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We analysed the effects of body mass on the monthly activity patterns of six Mediterranean lacertid lizard taxa, four relatively small species, the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus), the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis), the blue-throated keeled lizard (Algyroides nigropunctatus), and the Ionian wall lizard (Podarcis ionicus), and two larger species, the western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) and the Balkan green lizard (Lacerta trilineata). The highest number of observations for all six species occurred in April and May and the lowest in July and August, the latter being the hottest and driest months of the year. The two larger species were mainly active from March to July, whereas the four smaller species had an additional period of high activity from September to November. As all six species reproduce during spring, the increase in activity of the smaller species in autumn was consequently unrelated to reproductive behaviour. There was no difference in seasonal activity of the two smaller Italian species at sites with or without the larger green lizards. It is therefore unlikely that interference competition/predation by green lizards caused the increased autumnal activity of the smaller lizards. We suggest that due to their lower mass-specific metabolic rates, larger species can obtain sufficient lipid stores over a shorter annual activity to ensure successful reproduction the subsequent spring. By contrast, smaller species have greater need to replenish their lipid reserves after summer fasting and therefore resume much higher activity levels in September to November to attain this goal.

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Despite global efforts to halt biodiversity loss, it continues to decline due to a combination of unsustainable actions, increasing the urgency for measures to reverse this trend. A major constraint regarding efficient biodiversity management is the lack of knowledge on most species` population size and abundance patterns. Reptiles are used in ecological research as model organisms due to their ease in handling, and their diversity in behaviour and ecology. Reptile diversity of Cyprus is high and includes several endemic species. The aim of this study was to compare lizard diversity patterns along riverbanks within and around designated protected areas. Riparian habitats have received less attention in conservation-oriented studies in Mediterranean regions, despite their ecological significance and the distinct communities they host, or their vulnerability to climate change. The role of environmental factors, seasonality, and habitat heterogeneity for lizard assemblages in riparian areas was evaluated along three rivers that flow inside and outside protected areas. The abundances of the four more common species (Ophisops elegans, Phoenicolacerta troodica, Laudakia cypriaca, and Acanthodactylus schreiberi) were evaluated separately. We recorded most of Cyprus’ lizard species in riparian habitats, but diversity and richness were not associated with any of the explanatory variables. The abundances of the four species exhibited different relationships each with elevation, season, and protection status, but not with habitat heterogeneity. The latter could be related to the fact that riparian habitat heterogeneity patterns are very similar throughout the study sites. Our results suggest that Cyprus’ lizard diversity and riparian habitats have not been considered much in the design of protected areas.

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Background. The purpose of the work is to clarify the species of turtles, lizards and snakes that P. S. Pallas noted in the Volga river basin and the Volga-Ural inter fluve. Pallas’s data on the reptile fauna of the region are compared with current data Materials an methods. The basis of the study was the analysis of Pallas’s publications. The names of reptiles used by Pallas with their modern names are identified. Results. From the Volga region, Pallas described two species of reptiles that are new to science: “Coluber melanis” (black forest-steppe form of the Vipera berus) and “Lacerta pipiens” (Alsophylax pipiens). From the interfluve of the Volga and the Ural Pallas described two species yet: “Lacerta apoda” (Pseudopus apodus) and “Lacerta mystacea” (Phrynocephalus mystaceus). The great naturalist noted in the Volga region also reptiles, whose modern names are: Emys orbicularis, Phrynocephalus helioscopus, Phrynocephalus guttatus, Phrynocephalus mystaceus, Eremias velox, Lacerta agilis, Natrix natrix, Natrix tessellata, Hierophis caspius, Gloydius halys, Vipera berus, Vipera renardi. At the beginning of the XXI century, one species of turtles, 11 species of lizards and 10 species of snakes reliably inhabit the region. Conclusions. The species of reptiles noted by Pallas, except for the Pseudopus apodus and the Gloydius halys, reliably inhabit the region at present. The data of the Pallas serve as a basis for studying the dynamics of species composition, distribution, abundance and phenology of reptiles in the Volga basin.

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Atlases of fauna with distribution maps and information about biology and ecology are useful tools for the management and conservation of the species. Knowledge about distribution of the reptiles in Sicily dates back to 2006. An update of data was carried out taking also into account the systematic innovations of the last twelve years. For creating the geographic distribution maps, the UTM WGS84 cartographic system was used. At present 24 species of reptiles live and reproduce in the Sicilian territory. On the main island there are 17 species, on the minor islands the number varies from a minimum of four to a maximum of eight species. Compared to the bibliographic data, for 16 species an increase in the number of cells occupied has been recorded, with a variation between 0.3 and 81.8%, five species have not undergone variation, and for two species a decrease was recorded. The current presence of Testudo hermanni on the minor Sicilian islands is dubious or unlikely. The higher number of species compared to the previous distribution data is due to the recent confirmation of the presence of Eryx jaculus in Sicilian territory, and the presence of a new Tarentola taxon of specific rank in Lampedusa island. The decrease of Podarcis filfolensis is due to its absence from the known site in Lampedusa, while the case of Zamenis situla is due to the exclusion of data collected in some areas where there are no recent, reliable observations.

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Smaragdhagedissen hebben een wijde verspreiding in Zuid- en Centraal-Europa en Klein-Azië. De meest noordelijke populaties bevinden zich in het oosten en westen van Duitsland. Dit zijn geïsoleerde relictpopulaties van respectievelijk de oostelijke smaragdhagedis (Lacerta viridis) en de westelijke smaragdhagedis (L. bilineata). Enkele losse waarnemingen uit Nederland zijn bekend, maar de aanwezigheid van een populatie westelijke smaragdhagedissen zal menigeen waarschijnlijk niet voor mogelijk houden.

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Acanthodactylus Wiegmann, 1834 is one of the widespread lizard genus in North Africa, southern Europe, Asia Minor to the Iberian Peninsula and east through the Arabian Peninsula and western India. We recently discovered Acanthodactylus ilgazi from Eastern Anatolia Turkey. However, a nomenclatural clause for electronic publishing of species names according to the Code of International Nomenclature caused the new name has been unavailable up to now. Therefore, here we formally describe A. ilgazi. In addition to that, the description of the male specimen is given for the first time for this species.

