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Exotic animal invasions constitute a major threat to biodiversity worldwide. Our assessment determined the core range occupied by the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) in the urban area of Parque das Nações (Lisbon, Portugal), where it was accidentally introduced two decades ago. Despite the apparent current scenario of non-expansion, the alien species interferes with the local distribution pattern of the native P. virescens, with both lizard species shown to use the available microhabitats differently. The native P. virescens population displays an overall heterogeneous distribution in the urban matrix. On the other hand, the occupancy of the exotic species clusters within the original area of introduction (garden in front of the Lisbon Oceanarium), as well as in adjacent gardens. There, P. siculus replaced the native P. virescens as the only lizard species present. Apparently, there is no known reason there that prevents the alien lizard from colonizing more available geographic area and expanding.

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The purpose of this application under Articles 78.1 and 81 of the Code is to request the Commission to use its plenary power to choose among two alternatives in order to preserve the genus name Darevskia and nomenclatural stability. In Alternative A, the Commission is asked to accept the microfiche publication (Arribas, 1997) as a published work in the sense of the Code and made available the names included therein, placing Iberolacerta Arribas, 1997 and Darevskia Arribas, 1997 on the Official List of Generic Names in Zoology, their type species on the Official List of Specific Names in Zoology, and the microfiche edition of Arribas (1997) on the Official List of Works Approved as Available for Zoological Nomenclature. This action will promote stability, as both names are widely accepted and, if the 1997 publication in microfiche is considered unavailable, then Darevskia Arribas, 1997 could potentially be threatened by Caucasilacerta Harris et al., 1998 (by authors who would not consider this name a nomen nudum), which would clearly disrupt stability. Not only would this alternative be the best way to preserve nomenclatural stability as stressed in the ICZN Preamble and repeated in several Articles of the Code, but it would also be the only way to ensure that these names (available at the time of their publication) remain available after the retroactive changes that have been introduced between the third and fourth editions of the Code. If Alternative A is chosen, both Iberolacerta and Darevskia become available from Arribas (1997). In Alternative B, the microfiche publication (Arribas, 1997) is considered invalid and placed on the Official Index of Rejected and Invalid Works in Zoological Nomenclature. Both Iberolacerta and Darevskia would be considered published in Arribas (1999). Also, the Commission is asked to place on the Official Index of Rejected Generic Names in Zoology the name Caucasilacerta Harris et al., 1998 (as a nomen nudum due to the lack of a valid diagnosis) and to place on the Official List of Generic Names in Zoology the names Iberolacerta Arribas, 1999 and Darevskia Arribas, 1999.

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Die Autoren untersuchten die Altersstruktur zweier Stichproben (Edirne: 17 m a.s.l. und Bolu: 1,250 m a.s.l.) von Lacerta trilineata Bedriaga, 1886 in der Türkei. Die Altersbestimmung mittels Skeletochronologie ergab Höchstalter von etwa sieben Jahren in der Stichprobe von Bolu und fünf in der von Edirne. die Überlebensrate bei Eintritt in die Geschlechtsreife betrug 0,59 % bei den Männchen und 0,24 % bei den Weibchen von Bolu. die entsprechende Lebenserwartung belief sich in dieser Stichprobe auf 2,94 Jahre für die Männchen und 1,82 fur die Weibchen. der Eintritt in die Geschlechtsreife erfolgte in beiden Stichproben im Alter von zwei Jahren. obwohl das mittlere Alter in der Stichprobe der Hochlandpopulation höher war als in der des Tieflandes, war die mittlere Kopf-Rumpf-Länge in letzterer größer.

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Background: Understanding how phenotypic variation scales from individuals, through populations, up to species, and how it relates to genetic and environmental factors, is essential for deciphering the evolutionary mechanisms that drive biodiversity. We used two species of Podarcis wall lizards to test whether phenotypic diversity within and divergence across populations follow concordant patterns, and to examine how phenotypic variation responds to genetic and environmental variability across different hierarchical levels of biological organization, in an explicit geographic framework. Results: We found a general concordance of phenotypic variation across hierarchical levels (i.e. individuals and populations). However, we also found that within-population diversity does not exhibit a coherent geographic structure for most traits, while among-population divergence does, suggesting that different mechanisms may underlie the generation of diversity at these two levels. Furthermore, the association of phenotypic variation with genetic and environmental factors varied extensively between hierarchical levels and across traits, hampering the identification of simple rules to explain what yields diversity. Conclusions: Our results in some cases comply with general ecological and evolutionary predictions, but in others they are difficult to explain in the geographic framework used, suggesting that habitat characteristics and other regulatory mechanisms may have a more substantial contribution in shaping phenotypic diversity.

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Turkey türkei As a result of a literature survey and field studies covering all regions of the Turkish Province of Agri, the authors found the area inhabited by three anuran, two chelonian, 16 lizard and 14 snake species. The records and their locations are presented in a map, a table and an Appendix. In the field studies the present paper is based upon Mauremys caspica, Ablepharus bivittatus, Parvilacerta parva, Eremias pleskei, Xerotyphlops vermicularis, Natrix natrix, Coronella austriaca, Eirenis eiselti, Dolichophis jugularis, Dolichophis schmidti, Platyceps najadum and Montivipera wagneri were recorded for the first time in the Province of Agri.

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Now that Yugoslavia is rapidly becoming a European tourist centre, many herpetologists may be interested in the variety and abundance of forms which can be seen and collected there. This is a short account of the species seen during the last two weeks of March 1964 in an area so far little visited by British herpetologists. Rainfall was high during this period, in contrast apparently to the dry summer. It was understood from the local population that the visit was too early to see the larger lacertids and snakes.

