemism (ca. 29%), but distribution patterns and related environmental drivers remain poorly understood. In the present study, based on a large publicly available dataset, we use general additive modelling (GAM) to identify explanatory variables for species richness of reptiles in Iran. Results indicate heterogeneity parameters (range +entropy) as the variables with the highest explanatory values. Based on the grid cells of the predicted environmental richness, using hotspot analysis, we suggest seven hotspots of reptile diversity (HRDs) across the country. Our results corroborate the previously recognized HRDs and detect three additional ones, located alongside the major mountain ranges around the central deserts plateau, particularly in the Zagros Mountains. Four of the largest HRDs (ca. 90%) situate within the Irano-Anatolian and Caucasus global biodiversity hotspot. In addition, our results reveal a large gap between identified HRDs and the current network of protected areas (PAs) in the country. While three of the detected HRDs in this study are partially touched (ca. 18%) by the PA network, overall, these areas are only covered by less than 10%. Therefore, the effectiveness of the current PAs for the protection of the reptile diversity of Iran is questionable.

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Etude du régime alimentaire et de ses variations spatiotemporelles chez ces deux lézards qui sont tous deux opportunistes. Le recouvrement global des niches écologiques est élevé, en particulier en juillet. La variabilité et l`hétérogénéité des conditions de milieu pourraient favoriser alternativement chacune des deux populations de telle sorte que l`exclusion compétitive ne puisse jamais se produire

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Twenty species of Reptiles divided into 14 genus and 7 families have been identified from 21 samples of the south of Chott El Djerid. The specific richness seems to decrease on the surroundings of the Chott. The log-normal model shows best the abundance of the distribution observed. In the relation with the pedologic caracteristics of the environment, Reptiles share out themselves between four unities.

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Southern tunisian herpetofauna includes 24 sampled species of Reptiles : 18 of lizards, in 12 genera and 6 families and 6 of snakes, in 5 genera and 2 families. Almost 62 percent of sampled items are related to Acanthodactylus of the southern group (A. inornatus - A. longipes). Highest biodiversities were found close to the Chotts (wetter areas) and in Louara and Dhahars regions (high substratum heterogeneity). Each species occurs only in one or two geomorphologicaly closely related environments. Aridity constraints induce a decreasing in biodiversity : most of the genera having here only one species. Major zoogeographical affinities are Saharo-sindian.

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Un découpage hiérarchisé du territoire tunisien en quatre domaines zoogéographiques a été réalisé à partir de la composition spécifique en Lacertidés de 25 secteurs correspondant aux différentes régions naturelles du pays. La délimitation, les caractéristiques faunistiques, les affinités et l`origine biogéographique du peuplement en Lacertidés de ces quatre entités, sont analysées et discutées.

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The distribution areas of the 14 species of Lacertids in Tunisia are mapped, using our 265 field survey stations scattered all over the country and surveyed from 1974 to 1995. Biotops characteristics are reported. The respective contributions of ecological factors, such as climate, substrate, vegetation overlapping level, interactions between species (competitive exclusion or, on the reverse, syntopic coexistence) are analyzed and graded.

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Each of die 25 natural regions in Tunisia harbour from I to 9 Lacerlids among the 14 species surveyed in this country. The richest regions are the South-western pari of the Tunisian Central Range and the Dhahars mountains in Southern Tunisia. They are ranging between lower semi-arid and upper saharian. In the sandy, lower saharian Far-south, only one species occurs. Geographie variation of the specific diversity and structure of Lacertid communities arc related to bioelimatical affinities and zoogeographical native areas of the species. Main steps in the immigration or local differentiation of Lacertids are reported. Impacts of climatical and biological factors on Lacertid communities arc discussed.

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A new taxonomic checklist is established for the Amphibians and “Reptiles” of Tunisia. In addition to international zoological scientific names, a French scientific name is attributed to each taxon. The Tunisian herpetofauna presently contains seven species of Amphibians and 62 of “Reptiles”.

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The seasonal and local variations of the diet of the lizard Eremias olivieri (Lacertidae) were studied on the Kerkennah islands, off the coast of Tunisia. A total of 247 stomach was examined. The wide range of the food items ingested, and the lack of a close relationship between the size of the prey and that of the predator, emphasizes the dietary opportunism of Eremias olivieri. Such a diet is considered as adaptive to the scarcity of food resources of the semi-desertic environment of the Kerkennah islands.

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Mesalina watsonana is one of the most widely distributed lacertid lizards of Iran. To investigate patterns of sexual dimorphism in this taxon, 206 (99 female, 107 male) adult specimens collected either from various regions of the Iranian Plateau during 2005-2008 or examined from museum collections were studied based suggest that in Mesalina watsonana, body size could be the product of sexual and natural selection modified by ecological factors. Further, in all the studied populations, head size parameter has a more pronounced effect on the degree of sexual dimorphism than the length factors.

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Mesalina watsonana is one of the most widely distributed lacertid lizards of Iran. To in- vestigate patterns of sexual dimorphism in this taxon, 206 (99 female, 107 male) adult specimens collected either from various regions of the Iranian Plateau during 2005-2008 or examined from mu- seum collections were studied based on 19 morphometric and nine meristic characters. The results suggest that in Mesalina watsonana, body size could be the product of sexual and natural selection modified by ecological factors. Further, in all the studied populations, head size parameter has a more pronounced effect on the degree of sexual dimorphism than the length factors.

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This is the first comprehensive review of the reptiles of Mauritania. It includes distributional information and comments. Mauritania harbors 86 species of reptiles belonging to 21 families. Among these families, Colubridae and Lacertidae are the most diverse, with 14 and 13 species respectively. Other families, such as Agamidae, Gekkonidae, Scincidae or Viperidae are also well represented. Among the 80 continental species, 47.5% are Saharan, 33.8% Afrotropical, 16.2% Sahelian and 2.5% Mediterranean. The marine turtles form another important group, with six species. Eight species are excluded from the country list because of old identification errors, there is not enough evidence of their presence or due to changes in political borders. Among the species expected to occur in Mauritania, at least nine may occur in Saharan environments, 13 in the Sahel savannah and two may have been introduced.