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This paper presents an updated checklist of Amphibians and Reptiles of Montenegro. The checklist contains 52 species (including two species complexes), compiled from published literature and personal field surveys. Species complexes are the Anguis fragilis complex and the Lacerta viridis complex. Trachemys scripta is introduced, while Podarcis siculus is potentially introduced species. Migratory species include three sea turtles (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas and Dermochelys coriacea). Additionally, there are four potentially present species (Proteus anguinus, Mediodactylus kotschyi, Tarentola mauritanica and Podarcis tauricus), which presence is doubtful or still not confirmed with certainty in Montenegro. National and international protection as well as conservation status of Amphibians and Reptiles is given.

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To plan efficient conservation actions it is fundamental to have as many detailed and complete information as possible on the distribution of the target species. That is particularly true for amphibians and reptiles, taxa with generally little vagility and with relevant percentages of species included in one of the threatened IUCN categories. Fragmentation, modification an loss of habitats, together with the recent emergence of infectious fungal diseases in amphibians, represent the main causesof their decline. In order to efficiently direct conservation efforts, in particular towards species that are already or potentially threatened, it is important to create, and periodically update, atlases of their distribution. This work points out the updates to the ‘Atlas of th Amphibians and Reptiles of Trentino’, which is aimed at a throughout update that will be concluded by 2020, after about 20 years from the first publication. For this Atlas, the Trentino territory has been divide in cartographic map units represented by 309 UTM cells of 5x5 km. To date (June 1st 2018), 168 cells out of 309 contain at least one new observation since the last update, and 135 out of 309 contain species that were never recorded before. The data collection (which includes data from iNaturalist and Ornitho.it since 2017) has already gathered 1573 new observations (759amphibians and 814 reptiles), bringing the total at 7685 records for the provincial territory.

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The previous knowledge on the distribution of the herpetofauna of the Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Natural Park dates back to the early 90s. After just over a decade the Park has reproposed a herpetofaunistic study in order to update the checklist and the distribution framework of the amphibians and reptiles of the Park and neighboring territory. The study area is located eastern of the Trento province, includes the territory of the Park and a large pre-park area involving a total of 11 municipalities in the province of Trento and 2 in Belluno. The study was carried out in the period 2015-2017 using standard methods for census: Visual Encounter Survey (VES), active research under potential shelters, dip netting, call survey, egg survey, search for dead individuals and exuvie of reptiles. The project also included the collection of signallings from occasional surveyors and herpetological data collected from the open source faunistic platform iNaturalist. A total of 582 data were collected (63.7% on amphibians, 36.3% on reptiles), 40.4% within the Park with a clear prevalence for amphibians (27.7% vs 12.8% reptiles). The updated checklist of the Herpetofauna of the Park and surrounding areas includes Salamandra atra, Salamandra salamandra, Ichthyosaura alpestris, Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, Anguis veronensis/ A. fragilis, Lacerta bilineata, Podarcis muralis, Zootoca vivipara, Coronella austriaca, Natrix natrix, N. tessellata, Vipera aspis, V. berus. Compared to previous research, in addition to reconfirming historical data, the distribution framework of different species has been enriched with new locations of presence and addition of N. tessellata. For S. atra the exclusive presence in the eastern sectors of the Park was confirmed, with a significant increase in the number of 1x1 km cells. Moreover, the lithological structure of ist habitats was almost exclusively of the carbonatic type. By comparing the distributions of S. atra and S. salamandra in the study area it was also evident how the two species are parapatric. Similarly, Podarcis muralis is limited to the southernmost part of the study area, in out-of-park areas and mainly in the valley bottom or in well-exposed slopes and shows a clear distribution differentiation with Z. vivipara with the two species vicarious even in the common altitudinal zone. Generally, no significant decline situations were found for the most widespread species. While for the rarer ones there were three different situations: probable disappearance of the species (eg Bombina variegata), scarcity of data likely due to research defect (eg Lacerta bilineata) or elusiveness of some species (eg Coronella austriaca), actual rarity in the study area (Natrix tessellata).

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The geographic variability of the dorsal pattern (DP) of the Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus, across its native range was studied with the aim to understand whether the distributions of this phenotypic trait were more shaped by allopatric differentiation rather than adaptive processes. A total of 1298 georeferenced observations scattered across the Italian peninsula and the main islands (Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia) were obtained from citizen science databases and five DPs were characterized by different shapes of the dark pattern (“reticulated”, “campestris”, “reticulated/campestris” and “striped”) or by absence of it (“concolor”). Frequencies of different DP phenotypes differ between the two main mtDNA lineages settled in central-northern and in southern Italy respectively. This pattern may be indicative of a role of long-term allopatric historical processes in determining the observed pattern. The analysis also identified a putative wide area of secondary contact, in central southern Italy, characterized by high diversity of the DP. Generalized Linear Models (GLMs), used to estimate a possible association between bioclimatic variables and the observed phenotypic variation, showed that each of the five DPs is correlated to different environmental factors and show different distribution of areas with high probability of occurrence. However, for all but one of the DPs, the area with the greatest probability does not correspond exactly to the real distribution of the DP. Conversely, the “concolor” phenotype does not seem related to any particular mtDNA lineage and it shows a preference for areas with high temperature and low rainfall. This is in agreement with the expectation of low amount of melanin of the dorsal pattern that, in the study areas, is characterized by a light uniform coloration which could confer a better thermoregulation ability in high temperatures environments avoiding overheating.

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The Madeiran wall lizard Teira dugesii is a relatively new species to the Azores Archipelago, where it was accidentally introduced about 150 to 200 years ago. This lacertid quickly became naturalised and now occurs in all the nine main islands of the Azores. At Praia Islet, off Graciosa Island, the Madeiran wall lizard was recently observed preying on chicks of the threatened Monteiro’s storm-petrel Hydrobates monteiroi. To characterise the lizards’ trophic niche, we conducted a study of the diet of the Madeiran wall lizard at Praia using stable isotope analysis and next-generation sequencing. Our results indicate that the Madeiran wall lizard has a varied diet, consisting of at least 23 invertebrate taxa, 17 plant species, and occasionally, birds (two species detected, including storm-petrels). Marine derived food items were present in few samples, and it is vital to monitor the trophic interactions at Praia Islet to ensure the conservation of this threatened storm-petrel.