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The intraspecific variability of Darevskia parvula (which has two classical subspecies easily identifiable by external characteristics, D. p. parvula and D. p. adjarica), was studied using various approaches including morphology (scalation and biometry), multivariate analyses (PCA, CDA, ANOSIM, UPGMA and MST), osteology, and molecular techniques. High mitochondrial distance, differences at the nuclear level and morphological distinctiveness warrant the specific status of both taxa, Darevskia parvula (Lantz & Cyrén, 1913) and Darevskia adjarica (Darevsky & Eiselt, 1980) stat. nov. A lectotype for D. parvula, originally described with syntypes of both species -D. parvula and D. adjarica- is designated. The uncorrected genetic distance between D. parvula and D. adjarica in the cytochrome b mitochondrial gene is 14.4% ± 1.9%. Intraspecific variability within D. parvula is very small (1.5% ± 0.5%), and was not detected in our samples of D. adjarica. The two species further differ by two mutations in the nuclear melano-cortin 1 receptor (mc1r) gene. Interestingly, past introgression of D. parvula mitochondrial haplotypes (5% ± 1% different to those currently known) into some D. adjarica has been detected in one locality; all the studied specimens of D. adjarica with mtDNA of D. parvula are unmistakably D. adjarica at the morphological and nuclear levels. Morphologically, there is almost no overlap between D. parvula and D. adjarica. These results are corroborated by CDA, MST and UPGMA trees. Specimens of the inland high mountain population of Ardahan (clearly D. adjarica in CDA, MST and UPGMA trees) occupy a somewhat intermediate position between both taxa in the PCA (when specimens and not populations as a whole are considered), but this morphological closeness may be attributed to the influence of climatic factors (continental conditions) on scalation of the specimens. Males appear to be more differentiated than females. Overlap among samples within each species is very marked; none can be separated clearly from its conspecifics. This is even more marked in D. parvula, which has a fairly small area compared to D. adjarica. Darevskia parvula and D. adjarica samples appear to be homogeneously clustered within species and well separated between the two species in the UPGMA trees. In males and females all the D. parvula samples are very similar and moderately differentiated. In males of D. adjarica, the most differentiated seems to be adjBorçka, the others all being clustered together, with adjÇaykara showing slightly more differentiation from the rest (adjOrtacalar, adjArdahan, adjIkizdere and adjÇermik). Darevskia adjarica females are also similarly distributed into two subgroups, one including Borçka, Çermik and Ardahan and the other including Ortacalar, Ikizdere and Çaykara. In both sexes, the inland Ardahan sample clearly belongs to D. adjarica. From the most connected MST samples, speculations can be made about areas of origin and expansion of the different taxa. Ortacalar (D. adjarica) and Hatila (D. parvula) are the most connected (morphologically more “central” in both taxa); in fact, both populations are relatively close, living on the northern (Black Sea) and southern (Anatolian) facing slopes, respectively of the Doğu Karadeniz Mountains (Kaçkar Mountains). This highlights these mountains, which rise from sea level up to nearly 4000 m asl. and have wide buffering possibilities against climate changes, as a zone of refuge and posterior dispersion of this species, and even of the original splitting into two taxa adapted to these different conditions, D. adjarica on the coast and D. parvula on the continental slope. Osteologically D. parvula and D. adjarica are very similar, although Georgian specimens from an isolated population (Atskuri) have closed clavicles not found in Turkish D. adjarica. Also, inland Ardahan D. adjarica have an extra vertebra in both males and females, compared to the other studied specimens from both species. ARRIBAS ET AL. 72 · Zootaxa 4472 (1) © 2018 Magnolia Press The present study indicates that the situation in Turkey is that D. parvula is well differentiated and lives around the Çoruh River Valley, contoured by D. adjarica populations on the coastal-facing slopes of the Doğu Karadeniz Mountains on one side, and the Yalnızçam Mountains on the other side, where D. adjarica enters from Georgia as the opposite extreme of a geographic distribution. The attribution of more inland ranges to D. parvula or D. adjarica, as well as the detailed genetic structure of both taxa may be confirmed with more specific studies.

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The presence of a dark-coloured body colouration polymorphism (melanism) is a pervasive phenomenon in the animal kingdom, particularly in reptiles. We provide the first reporting of melanic individuals in a subspecies of common lizards, Zootoca vivipara carniolica or the Eastern oviparous lineage. Two melanic females were found out of 194 individuals collected. Melanic females did not differ in size or weight from non-melanic females. No melanic individuals were found (N = 134) in the nearby viviparous population. Melanism has been reported in related lineages of Z. vivipara, so the discovery in this sister to all other lineages suggests that it is an ancestral polymorphism. The frequency of melanism varies but other studies also find it is usually very rare (<3%) and may be sex-biased. The processes mediating advantages and disadvantages of melanism in Z. vivipara are unclear and require more research.

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Although the core temperature of lizards can vary with, for example, species, age, size, gender and season, they, in fact, maintain core temperature within an effective and safe range for biochemical and CNS processes. Desert dwelling lizards have evolved behaviors that minimize contact with dangerously hot sand, and to regulate the heat flow between the environment and their bodies. Shuttling between sun and shade, and digging are effective, but in certain situations it is disadvantageous to move, and instead, modification of posture in situ is employed. The postures include thermoprotective thermoregulation, as when a lizard lifts feet and/or legs and tail off the surface to avoid getting feet burnt, and thermoregulation when it stands on all legs with the torso lifted high off the substrate to minimize heat flow from the substrate. These behaviors can at times conflict, as when it needs to support itself on the hot sand, while lifting the body to defend core temperature. Resolution of this conflict often is with a “thermal dance”. To analyze this “thermal dance” of the Wedge-snouted lizard we experimentally investigated the core temperature at which the transition from thermoprotection to thermoregulation occurred. To quantitatively assess the behaviors, numerical score systems were developed for thermoprotection, P0-4 and thermoregulation, R1-3. During the southern hemisphere summer of 2011, two female lizards, weighing 4 g and 9 g, were captured and implanted with temperature transponders. Computerized control of the substrate temperature and simultaneous records of core temperature and videos of behavior were accomplished using an inexpensive solar-powered portable field laboratory. The system enabled arbitrary and rapid changes in substrate temperature, which allowed us to separate time from core temperature as the controlling variable of the behavior. Our preliminary results show that there was a specific core temperature at which either of the lizards adopted thermoregulatory posture R3, >39.5°C and >41.5°C for the lizard with the higher and lower weight, respectively. The slopes of core temperature rise during the test program were similar for both lizards, thus the size difference did not affect the independent variable. Preconditioning with a higher initial substrate temperature effectively shifted the distribution of core temperatures during test. The simultaneous recording of core temperature and behavior without manually manipulating the lizard provides many opportunities for exploring behavioral thermoregulation. This compact and inexpensive laboratory setup that was developed is appropriate for student work in places with limited resources.

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Records on Podarcis muralis and Zootoca vivipara from Slovakia found in documentary patrimony of Ján Gulicka -- Ján Gulicka (1925–2009) was an important Slovak specialist on myriapods and cave and soil fauna with marginal interest on some vertebrate taxa (amphibians, reptiles, bats and some carnivores). I present here records on Podarcis muralis and Zootoca vivipara found in his written patrimony.