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Latastia taylori spec. nov. (fig. 4) Latastia boscai (part) Parker, 1932, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 355 (specs, e-m). Holotype a male, number 1931.7.20.337, in the British Museum, from the Buran Valley, 2500 ft. (10°20`N x 49°E); collected by Capt. R. H. R. Taylor, 17.X.1929. Head flat, depressed, once and three quarters as long as broad, its depth a little less than the distance between the tip of the snout and the anterior corner of the eye, and its length contained 4.25 times in the length from snout to vent. Nostril pierced between four shields; upper nasals forming a suture half the length of the fronto-nasal which is a little broader than long and broader than the internarial space; prefrontals forming a median suture shorter than that between the nasals; frontal not grooved, a little longer than its distance from the rostral, once and two thirds as long as broad; interparietal not quite twice as long as broad, in contact with an occipital half its length; 4 supraoculars, the first divided into two, second and third large and subequal, fourth very small; a row of granules separating the supra- oculars from the 5 supraciliaries. Lower eyelid scaly, translucent. Rostral not entering the nostril ; two superposed post-nasals, the lower in contact with the first and second labials ; anterior loreal half as long as the second; five or six labials anterior to the subocular, which is much narrowed on the lip and separated by two scales from the pos- terior loreal ; lateral edge of the parietal bordered by 3 elongate, narrow scales, of which the anterior is much the longest; anterior margin of the ear bordered by 3 or 4 scales of which the uppermost is the largest. Four pairs of chin-shields, the first 3 in contact and the last the largest; 31 gular scales between the chin-shields and the collar which has about nine scales on its edge, the median very large and the laterals grading into the granules of the neck. Dorsal scales oval, or subhexagonal, flat and smooth, in 39 series across the middle of the body and in 105 series between the occipital and the base of the tail (vertically over the vent) ; twenty-two in a transverse series between the hind limbs. Ven- trals in six longitudinal series, with straight posterior borders, the two median series much narrower than the others; no group of small pec- torals; twenty-five transverse series of ventrals; one very large preanal bordering the vent, preceded by another, but much smaller, shield. A series of enlarged plates beneath the fore-arm; upper tibial scales small, imbricate, keeled; ten or eleven femoral pores on each side; sub- digital lamellae strongly bicarinate 26 beneath the fourth toe. Caudal scales in equal whorls, oblique and strongly keeled above, smooth be- neath. Tip of the fourth toe reaching to midway between the arm and the ear. Pale reddish brown above and on the tail, faintly marbled with grey anteriorly and on the head; flanks anteriorly and side of the neck with very irregular brown and greyish-white vertical marblings. Lower sur- faces uniform white. Length from snout to vent 43 mm. Fore-limb 13 mm. Hind-limb 26 mm. Tail (regenerated in part) 87 mm. The following specimens are paratypes of this species: 1931.7.20.339 9 2000 ft. 10°15`N x 49°E 13.1.1930 1931.7.20.338 9 20 ft. 11°14`N x 49°E 3.XII.1929 1931.7.20.340-342 3 & & 2000 ft. 9°40`N x 49°E [Ex. Field Mus.j 8.II.1930 19317.20.335-336 d 9 3100-3300 ft. 10°13`N x 48°46`E 8.1.1930 This series shows the following variations from the holotype: The head may be once and two thirds as long as broad, and its depth equal to the distance from the snout to the eye; supraciliaries 5 to 7; one or two scales between the posterior loreal and the subocular; 5 or 6 labials anterior to the subocular; dorsals in 36 to 41 series across the middle of the body; ventrals in 23 to 26 transverse series; gular scales 28 to 32; plates in the collar 5 to 7; femoral pores 9 to 12; subdigital lamellae beneath the fourth toes 24 to 27. The fourth toe extends to some point between the shoulder and the middle of the neck. The colour is usually olive, almost uniform, but with traces of lighter marblings anteriorly and on the sides of the neck and anterior part of the flanks, the latter having a tendency towards the formation of verti- cal bars. The subcaudal scales are smooth proximally, but keeled dis- tally and an unregenerated tail is a little more than twice as long as the distance from snout to vent. These specimens were originally believed to be all immature, but a female of 42 mm. from snout to vent is pregnant and the species ap- pears to be consistently smaller than boscai. It is closely allied to the latter but may be distinguished by its broader, natter dorsal scales, the absence of a frontal groove and different colour; it appears to be restricted to the north-eastern districts of Somaliland from the Sol Haud to the coast, an area close to that in which the strongly striped L. boscai burii also occurs (fig. 4).

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Ultraviolet (UV) vision and UV colour patches have been reported in a wide range of taxa and are increasingly appreciated as an integral part of vertebrate visual perception and communication systems. Previous studies with Lacertidae, a lizard family with diverse and complex coloration, have revealed the existence of UV-reflecting patches that may function as social signals. However, confirmation of the signalling role of UV coloration requires demonstrating that the lizards are capable of vision in the UV waveband. Here we use a multidisciplinary approach to characterize the visual sensitivity of a diverse sample of lacertid species. Spectral transmission measurements of the ocular media show that wavelengths down to 300 nm are transmitted in all the species sampled. Four retinal oil droplet types can be identified in the lacertid retina. Two types are pigmented and two are colourless. Fluorescence microscopy reveals that a type of colourless droplet is UV-transmitting and may thus be associated with UV-sensitive cones. DNA sequencing shows that lacertids have a functional SWS1 opsin, very similar at 13 critical sites to that in the presumed ancestral vertebrate (which was UV-sensitive) and other UV-sensitive lizards. Finally, males of Podarcis muralis are capable of discriminating between two views of the same stimulus that differ only in the presence/absence of UV radiance. Taken together, these results provide convergent evidence of UV vision in lacertids, very likely by means of an independent photopigment. Moreover, the presence of four oil droplet types suggests that lacertids have a four-cone colour vision system.

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Many animals display complex colour patterns that comprise several adjacent, often contrasting colour patches. Combining patches of complementary colours increases the overall conspicuousness of the complex pattern, enhancing signal detection. Therefore, selection for conspicuousness may act not only on the design of single colour patches, but also on their combination. Contrasting long- and short-wavelength colour patches are located on the ventral and lateral surfaces of many lacertid lizards. As the combination of long- and short-wavelength-based colours generates local chromatic contrast, we hypothesized that selection may favour the co-occurrence of lateral and ventral contrasting patches, resulting in complex colour patterns that maximize the overall conspicuousness of the signal. To test this hypothesis we performed a comparative phylogenetic study using a categorical colour classification based on spectral data and descriptive information on lacertid coloration collected from the literature. Our results demonstrate that conspicuous ventral (long wavelength-based) and lateral (short wavelength-based) colour patches co-occur throughout the lacertid phylogeny more often than expected by chance, especially in the subfamily Lacertini. These results suggest that selection promotes the evolution of the complex pattern rather than the acquisition of a single conspicuous colour patch, possibly due to the increased conspicuousness caused by the combination of colours with contrasting spectral properties.

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Some basic aspects of the ecology of five lacertid lizards inhabiting the desert area of Tafilalet, in south-eastern Morocco, are considered: Mesalina guttulata, occupying almost exclusively the hammada habitat; Mesalina olivieri, Acanthodactylus boskianus and Acanthodactylus scutellatus found on sand and bare-ground reg; and Acanthodactylus longipes, inhabiting the sand-dune habitat, the erg. Acanthodactylus scutellatus, A. boskianus, A. longipes and M. olivieri had a bimodal diel activity pattern; in M. guttulata daily activity was centred on the morning hours. All species exhibit fairly precise thermoregulation with a strong relation between body and substratum temperature, particularly for species occupying softer substrata. Mesalina guttulata had a diverse diet during both seasons observed, while in the remaining species termites and ants formed the bulk of the food. The foraging behaviour, diet and ecological characteristics of Lacertidae from the Tafilalet, especially the genus Acanthodactylus, seem to be optimal for the challenging environmental conditions of this desert area. The implications of the foraging strategy of Tafilalet`s Acanthodactylus for other species of the genus are discussed.