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As an indicator of physiological state of lizards, thermoregulatory behavior has been proposed as an assessment tool of environmental contamination, particularly in desert ecosystems where lizards represent a major biological component. Although pesticide contamination has been shown to induce behavioral fever in lizards, the possible pyrogenic effect of heavy metals has received less attention. The objective of this study was to provide data on this issue by using Bosk’s fringe-toed lizards (Acanthodactylus boskianus) living in a metal-contaminated industrial area in south-eastern Tunisia as a study model. Combining field observations of behavior with measures of thermoregulatory performance under laboratory conditions, we found that proximity to the industrial zone was associated to a different thermoregulatory behavior of lizards. There was a tendency of lizards living close to the contamination source to display behavioral fever, as they spent more time in the sun, preferred higher body temperatures, and warmed up faster, compared to lizards living far away. This heat-seeking behavior is likely a reaction to improve the functioning of physiological systems involved in the defense against toxic effects of heavy metals, possibly through the increase of metabolic rate, stimulation of enzymes involved in the detoxification process, and enhancement of immune defense systems. Our findings stress the need for further detailed studies into the physiological mechanisms linking metal contamination to behavioral fever. They also underline the usefulness of thermoregulatory behavior as a reliable, non-destructive, and inexpensive, individual-level biomarker in lizard ecotoxicology and biomonitoring of contaminated desert environments.

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We report the results of 78 field surveys, from October 2016 to May 2018, on the herpetofauna of the PRAN (Regional Archaeological Natural Park) Inviolata (Guidonia Montecelio, Roma). The protected area herpetological checklist shows 18 species, six amphibians and 12 reptiles (one of which is an invasive alien). The article briefly describes phenology and distribution of each species together with some ecoethological notes.

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The basin of Lake Skadar with its drainage area represents one of the Balkan Peninsula’s hotspots regarding amphibian and reptile fauna. The value of the batracho- and herpetofauna of the Lake Skadar region is reflected in a rich and diverse composition of species. This is undoubtedly the result of the basin’s specific geographic position and complex geological history. Recent studies revealed that Lake Skadar’s watershed is inhabited by 15 amphibian and 36 reptile species. Among these, one amphibian (Pelophylax shqipericus – EN) and two reptile species (Dinarolacerta mosorensis and Vipera ursinii, both VU) are considered to be globally threatened according to IUCN criteria. An additional three reptile species (Emys orbicularis, Testudo hermanni, and Elaphe quatuorlineata) could become threatened in the future. As an attractive tourist area, a significant part of the Lake Skadar region could be impacted by fast and intense anthropogenic changes. Therefore, preserving the network of suitable habitats, maintaining continuous monitoring, and investing in additional research are essential for maintaining this rich local amphibian and reptile diversity.

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The already rich inventory of herpetofaunal records in Bacãu County is increased with 405 new records of 23 amphibian and reptile species from 54 localities, including a species now firstly found in the county. Some data regarding the habitat preferences of the recorded species are also given, especially if local populations show peculiar characteristics in this respect. Podarcis muralis is firstly recorded in Bacãu county. When available from long-term observations, tentative data on the multiyear dynamics of some species are given, showing decline in some of these.

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Die Ergebnisse verschiedener Untersuchungen zu Ruineneidechsen (Podarcis sicula) aus der Familie der Echten Eidechsen (Lacertidae) werden diskutiert. Bei dieser Eidechsenart sollen erhebliche mikroevolutive* und sogar makroevolutive* Veränderungen in einem Zeitraum von nur 36 Jahren entstanden sein. Während die Veränderungen im Bau der Gliedmaßen und des Schädels (und der daraus resultierenden Beißkraft) lediglich rapid ablaufende Mikroevolutionsprozesse (Variation) belegen, soll auch eine innerhalb von nur etwa 30 Generationen angeblich neu entstandene Struktur im Verdauungstrakt der Eidechsen ebenfalls auf Anpassung zurückgeführt werden und durch ungerichtete Prozesse hervorgebracht worden sein. Dabei handelt es sich um sogenannte „Cecal Valves“ – Blinddarmklappen, die den Verdauungsvorgang verlangsamen und bei schwerverdaulicher pflanzlicher Nahrung von Vorteil sind. Diese Struktur wird von den Autoren als makroevolutive Neuerung (Konstruktion) ausgegeben, in den Medien als solche gefeiert und in mehreren Kommentaren von Biologen auch als Argument gegen das Schöpfungsparadigma vorgebracht. Die Einordnung als makroevolutive Neuerung ist jedoch bei weitem nicht so schlüssig, wie es auf den ersten Blick scheinen mag. So ist durchaus denkbar, dass die Klappen-Struktur lediglich eine mikroevolutive (mutative) Veränderung bereits bestehender Strukturen darstellt, selbst wenn ihre genetische Grundlage in der besagten Population de novo entstanden sein sollte. Falls die Forscher Recht behalten sollten und die erstmalige Entstehung der notwendigen genetischen Information tatsächlich Makroevolution wäre, kann dennoch eine alternative Deutung der Daten vertreten werden: Die betreffende Struktur könnte eine mikroevolutive Ausprägung eines von Anfang an bestehenden Potentials einer polyvalenten* Stammform der untersuchten Population von P. sicula sein.

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Cells considered to be migratory in the cerebral cortex of adult lizards are ultrastructurally of two types. Nuclei in the first type have highly dispersed chromatin, creating a spongy appearance, whereas in the second type the chromatin is irregularly clumped. Both types of cells are closely associated with processes of radial ependymal glia cells, which perhaps orient their migratory pathways. Cells with spongy chromatin show an increase in cytoplasmic organelles and progressive chromatin condensation as they travel from the ependymal layer to the granular layer. Possibly these cells account for the neuronal increase that takes place in the granular layer during postnatal life. Cells with chromatin clumps are very scarce; ultrastructurally they resemble immature reptilian astroglia cells.