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Portugal ist ein beliebtes Urlaubsland. Vor allem die Metropole Lissabon und die Atlantikstrände des Algarve ziehen Touristen an. Aber das Land an der Südwestspitze Europas hat noch viel mehr zu bieten. Die Serra de Montemuro ist ein lohnendes Reiseziel auch für alle, die nach Amphibien und Reptiulien Ausschau halten.

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Es werden erstmals Angaben zum genauen Vorkommen der allochthonen Population von Podarcis pityusensis auf der Inselgruppe Las Isletas (= Ses Illetes) in der Bucht von Palma de Mallorca, Balearen, Spanien, gegeben.

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Während einer Reise Anfang Juni 2011 nach Teneriffa, der größten der Kanarischen Inseln, ergaben sich viele Gelegenheiten, die allgegenwärtige Westkanaren-Eidechse zu beobachten. Die Nominatform Gallotia galloti galloti bewohnt das Zentrum sowie den Süden Teneriffas, während Gallotia galloti eisentrauti im Norden und Nordosten der Insel anzutreffen ist.

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

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An vier Standnorten (drei in Berlin, einer in Brandenburg) wurden von 557 Zauneidechsen, die abgefangen und umgesiedelt werden sollten, die Kopfseiten fotografiert und zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt verschiedene Beschilderungsmerkmale untersucht. Durchschnittlich 82,1 & der untersuchten Zauneidechsen wiesen eine nasoloreale Beschilderung in der Konstellation ½ links / ½ rechts auf. Beim dahinter liegenden großen Loreale besaßen 89,8 & eine 1-li- / 1-re-Verteilung. 62,4 & der Eidechsen besaßen bei den Praeocularia eine Verteilung von 2 li / 2 re und 55,5 % der bei den Supratemporalia eine 2-li- / 2-re-Verteilung und bei 74,8 % eine 4-li / 4-re-Konstellation dei den Supralabialia. Bei allen diesen Pholidosemerkmalen der seitlichen Kopfschilde kamen auch asymmetrische Beschilderungen in unterschiedlichen Häufigkeitsverteilungen vor. Dabei kann der Unterschied einiger Merkmale zwischen den beiden Kopfseiten in Einzelfällen sogar bis zu zwei Schilde betragen.

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Eine Reise nach Portugal führte mich mit befreundeten Eidechsenhaltern in die Serra de Sấo Mamede. Vom 22.04. bis 28.04.2017 bereisten wir den 31.750 Hektar großen Nationalpark, um nach Reptilien, insbesondere nach Eidechsen, zu suchen. In der Literatur werden bei den Schlangen acht Arten und bei den Eidechsen zehn Arten aufgelistet. Davon sind sechs Arten den Halsbandeidechsen zugeordnet. Ein Großteil der in Portugal vorkommenden Reptilien war also in dem kleinen Gebiet zu erwarten.

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

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The aim of this study is to show the osteological characters of the fore- and hind-limbs and the locomotion features in some reptilian species: Laudakia stellio, Hemidactylus turcicus, Acanthodatylus scutellatus, Chalcides ocellatus, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, collected from different localities from Egypt desert and Varanus griseus from lake Nassir in Egypt. In the studied species, the fore- and hind-feet show wide range of variations and modifications as they play very important roles in the process of jumping, climbing and digging which suit their habitats and their mode of life. The skeletal elements of the hand and foot exhibit several features reflecting the specialized methods of locomotion, and are related to the remarkable adaptations. Locomotion is a fundamental skill for animals. The animals of the present studies can take various forms including swimming, walking as well as some more idiosyncratic gaits such as hopping and burrowing.

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The common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis LAURENTI, 1768) is the most abundant reptile species in the urban environments of Hungary. Like other lacertids, it is an effective heliothermic thermoregulator, which prefers sunny, open surfaces. This type of habitat could be found in higher numbers in cities and suburbs than in the natural environment of the species, which are rocky outcrops in hilly landscapes. In our research we compared the activity, thermoregulatory behaviour and thermal environment of common wall lizards in an urban and a close-to-natural habitat during three seasons. Thermal preferences of the lizards were measured in a laboratory thermal gradient. Available body temperatures in the field (operative temperatures) were estimated using a digital contact thermometer and hollow copper pipe lizard models. Actual field body temperatures were also measured in captured lizard specimens. The activity of lizards was observed during three days in both habitats in three seasons. According to our results the thermal quality of the two habitats are similar, however, the actual patterns of daily temperature changes are different, and there is great difference between seasons as well. The lizards living in urban environment proved to be efficient and accurate thermoregulators in each season. Population density was higher in the urban habitat, but the activity period was similar between the habitats. Urban environment had a better thermal quality in autumn, but not in the other parts of the year. Higher population density in the urban habitat could be caused by other than thermal factors, such as better food supply or decreased number of competitors and predators.

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Some amphibians and reptiles from southern Mali and southwestern Burkina Faso have been deposited in the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK) since the year 2000. Supplemented by some photographic voucher material they contain several remarkable, in some cases even new records for the two respective countries. Malian specimens were collected mainly in the region between Douentza and Bandiagara in the south-central part of the country, while those from Burkina Faso are from the Bobo Dioulasso area in the southwestern part of the country. Three amphibian species are new for Mali’s faunal list (Leptopelis bufonides, Ptychadena trinodis, Pyxicephalus sp. as the first represen¬tative of its genus). Two specimens of a small-sized Agama species cannot yet be assigned to a described species with certainty but are in any case of zoogeographical interest. A specimen of Chamaeleo gracilis documents the second record of this species for Burkina Faso, the first one in the western part of the country. The slender blind snake Leptotyphlops albiventer is recorded for the first time for this country.

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The main threats to the amphibians and reptiles of Galicia (NW Spain) are studied in relation to the information obtained during the last 30 years (1975-2005). The most negative factors affecting amphibians and reptiles in this territory are the human alteration of both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, and the introduction of exotic species (mainly freshwater crustaceans and fishes). These menaces have led to the extinction of some Galician populations of amphibian and reptiles. Other factors, such as emergent diseases, can be very important, but they have not been studied yet. This last threat is one of the main causes for the global amphibian decline. The recent status of the Galician herpetofauna is also analysed. According to the main population declines and areal reduction observed, the most endangered amphibian species is Pelobates cultripes. Other amphibians, such as Chioglossa lusitanica, Rana iberica and Rana temporaria, are also importantly put at risk. The most endangered reptile species is Emys orbicularis. The restricted and limited Galician populations of Lacerta vivipara, Chalcides bedriagai and Vipera latasti are also threatened. The available information for other reptile species (Blanus cinereus, Psammodromus hispanicus, etc.), is still very scarce, but it is possible that their situation is also precarious. The particular status of the insular populations of amphibians and reptiles from the islands off the Galician coast is also analysed.

