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In this study, we describe two novel adenoviruses isolated from (i) a common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) found dead and examined post-mortem and (ii) pooled samples from free-living sand lizards (Lacerta agilis agilis). Sequencing indicated the two were closely related atadenovirus strains which were distinct from previously recorded adenoviruses in lizards. Adenoviruses are not always associated with disease in squamates, but morbidity and mortality have been reported. These are the first known cases of adenovirus infection in free-living native British lizards, and further monitoring will be necessary to elucidate the implications of these possible pathogens for vulnerable populations of native reptiles.

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Animals raised in captivity during several generations may not express appropriate antipredator behaviour when reintroduced into the wild. Here we present the results of experiments to enhance behavioural responses to predators in adult males of the endangered lizard Gallotia simonyi (El Hierro, Canary Islands). Individuals were subjected to a training procedure (control, pre-training, training and post-training phases) using stuffed specimens of a kestrel and a cat as predators. We filmed all trials and compared relative durations of the more common behaviour patterns shown by lizards, both among experimental phases and before and after presentation of the stuffed predator. Locomotion and Basking were significantly reduced in the training and post-training trials and also after stimulus presentation, suggesting that the training protocol induced lizard avoidance over both predator models. To our knowledge, this is the first time lizards have been trained to show antipredator avoidance and our results provide the basis for a new management strategy that could be useful for reintroduction of captive-bred individuals of endangered species.

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The Schreiber’s Green Lizard (Lacerta schreiberi) is a midsized lacertid lizard that is endemic from the Iberian Peninsula. It shows a markedly Atlantic distribution that enters the eastern Peninsula through mountain ranges. A review of the bibliography on the species shows that after an increment of information about the species geographic distribution during the last years, there has been a slowing down of new contributions, and some isolated populations, as those of Sierra Morena range at the south of the general distribution, still generate doubts about their existence at present time. The aim of this work is to review and update the available information on the geographic distribution, habitat, and conservation status of the species. With regard to the habitat preferences (not entirely conclusive yet), it has been reported that L. schreiberi would select environments with high levels of precipitation and humidity, what is consistent with its preponderant presence in the western Peninsula, and its frequent occurrence close to water bodies. The species is classified as “Near Threatened”; the more peripheral and isolated populations being the most vulnerable and at risk of disappearing within the coming decades. The bibliographic review of this work seeks to contribute with a base for new information on the distribution and the variables determining the presence and abundance of the species, and thus for future necessary conservation plans.

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Cannibalism is a widespread behavior, although relatively less reported in reptiles than other taxa. Many studies indicate its importance in population regulation and life history of the species concerned, while others regard it as an opportunistic behavior. We present the first report of cannibalism in the Spanish Algyroides (Algyroides hidalgoi), a small and stenotopic lacertid lizard that occupies rocky shaded and humid localities in a reduced distribution area in the southeastern mountains of the Iberian Peninsula. Within an ongoing study of the species trophic ecology, we found tail-scales of this lizard within a fecal pellet. By studying the morphology and microornamentation of the scales, we identified the victim as an adult conspecific, and we discuss the implications of the event within the framework of the particularities of the species. While cannibalism by lizards has been associated mainly with high lizard population densities and unproductive and predator-scarce environments (mainly islands), the Spanish Algyroides shows nearly the opposite characteristics. The scales found represent a very small proportion of the studied ingested prey. Cannibalism seems not to have important demographic implications in this species. The case adds to other cannibalism reports that do not find adaptive value of this behavior in lizards, and contributes to the discussion found in the literature (opportunism vs adaptation) stressing the need of further research.

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The trade-off between clutch and offspring size, which is a central topic in life-history research, is shaped by natural selection to maximize the number of surviving offspring, but it also depends on the resources available for reproduction. Conspecific populations living in different environments may differ in adult body size, clutch mass, clutch size, offspring size, and/or post-natal growth rates, due either to phenotypic plasticity or to local adaptation. Here, we compare these traits and their relationships between two populations of the lizard Psammodromus algirus separated by a 600-m altitudinal gradient. We used a common garden design to control incubation temperature and food availability, with two different feeding treatments. Females were larger at the high-elevation site. Although SVL-adjusted clutch mass did not differ between populations, high-elevation females laid more but smaller eggs than low-elevation ones. Hatchlings were larger at lower elevation. Our common garden experiment revealed that low-elevation hatchlings grew faster than high-elevation hatchlings under both feeding treatments. However, higher food availability at higher altitude allows high-elevation lizards to grow faster and attain larger adult sizes, especially in the case of females. The two key adaptations of low-elevation lizards, large eggs and hatchlings and the ability to grow rapidly after hatching, are likely to enhance survival in low-productivity Mediterranean lowlands. Our data support the hypothesis that the reproductive strategies of these populations provide an example of countergradient variation, because the genotypes that encode for fast growth and large body size occurred in low food availability habitats where juveniles grew slowly and attained small adult sizes.

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Usually, adaptive phenotypic differentiation is paralleled by genetic divergence between locally adapted populations. However, adaptation can also happen in a scenario of non-significant genetic divergence due to intense gene flow and/or recent differentiation. While this phenomenon is rarely published, findings on incipient ecologically-driven divergence or isolation by adaptation are relatively common, which could confound our understanding about the frequency at which they actually occur in nature. Here, we explore genome-wide traces of divergence between two populations of the lacertid lizard Psammodromus algirus separated by a 600 m elevational gradient. These populations seem to be differentially adapted to their environments despite showing low levels of genetic differentiation (according to previously studies of mtDNA and microsatellite data). We performed a search for outliers (i.e. loci subject to selection) trying to identify specific loci with FST statistics significantly higher than those expected on the basis of overall, genome-wide estimates of genetic divergence. We find that local phenotypic adaptation (in terms of a wide diversity of characters) was not accompanied by genome-wide differentiation, even when we maximized the chances of unveiling such differentiation at particular loci with FST-based outlier detection tests. Instead, our analyses confirmed the lack of differentiation on the basis of more than 70,000 SNPs, which is concordant with a scenario of local adaptation without any degree of isolation by environment. Our results add evidence to previous studies in which local adaptation does not lead to any kind of isolation (or early stages of ecological speciation), but maintains phenotypic divergence despite the lack of a differentiated genomic background.

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How can we bridge the gap between studies concerning microevolution and those concerning macroevolution? Taverne et al. provide a framework for how to study both intraspecific and interspecific variations simultaneously through their examination of how cranio mandibular skeletal and muscle shape responds to ecological pressures in Podarcis lizards.

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Recently isolated populations offer a good biological model to infer the evolutionary forces responsible for the current divergences across populations. We coupled genetic, morphometric, ecological, and demographic analyses from three island populations of the endemic Balearic Wall Lizard, Podarcis lilfordi, (Balearic archipelago, Spain) to infer the mechanisms underlying the observed differences in body size. For each population, we described plant community structure, derived a biotic capacity index, and used individual-based data on 1369 lizards captured and released during 6 yr (2009–2015) to estimate population density and body growth patterns. We used genetic data collected on 80 individuals (∼27 for each population) to infer genetic divergences across islets and population history. Body size divergences cannot be explained by the ecological or population characteristics. Individual growth was slower in the smallest island, where lizards reached the largest average body size. In addition to having the highest density, results suggested that resource availability does not constrain asymptotic body size, but the speed at which individuals reach it does. The Approximate Bayesian Computation used to infer population history from genetic data supported the occurrence of two bottlenecks in the islet with the highest anthropogenic footprint. We emphasize the need to integrate ecological and genetic data and the importance of considering the effects of past human disturbance as an additional force in being able to model present island fauna.