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Foraging strategy was observed in five species of Israeli lacertid lizards in the field. Acanthodactylus scutellatus is a sit-and-wait strategist, whereas A. boskianus, A. schreiberi, Lacerta laevis and Mesalina guttulata forage widely. However, the actual values differed from those reported by Huey and Pianka (1981) for Kalahari lacertids, possibly indicating the existence of a continuum of foraging modes. Foraging intensity (proportion of time spent moving or frequency of moves) is positively correlated to relative tail length, and negatively correlated to relative clutch mass. Additional possible correlates are discussed, and some cautionary remarks added.

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Mesalina is a genus of small xeric lizards currently comprising 19 species distributed from West Africa throughout the Saharo-Sindian deserts to the Indo-Iranian plateau. Previous phylogenetic studies highlighted the presence of cryptic diversity within the genus and described new Mesalina species from its eastern lineages. In this study, we investigated the taxonomy and systematics within the Mesalina olivieri species complex, focusing on the Atlantic Sahara (from Morocco to Mauritania). The species complex is currently represented by three recognised species, all of them present in this region: M. olivieri, M. pasteuri and M. simoni. Using an integrative taxonomy approach based on morphological (pholidotic, coloration and pattern) and molecular (one mtDNA and four nuDNA markers) datasets, we provide robust evidences for the existence of additional taxa within the M. olivieri complex is provided, including an undescribed species in Mauritania. Mesalina sp. nov. . All M. olivieri that cluster together with M. simoni were proposed to be included as subspecies of the latter (M. simoni ssp. nov.). The clade including Mesalina sp. nov. and M. simoni diverged from M. olivieri and M. pasteuri around 9.5 Mya whereas these two latter species separated 1 or 2 Mya later in the end of the Miocene. The combined analyses supported a new classification of the Mesalina olivieri species complex into four extant species. The new species is sympatric with M. pasteuri in Mauritania but it is phylogenetically and morphologically divergent from it. Species distribution modelling suggests that the new taxon occurs exclusively in the rocky areas of the Adrar Atar plateau and neighbouring regions. The relatively wide but fragmented distribution of Mesalina sp. nov. suggests that its conservation status is Least Concern (LC).

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Numerous molecular studies emphasized how past climatic oscillations in the Sahara-Sahel have left strong imprints on current biodiversity patterns and identified the Atlantic coast and the Northwest African Mountains as refugia and speciation hotspots. Yet, the biodiversity inventory in the region is still far from complete. We use an integrative taxonomy framework to revise the systematics of the Mesalina olivieri species complex; integrating molecular, morphological, and environmental data, we evaluated levels of genetic and phenotypic differentiation among species/lineages and revised the species distribution limits of the M. olivieri complex, refining the distribution of Mesalina simoni, and Mesalina pasteuri. Our study confirmed one previously unidentified speciation event, leading to the description of Mesalina adrarensis sp. nov. Together with this new species, we also describe the south-western Moroccan populations of M. olivieri as Mesalina simoni saharae ssp. nov. Mesalina adrarensis sp. nov. is sympatric with M. pasteuri and parapatric with M. simoni saharae ssp. nov. in Mauritania and southern Morocco. Based on our revised taxonomy, M. simoni now includes most populations of the M. olivieri complex in Morocco, M. olivieri being restricted in Morocco to the east and southeast of the country. We also build on these results to provide further insight on the biogeography of North Africa. Our results point to a diversification of the complex during the late Miocene, that led to the formation of the four species M. simoni, M. olivieri, M. pasteuri, and M. adrarensis sp. nov. After these four speciation events, high intraspecific diversification processes occurred since the beginning of the Plio-Pleistocene transition, in parallel with the beginning of the humid and arid cycles. Through our phylogenetic analysis, we highlight the existence of high levels of undescribed intraspecific diversity in M. olivieri and M. pasteuri that will need to be addressed in future studies. Moreover, we uncover instances of cytonuclear discordances, stressing the need of considering both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA for integrative taxonomic studies to explore biodiversity.

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We have studied the terrestrial reptile fauna of the northwest Yazd province (Iran) and present here some of the characters that we examined for common species in the region. In total, 50 specimens from eight families (six lizard families and two snake families) were collected from the region. The collected lizards belonging to 13 species were Laudakia nupta, Phrynocephalus maculatus, Phrynocephalus scutellatus, and Trapelus agilis (Agamidae); Agamura persica and Bunopus crassicaudus (Gekkonidae), Teratoscincus bedriagai (Sphaerodactylidae); Eremias fasciata, Eremias persica, Mesalina watsonana, and Ophisops elegans (Lacertidae); Varanus griseus (Varanidae), and finally Uromastix asmussi belonging to the Uromastycidae. The two species of snakes were Spalerosophis diadema schiraziana (Colubridae) and Psammophis schokari (Lamprophiidae). Based on these results, Agamidae and Lacertidae are the families with highest number of genera and the genera Eremias and Phrynocephalus had the most species. Among the collected lizards, Trapelus agilis, Mesalina watsonana, and Bunopus crassicaudus were the most abundant species in the northwest Yazd province.

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The integration of spatial area prioritization algorithms and species distribution modelling has shown great promise in conservation planning in recent years. However, despite the fact that reptiles and amphibians have the highest threat status of all terrestrial vertebrates, these species are often under-represented in conservation planning. The Kingdom of Morocco possesses the richest and most varied herpetofauna in the Maghreb and the western Mediterranean, and is characterized by high species richness, endemism and number of European relict species. Despite the fact that Moroccan reptiles and amphibians have been the subject of numerous studies by a large number of international herpetologists since the beginning of the 20th century, few or none of these concerned their conservation. This study had three main objectives: (1) to identify those areas that harbour the highest species richness; (2) to evaluate the existing and proposed future ‘important biological and ecological sites’ (SIBES) conservation area network (CAN) with respect to their ability to protect the herpetofauna adequately; and (3) to identify priority areas into which the existing protected areas can be augmented. We used maximum-entropy species distribution modelling to run distribution models for 11 amphibian and 86 reptile species (27.6% endemics and 12.4% threatened) for which we had 2,170 single geographic records. A total of 97 models were used to create a richness map of the Moroccan her- petofauna and thereby detect both areas of high species richness and the distribution patterns of individual species. This map was subsequently used as a basis for performance evaluation of the CAN and area prioritization using the ConsNet conservation planning software initialized by ‘‘Rarity’’ first, while using representation targets of 5% and 10%. Additionally, the proposed future Moroccan CAN (SIBES) was evaluated in terms of its overlay and proximity with ConsNet solutions using visual interpretation and distance measurements in a GIS. Our results show that Moroccan herpetofauna is poorly protected under the existing and future CAN. Prioritization of areas shows that a major increase in conservation area is required to guarantee the persistence of individual herpetofauna species even with a global minimum representation target of only 10%. An increase of the existing CAN is especially needed along parts of the Atlantic coast, in the north-western Mediterranean region, on the north-eastern Moroccan coast, as well as in several areas in the Sahara, notably vast proportions of the Valle ́e du Haut and Bas Draˆa.