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Im Verlauf einer von der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft finanzierten Reise nach Griechenland bereisten die Verfasser vom 23. bis 29. April 1972 den Paros-Archipel in der Zentral-Ägäis. Der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft sei an dieser Stelle für ihre großzügige Unterstützung gedankt. Danken möchten wir auch Herrn Dr. W. BÖHME, der Vergleichsmaterial aus den umfangreichen Beständen des Zoologischen Forschungsinstituts und Museums A. Koenig in Bonn zur Verfügung stellte, die F. BUCHHOLZ auf mehreren Griechenlandreisen gesammelt hatte. Neben Paros und Antiparos, den beiden größten Inseln, konnten wir mit einem gemieteten Fischerboot den folgenden unbewohnten Inselchen des Archipels einen Besuch abstatten: Despotiko, Strongylo, Tourlos, Preza, Glaropunta und Panteronisi in der südlichen Inselgruppe sowie Ovriokastro und Gaidaronisi vor der Nordküste von Paros. Insgesamt konnten wir hier 13 Arten von Amphibien und Reptilien nachweisen: Rana ridibunda, Mauremys caspica, Cyrtodactylus kotschyi, H emidactylus turcicus, Agama stellio, Podarcis erhardii, Lacerta trilineata, Ablepharus kitaibelii, Eryx jaculus, Elaphe quatuorlineata, Natrix natrix, Telescopus fallax und Vipera ammodytes. Diese von uns im Jahre 1972 eingebrachten Informationen werden ergänzt durch Angaben anderer Autoren (BUCHHOLZ 1955; CLARK 1965, 1967, 1968a, 1968b, 1970, 1971, 1972; WERNER 1938; WETTSTEIN 1953, 1957). Dadurch wird zwar die Anzahl der untersuchten Inseln vergrößert (Spiridonisi, Tria Nisia-Inseln; WETTSTEIN 1957), das Artenspektrum aber nur um Testudo marginata (CLARK 1970) und Elaphe situla (BUCHHOLZ 1955) erweitert.

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The cranial musculature of species of ten families of lizards (Gekkonidae, Teiidae, Gymnophthalmidae, Anguidae, Scincidae, Lacertidae, Tropiduridae, Liolaemidae, Leiosauridae, and Polychrotidae) was analyzed. Using 93 myological cranial characters, a cladistic analysis was performed. To root the trees, data of Sphenodon were added to the matrix. The cladistic analysis yielded 129 equally parsimonious trees with a fit of 426.0 (39%) and 467 steps. In the consensus tree we observed only five nodes congruent with traditional phylogenetic hypothesis of the groups analyzed: teiids + gymnophthalmids (node 128); geckos (node 136); liolaemids (node 116); genus Liolaemus (node 115); and genus Phymaturus (node 92). Thus in these groups, phylogeny seems to be better predictor of muscle morphology than ecology or diet. They are many problematic groups whose monophyly requires further analysis (tropidurids, polychrotids, and scincids). In no case we were able to recognize differences that could be attributed to functional features.

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In this study, two subspecies of Lacerta anatolica (Lacerta anatolica anatolica and Lacerta anatolica aegaea), which are distributed in the Northwest and the West Anatolia, are investigated karyologically and taxonomically. The total of 32 specimens are collected and L . a. anatolica (9 males,9 females) and L . a. aegaea (8 males, 6 females) subspecies are studied at 4 different localities. Totally 19 specimens are studied cytogenetically; 9 of them belong to L . a. aegaea (5 m., 4 f.) subspecies and 10 of them belong to L . a. anatolica (6 m., 4 f.) subspecies. Consequently, taxonomic findings relating to two subspecies are arrangement with study of Eiselt and Schmidtler (1986). The result of cytogenetic study displayed that both subspecies has similar karyotypes and these karyotypes possess 2n=38 chromosomes.

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Morphometric evaluation of limb proportions in five sympatric desert lacertas of the genus Eremias, namely E. velox, E. grammica, E. intermedia, E. lineolata, and E. scripta inhabiting southern Balkhash Lake region (Sary-Ishyk-Otrau desert), Kazakhstan, was made. Considerable species differences in proportions of some limb segments associated with locomotion adaptations (burrowing, climbing etc) of these lizards have been found as well as sexual dimorphism and age variability. Associations among morphometric peculiarities (limb proportions), locomotion activity, spatial, temporal, and trophic characteristics of ecological niches of sympatric species are discussed.

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The results of herpetological investigations in the Buila-Vânturariţa massif (Southern Carpathians, Romania) and its surrounding areas are reported here. 19 amphibian and reptile species were identified (Salamandra salamandra, Triturus cristatus, Ichthyosaura alpestris, Lissotriton vulgaris, Bombina variegata, Bufo bufo, B. viridis, Hyla arborea, Rana temporaria, R. dalmatina, Pelophylax ridibundus, P. lessonae, Emys orbicularis, Lacerta agilis, L. viridis, Podarcis muralis, Zootoca vivipara, Zamenis longissimus, Natrix natrix) and are presented together with distribution and ecological data.

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

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

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In this work, a check-list of the species of Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals observed in the district “mentanese-cornicolano archipelago” of the Roman Campagna, north-east from Rome city area (Latium, Central Italy), a relict of mesoxerophilous woods with cultivated land, urban and suburban areas penetrated by infrastructures, is presented. We obtained data for 158 species among which 10 Amphibians, 16 Reptiles, 99 Birds and 33 Mammals, a quite exhaustive check-list; however, potentially gaps -species living in the territory but yet unknown, e.g. bats among Mammals- are discussed too. A special emphasis has been given to the numerous species of relevant interest from the ecological and conservational viewpoints. In the bibliography 40 papers are quoted which represent a quite exhaustive list devoted to the terrestrial vertebrates of the area.