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Background: Leishmania tarentolae is a protozoan isolated from geckoes (Tarentola annularis, Tarentola mauritanica), which is considered non pathogenic and is transmitted by herpetophilic Sergentomyia spp. sand flies. This species occurs in sympatry with Leishmania infantum in areas where canine leishmaniasis is endemic. In the present study, we investigated the circulation of L. tarentolae and L. infantum in sand flies, dogs and lizards in a dog shelter in southern Italy, where canine leishmaniasis by L. infantum is endemic. Methods: Sheltered dogs (n = 100) negative for Leishmania spp. (March 2020) were screened by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) using promastigotes of both species at two time points (June 2020 and March 2021). Whole blood from dogs, tissues of Podarcis siculus lizards (n = 28) and sand flies (n = 2306) were also sampled and tested by a duplex real time PCR (dqPCR). Host blood meal was assessed in sand flies by PCR. Results: Overall, 16 dogs became positive for L. infantum and/or L. tarentolae by IFAT at one or both sampling periods. One canine blood sample was positive for L. infantum, whilst two for L. tarentolae by dqPCR. At the cytology of lizard blood, Leishmania spp. amastigote like forms were detected in erythrocytes. Twenty two tissue samples, mostly lung (21.4%), scored molecularly positive for L. tarentolae, corresponding to 10 lizards (i.e., 35.7%). Of the female Sergentomyia minuta sampled (n = 1252), 158 scored positive for L. tarentolae, four for L. infantum, and one co infected. Two Phlebotomus perniciosus (out of 29 females) were positive for L. tarentolae. Engorged S. minuta (n = 10) fed on humans, and one P. perniciosus, positive for L. tarentolae, on lagomorphs. Conclusions: Dogs and lacertid lizards (Podarcis siculus) were herein found for the first time infected by L. tarentolae. The detection of both L. tarentolae and L. infantum in S. minuta and P. perniciosus suggests their sympatric circulation, with a potential overlap in vertebrate hosts. The interactions between L. tarentolae and L. infantum should be further investigated in both vectors and vertebrate hosts to understand the potential implications for the diagnosis and control of canine leishmaniasis in endemic areas.

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Inhibin is a glycoproteic hormone mostly produced by the gonads. Through a feedback at the pituitary level, it selectively inhibits the release of follicle-stimulating hormone. In mammals, inhibin has been found also in some extragonadal tissues such as placenta, pituitary, adrenal, spleen, kidney, brain and spinal cord. At present, no information is available about the existence of inhibin in reptiles. The aim of the present work is to localise, through immunocytochemical methods, the sites of inhibin production in male lizards during the main phases of the reproductive cycle: the culmination phase (April-June), the early regressive phase (early July), the maximal regressive phase (August) and the winter stasis (January). In the testis, immunostaining is mainly localised in the Leydig cells during the early regressive phase, while it is observed in the Sertoli cells during the maximal regressive phase. In the epididymis, the immunostaining is present only during the reproductive period at the level of secreting cells and inside its ducts. In the adrenal gland, after immunostaining, both chromaffin and steroidogenetic tissues are inhibin-positive during the whole spermatogenetic cycle, though with variable intensity throughout the year: cross-reaction appears more evident from January to April (winter stasis and culmination phase) and weaker in June. However, in captive animals, the reaction persists in chromaffin cells, but disappears in steroidogenetic cells. The functional meaning of the presence of inhibin as a factor in the local regulation of spermatogenesis is discussed.

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Due to increasing number of animal species in danger of extinction, captive breeding of individuals has become a necessary procedure for many recovery programs. As specimens born and raised in captivity during several generations may not develop some behavioral and performance aptitudes properly, several types of training are useful to apply before releasing them into the wild. We present here the results of experiments aiming to detect the effect of daily running trials in young males of the endangered lizard (Gallotia simonyi) from El Hierro (Canary Islands). We made individuals run in a racetrack twice every day, for five days a week between the end of July and the end of September. We filmed all running trials and calculated running speed for each individual dividing the distance run by the time used. Running speed did not correlate with body condition of the lizards but there was variation in running speeds of some individuals with similar body conditions. Running speed of lizards used in the experiments significantly increased along the whole trial period. By contrast, mean running speed did not change significantly in a control group, participating twice in running trials, one at the beginning and the other at the end of the experimental period. From these results we suggest that locomotor training contributed to increasing final running speeds of experimental lizards.

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Acanthodactylus boskianus is a widespread species in Northern Africa and Western Asia. In this study, we used morphological and genetic approaches to study populations of A. boskianus from the Zagros Mountains in western Iran, the easternmost limit of the species’ distribution. Our morphological and genetic data indicate that populations of A. boskianus in Iran are distinct from other populations of A. boskianus. Therefore, we describe the Iranian populations as Acanthodactylus zagrosicus sp. nov. The new species is the third endemic species of Acanthodactylus in Iran and the ninth Acanthodactylus species distributed in Iran overall. According to our surveys, this species is distributed widely in the Zagros Mountains including Kermanshah, Lorestan, Ilam, and Khuzestan Provinces.

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As the only viviparous reptile in China that has both temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) and genetic-dependent sex determination (GSD) mechanisms, Eremias multiocellata is considered as an ideal species for studying sex determination mechanism in viviparous lizards. However, studies on embryonic stage of viviparous lizards and morphological characteristics of each stage were limited. In the present study, the embryonic development process of E. multiocellata is divided into 15 stages (Stage 28-42) according to the morphology of embryos. Embryo`s sizes are measured and continuous dynamic variation of some key features, including limbs, genitals, eyes, pigments, and brain scales are color imaged by a stereoscopic microscope. Furthermore, based on these morphological characteristics, we compare the similarities and differences in the embryonic development of E. multiocellata with other squamates species. Our results not only identified the staging table of E. multiocellata with continuous changes of external morphological characteristics but also developed a staging scheme for an important model species that provide a necessary foundation for study of sex determination in viviparous lizard.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution and function of VIP in the adrenal gland of the lizard, Podarcis sicula. We have shown by immunohistochemistry that VIP fibers were localized exclusively around clusters of chromaffin cells in the dorsal ribbon of the lizard adrenal gland. Moreover, a strong positivity for this peptide was observed within ganglial cells and within most chromaffin cells of the gland. To investigate the effects of VIP on the adrenal gland, we have treated lizards with several doses of this peptide and we have shown that injections of exogenous VIP increased plasma levels of catecholamines and corticosteroids, but not of ACTH. This probably suggests a direct effect of VIP on the control of adrenal hormone secretion without the involvement of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis. Our results also establish that the increased levels of the hormones were modulated in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Therefore, our morphological studies showed a clear increased function of steroidogenic cells. In the medullary region, VIP administration induced not only a functional enhancement of adrenaline release from adrenergic cells, but also a shift of noradrenaline cells to adrenaline ones.

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Age structure, body size and growth rate of Darevskia valentini inhabiting from different three localities were studied by skeletochronology. Age was determined by counting the lines of arrested growth (LAGs) in phalangeal cross-sections. A total of 73 museum specimens (24 specimens from Kayseri, 20 specimens from Van and 29 specimens from Sivas) were used for this study. The mean age of males in three populations was older than those of females. The mean age of males was found to be 4.33  0.28 years in Van population, 5  0.28 years in Kayseri population and 5.18  0.35 years for Sivas population. The maximum lifespan in Sivas population was 7 years for both sexes whereas it was 6 years in Kayseri population and 5 years in Van population. In the three populations, ages at sexual maturity of females and males were 3 and 2 years, respectively. The sexual size dimorphism was female-biased in the three populations. The mean snout-vent length (SVL) for males was calculated as 64.30  1.15 mm in Van population, 68.48  1.43 mm in Sivas population and 66.96  1.19 mm in Kayseri populations. The mean SVL for females was determined as 60.36  1.04 mm in Van population, 64.50  1.73 mm in Sivas population and 68.24  0.85 mm in Kayseri population.