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The viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara) is a species of the Squamata order from the family of lizards (Lacertidae) covering the wide range – from Western Europe, including British islands and Ireland to the far reaches of Asia with limit of occurrence on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The population of the viviparous lizard is not regularly monitored and does not have specific monitoring rules. Currently, numerous publications in the press and media inform about the progressive intensification of agriculture, intensity of tourist traffic or the increasingly progressive urbanization of the environment, which contributes to the migration of viviparous lizards from these areas. It has been suggested that because of human interference with the environment, viviparous lizards retreat to intact natural habitats. This is related to decrease in the area of occurrence of these reptiles and less frequent observations than before. The work presents a proposed methodology of viviparous lizard monitoring based on the evaluation of population status indicator – relative abundance and habitat condition indicators such as availability of breeding places and availability of hiding places. The aim of the article is to present indicators of the population status and habitat condition indicators, additionally to establish terms and frequency of surveys within the framework of the possibility to conduct monitoring studies of viviparous lizard populations.

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The herpetofauna of six Natura 2000 Sites of the Valle d`Aosta was investigated during the two-year period 2016-2017 on behalf to the Regione Autonoma Valle d`Aosta. The present paper describes the essential features of such monitoring, which updated the knowledge on the herpetofauna of the study areas. The results achieved constitutes the reference point for future monitoring under the Article 17 of the Habitats Directive for species of European concern. Methods for reptiles monitoring were: counts along standardized transects, visual encounter surveys (especially at natural refuges), the use of artificial shelters, and finding snake exuviae. Methods for monitoring amphibians were: searching for eggs, larvae and metamorphosed individuals, and calling surveys. Among the most important results, we highlight the occurrence of the only known intra-alpine population of Podarcis siculus and a new site record of Coronella girondica, a Western Mediterranean snake with a few isolated populations in the Alps; we confirmed in a single site the occurrence of water frogs Pelophylax lessonae/kl. esculentus, once widespread along the Dora Baltea valley but currently almost disappeared. Pelophylax lessonae/kl. esculentus have probably become extinct in a Natura 2000 Site.

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The northernmost population of the Balkan wall lizards, Podarcis tauricus (Pallas, 1814) was recently discovered in the Czech Republic. We studied genetic variability in a mitochondrial marker cytochrome b to shed light on the origin of this remote population. We detected three unique haplotypes, close to those occurring in the populations of Podarcis tauricus from central/north Balkans and Hungary. Our data exclude the hypothesis of a single founder (a randomly or intentionally introduced pregnant female or her progeny) of the Czech population and indicate a native, autochthonous origin of the population or recent introduction/range expansion.

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A molecular study using specifically designed primers for Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA sequencing (RAPDs) highlighted differentially expressed bands in male and female specimens of Zootoca vivipara. After cloning and sequencing, searches in Repbase and BLAST N evidenced, in the male, a sequence containing distinct segments showing high identity values with a fragment of the Squam 1 SINE family of Podarcis muralis, a region of the intron 7 of the beta-fibrinogen (FGB) gene from Lacerta viridis and a microsatellite sequence of Podarcis melisellensis, respectively. A sequence of 817 bp isolated in the female had three regions of interest showing high identity values with: a) a TC1 Mariner DNA transposon of Petromyzon marinus; b) the intron 7 of the betafibrinogen (FGB) gene of wall lizards of the genus Podarcis; c) a region of an ultra-conserved element present in the genome of birds and mammals, suggesting its conservation during the diversification of this group of vertebrates. Analyses with quantitative dot blot and FISH showed that the sequences isolated were interspersed on autosomes and sex chromosomes of Z. vivipara, each representing about the 0.03% of the genome.

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1. Ornamental coloration is frequently an honest signal of quality associated with sexual selection. While changes in average environmental conditions affect carotenoid- and melanin-based coloration, no evidence exists that changes in intrinsic environmental predictability affect coloration. 2. Here we experimentally manipulated the intrinsic predictability of precipitation in semi-natural populations of common lizards Zootoca vivipara and tested ist effect on ornamental coloration and reproduction of adult males. 3. Less predictable precipitation decreased hue of carotenoid-based coloration and the extent of melanin-based coloration. Hue was positively correlated and the extent of melanin-based coloration was negatively correlated with the male`s number of confirmed mate partners. 4. Treatment effects on hue were associated with reduced, and treatment effects on the extent of melanin-based coloration with increased access to females, in line with differential effects on sexual selection. 5. Neither survival nor reproductive success of adult males significantly differed among predictability treatments, suggesting that negative effects on reproduction caused by changes in carotenoid-based coloration may have been compensated by changes in melanin-based coloration. 6. The results also showed that ornamentation, rather than reproduction and survival of adult males, was affected by less favourable conditions. Together with previous results, this suggests that coloration might be more sensitive to changes in environmental conditions than direct fitness proxies.

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The Kokshaal racerunner, Eremias kokshaaliensis Eremchenko et Panfilov, 1999, together with other central Asian racerunner species, is included in the Eremias multiocellata complex. In the present work, for the first time, the results of the analysis of historical mitochondrial DNA (barcode) are presented and the taxonomic status and preliminary phylogenetic relationships within the complex are specified. We present, for the first time, the results of the molecular analysis using historical DNA recovered from specimens of several species of this complex (paratypes of the Kokshaal racerunner and historical collections of the Kashgar racerunner E. buechneri from Kashgaria) using DNA barcoding.

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The data on species structure of lizards of Hvalynsky forest (Hvalynsky dis trict, Saratov region), Krasnosamarsky forest (Kinelsky district, Samara region), the Buzuluksky pine forest (Borsky district of the Samara region and Buzuluksky district of the Orenburg region) are presented.