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I assessed the effect of island characteristics and population isolation on the endemic insular lizard Podarcis erhardii and its native hemogregarine parasite Hepatozoon spp. I analyzed the relationships of prevalence, infection likelihood, and parasitemia to several factors at the island (time of isolation, area, distance to nearest larger land mass), population (host density), and organismal (load of hematophagous ectoparasites) levels. My results suggest that smaller islands, as well as islands that have been isolated for longer periods of time, show higher infection rates and higher parasitemia in hosts than others. I also found that distance between a focal island to the nearest larger land mass, as well as the load of hematophagous ectoparasites on an individual, were poor predictors of infection variables in P. erhardii. These results indicate that island area, host population density, and island age are likely to be significant drivers of changes in host-parasite interactions in fragmented populations.

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Road mortalities of two lizard and four snake species were recorded in the Vendée region of western France over a period of four years. Road-kills were more frequent in the foraging snakes Hierophis (= Coluber) viridiflavus and Natrix natrix as well as the lizard Lacerta bilineata, and lower in the small lizard Podarcis muralis and the sedentary snakes Vipera aspis and Natrix maura. Road-kills were found throughout the active year, with differences in size class and monthly frequencies in H. viridiflavus, N. natrix and L. bilineata commencing in June. Pearson rank correlation coefficients revealed a significant positive association between monthly road-kill and monthly live counts of H. viridiflavus and N. natrix, suggesting regular road crossings in these species. Road traffic volume was related to the number of road deaths using regression analysis of the log-transformed data. This gave an allometric equation with an exponent of 0.75, which was not significantly different from 1, the exponent required if road-kills increase in direct proportion to increasing road traffic volume. The highest traffic volume route showed lower than expected mortalities, but fewer numbers of species living in the vicinity. Models of road-kill vulnerability in H. viridiflavus and N. natrix, derived from the integration of size frequencies of road-kill and live distributions, predict high vulnerability in small and large individuals. In lizards, particularly L. bilineata, road basking is probably the main factor determining mortality, in addition to species velocities, traffic volumes, road widths, abundance at the sides of roads, and behaviour and activity patterns.

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The numerous fires during the past decade in the Eastern Rhodopes (southeastern Bulgaria) resulted in extensive loss of habitat for multiple species. In this study on the reptilian fauna found near Kolets village (Haskovo District, Bulgaria) we compared two adjacent territories during 2004–2006, a control and a recently burned. We found no effect on the Shannon-Wiener index of biological diversity (mean for the three years: Hburned = 0.488, Hcontrol = 0.498). However, fire led to decrease of abundance (Ab, individuals / 1000 m), best detected for the following species: Testudo hermanni (Abburned = 1.8, Abcontrol = 5.6; p = 0.003316), T. graeca (Abburned = 1.1, Abcontrol = 3.2; p = 0.071786), Lacerta viridis (Abburned = 16.8, Abcontrol = 40.6; p = 0.000263), and L. trilineata (Abburned = 6.8, Abcontrol = 19.2; p = 0.000879), where values for Ab are combined for 2004–2006.

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We present the first comprehensive review of the diversity of the herpetofauna of the Natura 2000 site Ponor Special Protection Area. We compiled data from 22 publications covering 20 species and carried out multiple field visits between 1998–2012, recording 375 locations confirming all previously reported species and reporting four new species. These are Hyla arborea complex, Bufotes viridis complex, Coronella austriaca and Zamenis longissimus; we exclude Anguis fragilis complex due to recent taxonomic changes in this group. The presence of three additional potential species (Emys orbicularis, Testudo hermanni and Darevskia praticola) remains to be confirmed. All collected localities fall within 60 of 113 2×2 UTM squares, providing > 53% coverage. The elevation ranges for the species generally conform with their expected distributions in Bulgaria. Nine habitat types are of particular importance for the herpetofauna in Ponor Special Protection Area (Shannon diversity index H’ ≥ 2.00), containing 77% of the locations for the observed species and 100% of the species. Four are either open habitats with high level of naturalness or small-scale extensive agricultural lands and four are natural broad-leaf forests. The currently obtained herpetological data can be used in the development of future management plans for this protection area and should be included in the update of the Natura 2000 Standard Data Form. Ponor Special Protection Area is demonstrated as a site of substantial local importance for the conservation of amphibian and reptile communities.

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Presentamos nuevos registros de distribución en malla UTM de 10x10 km para Psammodromus algirus, Coronella austriaca y Vipera latastei en Soria, Castilla y León (España). Así mismo reportamos la sintopía de Podarcis muralis y Podarcis liolepis en dicha área. Adicionalmente, proveemos información detallada de la ocurrencia de 17 especies de reptiles y anfibios como contribución al esfuerzo de elaboración de mapas de herpetofauna de Soria.

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Records on distribution of 34 species of Reptiles and of 2 species of Amphibians are given on recent distribution of Egyptian herpetofauna. If compared with faunistical records given by Marx (1968) and Werner (1983) the total of 24 species is recorded from areas given also by these authors. For 12 species records from other areas are given, especially for the Red Sea area, Upper Egypt and Nubia. The records include data on the species very rarely referred in the literature from the Egypt, e. g. Dermochelys coriacea, Eremias mucronata, Dasypeltis scabra, Walterinnesia aegyptia; on the endangered forms, e. g. Crocodylus niloticus, Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, Varanus griseus, Varanus niloticus, Uromastyx aegyptius, Eryx colubrinus, Eryx jaculus; and the data giving the evidence of the wider distribution of several species if compared with literature data, e. g. Coluber rogersi, Psammophis aegyptius, Echis coloratus. Data on the distribution of Egyptian herpetofauna are relatively richer in Lower Egypt, and very scanty for Upper Egypt and Nubia. In the latter of interest is the situation in Nubian lake area, where for instance after construction of the High Dam large unsettled areas occur, and a situation-remains convenient for existence of such great forms as Nile Crocodiles.

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During the first decades of the last century, an enigmatic extinction was documented to have occurred on the small Mediterranean island of Santo Stefano in the Pontine Archipelago. Although islands are fascinating systems for studying microevolutionary processes, they may nevertheless host unstable communities that make their populations particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic effects and, ultimately, extinction. Here, we investigated the variation of head morphology of 374 individuals of Podarcis siculus from mainland Italy, Sicily and the Pontine Archipelago, using geometric morphometrics. We also included in the analysis samples of the extinct population of Santo Stefano Island, aiming to shed light on the extinction and provide additional information on the historical biogeography of the Archipelago. We found a strong relationship between morphological differences and phylogeographical structure based on previously published genetic data, indicating that the western Pontine populations seem to be a case of incipient speciation. In addition, the extinct population of Santo Stefano Island clustered in all analyses with the western Pontine populations. The results not only provide information on the evolutionary history of P. siculus, but also lead to broader considerations of taxonomy and conservation.