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The release in vitro of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), progesterone, androgens and estradiol-17 beta by the corpora lutea (CL) of the oviparous lizard, Podarcis s. sicula, was studied. In addition, the in vitro effects of PGF2 alpha and PGE2 on sex steroid release by CL were evaluated. Corpora lutea were divided into four types, according to their different developmental stage: CL1 (unshelled eggs in the oviduct); CL2 (shelled eggs in the oviduct); CL3 (eggs laid 6 h previously); CL4 (eggs laid 48 h previously) and were placed into culture. PGF2 alpha secretion was highest in CL4 incubated samples and lowest in CL2 and PGE2 was highest in CL1 and CL2. Progesterone secretion was highest in CL2 and lowest in CL4; androgens were not detectable and estradiol-17 beta secretion was highest in CL2. PGF2 alpha decreased progesterone secreted by CL1, CL2 and CL3, while it did not modify release of androgens and estradiol-17 beta. PGE2 did not affect sex steroid release. These data suggest a role of PGF2 alpha in inducing luteolysis, while PGE2 could be implied in the maintenance of CL. A role of progesterone during gestation of Podarcis s. sicula was also confirmed.

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The biogeographic history of the Sahara-Sahel desert is tightly linked to its extreme and fluctuating palaeoclimate and diverse topography. For the mesic species inhabiting the region, coastal areas and the Nile Valley are perceived as the main pathways to disperse through desert habitats, but past connections may have also occurred throughout currently isolated mountain regions. Herein, we test the trans-Sahara mountain corridor hypothesis (i.e., mesic connectivity across Central Sahara highlands) and its role in the diversification of a small terrestrial vertebrate.

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The genus Pedioplanis reaches its northernmost limit in western Angola, where it is represented by three species, Pedioplanis benguelensis, P. haackei and P. huntleyi. The taxonomic status of P. benguelensis remains problematic, mainly due to the vague original description and the loss of the original type material. Here we provide a revision of the Angolan representatives of the genus, with the description of a new species, Pedioplanis serodioi sp. nov., from the lowlands of southwestern Angola. Phylogenetic analyses using a combination of mitochondrial (16S and ND2) and nuclear (RAG-1) markers, as well as morphological data, support the recognition of the new species. For purposes of nomenclatural stability, we designate a neotype for P. benguelensis and provide motivation to correct the spelling of the specific epithet to “benguelensis”. The clarification of the status of P. benguelensis and the description of a new species contribute to a better understanding of the taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Pedioplanis, as well as the general biogeographic context of southwestern Angola, adding to the growing evidence in favor of the recognition of this region as a hotspot of lizard diversity and endemism. An updated key to the genus is also provided.

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Patch context is a way to describe the effect that the surroundings exert on a landscape patch. Despite anthropogenic context alteration may affect species distributions by reducing the accessibility to suitable patches, species distribution modelling have rarely accounted for its effects explicitly. We propose a general framework to statistically detect the occurrence and the extent of such a factor, by combining presence-only data, spatial distribution models and information-theoretic model selection procedures. After having established the spatial resolution of the analysis on the basis of the species characteristics, a measure of anthropogenic alteration that can be quantified at increasing distance from each patch has to be defined. Then the distribution of the species is modelled under competing hypotheses: H0 , assumes that the distribution is uninfluenced by the anthropogenic variables; H1 , assumes the effect of alteration at the species scale (resolution); and H2 , H3 … Hn add the effect of context alteration at increasing radii. Models are compared using the Akaike Information Criterion to establish the best hypothesis, and consequently the occurrence (if any) and the spatial scale of the anthropogenic effect. As a study case we analysed the distribution data of two insular lizards (one endemic and one naturalised) using four alternative hypotheses: no alteration (H0 ), alteration at the species scale (H1 ), alteration at two context scales (H2 and H3 ). H2 and H3 performed better than H0 and H1 , highlighting the importance of context alteration. H2 performed better than H3 , setting the spatial scale of the context at 1 km. The two species respond differently to context alteration, the introduced lizard being more tolerant than the endemic one. The proposed approach supplies reliably and interpretable results, uses easily available data on species distribution, and allows the assessing of the spatial scale at which human disturbance produces the heaviest effects.

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Levendbarende hagedissen kampen al decennialang met de gevolgen van versnippering, verdroging, klimaatverandering, stikstofdepositie en de drastische achteruitgang van insecten. Dit zijn sluipende processen met cumulerende effecten die elkaar onderling versterken. De effecten zijn het best merkbaar in het kleinschalig cultuurlandschap waar kleine populaties steeds meer onder druk staan. Uiteindelijk kunnen onder dergelijke omstandigheden kleine ingrepen in het landschap al desastreuze gevolgen hebben, terwijl de impact hiervan binnen grote, gezonde populaties verwaarloosbaar is. Onderzocht zijn enkele praktijkvoorbeelden uit het Voorsterveld ten zuiden van Posterholt.

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Unravelling when divergent lineages constitute distinct species can be challenging, particularly in complex scenarios combining cryptic diversity and phylogenetic discordances between different types of molecular markers. Combining a phylogenetic approach with the study of contact zones can help to overcome such difficulties. The Podarcis hispanicus species complex has proven to be prosperous in independent evolutionary units, sometimes associated with cryptic diversity. Previous studies have revealed that one of the species of this complex, P. guadarramae, comprises two deeply divergent yet morphologically indistinguishable evolutionary units, currently regarded as subspecies (P. g. guadarramae and P. g. lusitanicus). In this study we used molecular data to address the systematics of the two lineages of Podarcis guadarramae and the closely related P. bocagei. Firstly, we reconstructed the species tree of these three and two additional taxa based on 30 nuclear loci using the multispecies coalescent with and without gene flow. Secondly, we used SNPs obtained from RADseq data to analyze the population structure across the distribution limits P. g. lusitanicus and P. g. guadarramae, and for comparison, a contact zone between P. bocagei and P. g. lusitanicus. Nuclear phylogenetic relationships between these three taxa are clearly difficult to determine due to the influence of gene flow, but our results give little support to the monophyly of P. guadarramae, potentially due to a nearly simultaneous divergence between them. Genetic structure and geographic cline analysis revealed that the two lineages of P. guadarramae replace each other abruptly across the sampled region and that gene flow is geographically restricted, implying the existence of strong reproductive isolation. Podarcis bocagei and P. g. lusitanicus show a similar degree of genetic differentiation and reproductive isolation, with very low levels of admixture in syntopy. These results support that all three forms are equally differentiated and reproductively isolated. In consequence, we conclude that the two former subspecies of Podarcis guadarramae constitute valid, yet cryptic species, that should be referred to as P. lusitanicus and P. guadarramae.

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Squamate reptiles rely on the vomeronasal organ for chemoperception of their environment. This organ functionally associates with several structures, such as the nasolacrimal duct and choanal groove, which are morphologically diverse among species. In this study, we investigated the morphological characteristics and embryogenesis of the vomeronasal organ and its associated structures in the Japanese Grass Lizard (Takydromus tachydromoides). Separation of the complex of the nasolacrimal duct from the vomeronasal organ was observed in this species, a characteristic morphological feature among squamates. Additionally, we integrated the morphological characteristics of the vomeronasal organ and associated structures among squamates, focusing on topological relationships among the structures. The parsimony and likelihood methods for ancestral state reconstruction suggested the parallelism of several morphological characteristics during the evolutionary history of squamates: loss or reduction of the choanal groove, fusion between the nasolacrimal duct and choanal groove, and separation of the nasolacrimal duct from the vomeronasal organ.

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Differences between air and ground temperatures are expected to narrow with the advance of the season in temperate regions (aka seasonal restriction in the availability of thermal microhabitats), which may activate behavioral and physiological responses of ectotherm species adapted to temperate climates. However, according to cost-benefit models of ectotherm thermoregulation, we hypothesize that these responses may also carry some costs. We quantified seasonal shifts in thermoregulatory precision, concentration of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites, and load of ectoparasites in a Mediterranean lizard, Psammodromus algirus. We also tested whether the proximity to a road, a putative source of chronic stress, can facilitate the glucocorticoid-mediated response of lizards to heat stress. As expected, differences between body and environmental temperatures narrowed during the reproductive season and lizards responded by increasing their thermoregulatory precision and the secretion of glucocorticoids, as indicated by metabolites in feces. Interestingly, lizards tended to have higher glucocorticoid concentration when captured far from the road. This might reflect either a putative impairment of the glucocorticoid-mediated response of the lizards to heat stress close to the road or the plastic capability of P. algirus to acclimate to sources of moderate chronic stress. In the latter direction, the increase of both glucocorticoid metabolites and thermoregulatory precision supported that this Mediterranean species responds to environmental thermal restrictions with adaptive behavioral and physiological mechanisms. However, this was also associated with an increase in its susceptibility to ectoparasites, which represents an added cost to the current cost-benefit models of ectotherm thermoregulation.

