Lo Cascio, P. & Corti, C. & Billeci, V. & Nicolini, G. (2005) - “First came, first served”, or the recent introduced lizard populations of Lampedusa Island (S Italy). - Programme and Abstracts of the 13th Ord. Meeting S.E.H., Museum Koenig, Bonn: 72.  Lo Cascio, P. & Corti, C. (2008) - Indagini sull’ecologia dei Rettili Sauri della R.N.O. e del S.I.C. `Isola di Lampedusa` - Il Naturalista Siciliano, Ser. IV, 32 (3-4): 319-354.  × Ecological investigations on the lizards of the R.N.O. and S.C.I.“Isola di Lampedusa”.The results
of the investigations concerning six species of lizards occurring inthe Natural Reserve “Isola di Lampedusa” (Hemidactylus turcicus, Tarentola mauritanica, Psammodromus algirus and Chalcides
ocellatus), and inother areas of the island (Podarcisfilfolensisand P. sicula) are given. T. mauritanica
is the most common and widespread lizard, with population densitiesranging from 100 to 800 indi-
viduals per ha on Lampedusa and 1,200 ind./ha on Isola dei Conigli. C. ocellatusoccurs mainly in
fields and in the urban area(up to 600 ind./ha), while, on the main island, it results extremely rare or
absent in wide areas characterized by rocky substrate. Population density was estimated around 220-
330 ind./ha for P. algirus, while the total number of lizards inhabiting the Conigli islet could be esti-
mated around 600-1,200 individuals. Both introduced species, P. filfolensisand P. sicula, are still con-
fined within small urban areas, where they seem to be less common than the autochthonous Sauria.
Body temperature of P. algirus(mean 30.9 °C) seems to be scarcely related to environmental Saurias,
while that of T. mauritanica(25.2-32.0 °C) and C. ocellatus(26.9-32.0 °C) resulted significatively relat-
ed to air and soil temperatures. The diet of the studied species is mainly based on invertebrates, espe-
cially insects. T. mauritanicashows a clear preference for terrestrial preys and its diet on Conigli islet
includes an unusual high percentage of ants (14% of the whole preys’ spectrum). As already known
for P. algirus, vegetal matter is largely consumed also by the other lizards. A partial herbivorism char-
acterised the diet of T. mauritanicaon Conigli islet, as well asC. ocellatuson both islands. Despite the
absence of snakes and domestic predators on the latter, the highest percentage of lizards with broken
or regenerated tails was observed onConigli islet. A test on the potential predation pressure wascar-
ried outusing plastiline models; the results show that the lizard-models were attackedmainlybygulls,
even if this species is doubtfully considered as a effective predator of lizards. Salvi, D. & Schembri, P. & Sciberras, A. & Harris, D.J. (2014) - Evolutionary history of the Maltese wall lizard Podarcis filfolensis: insights on the ‘Expansion-Contraction’ model of Pleistocene biogeography. - Molecular Ecology, 23 (5): 1167-1187. × The Expansion-Contraction (EC) model predicts demographic and range contraction of temperate species during Pleistocene glaciations as a consequence of climate-related habitat changes, and provides a paradigm for explaining the high intraspecific diversity found in refugia in terms of long-term demographic stability. However, recent evidence has revealed a weak predictive power of this model for terrestrial species in insular and coastal settings. We investigated the Pleistocene EC dynamics and their evolutionary consequences on temperate species using the Maltese archipelago and its endemic lizard Podarcis filfolensis as a model system. The evolutionary and demographic history of P. filfolensis as inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear sequences data does not conform to the EC model predictions, supporting (i) demographic and spatial stability or expansion, rather than contraction, of the northern and southern lineages during the last glacial period, and (ii) a major role for allopatric differentiation primed by sea-level dynamics, rather than prolonged demographic stability, in the formation of the observed genetic diversity. When combined with evidence from other Mediterranean refugia, this study shows how the incorporation of Pleistocene sea-level variations in the EC model accounts for a reverse demographic and range response of insular and coastal temperate biotas relative to continental ones. Furthermore, this cross-archipelago pattern in which allopatric diversity is formed and shaped by EC cycles resembles that seen between isolated populations within mainland refugia and suggests that the EC model, originally developed to explain population fluctuations into and out-of refugia, may be appropriate for describing the demographic and evolutionary dynamics driving the high genetic diversity observed in these areas. Lo Valvo, M. & Faraone, F.P. & Giacalone, G. & Lillo, F. (2018) - Atlante die Rettili della Regione Siciliana: stato di avanzamento. - Abstracts XII° Congresso Nazionale Societas Herpetologica Italica. Rende (Cosenza), 1-5 Ottobre 2018: 35-36. Lo Cascio, P. & Sciberras, A. (2020) - “Cold-blooded” travellers around Sicily: How introductions and extinctions have shake the recent herpetofauna of Circum-Sicilian and Maltese Islands. - In: La Mantia T., Badalamenti, E., Carapezza, A., Lo Cascio, P. & A. Troia (Eds.): Life on islands. 1. Biodiversity in Sicily and surrounding islands. Studies dedicated to Bruno Massa. Edizioni Danaus, Palermo. pp. 355-390. × Circum‐Sicilian and Maltese herpetofauna includes 22 species occurring with steady populations, andsome of them (Pelophylax bedriagae, Trachemys scripta, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, Hemorrhois algirus and perhapsTelescopus fallax) were introduced during the last two centuries, while for other 7 at least one introduction withinthe study islands was documented during the same span of time; furthermore, temporary occurrences were alsodetected for other 16 species (3 amphibians and 13 reptiles), some of which (Hyla sp., Graptemys pseudogeo‐graphica, Centrochelys sulcata, Pantherophis guttatus and Lampropeltis getula) have not been previously recordedfor these islands. Accidental or intentional introductions have gradually increased in recent decades and have asignificant influence in shaping these herpetofunal assemblages. On the contrary, extinction seems to be less fre‐quent and involved especially amphibians. The updated faunal inventory for 65 islands includes several new recordsand the results of the first herpetological investigations on the islets Faraglione di terra di Cala Fico, Colombaia,Vittoria Garcia (circum‐Sicilian), Pigeon Rock and Cheirolopus Rock (Maltese). Sciberras, A. & Sciberras, J. (2024) - Updates on the natural history of Cheirolophus Rock (Maltese Archipelago) with a description of its lacertid. - L@CERTIDAE (Eidechsen Online), 2024 [2]: 9-16. × The islet’s recent discovery by the authors hold quite a rich biota compared to its size. In this work topography is re- described adding one species of flora to the already known six (SCIBERRAS & SCIBERRAS 2010, SCIBERRAS et al. 2012) and 32 new species of fauna to the two recorded (LO CASCIO & SCIBERRAS 2020, AGUIS & SCIBERRAS 2022) with a complete description of the endemic lacertid, Podarcis filfolensis, in situ.
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