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Comparative studies on mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) as well as the structure and evolution of the mitochondrial control region are few in the Lacertidae family. Here, the complete mitogenomes of five individuals of Eremias scripta (2 individuals), Eremias nikolskii, Eremias szczerbaki, and Eremias yarkandensis were determined using next-generation sequencing and were compared with other lacertids available in GenBank. The circular mitogenomes comprised the standard set of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and a long non-coding control region (CR). The extent of purifying selection was less pronounced for the COIII and ND2 genes in comparison with the rest of the PCGs. The codons encoding Leucine (CUN), Threonine, and Isolecucine were the three most frequently present. The secondary structure of rRNA of Lacertidae (herein, E. scripta KZL15 as an example) comprised four domains and 28 helices for 12S rRNA, with six domains and 50 helices for 16S rRNA. Five types and twenty-one subtypes of CR in Lacertidae were described by following the criteria of the presence and position of tandem repeats (TR), termination-associated sequence 1 (TAS1), termination-associated sequence 2 (TAS2), conserved sequence block 1 (CBS1), conserved sequence block 2 (CSB2), and conserved sequence block 3 (CSB3). The compositions of conserved structural elements in four genera, Acanthodactylus, Darevskia, Eremias, and Takydromus, were further explored in detail. The base composition of TAS2 – TATACATTAT in Lacertidae was updated. In addition, the motif “TAGCGGCTTTTTTG” of tandem repeats in Eremias and the motif ”GCGGCTT” in Takydromus were presented. Nucleotide lengths between CSB2 and CSB3 remained 35 bp in Eremias and Darevskia. The phylogenetic analyses of Lacertidae recovered the higher-level relationships among the three subfamilies and corroborated a hard polytomy in the Lacertinae phylogeny. The phylogenetic position of E. nikolskii challenged the monophyly of the subgenus Pareremias within Eremias. Some mismatches between the types of CR and their phylogeny demonstrated the complicated evolutionary signals of CR such as convergent evolution. These findings will promote research on the structure and evolution of the CR and highlight the need for more mitogenomes in Lacertidae.

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Alien species constitute a serious threat to biodiversity, also contributing to reduce the ecological resilience of ecosystems to global climate changes. The Italian wall lizard Podarcis siculus Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810 (Sauria: Lacertidae) is the only species in the genus Podarcis that can be considered as a true alien pest, since it has established reproductive populations on three different continents, seeming capable of adapting to a variety of habitats, temperature ranges and food sources, also competing with native lizard species. P. siculus, even though endemic to most of the Italian peninsula, was observed for the first time around Lake Garda (northern Italy) during 2016: in the municipality of Arco (Province of Trento), in the touristic area of Limone sul Garda (Brescia), in three garden centres in Padenghe sul Garda (Brescia), Peschiera and Castelnuovo del Garda and in Valeggio sul Mincio (Verona), inside the historical garden park “Sigurtà”. We have confirmed the presence of P. siculus after decades on Trimelone islet (Verona) as well, and in other localities in the pre alpine hilly area surrounding the southern edges of Lake Garda, which clearly affects their climate conditions. We used phylogenetic analyses to confirm the exotic origin of most of these populations, which derive from specimens imported throughout aged olive trees trading activities. Multiple separated colonization events occurred, since in at least two sites different genetic clades, imported from various localities of central and southern Italy, can be found thriving together. This brought to hybridization that has probably offset the negative consequences of low genetic diversity typically occurring in newly established animal populations. Aged olive trees perfectly host P. siculus acting as a Trojan horse for the colonization of new environments, representing an all-in-one microhabitat, where lizards can find food and basking sites, lay eggs and survive to cold climate conditions during winter. Aged olive trees are frequently sold to private citizens for ornamental purposes and, to this regard, garden centres act as stepping stones for a rapid and unpredictable lizard invasion, which could affect a large portion of northern Italy, firstly south of the 46th parallel. The presence of P. siculus exotic lineages brings forward major considerations on their impact on native P. s. campestris and P. muralis populations occurring in the same area. Extreme adaptations that we observed in the field, the role of olive trees and other allochthonous entities in favouring lizard survival, and the effect of alien P. siculus on habitat meridionalization around Lake Garda are discussed.

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A new taxonomic checklist is established for the Amphibians and non-avian Sauropsids (= “Reptiles”) of France. It takes into account the most recent publications. In addition to zoological scientific names, a French scientific name is attributed to each taxon.

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How innovations such as vision, flight and pregnancy evolve is a central question in evolutionary biology. Examination of transitional (intermediate) forms of these traits can help address this question, but these intermediate phenotypes are very rare in extant species. Here we explore the biology and evolution of transitional forms of pregnancy that are midway between the ancestral state of oviparity (egg-laying) and the derived state, viviparity (live birth). Transitional forms of pregnancy occur in only three vertebrates, all of which are lizard species that also display intraspecific variation in repro- ductive phenotype. In these lizards (Lerista bougainvillii, Saiphos equalis, and Zootoca vivipara), geographic variation of three reproductive forms occurs within a single species: oviparity, viviparity, and a transitional form of pregnancy. This phenomenon offers the valuable prospect of watching ‘evolution in action’. In these species, it is possible to conduct comparative research using different reproductive forms that are not confounded by speciation, and are of relatively recent origin. We identify major proximate and ultimate questions that can be addressed in these species, and the genetic and genomic tools that can help us understand how transitional forms of pregnancy are produced, despite predicted fitness costs. We argue that these taxa represent an excellent prospect for understanding the major evolutionary shift between egg-laying and live birth, which is a fundamental innovation in the history of animals.

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When habitat loss and fragmentation have caused local populations to become so isolated that among-population dispersal no longer occurs, habitat restoration and reintroduction at the scale of metapopulations should be considered. The potential for metapopulation establishment of the endangered sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) in a sandy pine heath reserve in central Sweden was explored by modelling the effect of differences in: 1) patch size, 2) number of patches, 3) number of introduced juveniles, and 4) among-patch dispersal. My basic model is presented as a spatially explicit, age-structured, stochastic metapopulation model, and it is parameterized with long-term demographic data from two local populations inhabiting the area subject for this study. Simulations of population growth for 50 years showed that the quasi-extinction risk (threshold < 10 females) was > 56% for patches < 1 ha; which is the average size of suitable habitat for inhabited patches during the past 10 years. The quasi-extinction risk decreased to < 6% for patches > 5 ha. Extinction risks decreased with larger propagule size of introduced juveniles and with increasing number of annual introductions. The same total number of introduced juveniles gave roughly the same extinction risk irrespective of if these individuals were placed in 1 patch or divided into several patches in highly correlated, managed metapopulation networks. Dispersal was not important to reduce extinction risks over a 50-year horizon for these types of metapopulation networks. Given that the supply of juveniles for release is limited, it seems that a wise strategy may be to introduce juveniles for three successive years into one patch in each of several metapopulation networks to minimize correlation among the initial populations. Dispersal was probably much more important in the past landscape, with a natural forest fire regime and extensive human activities like forest grazing by cattle, that created spatiotemporal variation in growth rates within sand lizard metapopulation networks. Yet, the potential for substantial dispersal also within future restored networks is important for colonization of empty patches (assuming that juveniles are not introduced into all patches in each network), and for metapopulation persistence on longer, evolutionary time-scales.