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Body size evolution on islands is widely studied and hotly debated. Gigantism and dwarfism are thought to evolve under strong natural selection, especially on small remote islands. We report a curious co-occurrence of both dwarf and giant lizards on the same small, remote island (Plakida): the largest Podarcis erhardii (Lacertidae) and smallest Mediodactylus kotschyi sensu lato; Gekkonidae--the two commonest insular reptiles in the Aegean Sea. The geckos of Plakida have a peculiar tail-waving behavior, documented here for the first time in this genus. We suspect that P. erhardii evolved large size to consume geckos and the geckos evolved a unique tail-waving behavior as a defensive mechanism.

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On the basis of sequence homology with mammalian α-keratins, and on the criteria that the coiled-coil segments and central linker in the rod domain of these molecules must have conserved lengths if they are to assemble into viable intermediate filaments, a total of 28 Type I and Type II keratin intermediate filament chains (KIF) have been identified from the genome of the European common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis). Using the same criteria this number may be compared to 33 found here in the green anole lizard (Anole carolinensis) and 25 in the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus). The Type I and Type II KIF genes in the wall lizard fall in clusters on chromosomes 13 and 2 respectively. Although some differences occur in the terminal domains in the KIF chains of the two lizards and tuatara, the similarities between key indicator residues – cysteine, glycine and proline – are significant. The terminal domains of the KIF chains in the wall lizard also contain sequence repeats commonly based on glycine and large apolar residues and would permit the fine tuning of physical properties when incorporated within the intermediate filaments. The H1 domain in the Type II chain is conserved across the lizards, tuatara and mammals, and has been related to its role in assembly at the 2-4 molecule level. A KIF-like chain (K80) with an extensive tail domain comprised of multiple tandem repeats has been identified as having a potential filament-crosslinking role.

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Biologists have noted since the days of Darwin and Wallace how islandpopulations of vertebrates differ in body size from their mainland relatives. While much progress has been made in understanding global patterns in body size evolution across different species of wildlife (Benítez-López et al., 2021) scientists still don’t have a goodunderstanding of the ecological and environmental processes that generate these patterns. While many studies concerning vertebrate body size evolution have been performed, a hypothesis-driven approach that concerns life history differences in females and males is lacking, and it is not even known whether any putative factors influence female and male body size in the same way. We examined 36 populations of Aegean wall lizards (Podarcis erhardii, Lacertidae), a species widely distributed across the Balkan mainland and hundreds of Aegean islands. The species is unusual in that it not only occurs in a broad range of ecological conditions, but also that it varies substantially in body size (Males: 37%; Females: 33.9%) and that it occurs in numerous, clearly isolated and well-characterized island populations. It therefore constitutes an excellent model for determining the drivers of island body size across varying island environments. Here we evaluate multiple hypotheses ranging from predation pressure (predator species richness), resource availability (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), seabird density, island area), and competition for mates (lizard density) as possible factors affecting lizard body size. We found that the factors affecting both female and male lizard body size depend on the presence of nesting seabird colonies on an island. Female body size on seabird islands was most strongly associated with seabird colony density, while male body size on seabird islands was only associated with conspecific lizard population density, suggesting a role for seabird subsidies and increased food resources for the evolution of female body size and intraspecific competition in the evolution of male body size. On non-seabird islands, female body size was positively correlated with island size, while male body size was not significantly associated with any of the factors we measured. This suggests that different factors were associated with female and male body size evolution in island populations of P. erhardii, and we propose that a general pattern like the island rule is subject not only to selective forces that are sex-specific, but also that there will important differences dictated by island ecology.

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The study of island taxa can help reveal the mechanisms of natural selection when it acts on small, isolated populations. To elucidate how small populations evolve in high-competition, low-predation environments, we examined differences in morphological characteristics, tail autotomy rates, and home range sizes in several populations of Aegean Wall Lizards (Podarcis erhardii; Lacertidae) living on one large-island site and three small islet sites. While there was relatively little consistent morphological divergence between the study populations, we did observe significantly higher rates of shed and regenerated tails on predator-free, small-island sites, a counter intuitive pattern for a known antipredator defense. Rather than a sign of failed predation events, this pattern is best explained by the fact that tail-shedding can be precipitated by intraspecific aggression and tail cannibalism, which are known to be particularly frequent on small islands. We also found that small-island female lizards, but not males, maintained significantly smaller home ranges than large-island females. Our results indicate that differences in prevailing ecological conditions (most likely reduced food availability and relaxed predation pressure) drive distinct changes in tail shedding rates and home range size in these island lizards.

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Phenotypictraits have been shown to evolve in response to variation in the environment. However, the evolutionary processes underlying the emergence of phenotypic diversity can typically only be understood at the population level. Consequently, how subtlephenotypic differences at the intraspecific level can give rise to larger-scale changes in performance and ecology remains poorlyunderstood. We here tested for the covariation between ecology, bite force, jaw muscle architecture, and the three-dimensional shape of the cranium and mandible in 16 insular populations of the lizards Podarcis melisellensis and P. sicula. We then compared the patterns observed at the among-population level with those observed at the interspecific level. We found that three-dimensional head shape as well as jaw musculature evolve similarly under similar ecological circumstances. Depending on the type of food consumed or on the level of sexual competition, different muscle groups were more developed and appeared to underlie changes in cranium and mandible shape. Our findings show that the local selective regimes are primary drivers of phenotypic variation resulting in predictable patterns of form and function. Moreover, intraspecific patterns of variation were generally consistent with those at the interspecific level, suggesting that microevolutionary variation may translate into macroevolutionary patterns of ecomorphological diversity.

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As thermoregulators, lizard movement is influenced by changing temperatures across seasons in temperate ecosystems. Lizard thermal performance may or may not be plastic to allow successful invasion or introduction to new locations with different thermal regimes. Measuring locomotor performance can determine an individual’s ability to capture prey or escape predation. This study tests sprint speed performance in the introduced European wall lizard, Podarcis muralis, established in Cincinnati since 1952. Measuring performance of introduced lizards at various body temperatures on a 0.5 m racetrack will determine if their thermal optimum differs from the 33-35˚C thermal optimum of native European populations.

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Invasive species can carry parasites to introduced locations, which may be key to understand the success or failure of species establishment and the invasive potential of introduced species. We compared the prevalence and infection levels of haemogregarine blood parasites between two sympatric congeneric species in Lisbon, Portugal: the invasive Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) and the native green Iberian wall lizard (Podarcis virescens). The two species had significant differences in their infection levels: while P. virescens had high prevalence of infection (69.0%), only one individual of P. siculus was infected (3.7%), and while P. virescens exhibited an average intensity of 1.36%, the infected P. siculus individual had an infection rate of only 0.04%. Genetic analyses of 18S rRNA identified two different haemogregarine haplotypes in P. virescens. Due to the low levels of infection, we were not able to amplify parasite DNA from the infected P. siculus indi vidual, although it was morphologically similar to those found in P. virescens. Since other studies also reported low levels of parasites in P. siculus, we hypothesize that this general lack of parasites could be one of the factors contributing to its competitive advantage over native lizard species and introduction success.