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The Arsanjan county has various habitat types (grasslands, mountains, rocky and shrubbery areas) that is located northeast of Fars Province, Iran. The herpetofauna of Arsanjan county is unclear and there is no biosystematic study so far. The aim of the present study is to investigate the lizard’s fauna of Arsanjan. The study area is located between the coordinates as follow: 29°38` _ 30°00` N and 53°07` _ 53°43` E. All the specimens were collected in different regions of Arsanjan county during this survey from 2018 to 2020. Specimens were identified according to the valuable resources. The collected specimens represented ten species, nine genera and four families including: Large scaled rock agama (Laudakia nupta), Brilliant ground agama (Trapelus agilis) and Horny scaled agama (Trapelus ruderatus) (Agamidae); Keeled rock gecko (Cytopodion scabrum) (Gekkonidae); Snake-eyed Lizard (Ophisops elegans), Persian long tailed lizard (Mesalina watsonana), Persian racerunner (Eremias persica) and Zagrosian lizard (Timon princeps) (Lacertidae); Schneider Skink (Eumeces schneiderii) and southern grass skink (Heremites septemtaeniatus) (Scincidae). Among the identified species Timon princeps is a new record from the area.

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An updated checklist of the herpetofauna of Iran is presented based on records of amphibian and reptile species whose presence has been confirmed in Iran as a result of extensive field expeditions, examination of herpetological collections, literature review, and personal communications from researchers. The herpetofauna of Iran consists of 13 species and five subspecies of frogs and toads belonging to five genera and four families, eight species of salamanders belonging to four genera and two families, nine species and six subspecies of turtles, terrapins and tortoises belonging to nine genera and six families, one species of crocodile, one species of amphisbaenian, more than 125 species of lizards belonging to 36 genera and eight families as well as 79 species of snakes belonging to 37 genera and six families

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The genus Mesalina Gray 1838 is a holophyletic genus within the Lacertidae, mostly occurring in the Saharo-Sindian region as well as North Africa. This genus encompasses 13-14 species, 2-3 of which occurring in Iran. The Iranian species of Mesalina are as follows: Mesalina watsonana, M. brevirostris and, most likely, M. gutulatta. Of these, M. watsonana is widely distributed, occurring in most parts of the Iranian Plateau. Based on extensive study and research, systematics and distribution of the Iranian Plateau species of Mesalina are discussed and their distribution maps are given.

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Algeria is situated at the crossroads between Europe and Africa. The northern part of the country is listed as an area of high biodiversity. Currently, the ecosystems (rivers, lakes, deserts, forests etc.) and the species are under more pressure than ever. The impact of humans is significant and many factors constitute a strong threat to this fauna, especially reptiles, which are the most vulnerable because of their low mobility. Thus, pollution, the drying up of wetlands and their conversion to agriculture have clearly affected the existence of many species. The herpetofauna of Algeria is one of the most diversified in the Mediterranean Basin, consisting of 104 species of which 16.98% are endemic. We suppose that the present list of reptilian fauna provided in this paper is not exhaustive and it is expected to include more species given the lack of research on reptiles in Algeria and its large area. Our dataset contains information on reptile occurrences in Algeria. The dataset is based on original research by the staff of the Laboratory of Environmental Sciences and Agroecology of Chadli Bendjedid University in Algeria. The conservation status of all recorded species is given.

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While the stability of sex chromosomes is widely accepted in viviparous mammals and birds, ectothermic vertebrates are still largely viewed as having frequent turnovers in sex determining systems. Frequent changes in sex determining systems in ectotherms could be problematic for field ecological studies as well as for breeding programs, as molecular sexing across a phylogenetically widespread spectrum of ectothermic vertebrates would not be possible. However, we recently documented that sex determining systems in three important reptile lineages (caenophidian snakes, iguanas, and lacertid lizards) are in fact highly conserved. 2.We applied a new molecular procedure to identify sex within each of these three lineages (encompassing altogether around 4,000 species, i.e. nearly 50% of the recent species of reptiles). This technique uses quantitative PCR (qPCR) to compare copy numbers of genes specific for their respective Z (in caenophidian snakes and lacertids) and X (in iguanas) chromosomes between male and female genomes. The DNA samples required can be collected relatively non-invasively. Unlike molecular sexing based on repetitive elements, this technique can be easily applied to previously unstudied species of these lineages, as the number of copies of protein coding genes linked to the differentiated sex chromosomes is evolutionary highly conserved in each. 3.We suggest that qPCR-based molecular sexing using the comparison of gene copy number is a practical choice for non-model species of caenophidian snakes, iguanas and lacertids. Morever, it should also soon be available for other reptile lineages with differentiated sex chromosomes.

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Fifty-three species of reptiles occur in Turkmenistan, of which 25 inhabit lowlands and 28 occur in plains and mountains. The species composition of reptiles in seven natural regions of Turkmenistan is discussed; the fauna of the sandy and clay desert is the richest. Seven species of reptiles`-occur in high density (from 10 to 71 per hectare), 30 species are frequent (1 to 10 per ha.) and 16 species are rare (0.2 to 1 per ha.). The fauna i3 subjected to a zoogeographical analysis.

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This study was carried out in El Omayed Protected Area at the Western Coastal Desert of Egypt. The present survey of the herpetofauna comprise 30 species (one amphibian species and 29 reptilian species) belonging to 25 genera and 11 families. Bufo viridis viridis was the only recorded amphibian species. From reptiles, 18 species of lizards, 9 species of snakes, and 2 species of Testudines were recorded. No endemic species were found in the study area. About half of the recorded species (43%) are threatened by different degrees and in argent need of special management; Threats to the populations of herpetofauna of the study area and conservatory recommendations were listed.

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We present an annotated checklist for a total 241 reptiles and 22 amphibians including 5 frogs, 9 toads, 7 newts and salamanders, 1 crocodile, 1 worm lizard, 148 lizards, 79 snakes and 12 turtles and tortoises, includes the most scientific literature up to August 2014 and also based on several field surveys conducted in different Provinces of Iran from 2009 to 2014. We present an up-to-dated checklist of reptiles and amphibians in Iran. We provide a comprehensive listing of taxonomy, names, distribution and conservation status of all amphibians and reptiles of Iran. This checklist includes all recognized named taxa, English names for classes, orders, families, species, subspecies along with Persian names for species, including indication of native and introduced species. For the first time we report two non-native introduced reptiles from natural habitats of Iran. Of the total 22 species of amphibians in Iran, 6 (27.2%) are endemic and of the total 241 species of reptiles, 55 (22.8%) are endemic. Of the 22 amphibians species in Iran, 3 (13%) are Critically Endangered, 2 (9%) are Vulnerable and of the 241 reptile species 3 (1.2%) are Critically Endangered, 4 (1.6%) are Endangered and 10 (4.1%) are Vulnerable. Accordingly, this paper combines significant aspects of taxonomy, common names, conservation status and distribution of the Iranian herpetofauna.