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We present the Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles of SCI Murgia Alta, financed by the Alta Murgia National Park Authority. Mediterranean steppe and crops on thin and rocky soils, at altitudes between about 200 m and 679 m (Monte Caccia) characterize the site, located in the central Apulia (SE Italy). For Atlas realization, Site territory has been divided in UTM 5x5 km grid; the grid thus obtained consists of 74 quadrants, 6 of them only partially (<50% of the surface) include in the Site. We analyze 2125 records, referring to the period 2010-2016, of which 1421 collected during the Atlas project referable to the 2015-16 period only. We found 21 species (6 Amphibians and 15 Reptiles), while two species reported in bibliography (Bombina pachypus and Emys orbicularis) were not detected. The most widespread species, found in more than 50% of the 5x5 km UTM squares, are Podarcis siculus, Hierophis viridiflavus, Lacerta bilineata, Pelophylax sp. and Bufotes balearicus, while the more localized Hyla intermedia, Hemidactylus turcicus, Zamenis situla, Triturus carnifex and Natrix tessellata.

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In order to collect information about the popular beliefs regarding amphibians and reptiles, some people from different villages in all the regions of Albacete (Castilla-La Mancha) were interviewed. Subsequently, several hypotheses have been put forward in order to explain in some way these beliefs, those of which are in their majority due to religious superstitions, mistakes of perception, or the credibility given to oral tradition so long ago.

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Recent studies have reported declines in lizard populations associated with local warming trends and alteration of thermal niches. These studies suggest that there are some key physiological and behavioural parameters that determine the sensitivity of each species to the local context of global warming. The Atlas Dwarf Lizard, Atlantolacerta andreanskyi, is a small lacertid lizard endemic to the High Atlas Mountains (2200–3500 m a.s.l.) of Morocco. Its populations display a disjointed distribution across 440 km, consisting of phylogenetic lineages separated since the Miocene, suggesting a mor- phologically cryptic species complex. To establish whether this deeply rooted evolutionary divergence has promoted shifts in fundamental niche occupancy, but also whether there is any ecophysiological plasticity, preferred body temperatures (Tpref) and evaporative water loss (EWL) were examined in populations of the central and western High Atlas. Our results revealed no differences in Tpref across populations, but lower thermal preferences in (gravid) females. In contrast, EWL varied between populations, but not between sexes. In both cases, sexual patterns remained similar between populations, and differences were not evident between body sizes. Importantly, Tpref and EWL traded off, even if with a common trend across populations. These results suggest that ecophysiology remains mostly conservative within this species complex and that hydric ecology, which is more closely associated with body size, is more flexible than thermal ecology. The increase of lizard body size with altitude, in agreement with life history trends with seasonality observed in other Mountain Lizards, cannot be interpreted in terms of ecophysiological adaptation since the low-altitude populations of small lizards are the ones most exposed to dehydration. Rather, local environment and possibly aspects of evolutionary history could be in- volved. Overall, the ecophysiological conservativeness of this endemic species confirms its vulnerability to climate change, and indicates that hydric ecology needs to be incorporated into general models regarding how behavioural plasticity may mediate resilience to such changes. In this context, the low-altitude populations are the most vulnerable ones, and local management measures should focus on the conservation of vegetation and water bodies.

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The previous knowledge on the distribution of the herpetofauna of the Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Natural Park dates back to the early 90s. After just over a decade the Park has reproposed a herpetofaunistic study in order to update the checklist and the distribution framework of the amphibians and reptiles of the Park and neighboring territory. The study area is located eastern of the Trento province, includes the territory of the Park and a large pre-park area involving a total of 11 municipalities in the province of Trento and 2 in Belluno. The study was carried out in the period 2015-2017 using standard methods for census: Visual Encounter Survey (VES), active research under potential shelters, dip netting, call survey, egg survey, search for dead individuals and exuvie of reptiles. The project also included the collection of signallings from occasional surveyors and herpetological data collected from the open source faunistic platform iNaturalist. A total of 582 data were collected (63.7% on amphibians, 36.3% on reptiles), 40.4% within the Park with a clear prevalence for amphibians (27.7% vs 12.8% reptiles). The updated checklist of the Herpetofauna of the Park and surrounding areas includes Salamandra atra, Salamandra salamandra, Ichthyosaura alpestris, Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, Anguis veronensis/ A. fragilis, Lacerta bilineata, Podarcis muralis, Zootoca vivipara, Coronella austriaca, Natrix natrix, N. tessellata, Vipera aspis, V. berus. Compared to previous research, in addition to reconfirming historical data, the distribution framework of different species has been enriched with new locations of presence and addition of N. tessellata. For S. atra the exclusive presence in the eastern sectors of the Park was confirmed, with a significant increase in the number of 1x1 km cells. Moreover, the lithological structure of ist habitats was almost exclusively of the carbonatic type. By comparing the distributions of S. atra and S. salamandra in the study area it was also evident how the two species are parapatric. Similarly, Podarcis muralis is limited to the southernmost part of the study area, in out-of-park areas and mainly in the valley bottom or in well-exposed slopes and shows a clear distribution differentiation with Z. vivipara with the two species vicarious even in the common altitudinal zone. Generally, no significant decline situations were found for the most widespread species. While for the rarer ones there were three different situations: probable disappearance of the species (eg Bombina variegata), scarcity of data likely due to research defect (eg Lacerta bilineata) or elusiveness of some species (eg Coronella austriaca), actual rarity in the study area (Natrix tessellata).