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Color polymorphisms have become a major topic in evolutionary biology and substantial efforts have been devoted to the understanding of the mechanisms responsible for originating such colorful systems. Within-morph continuous variation, on the other hand, has been neglected in most of the studies. Here, we combine spectrophotometric/ visual modeling and genetic data to study the mechanisms promoting continuous variation within categorical color morphs of Podarcis muralis. Our results suggest that intra-morph variability in the pterin-based orange morph is greater compared to white and yellow morphs. We also show that continuous variation within the orange morph is partially discriminable by conspecifics. Genotyping results indicate that allelic variants at the BCO2 locus (responsible for deposition of yellow carotenoids) contribute to generate continuous variation in orange individuals. However, other intrinsic and/or extrinsic mechanisms, such as body size, might be involved, opening a new avenue for future research on the drivers of continuous variation within-morphs.

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Immunolocalization of cell adhesion molecules during tail regeneration in the lizard Podarcis muralis indicates coordinated control of epithelial differentiation. Acta Zoologica (Stockolm). Lizard epidermis is formed by alternating layers of hard corneous beta-layers and softer and pliable alpha-layers. After tail amputation in the lizard Podarcis muralis, the tail regenerates within a month forming neogenic scales. The differentiation of beta- and alpha-layers in the epidermis has been studied by immunofluorescence detection of cell adhesion molecules. Initially, the thick wound epidermis shows high content in L-CAM and N-CAM in comparison with normal epidermis, including pre-corneous layers where labelling is intense in the cytoplasm and along the keratinocyte perimeter. L- and N-CAMs are also observed in the regenerating ependyma and N-CAM in mesenchymal cells of blastema. The apical regenerating (wound) epidermis often shows nuclear localization in basal layers, especially for E-cadherin, perhaps indicating epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Sections of regenerating scales show the typical renewal phase of the epidermis, with an intensification of L-CAM, N-CAM and general cadherin immunofluorescence in the forming clear-Oberhautchen layers, and in the following beta- and alpha-layers as they start to differentiate from the basal layer. A higher immunolabelling for cell adhesion cadherins suggests that these proteins contribute to form an integrated epidermal unit along the regenerating scales that allows the ordered stratification and shedding of these layers in lizard epidermis.

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The release of contaminants as herbicides, fungicides and insecticides into the environment has been listed as one of the six major contributors to the global decline of reptiles. Although reptiles may face severe risk from contaminants due to their ecology and physiology, they are currently less studied than other vertebrate groups. In the present work, we investigated if and how different types of field treatment (conventional and organic) affected the health status of Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) individuals in central Italy. We chose a multi-biomarker approach that evaluated the biological responses of lizards to the treatment by means of AChE activity in the nervous system, biotransformation enzymes activities and oxidative stress in the liver, micronuclei frequency measured in the erythrocytes, and rate of intestinal parasitic infection. Our findings showed evidence of effects of treatment in conventional areas and between sexes with significant oxidative stress due to hydroxyl radicals, that caused DNA damage. No difference of intestinal parasite infections was found among treatments. Podarcis siculus seems to be a good bioindicator in ecotoxicological studies and potentially in risk assessment of pesticides, although further analyses in laboratory and in the field are needed to achieve more accurate quantification of specific pesticide effects in relation to known exposure history and to understand if other mechanisms were involved in the toxicity and detoxification process of pesticides for this species.

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Understanding how morphology affects performance in novel environments and how populations shift their morphology in response to environmental selective pressures is necessary to understand how invaders can be successful. We tested these relationships in a global colonizer, the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis), translocated to Cincinnati, OH, USA 70 years ago. We investigated how morphology shifts in this population inhabiting a novel environment, how these morphological shifts influence locomotor performance and how performance changes in novel conditions. We compared the morphology of museum specimens and current lizards to see which aspects of morphology have shifted over time. Although overall body size did not change, most body dimensions reduced in size. We measured sprint speed with a full-factorial design of substrate type, incline angle and obstacles. We identified a pattern of negative correlation in sprint performance between conditions with and without obstacles. The locomotor advantage of larger body size was diminished when obstacles were present. Finally, there was no relationship between individual variation in contemporary morphology and sprint performance, providing no support to the hypothesis that these shifts are attributable to selective pressures on locomotor performance in the conditions tested.

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In the Cologne area, wall lizards (Podarcis muralis (Laurenti, 1768)) have mainly spread along the railway belt and its offshoots into industrial areas. These lizards can mainly be identified as the subspecies Podarcis muralis maculiventris (Werner, 1891), obviously belonging to the West Alps mitochondrial gene group, which normally occurs around the Italian great lakes area on the southern rim of the Alps and is differentiated from the Venetian line by the presence of a blackish vertebral line or row of spots. The original point of introduction cannot be verified with certainty; they may have been introduced with Italian vegetables into the vegetable market in the south of left-bank Cologne; early reports on a first introduction into right-bank Deutz harbour along with building materials, especially stones and marbles from Italy, cannot be ascertained today, as the immediate harbour area does not have any lizards, and lizards occuring on railway tracks south of the southern tip of the harbour may have arrived from the tracks near the vegetable market. On the left bank of the Rhine, a few lizards show the colouration of Podarcis muralis nigriventris Bonaparte, 1836 from Tuscany, viz. dorsally and laterally a strong blackish pattern on a green basic coulour in males and a dense black spotting on throat and vent in both sexes. It cannot be ascertained whether the hybridization with the prevalent maculiventris-type has occurred already in an area of intergradation in Northern Italy or after deplacement of both types in the Cologne area. These hybrid lizards have been found on the left bank of the Rhine in Cologne and just south of the city which indicates a late arrival of the (pure or hybridized) Tuscany genome. On the right bank of the Rhine the colouration of the P.m. nigriventris type is even rarer and, if existing at all, is usually dorsally reduced to a yellow spotting. The North Italian lizards may have met with wall lizards of the German subspecies Podarcis muralis brongniardii (Daudin, 1802), Eastern mitochondrial gene group, which were transported into the area from the lower Middle Rhine valley, where they have resp. have had their traditional northern range limit in Bonn, some 30 km south of Cologne. It seems that hybridization between maculiventris and brongniardii has mainly occurred on the right bank of the Rhine at Gremberghoven. The North Italian lizards have spread from southern left-bank Cologne southwards into the Cologne suburbs and into northern parts of Bonn (near its northern railway tracks). Bonn Botanical Garden has a population of the indigeneous German line; the founder animals have deliberately been introduced from the Ahr valley, the Ahr being a left-bank contributary to the Rhine river. South of the Botanical Garden, the left bank of the Rhine has thin populations of the indigeneous line as well. Wall lizards from the southeastern right-bank Cologne have spread southwards down to Troisdorf. The connection of the Troisdorf populations with Cologne populations has been interrupted by the recent upgrading of the railway tracks. Further south, the indigeneous wall lizard has a spotty distribution at its northern range limit.

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Life-history traits (e.g. body size, sexual size dimorphism and age) of a Turkish population of the Lebanon lizard Phoenicolacerta laevis were studied using skeletochronology techniques. We measured phalangeal bones (n = 30). The mean snout-vent length (SVL) was slightly different between the sexes. We recorded weakly expressed sexual size dimorphism: the snout-vent-length of the males was slightly bigger (SDI = -0.01). Sexual maturity was attained between the second and the fourth year of life in both sexes. The age ranged from 3 to 11 years in females and from 3 to 12 years in males. The mean SVL was 65.33 ± 3.06 mm in females and 66.59± 3.76 mm in males. The mean age was 6.67 ± 2.63 years in females and 6.47 ± 2.75 years in males. There was no statistically significant difference in mean age between the sexes.

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To understand the spread of parasite and the persistence of infection in an ecological environment, it is essential to investigate their transmission possibilities. Vertical transmission of pathogens from mother to offspring is a fundamental opportunity, notwithstanding a relatively under-researched topic, especially in wildlife animals. We studied whether there is vertical transmission of a haemogregarinid blood parasite of Iberian green lizard (Lacerta schreiberi). To study infection of mothers, embryos and freshly hatched juveniles, their blood smears and molecular analyses of their tail tissue were used. Examining blood smears, seventy-one percent of females were found to be infected, but molecular analyses of all mothers showed positive results for the blood parasite. Based on molecular data the parasite was identified as a Karyolysus species. In contrast, no parasite was found in the blood smears of the freshly hatched juveniles, and we could not detect Karyolysus in the embryos or tail tissue of offspring using molecular methods either. Based on our results, vertical transmission of Karyolysus blood parasites is unlikely in the Iberian green lizard.