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Accurate measures of species abundance are essential to identify conservation strategies. N-mixture models are increasingly used to estimate abundance on the basis of species counts. In this study we tested whether abundance estimates obtained using N-mixture models provide consistent results with more traditional approaches requiring capture (capture-mark recapture and removal sampling). We focused on endemic, threatened species of amphibians and reptiles in Italy, for which accurate abundance data are needed for conservation assessments: the Lanza’s Alpine salamander Salamandra lanzai, the Ambrosi’s cave salamander Hydromantes ambrosii and the Aeolian wall lizard Podarcis raffonei. In visual counts, detection probability was variable among species, ranging between 0.14 (Alpine salamanders) and 0.60 (cave salamanders). For all the species, abundance estimates obtained using N-mixture models showed limited differences with the ones obtained through capture-markrecapture or removal sampling. The match was particularly accurate for cave salamanders in sites with limited abundance and for lizards, nevertheless non-incorporating heterogeneity of detection probability increased bias. N-mixture models provide reliable abundance estimates that are comparable with the ones of more traditional approaches, and offer additional advantages such as a smaller sampling effort and no need of manipulating individuals, which in turn reduces the risk of harming animals and spreading diseases.

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Melanism is the occurrence of individuals that are darker in skin pigmentation than their conspecifics, which is a common colour polymorphism among vertebrates. Due to the pleotropic effects of the POMC gene that is responsible for melanin-based colouration, dark pigmentation often co-varies with a range of other phenotypic traits. Still, not much is known on the link between melanin-based colouration and immunity in lizards. In this study, we examined and compared the immunocompetence and degree of ectoparasite infestation of Podarcis siculus lizards from a fully melanistic population on an islet in the Tyrrhenian Sea, with conspecifics from a ‘normally’-coloured population on the mainland. Our findings show that both males and females from the melanistic population were less parasitized by ectoparasites and had a greater cellular immune response to a phytohemagglutinin injection than normally-coloured conspecifics. This outcome is in line with the “genetic link hypothesis”, which predicts that melanistic individuals will be more resistant to parasites than non-melanistic individuals due to the pleiotropic POMC gene. In addition, we found correlative evidence for a link between ectoparasite load and PHA immune response, but this was only true for males from the normally-coloured population. Immunological data on additional melanistic and non-melanistic populations of Podarcis siculus in the Mediterranean basin would provide us better insight into patterns of co-variation between immunity and melanism in lizards.

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Habitat preferences were studied in sympatric populations of two Lacertids, Psammodromus algirus and Acanthodactylus erythrurus (Lacertidae) from the National Park of El Kala (north-eastern Algeria). Th e relationship between habitat physical structure and population densities was studied in order to establish eventual segregation between the two lizards. A difference exists between the two species in their distributions. Acanthodactylus erythrurus is a strictly terrestrial species, usually found on sandy and more open grounds than Psammodromus algirus which can penetrate dense vegetation and look for sunny locations by climbing on shrubs; a behavior which A. erythrurus does not control. Our results confi rm spatial segregation on a microhabitat scale, supporting the conclusions that microhabitat selection is an important factor in lizards community organization and contributing to reduce potential competition.

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Background: Podarcis muralis, Podarcis siculus, and Podarcis tauricus are known to extend their range into the territory of Turkey. A new locality of P. tauricus was discovered in the Çardak Lagoon, in the Anatolian part of Çanakkale, Turkey. There has been no report on the evaluation of the taxonomic status of newly recorded population in the Anatolian side of Çanakkale. Objectives: For this reason, the purpose of this study is to investigate the phylogenetic position of this newly recorded population using partial 16S rRNA and cytochrome b gene sequences. Methods: 16S rRNA and cyt b gene sequences of the Çardak population were compared with the Gelibolu, Kırklareli (Thrace Region) and Şile populations (Anatolian part of İstanbul). We reconstructed the phylogenetic tree according to Neighbor-Joining tree approach using MEGA v.6. Also we built a haplotype network to examine the haplotype diversity and structure for the concatenated mt DNA dataset. Results: Neighbor-Joining tree and the haplotype network have the same topology showing the newly discovered population grouped together with the other P. tauricus populations. Conclusions: According to our results, Çardak population is genetically almost similar with Gelibolu population, which isolated by Dardanelles strait.

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Immunodetection of High Mobility Group Proteins (HMGs) in the regenerating tail of lizard indicates activation for cell proliferation. Acta Zoologica (Stockolm). High Mobility Group Proteins (HMGs) are involved in chromatin assembling and control of transcription, especially during development. Transcriptome data indicate that HMGs are abundantly expressed in the early regenerating tail of lizards but their cellular localization remains unknown. Protein bands at 60–62 and 28–30 kDa are detected in western blots, more intense in the regenerating blastema. Immunodetection of HMGs in regenerating tail of the lizard Podarcis muralis indicates that these proteins are mainly localized in tissues where cell proliferation is as active as the apical wound epidermis, ependyma of the spinal cord and pro‐muscle aggregates. Few immunolabelled cells were seen in the regenerating cartilage and growing myomeres or nerves. Only in the wound epidermis labelled cells show a prevalent nuclear labelling while in other tissues a cytoplasmic labelling is prevalent. Only sparse immunolabelled cells are observed in the apical mesenchymal blastema and in the derived connective tissues formed in the mature regions of the regenerating tail, also destined to form adipose cells. The study suggests that the tissues with the highest immunolabelling correspond to those containing more proliferating cells, and that HMGs are mainly activated in these cells to promote cell division for the growth of the new tail.

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Amphibians and reptiles of the Parco Regionale dei Colli di Bergamo. -- This article considers the herpetofauna of the Parco Regionale dei Colli di Bergamo that is composed of ten species of Amphibians and nine of Reptiles. The species are those one would expect to find in a similar landscape. Among these is relevant to mention Bombina variegata, now rare in Lombardy, and Rana latastei. The Author analyzes the corological categories noting a certain predominance of the European species (68%) on the Eurocentroasiatic (22%) and the Italic (10%) ones. The study of the microcommunitiesm has evidenced three fundamental models: the m. of the submediterranean wood (with prevalence of Reptiles), the m. of the umid environments (with prevalence of Amphibians) and the m. of the damp woods (with the typical species Salamandra salamandra).