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1. Age at reproduction can influence the survival and future reproduction of an individual as well as that of their offspring. Remarkably, it has been shown that grandmaternal age at reproduction can also affect the characteristics of grandoffspring in humans and in laboratory or semi-captive animals. However, currently we do not know whether grandmaternal age effects exist in wild populations. 2. We gathered data on female age at reproduction, offspring and grandoffspring characteristics using a 16-year long-term survey of a natural population of the common lizard, Zootoca vivipara. The dataset contains 579 grandoffspring from 135 litters. 3. Body size at birth was not correlated with grandmaternal age at reproduction. However, grandoffspring body condition at birth, grandoffspring survival and reproductive performance of granddaughters were dependent on grandmaternal age. These relationships were independent of maternal age. 4. An age-structured model showed that the global effect of grandmaternal age was non linear and was largely driven by its effect on grandoffspring survival. Fitness was higher for granddaughters produced by grandmothers of intermediate ages. 5. The study shows that age can shape life-history traits for more than one generation, documenting the importance that grandmaternal age can have in wild populations.

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Background: In lacertid lizards from Mediterranean islands, frugivory is common, particularly under prey scarcity, a characteristic of small islands. In several populations, the diet of the Balearic lizard, Podarcis lilfordi, is extremely variable and includes fleshy fruits. However, frugivory is sporadic and there are very few examples of dominant fruit consumption. Results: We describe the existence of an extraordinary fruit consumption of a single plant species, the juniper, Juniperus phoenicea, by the Balearic lizard, P. lilfordi. In addition, for the first time in Lacertidae, we describe the exist‐ ence of scat piling in the population of these lizards inhabiting Cabrera Island (Balearic Islands, Spain). Scat piling was detected in an isolated location with hundreds of scats deposited by several individuals at a particular place. Conclusions: The high population density of lizards at the island of Cabrera and the great versatility of foraging behavior of this species allows us to hypothesize that scat piles could act as an attractor for numerous individuals, that is, as inadvertent social information. If that hypothesis is correct, it would result in the concentration of several indi‐ viduals foraging on a single or a few ripening plants. We cannot, however, rule out that individuals concentrated due to the scarcity of ripening plants in other areas, without any influence of the presence of several lizards, as attractors to the site. Our findings modify previous descriptions of the diet of the Balearic lizard in Cabrera made with smaller samples. In some places and periods of the year, frugivory on a single plant species can be extremely intense and only large sample sizes of scats allow to find these particular trends in the foraging ecology of insular lizards.

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Most lacertid lizards bear specialized epidermal glands in the cloacal region, which produce waxy secretions used in intraspecific chemical communication. These secretions are made of a variable mixture of lipids and proteins. While the former has been already proved to convey information about quality and condition of the emitter, the role of the latter has been poorly investigated. Among the hypothesized functions, proteins can carry information about individual identity, which is assumed a prerequisite for such a social communication system to work. We tested this hypothesis on Podarcis muralis using behavioural trials in a neutral arena. We extracted the protein fraction of the femoral gland secretions by solubilizing them in 1500 μL phosphate buffered saline (PBS). We prepared the substrate for the test by dropping 50 μL of the solution on each central point of a regularly gridded blotting paper sheet. After putting the sheet on the arena floor, a lizard was placed in the middle, where no drops were on, under a removable refuge. After 5 minutes of acclimatization, we removed the refuge and recorded lizard movements for 15 minutes starting from the first tongue flicking. We considered only adult males and each lizard was tested three times with three different substrates obtained using PBS solution: i) alone, i.e., without proteins inside (CTRL); ii) with proteins from the tested lizard (SELF); iii) with proteins from a never-met donor (N-SELF). The presentation order was randomized and subsequent trials were done at 24 hours distance. Lizard trajectories were automatically extracted using idTracker. Trajectory points were classified according to the sign of the residuals of the RST analysis (Residence in Time and Space analysis): negative residuals indicate a time-intensive behaviour while positive residuals indicate both time and space intensive behaviour. The proportion of positive residuals (PPR) was used as the response variable and interpreted as a restlessness proxy. We tested the substrate effect on the response by fitting a linear model with random intercept on the individual, substrate as a three level factor, and lizard body temperature and trial order as control variables, using a Bayesian estimate of model parameters. PPR showed no dependence from trial order (βtrial = -0.015 ± 0.023; Pβ<0 = 0.75), while temperature had a slight positive effect (βtemp = 0.017 ± 0.012; Pβ>0 = 0.93). PPR was increased by N-SELF treatment (βN-SELF = 0.124 ± 0.043; Pβ>0 = 1.00), while SELF showed a less probable positive effect (βSELF = 0.041± 0.044; Pβ>0 = 0.83). The probability that N-SELF PPR (0.614 ± 0.035) is higher than those of CTRL (0.490 ± 0.035) and SELF (0.531 ± 0.035) exceeds 0.95. Male common wall lizards responded differently to the protein content coming from a conspecific individual compared to a non-protein stimulus and to their own chemicals. Hence, they are able to detect proteins and they could use them to transfer identity related information.

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The preliminary distribution of amphibians and reptiles of the Ciudad Real province (Castilla-La Mancha, Spain) is presented. Thirty-four species, 13 amphibians and 21 reptiles, have been found. For each species, distribution maps in 10 x 10 Km U.T.M. quadrats and a discussion on the distribution, habitat and threats affecting its conservation are provided. We conclude that the Ciudad Real province presents one of the richest herpetofauna of the Iberian Peninsula, despite the scarcity of Eurosiberian species. Among all the species present in Ciudad Real, the relative abundance of Emys orbicularis populations is especially relevant compared to the rest of Spain. Similarly, it is remarkable the presence of a newly discovered population of Hemidactylus turcicus in Castilla-La Mancha, which represents one of the most inland populations of this species in the Iberian Peninsula.