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Evaluating flagship species and their potential for biological preservation and ecotourism development is a key issue for many audiences within the conservation and social fields. Despite several methods available to identify flagships, their application is often constrained in remote, poorly studied regions. Developments are needed in statistical and spatially-explicit approaches to assess species` traits influencing flagship appealing, to identify flagship fleets, and to map the location of flagship hotspots. Here, we developed a new method to identify flagship species in regions with knowledge gaps, using a two-stage statistical approach (ordination and clus- tering algorithms) to assess variable`s contribution to appealing and to group species sharing similar char- acteristics into flagship fleets. We then mapped areas concentrating the highest richness of flagships. Unique morphologies and behaviours, conservation status, endemicity, body size and weight, and feeding habits were the traits contributing the most to the flagship appealing. Nine flagship fleets were identified, from which two were the most suitable for conservation marketing and ecotourism promotion campaigns in Sahara-Sahel: Fleet A comprising 36 large-bodied species (18 mammals, 18 reptiles) and Fleet B including 70 small-bodied species (10 birds, six mammals, 54 reptiles). A total of 19 and 16 hotspots were identified for large-bodied and small-bodied flagships, respectively. The methodology was suitable to identify flagship species for conservation marketing and for developing ecotourism operations in the Sahara-Sahel, to independently assess which species` traits are re- levant for flagship appealing, and to organise fleets for multispecies-based marketing campaigns. The framework is scalable and replicable worldwide.

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Vertebrate fauna of the protected semiarid zones in the south west of Catalonia.— This work describes fauna and habitats within the semiarid zones in the south west of Catalonia, bordering with Monegros. The fauna in the Peins area is studied and an approximation of the vertebrate species therein is given. As parts of the area surveyed are legally protected, their future is considered stable. The eight areas studied include steppe zones, chalky mountain ranges bordering the pre-Pyrenean region, Pinus halepensis forest and a dam.

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The herpetological map presented in this paper shows the distribution and abundance of the reptiles in Turkmenistan. The country is divided into 17 complexes and the 84 species and subspecies found in Turmkmeistan are listed as occurring in mountains, plains, or both.

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Herpetological surveys were carried out by RESETAR (1981) between September 25, 1981 and December 12, 1981 and by myself from April 1, 1983 to August 30, 1983. In this final report all species of amphibians and reptiles collected in Kouf National Park and its adjacent areas are mentioned and the data, descriptions and wildlife observations, together with the distributional maps of the herptiles of the park area, are compiled. - In the proposed 100,000 ha park area 2 amphibian, 3 turtle, 10 lizard and 7 snake species were found and described. For the adjacent areas, surrounding the region of the watershed, 1 further turtle species (Testudo [P.] kleinmanni), 2 further lizard species (Stenodactylus sthenodactylus sthenodactylus, Eumeces schneideri algeriensis) und 2 further snake species (Spalerosophis diadema, Cerastes sp.) could be added. General descriptions and information on the park are given, and ecological data summarize the information on the biology of the species mentioned.

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Two species of Arabian desert racer (Mesalina) are known from Tunisia: Mesalina guttulata and Mesalina olivieri. A short description of the species is followed by information on distribution, ecology, behaviour and reproduction.

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In this paper, the evolution and ecology of directional asymmetry (DA) during the developmental trajectory (DT) is compared with that of its product, morphological DA (MDA). DT and MDA are calculated for two bilateral morphological scale characters of lizards, the number of subdigital lamellae beneath the fourth toe in 10 agamid and 28 lacertid taxa, and the number of rows of ventral scales in 12 lacertid taxa. MDA, the subtraction between left and right sides (classical measure of DA), is functional in adult animals. Results confirm the hypodiesis that, in DT, the regression parameters a (constant) and b (regression slope) of counts on the right side with those on the left describe a developmental process. No phylogenetic or environmental effects were observed on a and b, but analyses considering both a and b together show non-random phyletic patterns. Independent analyses deduced the same ancestral DT in Agamidae and Lacertidae. In Lacertidae, distance between pairs of taxa in a + b (standardized values) correlates positively with die phylogenetic distance between taxa. Phyletic trends in MDA are indirect, and due to the link of MDA with a + b. The MDA of species is more dissimilar in sympatry than in allopatry. The phyletic trends suggest evolution of DT, while die association of MDA witii sympatry suggests that ecological pressures shape MDA in adult animals. Evolution of DT is independent from tiiat of its product, MDA–adaptive determinism defines the result of, but not the mechanistic process of, development. Deterministic environmental processes define MDA, and deterministic evolutionary processes define the interactive result of a and b, but not each separately. According to circumstances, different DTs produce similar or different MDA, and a particular DT can produce different MDAs.

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The geographical distribution of reptiles is known to be climate dependent. Our analysis of literature data from the Palearctic confirmed that snakes, as a group (186 species), tend to extend further to the north, into cooler climate, than lizards (460 species). This has also been reported for the Nearctic. On a smaller scale, as a model, we investigated the expansion of reptiles from the warm southern desert of Israel northwards along the Jordan valley into cooler climate, based on 587 locality records of 17 species. It transpired that the snakes significantly extend further to the north than the lizards, paralleling and exemplifying the global scale. The ability of snakes to inhabit relatively cooler climates appears to accord with three physiological traits of snakes: lower optimal body temperatures, absence of temperature-dependent sex determination, and ability to thrive on infrequent meals.

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The latest changes in the taxonomy of amphibians and reptiles are analyzed in the work, among them, in particular, toads, frogs, tortoises, geckoes, agamas, lacertids, boas and colubrids. A new list is published, which provides information for 100 species and subspecies: 6 species of amphibians and 94 species of reptiles (6 turtles, 58 lizards, 30 snakes). The conservation status of reptiles in Turkmenistan was revised according to the IUCN assessments.

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The work provides new information on the distribution and abundance of reptiles in some landscapes of Turkmenistan. The results of the study are following: the registration of new records to clarify the distribution; the discovery of the Afghan awl-headed snake (Lythorhynchus ridgewyi) on the Kaplankyr chink, which moves the boundary of the species distribution from the previously known nearest places (in the vicinity of the village of Kukurtli (former Sulfur Plant) and from the solonchak hollows of Unguz (Shestopal, Akgaev, 2013) to 220 km to the north-west; sunwatcher living in the north of Turkmenistan is identified as nominate subspecies — Phrynocephalus helioscopus helioscopus. Data on the number of reptiles are provided, the most interesting of them are observations in the southern part of the Sarykamysh depression. The density of desert species such as Trapelus sanguinolentus aralensis) and (Eremias intermedia) is twice higher and for Eremias lineolata is 20-times higher in comparison with adjoining territories.