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Tissue regeneration in lizards represents a unique model of regeneration and scarring in amniotes. The tail and limb contain putative stem cells but also dedifferentiating cells contribute to regen- eration. Following tail amputation, inflammation is low and cell proliferation high, leading to regeneration while the intense inflammation in the limb leads to low proliferation and scarring. FGFs stimulate tail and limb regeneration and are present in the wound epidermis and blastema while they disappear in the limb wound epidermis 2–3 weeks postamputation in the scarring outgrowth. FGFs localize in the tail blastema and the apical epidermal peg (AEP), an epidermal microregion that allows tail growth but is absent in the limb. Inflammatory cells invade the limb blastema and wound epidermis, impeding the formation of an AEP. An embryonic program of growth is activated in the tail, dominated by Wnt-positive and -negative regulators of cell prolif- eration and noncoding RNAs, that represent the key regenerative genes. The balanced actions of these regulators likely impede the formation of a tumor in the tail tip. Genes for FACIT and fib- rillar collagens, protease inhibitors, and embryonic keratins are upregulated in the regenerating tail blastema. A strong downregulation of genes for both B and T-lymphocyte activation suggests the regenerating tail blastema is a temporal immune-tolerated organ, whereas a scarring pro- gram is activated in the limb. Wnt inhibitors, pro-inflammatory genes, negative regulators of cell proliferation, downregulation of myogenic genes, proteases, and oxidases favoring scarring are upregulated. The evolution of an efficient immune system may be the main limiting barrier for organ regeneration in amniotes, and the poor regeneration of mammals and birds is associated with the efficiency of their mature immune system. This does not tolerate embryonic antigens formed in reprogrammed embryonic cells (as for neoplastic cells) that are consequently elimi- natedimpedingtheregenerationoflostorgans.

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There are five terrestrial biomes found in Palearctic realm of Iraq: Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests; Temperate grasslands, Savanas and shrublands; Flooded grasslands and Savannas; Mediterranean forests, woodlands and scrub; deserts and xeric shrublands. The presence of these ecozones resulted in a considerable heterogeneity of the herpetofauna of Iraq. With considering lizards fauna, we collected 400 lizard specimens that classified into 18 species, 11genera and five families, were distributed throughout central and southern Iraq and their zoogeographical affinities about: 44.44% Palearictic, 33.33% Arabian and 22.22% Saharo-Sindian.

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Several species of the green lizard group of the Caucasus (Lacerta tritineata, L. strigata and L. agilis) occur sympatrically. However, the reproductive isolating mechanisms prevent the hybridization. Various kinds of possible mechanisms, both premating (habitat isolation, differences in the breeding period, mating behaviour, including visual, sound, tactile and chemical communications, sizes) and postmating (low amounts of fertilized eggs, hybrid inviability) are discussed. The author provides new data on artificial hybridization of the three species (table 3).

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Systematic evaluation of the metabolism, distribution, and effect of thiamethoxam in Mongolian racerunner (Eremias argus) was carried out after oral exposure. HPLC equipped with Q Exactive focus was used for identification and concentration analysis of thiamethoxam and its metabolites. Percutaneous and urine excretions were the primary ways for the elimination of thiamethoxam and its metabolites, and the limiting factor was urine output. Demethylated thiamethoxam and clothianidin were the main metabolites of thiamethoxam in lizards. CYP3A4, CYP3A7, and CYP2C9 played a crucial role in the metabolism process. Aldehyde oxidase only dominated the nitro-reduction process of demethylated thiamethoxam and clothianidin. Glutathione S-transferase might be related to the clearance process of thiamethoxam and its metabolites. The findings indicated that thiamethoxam might pose potential carcinogenic and hepatic injury risk to lizards. The results enrich and supplement the knowledge of the environmental fate of thiamethoxam in reptiles.

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Despite the fact that numerous reptile species are widely studied by the researchers, information describing the detailed structure of particular organs in many reptiles is missing. The tongue of the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) was examined under the light and scanning electron microscope. It is divided into bifurcated apex, corpus and bifurcated radix. The tip of the lingual apex is devoid of lingual papillae. The remaining dorsal surface of the tongue bears either fused papillae in the form of caudally directed ridges or individual papillae represented by mushroom like or semilunar prominences (lingual apex) or fish scale-like papillae (lingual corpus) and horizontally laid ridges extending in the form of lobulated prominences (lingual corpus, lingual radix). Regardless of the shape, lingual papillae contain numerous muscle fibers and they are all considered to be mechanical. The lingual epithelium changes from the simple squamous into stratified squamous in the caudal direction. No salivary glands or sensory structures were recognised. This description is to be used mainly for comparative studies. It could also help to understand how different lizards capture the pray.

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Thermal ecology, habitat use and activity patterns of the spiny-footed lizard, Acanthodactylus erythrurus (Schinz, 1833) in central Spain -- We analyze basic aspects of the ecology of Acanthodactylus erythrurus such as habitat utilization, annual and diel activity patterns and thermal ecology in relation to environmental and structural characteristics of the southern slopes of the Sierra de Gredos (Central Iberian Peninsula). At the study site, the spiny-footed lizard appears associated with open areas and bare grounds covered by scattered shrubs. It is absent from vegetated areas. Annual activity patterns are slightly bimodal and diel activity index seems to be irregular and similar in all sex and age classes considered. Body temperatures of active animals, around 36°C, showed minor variations throughout the day, and a remarkable independence from air and substrate temperatures . These results are discussed taking into account the ecological requirements of A. erythrurus, and its historical and ecological constraints, derived from its desert biogeographical origin.

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The meadow lizard Darevskia praticola (Eversmann, 1834) displays a wide distribution range from the Western Balkans and Caucasus to the Hyrcanian forest in Iran. Based on previous studies, four subspecies have been described (D. p. pra-ticola, D. p. pontica, D. p. hyrcanica and D. p. loriensis), but molecular evidence suggests two main phylogenetic lineages, Balkan and Caucasus. In this study we incorporated geographic records and analysed new samples from Alborz Mountains (Gilan Province, Iran), exploring their phylogenetic affinities using two mitochondrial markers (Cyt b and ND4). For the first time, Iranian samples are included in a molecular phylogeny. Our results meet the previous suggestions regarding the presence of a nuclear mitochondrial DNA fragment (numt) in Cyt b, causing misleading phylogenetic inferences since it renders the species paraphyletic. In contrast, the ND4 genealogy groups the species into a monophyletic clade, as expect-ed. Samples attributed to D. p. hyrcanica (Azerbaijan and Iran) and D. p. loriensis (Armenia) are settled in a single clade with minute genetic distance, suggesting synonymisation.