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Isolating the effects of single releasers in animal communication is difficult because a releaser is often made by a combination of different key stimuli. Territorial communication in reptiles depends on visual, chemical and acoustic stimuli, but their role depends on phylogeny. Lacertids are modern lizards that rely mainly on chemical cues for their communication, even if they also use aggressive displays based on visual recognition. We experimentally tested the visual stimuli that release an aggressive response in males of the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis), testing the effects of silicone models and mirrored images in captivity. The response to models and control (a blank sheet) was not significantly different and these stimuli did not release any aggressive behaviour, whereas the reflected image in a mirror caused an overt aggression in 63% of tested individuals. The results clearly demonstrate the fundamental role of visual stimuli in territorial communication, but only as a combined effect of shape and motion, differently from other lizard families for which shape is sufficient to stimulate aggressive responses. Mirrors can be useful tools to investigate aggression related to physiological and morphological aspects in lacertid lizards.

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El Consell Insular d’Eivissa va iniciar a 2014 un programa pilot per avaluar la distribució, l’estat de les poblacions, conèixer aspectes sobre la seva biologia i controlar les poblacions d’ofidis a Eivissa. Les dades preliminars indiquen que dos espècies introduïdes a l’illa d’Eivissa estan naturalitzades i que són abundants a l’entorn de Santa Eulària des Riu, Sant Llorenç de Balàfia i Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera; predomina Hemorrhois hippocrepis i és més escassa Rhinechis scalaris; tanmateix, no hi ha dades de Malpolon monspessulanus des de 2010. Les dos espècies presents en l’actualitat realitzen festejos i còpules al mateix període que a les regions on són natives. Almenys H. hippocrepis realitza postes amb ous viables. La presència de nadons de les dos espècies en dates d’eclosió per la Península Ibèrica pareix constatar la reproducció efectiva. Almenys en H. hippocrepis, s’ha constatat la predació sobre Podarcis pityusensis. Des de la seua introducció en 2003, H. hippocrepis ha mostrat una resposta funcional cap al gigantisme, amb exemplars que mostraven el 213% de la biomassa màxima registrada a la seua àrea nativa de la península Ibèrica. La utilització de trampes pareix efectiva, sempre que el seu número sigui elevat. L’elecció del tipus de trampa, esquer i lloc de col·locació condiciona els resultats obtinguts. Tanmateix, la continuïtat d’aquest estudi al llarg de l’any 2015 es fa imprescindible per augmentar la mida de mostra. El proper any es pretén la utilització de nous mètodes de captura i especialment, la col·locació d’un major número de trampes tipus caixa.

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Balearic herpetofauna represents a paradigmatic case of multiple bio- logical invasions within the Mediterranean Basin, with a much higher number of alien amphibians (i.e. frogs and toads) and reptiles (i.e. lizards, snakes and turtles/ tortoises) than native. The paleogeography of the Balearic Islands, located on Western Mediterranean between Spain and Sardinia, is complex, comprehending an ancient split from the continent during the late Miocene and Pleistocene climatic fluctuations connecting and disconnecting islands from one another (but not them to the continent) that eventually re-shaped the archipelago’s biota. The archipelago has been also influenced by humans since the Neolithic, being a cross-road for alien biota between North Africa and Southern Europe, which caused range regressions and extinctions in the native herpetofauna, nowadays restricted to one amphibian and two reptiles. During the last century, tourism development, the pet trade, and cargo transport of ornamental plants have produced a new wave of biological invasions. Recently introduced snakes are of particular concern, since the effect of predation may seriously threaten the remaining native reptiles in the main islands and endemic subspecies in surrounding islets. Balearic people have a negative social perception of such snakes, mainly due to the lack of familiarity with snakes among islanders but also to the herpetophobic attitude of many Mediterranean cultures. Here we review the herpetological invasions in the Balearic Archipelago and their impacts. We further discuss the on-going management actions on alien reptiles in this archipelago, namely the control of invasive snakes in Ibiza involving monitoring, trapping, environmental education and promotion of social participation.

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Knowing the causes of biological invasion success can be relevant to combat future invasive processes. The recent invasion of the horseshoe whip snake Hemorrhois hippocrepis on the island of Ibiza provides the opportunity to compare natural history traits between invasive and source populations, and to unravel what makes this snake a successful invader that is threatening the only endemic vertebrate of the island, Podarcis pityusensis. This study compares the basic reproductive traits of mainland native and invasive populations of the snake. Our results revealed that invasive populations were characterized by female maturity at a smaller size, extended reproductive period, and much lower reproduction frequency compared to the native population. In contrast, some major reproductive traits-the abdominal fat body cycle, clutch size, hatchling body size, and hatchling body condition, did not differ between the two populations. Some of these results must reflect the environmental differences in the recently invaded island with respect to the source area, and overall plasticity of reproductive traits. Plasticity is evolutionarily interesting, and may aid the successful growth of this species in their invasiveness of Mediterranean islands like Ibiza. The most significant finding is that this expression of phenotypic plasticity occurred rapidly in this invasive population, within a period of 14 years maximum. Our results on the reproduction ecology of the invasive population were not conclusive regarding the factors determining the invasiveness of the snake and pointed to alternative causes.

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We genotyped multiple populations of all seven parthenogenetic species of rock lizards, genus Darevskia, as well as their putative sexual parental populations, using double digest RAD sequencing genomic markers. Taking advantage of the conserved homology of the ZW/ZZ sex chromosomes among lacertid lizards, we aligned our short sequence reads to a reference Z chromosome assembly of the common wall lizard Podarcis muralis. This provided unique insight into the origin of all-female hybrid populations, which inherited their single Z chromosome exclusively from a paternal ancestor. The mapped Z-linked loci were used to construct a robust time-calibrated phylogeny. In each parent–offspring species pair, the geographically nearest population of the paternal species was identified as the most likely ancestor of the respective parthenogen, mirroring the trend observed previously on the maternal side in mitochondrial DNA. The estimated splits between the sampled paternal sexual ancestors and their daughter species occurred much earlier than suggested previously and during two narrow time periods: (1) the parthenogenetic Darevskia armeniaca, D. dahli, D. uzzelli and D. rostombekowi dated back to ~0.5 or ~0.9 Mya, depending on the calibration point used, while (2) D. bendimahiensis, D. sapphirina and D. unisexualis appear to have diverged ~1 or ~2 Mya.