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The lacertid lizards of the genus Mesalina inhabit the arid regions of the Old World, from North Africa to NW India. Of the 19 recognized species within the genus, eleven occur in Arabia. In this study, we explore the genetic variability and phylogeographic patterns of the less studied M. adramitana group from southern Arabia and the Socotra Archipelago within the phylogenetic and biogeographic context of the entire genus. Our unprecedented sampling extends the distribution ranges of most Mesalina species and, for the first time, sequences of M. ayunensis are included in a phylogenetic analysis. We perform analyses of concatenated multilocus datasets and species trees, conduct species delimitation analyses, and estimate divergence times within a biogeographic framework. Additionally, we inferred the environmental suitability and identified dispersal corridors through which gene flow is enabled within M. adramitana. Our results show that the Socotra Archipelago was colonized approximately 7 Mya by a single oversea colonization from mainland Arabia. Then, an intra-archipelago dispersal event that occurred approximately 5 Mya resulted in the speciation between M. balfouri, endemic to Socotra, Samha and Darsa Islands, and M. kuri, endemic to Abd al Kuri Island. Similar to previous studies, we uncovered high levels of genetic diversity within the M. adramitana species-group, with two highly divergent lineages of M. adramitana living in allopatry and adapted to locally specific climatic conditions that necessitate further investigation.

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This book shows a comprehensive picture of the reptiles, excluding snakes, living in Europe, North Africa, Middle and Near East and Central Asia. The bulk of the book is an annotated checklist and a distributional atlas of approx 500 species of lizards, crocodiles, turtles and terrapins, and amphisbaenians, living in the Western Palearctic. Information on distribution, subspecies, chorotype and main references are provided for each species, as well as 226 colour maps showing the global distribution of the species on a grid of one degree. For each species map the bibliographic and original sources (more than 850 sources are listed) are indicated. A further 83 maps show the distribution of all genera and main species groups of Palearctic reptiles. Beside the checklist and the atlas, in some additional chapters the following arguments are treated: Materials and methods; status of knowledge on the Palearctic fauna; composition of the Western Palearctic reptile fauna (including a statement on biodiversity and species richness); descriptive biogeography (including a discussion on the Palearctic region boundaries based on reptile distribution and the herpeto-geographic sectors of the Western Palearctic); conservation status. A list of more than 730 references quoted in the text and high quality colour plates including photos of the most of the supraspecific taxa living in the study area completes the book.

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Mesalina are small diurnal lacertid lizards inhabiting arid areas from North Africa to northwestern India. Previous phylo- genetic studies have shown the existence of several species complexes within the genus, some of them with high levels of undiscovered diversity. In the present study, we carry out an integrative systematic revision of the Mesalina guttulata spe- cies complex using both molecular and morphological data from across its entire distribution range in North Africa, the Middle East and Arabia. The results of the genetic analyses indicate that M. guttulata and M. bahaeldini are two allopatric sister taxa separated by the Suez Canal and that the species complex includes a further three unnamed deep phylogenetic lineages, two of them restricted to southern and southwestern Arabia and described herein as Mesalina austroarabica sp. nov. and Mesalina arnoldi sp. nov., respectively. As a result of the lack of enough material, the third deep lineage, distrib- uted across Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, is provisionally left undescribed. The two newly described species are char- acterized by their size, scale counts and tail coloration, as well as differences at the three mitochondrial and one nuclear gene analyzed in the present study.

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The lacertid lizard Mesalina watsonana is widely distributed on the Iranian plateau where it is one of the most common lizards. However, the intraspecific variability and the phylogenetic position of this species within the genus still remain unknown. We sequenced a 715bp long fragment of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene from lizards sampled in 10 localities covering the Iranian distribution range of the species. We identified four distinct and geographically isolated clades with an average genetic divergence between them ranging from 9.8 to 13.1% (p-distance) which is comparable to the values of genetic distance commonly reported between Lacertidae species. Analyses combining data from recently published phylogeny of the genus Mesalina with our dataset confirmed the monophyly of M. watsonana. The isolation of this species from the rest of the genus points out the important role of the Zagros Mountains uplift during the Miocene. It is possible that this geological event participated on the isolation of the ancestor of M. watsonana from the rest of the Mesalina lizards and together with the upheaval of the whole Iranian plateau provided suitable environmental conditions for rapid diversification of this species.

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Mesalina are small lacertid lizards occurring in the Saharo-Sindian deserts from North Africa to the east of the Iranian plateau. Earlier phylogenetic studies indicated that there are several species complexes within the genus and that thorough taxonomic revisions are needed. In this study, we aim at resolving the phylogeny and taxonomy of the M. brevirostris species complex distributed from the Middle East to the Arabian/Persian Gulf region and Pakistan. We sequenced three mitochondrial and three nuclear gene fragments, and in combination with species delimitation and species-tree estimation, we infer a time-calibrated phylogeny of the complex. The results of the genetic analyses support the presence of four clearly delimited species in the complex that diverged approximately between the middle Pliocene and the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary. Species distribution models of the four species show that the areas of suitable habitat are geographically well delineated and nearly allopatric, and that most of the species have rather divergent environmental niches. Morphological characters also confirm the differences between the species, although sometimes minute. As a result of all these lines of evidence, we revise the taxonomy of the Mesalina brevirostris species complex. We designate a lectotype for Mesalina brevirostris Blanford, 1874; resurrect the available name Eremias bernoullii Schenkel, 1901 from the synonymy of M. brevirostris; elevate M. brevirostris microlepis (Angel, 1936) to species status; and describe Mesalina saudiarabica, a new species from Saudi Arabia.

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We present a comprehensive summary of the distribution of the lizards of Iran accompanied by an annotated checklist. The updated maps of distribution of all 146 species of 41 genera of 11 families are based on all available bibliographic records, catalogues of museum collections and our own field observations. The final dataset used for the distribution maps contains 8525 georeferenced records and cover 41% of the country when plotted on a grid of 0.25° × 0.25° resolution. The dataset is publicly accessible through GBIF portal (http://www.gbif.org/dataset/7db4f705-61ae-4c6e-9de2-06674e7d46b2). Following the latest biogeographic division of the country, ~53% of the species (76 species) inhabit the Iranian Province, ~41% (60 species) the Western Asian mountain transition zone, ~9% (13 species) the Turanian Province, and ~18% (27 species) the Arabian Province. In addition, ~2% (3 species) reach Iran from the Indo-Malay biogeographic region and ~2% (3 species) are believed to have been introduced to Iran by humans. Endemic species (46) represent ~32% of the known species diversity. The most species-rich family of lizards in Iran is Lacertidae with 47 species, followed by Gekkonidae (41), Agamidae (18), Scincidae (15), Phyllodactylidae (10), Sphaerodactylidae (4), Eublepharidae and Uromastycidae (3), Anguidae and Varanidae (2), and Trogonophidae with one representative.