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Lateralization is one of the specific characteristics of animals, occurring in both invertebrates and vertebrates. Lateralization exists at two levels, individual level and population level. This research is focused on the individual- and population-level lateralization of the European green lizard (Lacerta viridis) under laboratory conditions. Lateralization was observed experimentally in a modified T-maze without the possibility of visual control by lizards. Lizards were stimulated by a piston from the caudal side to simulate a predator attack from behind. The numbers of left and right choices were evaluated. Statistical analysis confirmed no statistically significant difference in lateralization at both the individual and population levels. The absence or presence of autotomy suggests that non-biased lizards have a better chance of escape from a predator than left- or right-biased individuals. In the population of L. viridis studied by us, it seems that to be non-biased could be the best strategy to survive predator attacks.

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Wolbachia, a maternally transmitted Gram-negative endosymbiont of onchocercid nematodes and arthropods, has a role in the biology of their host; thus it has been exploited for the filariasis treatment in humans. To assess the presence and prevalence of this endosymbiont in reptiles and their ectoparasites, blood and tail tissue as well as ticks and mites collected from them were molecularly screened for Wolbachia DNA using two sets of primers targeting partial 16S rRNA and Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) genes. Positive samples were screened for the partial 12S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) genes for filarioids. Of the different species of lizards (Podarcis siculus, Podarcis muralis and Lacerta bilineata) and snakes (Elaphe quatuorlineata and Boa constrictor constrictor) screened from three collection sites, only P. siculus scored positive for Wolbachia 16S rRNA. Among ectoparasites collected from reptiles (Ixodes ricinus ticks and Neotrombicula autumnalis, Ophionyssus sauracum and Ophionyssus natricis mites), I. ricinus (n = 4; 2.8%; 95% CI, 0.9–7) from P. siculus, N. autumnalis (n = 2 each; 2.8%; 95% CI, 0.9–6.5) from P. siculus and P. muralis and O. natricis (n = 1; 14.3%; 95% CI, 0.7–55.4) from Boa constrictor constrictor scored positive for Wolbachia DNA. None of the positive Wolbachia samples scored positive for filarioids. This represents the first report of Wolbachia in reptilian hosts and their ectoparasites, which follows a single identification in the intestinal cells of a filarioid associated with a gecko. This data could contribute to better understand the reptile filarioid-Wolbachia association and to unveil the evolutionary pattern of Wolbachia in its filarial host.

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Genetic information is one of the many things parents give to their offsprings to help guide them through life. Among the aforementioned genetic information are microsatellites, short tandem repetitions or STRs for short, which can be used to identify a specific individual thanks to their high mutation rate. High mutation rate means that every individual has their own, unique set of STRs. Resulting from this uniqueness is the use of STRs as genetic markers. They can be used to research the social structure of a population, mating behaviour or, alternatively, reproductive fitness. An analysis was conducted using five loci of the sand lizard, Lacerta agilis, to determine relatedness coefficients between individuals. Samples from individuals were collected on three separate locations and among the sampled individuals four different colour forms were recognized. Using the individuals` relatedness coefficients, potential parent-offspring relations were determined. On the same note, the most reproductively successful individuals were found, and their distribution based on colour forms was compared to the colour form distribution of the whole sampled population.

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We studied diet and food niche relationships among sympatric lizards in two areas in Jordan using stomach contents. We found that 77 stomachs from six species in the eastern deserts and 45 stomachs from three species in the western highlands resulted in 2,478 and 1,935 prey items, respectively. Stomachs from the eastern desert contained 1–216 prey items with an average of 31.5 items (median = 16) and 1–329 prey items with an average of 43.0 (median = 13) from the western highlands. The lizards were primarily insectivorous, with ants and beetles making up the highest percentages. Additionally, we identified a snake (Eirenis rothii), a freshwater fish, and four smaller lizards in the prey remains. The results showed similar niche breadths and high food-niche overlap values, especially among the agamid lizards, suggesting that some opportunistic feeding habits are likely influenced by prey availability and similar foraging strategies. Based on similar niche breadths and high food niche overlap values, we believe that interspecific competition is an important factor in organizing these lizard assemblages. Therefore, habitat segregation and different hunting strategies may likely occur among these species and allow for species coexistence in these areas.

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The main deal of this bachelor thesis is the colour variability and change of coloration from the perspective of the predation of the Sand lizard. I am examining the meaning of this changes on the specific localities and in the specific populations. Groundwork of my bachelor thesis, is collections of data, in form of Sand lizards (Lacerta agilis Linnaeus, 1758) photos and their further processing. Based on the morphometry of the particular body parts, (especially the one about the tail regeneration), I determine potential level of the predation. Using the data from lizard populations from two localities in Opava region, I want to explore and possibly verify the function of the colour variability with respect to predation. For better understanding and optional generalisation over the species, my results are supplemented with data from other localities in Czech Republic and Slovakia. This broader dataset is included in the results and discussion to help to corroborate conclusions of my thesis. This bachelor thesis consist from two parts, the theoretical and the practical part. Theoretical part of my thesis is about colour variability of sand lizard in general. Gradually the topic is going deeper in the terms of the colour variability and tail regenerates, focusing on the level of the predation, implementing also the different levels of human impact in localities. Practical part of my thesis include my descriptione of the the population of the sand lizard on the chosen localities in the Opava region. With help of the morphometric analysis and the evaluation of the colour variability between individual lizards, I am comparing contrasting these populations and pattern within them. The important part of this comparing is profound characteristic of chosen localities from the view of anthropogenic impact to environment and predator structure. Thanks to the fact that this thesis is part of wide study of the sand lizard coloration, I can embed my results within the wider dataset from other parts of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

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Vertebral malformations have been reported previously from a wide range of reptile taxa. Kyphosis refers to an abnormally excessive convex curvature of the spine in the thoracic and sacral regions, while if the deviation affects the lateral plane of the spinal column, the condition is known as scoliosis. In some cases, these two types of malformation can be combined in the same animal, known as kyphoscoliosis (Garín-Barrio et al., 2011). It appears that kyphosis mainly affects species adapted to aquatic environments (e.g. turtles and crocodiles; Tucker, 1997; Boede & Sogbe, 2000; Tucker et al., 2007), while scoliosis is more common in terrestrial species (snakes and lizards; Grogan, 1976; Simbotwe, 1983; Frutos et al., 2006). Reports of kyphosis (and kyphoscoliosis) from wild lizard populations have increased lately (e.g. Liolaemus koslowskyi (Iguandiae) Avila et al. (2013); Sceloporus torquatus (Phrynosomatidae) Pérez-Delgadillo et al. (2015); Norops sericeus (Dactyloidae) Domínguez-De la Riva and Carbajal-Márquez (2016); Sceloporus vandenburgianus (Phrynosomatidae) Valdez-Villavicencio et al., (2016); Stenocercus guentheri (Tropiduridae) Ramírez-Jaramillo, (2018); Marisora brachypoda (Scinidae) Arrivillaga & Brown,(2019).