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The vulnerability of species to climate warming varies along latitudinal and elevational clines, but how sympatric species vary in vulnerability to climate warming remains largely unknown. We experimentally simulated nest temperatures of two sympatric lizards with divergent microhabitat preferences (Phrynocephalus przewalskii and Eremias argus), under climate warming senarios, to determine the response of embryos to increased mean temperatures and heat waves. Our study demonstrated that simulated climate warming reduced hatching success and hatchling size and growth in E. argus (that prefers closed microhabitats), but had less effect in P. przewalskii (that occupies open microhabitats). The reduced growth rate of E. argus hatchlings was associated with a decrease in metabolic rate, which was more evident in hatchling E. argus than in P. przewalskii. Our results suggest lizards that prefer closed microhabitats may be more vulnerable to climate warming than those that prefer open microhabitats; further studies are needed to test this hypothesis. More generally, the divergent responses of sympatric species to climate warming highlights the importance of distinguishing the thermal sensitivity of behavior and physiology for each species of a community, in order to make predictions about the impacts of climate warming at regional scales.

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The performance of ectotherms integrated over time depends in part on the position and shape of the distribution of body temperatures (Tb) experienced during activity. For several complementary reasons, physiological ecologists have long expected that Tb distributions during activity should have a long left tail (left‐skewed), but only infrequently have they quantified the magnitude and direction of Tb skewness in nature. To evaluate whether left‐skewed Tb distributions are general for diurnal desert lizards, we compiled and analysed Tb (∑ = 9,023 temperatures) from our own prior studies of active desert lizards in three continents (25 species in Western Australia, 10 in the Kalahari Desert of Africa and 10 species in western North America). We gathered these data over several decades, using standardized techniques. Many species showed significantly left‐skewed Tb distributions, even when records were restricted to summer months. However, magnitudes of skewness were always small, such that mean Tb were never more than 1°C lower than median Tb. The significance of Tb skewness was sensitive to sample size, and power tests reinforced this sensitivity. The magnitude of skewness was not obviously related to phylogeny, desert, body size or median body temperature. Moreover, a formal phylogenetic analysis is inappropriate because geography and phylogeny are confounded (i.e. are highly collinear). Skewness might be limited if lizards pre‐warm inside retreats before emerging in the morning, emerge only when operative temperatures are high enough to speed warming to activity Tb, or if cold lizards are especially wary and difficult to spot or catch. Telemetry studies may help evaluate these possibilities.

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The objectives of this study were to describe reproduction, diet, nematode infection and sexual dimorphism in Agama anchietae and Pedioplanis undata undata, two Namibian lizard species with wide geographic distributions for which such baseline ecological information is still lacking. The specimens used in the study came from the preserved Herpetological Collection of the National Museum of Namibia. Agama anchietae occupies rocky areas and the findings were as follows, reproduction: (i) it reproduces in spring and summer, the warm and rainy season of Namibia when insect food abounds, presumably to optimize the survival of its offspring, (ii) the gonads were inactive during autumn and winter, (iii) the mass of its abdominal fat bodies and liver decreased during the reproductive period, presumably because they serve as sources of energy during that time; diet: (i) prey items consumed by the sexes belonged to the orders Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Mantodea, (ii) in addition to these an item belonging to the Diptera was also found in males, (iii) no significant numerical differences were found between the sexes with respect to the items consumed, (iv) the fact that hymenopterans occurred in substantially higher numbers suggest that the species relies mainly on sit-and-wait foraging; nematode infection: (i) in both sexes a larger number of nematodes occurred in the stomach than in the intestine, (ii) no significant numerical differences in infection were found between the sexes; sexual dimorphism: (i) males were larger than females in absolute body size, (ii) relative hind-limb but not forelimb length of males was significantly longer than that of females; (iii) relative head breath, length and width of males were all significantly greater than that of females. Pedioplanis undata undata occurs in flat open areas and the findings were as follows, reproduction: (i) a similar pattern with respect to the activity of the gonads as reported for A. anchietae above was also found in this species, (ii) the same also applied to the mass fluctuations of the abdominal fat bodies and the liver; diet: (i) males consumed items belonging to the orders Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Blatoidea, Solifugida as well as larvae, (ii) in females the prey items belonged to the Hymenoptera, Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Aranea, (iii) no significant numerical differences were found between the sexes for similar prey items, (iv) the low numbers of hymenopterans but fairly high diversity of prey types suggest that this species is a wide forager; nematode infection: (i) in both the stomach and intestine nematode infection was low with that of the stomach marginally higher than that of the intestine, (ii) no significant numerical differences were found between males and females; sexual dimorphism: (i) males and females were of similar body size, (ii) males had significantly longer fore-and hind-limbs than females, and may therefore be able to run faster, (iii) relative head breath, length and width of males were all significantly greater than that of females.

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Der Südosten Angolas ist nach wie vor ein wenig erforschter Landstrich, was vor allem daran liegt, dass ausgedehnte Feuchtgebiete den Zugang erschweren und dort noch immer viele Landminen aus dem langen Bürgerkrieg herumliegen. Aufgrund seiner großen Biodiversität und der Schönheit seiner Landschaft wurde das Okavango-Delta Botswanas 2014 als Weltnaturerbe ausgewiesen. Sein Fortbestand als funktionierendes Ökosystem und einziges großes Inlanddelta der Welt hängt jedoch von den Wassern ab, die aus Angola nach Süden abfließen. Diese Feuchtgebiete bilden den Einzugsbereich von drei der bedeutendsten Flusssysteme des südzentralen Afrikas: des Sambesi, des Kwansa und des Okavango. Die hier geschilderte herpetologische Bestandsaufnahme war Bestandteil des National-Geographic-Okavango-Wilderness-Pro- jekts (NGOWP), das auf die Katalogisierung der außergewöhnlichen Biodiversität der Region abzielt und gleichzeitig den gegenwärtigen Zustand dieser wichtigen Feuchtgebiete und mögliche Einflussfaktoren darauf ermitteln soll. Hier will ich meine persönlichen Eindrücke schildern, wohingegen die wissenschaftlichen Ergebnisse bereits an anderer Stelle veröffentlicht worden sind (Conradie et al. 2016). Gesammeltes Material befindet sich im Port-Elizabeth-Museum (Süd- afrika) und in der ISCED-Sammlung in Lubango (Angola). Die Aufsammlungen sind in der Anlage I zusammengefasst.