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Aim: Deserts are generally perceived as areas of low diversity, and hence receive little attention from researchers and conservationists. Squamates are the dominant group of vertebrates in arid regions, and as such represent an ideal model to study biodiversity patterns in these areas. We examine spatial patterns of diversity, evolutionary history and endemism of terrestrial squamates of the Arabian Peninsula and test hypotheses on the role of topography and history of isolation so as to identify possible environmental drivers of diversification. Location: The Arabian Peninsula. Taxon: Squamate reptiles (Squamata; lizards and snakes). Methods: We generated distribution maps for all Arabian squamate species (including yet undescribed) and reconstructed their phylogenetic relationships using existing and newly produced genetic data for nearly all the species. We assessed patterns of the distribution of species richness, phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic en demism across the peninsula to identify areas that could be considered evolutionary or endemicity hotspots for squamates. We evaluated community turnover across the peninsula and assessed the possible environmental drivers affecting the diversity of Arabian squamates in a regression framework. Results: The main hotspots of Arabian squamate diversity are mostly along the mountains that rim the peninsula while the most arid, central regions support a low diversity of species. The distribution of the phylogenetic diversity mirrors that of the species richness. Phylogenetic endemism is also highest in the mountains, especially when only endemic species are analysed. The deserts of northern Arabia are poor in terms of species richness and they show low connectivity to the peninsular communities. Topographic heterogeneity is the strongest predictor for Arabian squamates, followed by elevation. There is no correlation between richness and temperature. Main conclusions: The mountains of Arabia support rich and unique squamate communities that are dominated by local radiations of closely related and narrow-ranging species. In particular, the Asir Mountains of SW Arabia, Dhofar Province of Oman and the Hajar Mountains of northern Oman and UAE show unprecedented levels of squamate endemism and phylogenetic endemism. While many generalist species range across Arabia, a low number of species is shared between the peninsula and mainland Asia, indicating an effective isolation of the Arabian fauna. Squamate richness is highest in heterogeneous, topographically complex habitats.

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Five species of geckos (Bunopus tuberculatus, Crytodacylus scaber, Hemidactylus flavivirdis, H. turcicus, and Pristurus rupestris), one lizard species (Mesalina brevirostris) and three snake species (Eryx jayakari, Coluber ventromaculatus and Psammophis schokari) were recorded on a total of 13 islands during a herpetological survey conducted in 2003-2004 in the Arabian Gulf, Abu Dhabi Emirate. The distribution and abundance of these species is also described in detail. Bunopus tuberculatus and Mesalina brevirostris are more commonly distributed on the islands and the remaining gecko species are limited only to certain islands, whilst the three snake species were recorded only on one island.

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This paper provides an updated checklist of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) native and alien herpetofauna. The UAE, while largely a desert country with a hyper-arid climate, also has a range of more mesic habitats such as islands, mountains, and wadis. As such it has a diverse native herpetofauna of at least 72 species as follows: two amphibian species (Bufonidae), five marine turtle species (Cheloniidae [four] and Dermochelyidae [one]), 42 lizard species (Agamidae [six], Gekkonidae [19], Lacertidae [10], Scincidae [six], and Varanidae [one]), a single amphisbaenian, and 22 snake species (Leptotyphlopidae [one], Boidae [one], Colubridae [seven], Hydrophiidae [nine], and Viperidae [four]). Additionally, we recorded at least eight alien species, although only the Brahminy Blind Snake (Ramphotyplops braminus) appears to have become naturalized. We also list legislation and international conventions pertinent to the herpetofauna.

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This study provides the first atlas of the distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the Diawling National Park (DNP), Mauritania. Unpublished fieldwork observations collected between 2010 and 2017 were combined with published records and museum data in a geographical information system to produce maps with the distribution of individual species and species richness. The taxo-nomic list includes 32 species, six amphibians and 26 reptiles, grouped in 17 families. Ten species are new records for the area. Species form distinct groups according to their distribution patterns and preliminary habitat selection trends: 1) species distributed in inland dunes, some extending their range to coastal dunes; 2) species distributed in inland dunes and floodplains; and 3) species associated with habitats that are permanently or seasonally flooded or that inhabit riparian forests. Three areas accumulating most of the species found are located in sand habitats of DNP and pe-ripheral zones. Specific counts of Crocodylus suchus suggest strong seasonal fluctuations in popu-lation size inside DNP, which are likely a consequence of the human-mediated dynamics of water availability in the area.

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This study provides the first atlas of the distribution of reptiles in the Parc National du Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Nature Reserve. Unpublished fieldwork observations collected between 2008 and 2011 were combined with published records and museum data in a Geographical Information System to produce maps with the distribution of individual species and species richness. The taxonomic list of repti- les includes 21 species grouped in eight families. Three species (Stenodactylus mauritanicus, Mesalina pasteuri and Psammophis sibilans) were detected for the first time in the area. Reptiles form distinct groups according to their dis- tribution patterns and preliminary habitat selection trends: 1) species selecting bare areas present throughout the park; 2) species selecting rocky habitats present mostly in the northern areas; and 3) species selecting sandy habitats present mostly in the southern areas. A total of eight areas were identified as of high species richness (N > 8 species), usually presenting species typical of rocky or dune habitats and also species present in open bare areas.

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Elements of the herpetofauna are in the author`s opinion of great importance for the zoogeographical division of the Palaearctic region. It is suggested that this region be divided into the following four subregions: 1/ arctic, 2/ boreal Euro-Siberian, 3/ bo- real Himalayan-Manchurian and 4/ Mediterranean-Central-Asiatic.

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The present paper of N. N. SZCZERBAK was originally published in Russian as `Katalog afrikanskih Jascurok` by the Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology, Museum of Zoology, USSR, Kiev (83 pp., 30 maps) in 1975. Lists of synonyms, bibliography, maps and table of contents - all being parts of the original paper - have not been included in this translation which was carried out with the consent of the author by R. GÜNTHER (Berlin) and H. GRILLITSCH (Vienna). The English summary was taken over as provided in the original version. As a SHORT NOTE in this issue of HERPETOZOA subsequent to the translation comments and updated addenda by W. MAYER are provided indicated by [aa* bb* etc.] in the text.

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The geographic distribution of biodiversity is central to understanding evolutionary biology. Paleogeographic and paleoclimatic histories often help to explain how biogeographic patterns unfold through time. However, such patterns are also influenced by a variety of other factors, such as lineage diversification, that may affect the probability of certain types of biogeographic events. The complex and well-known geologic and climatic history of Afro-Arabia, together with the extensive research on reptile systematics in the region, makes Afro-Arabian squamate communities an ideal system to investigate biogeographic patterns and their drivers. Here, we reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships and the ancestral geographic distributions of several Afro-Arabian reptile clades (totaling 430 species) to estimate the number of dispersal, vicariance and range contraction events. We then compare the observed biogeographic history to a distribution of simulated biogeographic events based on the empirical phylogeny and the best-fit model. This allows us to identify periods in the past where the observed biogeographic history was likely shaped by forces beyond the ones included in the model. We find an increase in vicariance following the Oligocene, most likely caused by the fragmentation of the Afro-Arabian plate. In contrast, we did not find differences between observed and expected dispersal and range contraction levels. This is consistent with diversification enhanced by environmental processes and with the establishment of a dispersal corridor connecting Africa, Arabia and Eurasia since the middle Miocene. Finally, here we show that our novel approach is useful to pinpoint events in the evolutionary history of lineages that might reflect external forces not predicted by the underlying biogeographic model.