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Ectothermic animals living at high elevation often face interacting challenges, including temperature extremes, intense radiation, and hypoxia. While high-elevation specialists have developed strategies to withstand these constraints, the factors preventing downslope migration are not always well understood. As mean temperatures continue to rise and climate patterns become more extreme, such translocation may be a viable conservation strategy for some populations or species, yet the effects of novel conditions, such as relative hyperoxia, have not been well characterised. Our study examines the effect of downslope translocation on ectothermic thermal physiology and performance in Pyrenean rock lizards (Iberolacerta bonnali) from high elevation (2254 m above sea level). Specifically, we tested whether models of organismal performance developed from low-elevation species facing oxygen restriction (e.g., hierarchical mechanisms of thermal limitation hypothesis) can be applied to the opposite scenario, when high-elevation organisms face hyperoxia. Lizards were split into two treatment groups: one group was maintained at a high elevation (2877 m ASL) and the other group was transplanted to low elevation (432 m ASL). In support of hyperoxia representing a constraint, we found that lizards transplanted to the novel oxygen environment of low elevation exhibited decreased thermal preferences and that the thermal performance curve for sprint speed shifted, resulting in lower performance at high body temperatures. While the effects of hypoxia on thermal physiology are well-explored, few studies have examined the effects of hyperoxia in an ecological context. Our study suggests that high-elevation specialists may be hindered in such novel oxygen environments and thus constrained in their capacity for downslope migration.

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In Fortsetzung der Stichprobenkartierung 2005 zur Verbreitung von Zauneidechse (Lacerta agilis) und Schlingnatter (Coronella austriaca) in Hessen (MALTEN & LINDERHAUS 2005) wurde im Jahr 2006 auf 314 zufällig ausgewählten 1 km2 großen Probeflächen kartiert. In der Zeit vom 8. Juni bis zum 15. Oktober wurden dazu innerhalb der Probeflächen frei wählbare Transekte von 1 km Länge, bzw. 1 h Begehungsdauer nach Vorkommen dieser Reptilien abgesucht. Die Probeflächen befanden sich in den hessischen Anteilen der Naturräume D18 Thüringer Becken mit Randplatten, D36 Weser- und Weser-Leine-Bergland (Niedersächsisches Bergland), D38 Bergisches Land, Sauerland, D39 Westerwald, D40 Lahntal und Limburger Hessen, D41 Taunus, D55 Odenwald, Spessart und Südrhön. Die zufällige Auswahl der Probeflächen erfolgte für jedes Messtischblatt separat, um eine homogenere Verteilung über Hessen zu erreichen. Die Bewertung der angetroffenen Populationen, Habitate und die Beeinträchtigungen und Gefährdungen wurden anhand eines für diese Erfassung modifizierten Bewertungsrahmens durchgeführt. Die Begehungen erfolgten durch speziell geschulte Mitarbeiter des Landesbetriebes Hessen-Forst, FIV, Naturschutzdaten, der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Amphibien- und Reptilienschutz Hessen (AGAR) sowie der Arbeitsgruppe Biotopkartierung am Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg. Insgesamt wurden 912 Reptilien auf 217 Probeflächen nachgewiesen. Neben 279 Zauneidechsen und 9 Schlingnattern wurden dabei 500 Waldeidechsen (Zootoca vivipara), 93 Blindschleichen (Anguis fragilis), 19 Ringelnattern (Natrix natrix) sowie 12 nicht bestimmte Eidechsen gezählt. Damit war die Waldeidechse insgesamt die am häufigsten gefundene Art der Untersuchung.

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Geographic position and different climate features of our country is the most important reason of the richness and variety of the fauna of Turkey. Significant zoogeographic importance of this region has been stressed by recent studies on Turkey’s herpetofauna. In this study, 4 species anurans, 1 species turtle, 1species tortoise, 10 species lizards, 10 species snakes, have been collected from this region and there specimens were studied morphologically. Ecological and biological features of these species have been reported. In this research, the vicinity of Lake Bafa was studied with it’s herpetofauna firstly and it’s different features. As a result of this research, it was determined the area is one of the important watery areas of our country for it’s touristic construction, ancient town features, and biologic features such as having rich fauna and flora. The vicinity of Lake Bafa is one of the rare ecosystems, which is open to danger, having importance scientificly and education aly, and it should be presented with it’s biological diversity. While these were shown in the research, it’s diversity, field construction, ancient features, appropriate climate and touristic importance was stated, and the importance of protection of this area was tried to explain

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During a short trip to Hannover in August 2020 the Berggarten in Herrenhausen was visited. Thirteen wall lizards (Podarcis muralis maculiventris-East) were spotted: nine adults and two juveniles directly in the rockery plus two adults outside of the Canary greenhouse. An increase in number compared to KOTHE (2009) seems to be unlikely.

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Remarks on Common Wall Lizards Podarcis muralis s.l. (LAURENTI, 1768) in northwestern districts of the city of Stuttgart, Germany
Tendencies of their expansion and hybridizations, effects on populations of the Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis LINNAEUS, 1758 and considerations for managing alien Wall Lizards

We report occurrences of the Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis s.l.) in the previously uninvestigated city districts of Feuerbach, Weilimdorf and Botnang in northwestern Stuttgart, Germany. New insights on known occurrences in adjacent city districts, already reported by DEICHSEL (2011) and SCHULTE et al. (2008, 2011), are added. With no exception, Stuttgart occurrences of P. m. brongniardii of the Eastern-France lineage, P. m. maculiventris-West of the Southern-Alps lineage, and P. m. nigriventris of the Tuscany lineage, and hybrids of these lineages with each other, are alien. In accordance with SCHULTE et al. (2021), BLANKE & LORENZ (2019), and with Flora-Fauna-Habitat Guidelines of the European Commission (February 2007), we urgently discourage the translocation of alien Wall Lizards in Stuttgart. The expansion potential and assertiveness of these alien animals may be detrimental to ecosystems, and sequelae cannot be corrected.

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As part of a natural history trip to the island of Lanzarote, it was possible to visit, among other things, a gray shrike’s spit-ground (Lanius excubitor koenigi) in a mastic bush (Pistacia lentiscus) of a garden. Severel cranial skeletons of Gallotia a. atlantica were discovered and photografically documented. A total of eight lizard skulls were counted, where further skulls are suspected in the upper area of the shrub.

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The information about the northern range boundary of the steppe-runner Eremias arguta (Pallas, 1773) has changed in recent decades. Based on the reliable recordins in 2001-2020 from 12 locations the northern range boundary between Volga and Ural was specified. It runs through the Engelsky District of the Saratov Region, through the Stavropolsky, Kinelsky, Bogatovsky and Borsky Districts of the Samara Region, through the Buzuluksky and Tashlinsky Districts of the Orenburg Region of Russia. The northern limit of the range should be considered the Volga above-floodplain slope in the left-bank part of the Stavropolsky district in Samara region. All specimens encountered had body coloration typical of Eremias arguta deserti (Gmelin, 1789). The locations of steppe-runner are confined to open spaces treeless and without a dense herbaceous vegetation on the southern sandy slopes.

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Im Rahmen des Bundesstichprobenmonitorings der Zauneidechse (Lacerta agilis) in Hessen wurden 5 Gebiete mit Zauneidechsen - Vorkommen per Zufall ausgewählt und im Jahr 2011 untersucht. Im Gelände wurden Parameter zu den Hauptkriterien Zustand der Population, Habitatqualität und Beeinträchtigungen erhoben und in eigens dafür entwickelten Erfassungsbögen festgehalten. Die Einzelparameter wurden zu einer Wertstufe des Hauptkriteriums aggregiert, aus den Hauptkriterien wurde die Gesamtbewertung des Vorkommens abgeleitet. Die Ergebnisse der Bestandsaufnahme und Bewertung von jedem Einzelvorkommen werden dargestellt und diskutiert, soweit möglich werden Entwicklungstendenzen abgeleitet. Drei Vorkommen weisen einen guten (Wertstufe B) und zwei einen schlechten Erhaltungszustand (Wertstufe C) auf. In zwei Gebieten konnten keine Zauneidechsen nachgewiesen werden. Erfassungs- und Bewertungsmethode werden diskutiert und kritisch hinterfragt.