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One species of amphibian, the green toad (Bufo viridis oblongus), and 20 species of reptiles, Comprising the Afghan tortoise (Agricnemys horsfieldi), 4 agamid lizards (Agama agilis, A. n. nupta (?), Phrynocephalus mystaceus galli, Ph. scutellatus), 4 gekkonid lizards (Agamura persica, Cyrtodactylus caspius, Teratoscincus bedriagai , T. scincus) , 4 lacertid lizards (Eremias fasciata (?), E. persica, E. v. velox, Meislina guttulata watsonana) , 1 varanid lizard (Varanus griseus caspius), 1 boiid snake (Eryx tataricus), 4 colubrid snakes (Coluber karelini , C. rhodorhachis ladacensis, Psammophis lineolatus, Spalerosophis diadema schiraziana) , and a single viperid snake (Pseudocerastes p. persicus), are documented from the Turan Biosphere Reserve. Collecting data, ecological information, measurements, and relevant observations are given for those forms within the Reserve, and a tentative zoogeographic analysis of the Turan herpetofauna is attempted.

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First report on herpetofauna of Turkmenian Eastern Kopet Dag is present.

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This article gives a complete overview about the reptiles of western Turkmenistan and their zoogeographical relation. The data were obtained by several expeditions during the last years and completed by compilation of the specific herpetological literature about this area. Ten general landscape units are described along a profile from the Central Karakum desert throughout the Malyi Balkhan chains, the Kyurendag Corridor, the Western Kopetdagh to the state border of Iran. The mountain and plain reptile fauna is analyzed. After discussing the faunal element composition of various landscapes, the Western Kopetdagh was included into the South-West Asian province while the Turanian plain and the Malyi Balkhan were included into the Turanian province of the Palearctic.

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This study explores the relationships between recent Iranian lizard species distributions and the observed climate, as well as potential future distributions of species. For this purpose, an ensemble of seven algorithms was used to forecast the distributions of 30 species for the recent and future (2070) based on the averages of 14 global climate models under optimistic (RCP2.6) and pessimistic (RCP8.5) scenarios. Annual precipitation (n= 16) and annual mean temperature (n= 7) were identifed as the most important variables in determining the distribution of 76.66% (23 out of 30) of the species. The consensus model predicts that the ranges of 83.33% of species (n= 25) have the potential to expand poleward at higher latitudes while preserving the majority of their recent distributions (except for four species). Furthermore, the ranges of the remaining species (n= 5) will be preserved at higher latitudes. However, they (n= 22) may contract slightly (n= 13) or excessively (n= 9) in the south of their distribution range at lower latitudes. These results indicate that species (N= 19) situated in mountainous areas such as the Zagros, Alborz, and Kopet Dagh may move or maintain their range at higher elevations as a result of future climate change. Finally, this study suggests that 30% of species (n= 9) may be threatened by future climate change and that they should be prioritized in conservation eforts.

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The staggering phenotypic variation among organisms and the striking fit between an organism`s morphology and its environment have fascinated naturalists for centuries. Darwin`s publication of `On the origin of species` was the first to offer an explanation for the apparently perfect form-function relationship. During the past century overly enthousiastic evolutionary biologists interpreted any direct link between an organism`s morphology and ecology as evidence for the theory of evolution by natural selection. However, for morphological variation to be considered adaptive it is necessary to explicitly test how this variation translates into the variation in ecologically relevant performance traits, which in turn translates into ecological (and fitness) variation. Nowadays, performance- based ecomorphological approaches are typically used to test the adaptive nature of phenotypic variation in order to provide a better understanding of the selective pressures operating on organisms. Using an ecomorphological approach, lacertid lizards have been used extensively to test whether and how they are adapted to their environment. The majority of these studies have mainly included European species, leaving African species underrepresented. This is suprising from an evolutionary viewpoint. Compared to European lacertids, African lacertid lizard clades are older and more speciose. Also, lacertid lizard communities on the African continent are more complex than the ones in Europe (i.e. comprising 7-8 species versus 2-3 species). In this talk, we will focus on the phenotypic divergence among African clades and the link with the variation in performance and ecology, and explicitly compare these results to results on European lacertids.

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The aim of this study was to determine if divergence in habitat use among lacertid lizards is paralleled by morphological differentiation. For 35 lacertid species, we measured body, head and limb dimensions. Habitat use was inferred from the literature: ground-dwelling on open terrain, ground-dwelling in vegetated areas, shrub-climbing, tree-climbing, saxicolous (i.e. rock-climbing). Traditional (i.e. non-phylogenetic) statistical analyses suggest morphological differences among species groups with different habitat use. Ground-dwelling species from open habitats tend to have longer femurs, tibiae and humeri (relative to body length) than other groups. Cursorial (i.e. level-running) species have relatively high heads and trunks compared to climbing species. These differences follow biomechanical predictions and it is tempting to consider tham as adaptations to habitat use. However, phylogenetic analyses of the data fail to establish a clear relationship between habitat use and morphology in the data set considered. There is a weak indication that the differences in head and trunk height have evolved as an adaptation to different habitat use, but the differences in relative limb dimensions among species groups with different habitat use vanish. Either adaptation of limb dimensions to habitat use has not occurred in lacertid lizards, or our methods are unable to demonstrate such an adaptation. We show that uncertainties in the topology of the phylogenetic tree used are unlikely to influence the outcome of our study. We also address the fact that habitat use is often similar in different branches of the phylogenetic tree, and the consequences this may have for the power of our statistical analyses.

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Few DNA barcoding studies of squamate reptiles have been conducted. Due to the significance of the Socotra Archipelago (a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site and a biodiversity hotspot) and the conservation interest of its reptile fauna (94% endemics), we performed the most comprehensive DNA barcoding study on an island group to date to test its applicability to specimen identification and species discovery. Reptiles constitute Socotra`s most important vertebrate fauna, yet their taxonomy remains under-studied. We successfully DNA-barcoded 380 individuals of all 31 presently recognized species. The specimen identification success rate is moderate to high, and almost all species presented local barcoding gaps. The unexpected high levels of intra-specific variability found within some species suggest cryptic diversity. Species richness may be under-estimated by 13.8-54.4%. This has implications in the species` ranges and conservation status that should be considered for conservation planning. Other phylogenetic studies using mitochondrial and nuclear markers are congruent with our results. We conclude that, despite its reduced length (663 base pairs), cytochrome c oxidase 1, COI, is very useful for specimen identification and for detecting intra-specific diversity, and has a good phylogenetic signal. We recommend DNA barcoding to be applied to other biodiversity hotspots for quickly and cost-efficiently flagging species discovery, preferentially incorporated into an integrative taxonomic framework.