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In Fortsetzung der Stichprobenkartierung 2005 zur Verbreitung von Zauneidechse (Lacerta agilis) und Schlingnatter (Coronella austriaca) in Hessen (MALTEN & LINDERHAUS 2005) wurde im Jahr 2006 auf 314 zufällig ausgewählten 1 km2 großen Probeflächen kartiert. In der Zeit vom 8. Juni bis zum 15. Oktober wurden dazu innerhalb der Probeflächen frei wählbare Transekte von 1 km Länge, bzw. 1 h Begehungsdauer nach Vorkommen dieser Reptilien abgesucht. Die Probeflächen befanden sich in den hessischen Anteilen der Naturräume D18 Thüringer Becken mit Randplatten, D36 Weser- und Weser Leine-Bergland (Niedersächsisches Bergland), D38 Bergisches Land, Sauerland, D39 Westerwald, D40 Lahntal und Limburger Hessen, D41 Taunus, D55 Odenwald, Spessart und Südrhön. Die zufälli ge Auswahl der Probeflächen erfolgte für jedes Messtischblatt separat, um eine homogenere Vertei lung über Hessen zu erreichen. Die Bewertung der angetroffenen Populationen, Habitate und die Be einträchtigungen und Gefährdungen wurden anhand eines für diese Erfassung modifizierten Bewer tungsrahmens durchgeführt. Die Begehungen erfolgten durch speziell geschulte Mitarbeiter des Lan desbetriebes Hessen-Forst, FIV, Naturschutzdaten, der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Amphibien- und Repti lienschutz Hessen (AGAR) sowie der Arbeitsgruppe Biotopkartierung am Forschungsinstitut Sen ckenberg. Insgesamt wurden 912 Reptilien auf 217 Probeflächen nachgewiesen. Neben 279 Zauneid echsen und 9 Schlingnattern wurden dabei 500 Waldeidechsen (Zootoca vivipara), 93 Blindschleichen (Anguis fragilis), 19 Ringelnattern (Natrix natrix) sowie 12 nicht bestimmte Eidechsen gezählt. Damit war die Waldeidechse insgesamt die am häufigsten gefundene Art der Untersuchung.

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The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Eremias dzungarica from the Junggar Basin in Northwest China was determined for the first time by next generation sequencing. The total length is 19,899bp, containing13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and one control region. This gene arrangement is similar to the typical mtDNA of vertebrates. The 13 concatenated PCGs were used to perform Bayesian phylogenetic analyses together with several congeners as well as ten representative lacertids with mitogenome data available in GenBank. The resulting phylogenetic tree supports the monophyly of viviparous species in Eremias, with E. dzungarica being more closely related to E. przewalskii than to E. multiocellata. The mitogenome of E. dzungarica will provide fundamental data for the exploration of the mitogenome evolution in lacertids.

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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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Coccidian (Apicomplexa: Coccidia) parasites have been reported in almost all groups of vertebrates. These parasites may cause serious ecological and pathological effects to their hosts. Reptiles were found the be the host of the parasites of the genera Schellackia and Lankesterella, as these parasites undergo their entire life cycle in the reptilian body, with an intermediate stage of dormancy in the tissues of a hematophagus transmitter (generally a mite or a mosquito), until the next reptilian host swallows the infected insect. However, very little is known about the prevalence and intensity of these parasites in most of their distribution area, which is the focus of the current study. To do so, the prevalence and intensity of these blood parasites in three species of lizards, including Ophisops elegans, Trapelus lessonae and Eremias monticola from Markazi Province of Iran were investigated. Samples of blood were collected from the caudal vein of 51 lizards of the aforementioned species by insulin syringes, then the blood smears were dried, fixed with methanol and stained with Giemsa solution. Prepared blood samples were then examined by means of light microscopy, using a 100× magnification objective lens. 41 percent of the 51 examined samples were found to be infected by haemococcidians blood parasites from the family Lankesterellidae. The mean intensity of parasites in the three species were between 0.03-0.05%. The investigation revealed a relatively high percentage of prevalence and intensity of blood parasites in lizards of central part of Iran. The results showed the presence of a complete set of various vectors for the spread of haemoparasites in the area. Therefore, future researches are strongly recommended to utilize genetic markers in order to obtain a better identification of the parasites.

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A well-documented case of predation of an Anguis fragilis newborn by an adult male of Podarcis muralis is described in a sunny area on the side of an abandoned irrigation raft in Les Planes d’Hostoles (Catalonia, Spain). If we have paid attention to the compiled material published on the diets and predators of the two species, the case seems to be the first that is known in the Iberian Peninsula. As it is not possible to find another publication that comments on this predator-prey relationship, it is also possible that it is the first case published in the entire joint distribution of the two species.

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Im Rahmen einer Stichprobenkartierung wurden im Jahr 2005 auf 649 zufällig ausgewählten 1 km2 großen Probeflächen Zauneidechsen (Lacerta agilis) und Schlingnattern (Coronella austriaca) kartiert. In der Zeit vom 26.5.05-14.10.05 wurden dazu innerhalb der Probeflächen frei wählbare Transekte von 1 km Länge, bzw. 1 h Begehungsdauer nach Vorkommen dieser Reptilien abgesucht. Die Probeflächen befanden sich in den Naturräumen D46 Westhessisches Bergland, D47 Osthessisches Bergland, Vogelsberg und Rhön sowie D53 Oberrheinisches Tiefland. Die zufällige Auswahl der Probeflächen erfolgte für jedes Messtischblatt separat, um eine homogenere Verteilung über Hessen zu erreichen. Die Bewertung der angetroffenen Populationen, Habitate und die Beeinträchtigungen und Gefährdungen wurden anhand eines für diese Erfassung modifizierten Bewertungsrahmens durchgeführt. Die Begehungen erfolgten durch speziell geschulte Mitarbeiter des Landesbetriebes Hessen Forst, FIV, Naturschutzdaten, der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Amphibien- und Reptilienschutz Hessen (AGAR) sowie der Arbeitsgruppe Biotopkartierung am Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg. Insgesamt wurden 2.598 Reptilien auf 449 Probeflächen nachgewiesen. Neben 879 Zauneidechsen und 15 Schlingnattern wurden dabei 1.474 Waldeidechsen (Zootoca vivipara), 176 Blindschleichen (Anguis fragilis), 18 Ringelnattern (Natrix natrix) sowie 36 nicht bestimmte Eidechsen gezählt. Damit war die Waldeidechse insgesamt die am häufigsten gefundene Art der Untersuchung, obwohl sie im Naturraum D53 deutlich seltener gefunden wurde als die Zauneidechse. In den drei untersuchten Naturräumen wurde eine Flächen deckende, im Süden (Naturraum D53) dichtere Verbreitung der Zauneidechse auf insgesamt 213 Probeflächen festgestellt. Zwar wurden im Naturraum D47 insgesamt weniger Vor kommen der Zauneidechse registriert, als im Naturraum D53, die hier festgestellten Populationen wurden jedoch besonders häufig mit „sehr gut“ bewertet. Insgesamt muss der klimatisch begünstigte Naturraum D53 aufgrund der hohen Bewertung der Habitate und der vielen Vorkommen als der für diese Art am besten zu bewertende Naturraum in Hessen eingestuft werden. Die Schlingnatter wurde überwiegend in der nördlichen Hälfte des Naturraums D47 (10 Probeflächen) und in einer weiteren Probefläche im Süden des Naturraums D53 kartiert. Diese Daten geben nicht annähernd die tatsächliche Verbreitung wieder, zeigen aber den Schwerpunkt des Vorkommens im untersuchten Raum. Die 2005 erhobenen Daten ermöglichen eine objektivere Beurteilung der Verbreitung von Zauneidechse und Waldeidechse sowie (eingeschränkt) der Schlingnatter in Hessen als vorausgegangene Untersuchungen. Die Auswahl der Probeflächen nach dem Zufallsprinzip verhindert, dass Fundpunkte lediglich die Wohnorte der Kartierer abbilden. Es wird empfohlen die Kartierung auf die gesamte Landesfläche auszudehnen und möglichst den Stichprobenumfang zur Abdeckung aller Messtischblattquadranten auf 10 % zu erhöhen, um einen lückenlosen Überblick über Status und Verbreitung von Zauneidechse und Schlingnatter in Hessen zu bekommen.