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A critical review of the evolutionary biology of Iberian and North African lizard members of the genus Podarcis (Lacertidae) based on phylogeny, phylogeography, morphometrics, behavior, ecology and physiology is presented. The Iberomaghrebian region is inhabited by at least 12 different evolutionary lineages that group into a monophyl- etic clade (except Podarcis muralis). In contrast to the current taxonomy, the saxicolous ‘Podarcis hispanica’ is paraphyletic with respect to Podarcis bocagei and Podarcis carbonelli, two currently recognized species. Nodes in the phylogenetic tree are deep, resulting from old divergences, clearly preceding the Pleistocene. Nevertheless, more recent range changes as a result of glaciations are also evident. The most plausible evolutionary scenario for this group indicates both vicariant and dispersal events. Although parapatry between lineages is the rule, sympatry and even syntopy are frequent, but usually between ground-dwelling and saxicolous forms. Contacts between forms with similar habitat use are rare and local. Morphological distinctiveness between lineages has been demonstrated, indicating historical constraints. However, other characters have repeatedly evolved under similar environmental pressures independently of the evolutionary lineage. Strong sexual dimorphism derives from sexual selection and is attained before sexual maturity, although developmental restrictions exist. Variation between popu- lations is also important and derives from local variation in both natural (habitat, climate) and sexual (density) selective pressures. Evidence for short-term changes has already been found, particularly in insular populations. Reproductive isolation between syntopic forms and partner recognition are based on male–male competition and on visual and chemical recognition of females by conspecific males. Despite this ancient diversification, most forms maintain a degree of reproductive compatibility. Hybridisation may occur, but is limited, and there is evidence of selection against hybrids. The ecological analysis presented here does not support exploitative competition, but rather behavioral interference between forms. Ecomorph classification of lineages suggests character displacement between those with extensive range overlap. Finally, a critical assessment of the specific status of all lineages is provided and directions for further research are suggested.

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A new population of Podarcis liolepis has been discovered in the suburb of Toulouse (France), corresponding to the third known place of this species for the province of Haute-Garonne and the first of the nominotypic subspecies for the region of Midi-Pyrénées. Origin of this population is discussed and morphological traits to identify the nominotypic subspecies are described.

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Les Reptiles des Pyrénées traite en détail les 32 espèces protégées présentes sur l’ensemble de la chaîne (France, Espagne et Andorre). Cette faune herpétologique est le résultat d’une entreprise natu­raliste combinant enquête bibliographique et reportage photographique. Elle propose une vaste synthèse de données relatives à plusieurs champs disciplinaires – systématique, ­taxi­nomie, biogéographie, écologie, biologie… – jusque-là dispersées dans plusieurs centaines d’articles et ouvrages. Les variations phénotypiques et les particularités écologiques des serpents, lézards et tortues occupant l’espace pyrénéen y sont illustrées par de très nombreuses photo­graphies exclusivement réalisées in situ, de 2 m à 3 143 m d’altitude. Des cartes de répartition précises (mailles UTM 10 km × 10 km), basées sur des sources scientifiques, complètent et éclairent le propos biogéographique. Les espèces et sous-espèces endémiques ou subendémiques de la chaîne, de même que celles qui y ont un statut particulier (très localisées, vulnérables…), ont fait l’objet d’une attention par­ti­cu­lière et les menaces qui pèsent sur les reptiles des Pyrénées sont largement exposées. Cet ouvrage sera précieux pour les pyrénéistes, naturalistes et gestionnaires d’espaces naturels de la chaîne (parc national, réserves, sites Natura 2000, parcs naturels régionaux…), qui disposeront là d’une mine d’informations sur le sujet.

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Cytoplasmic markers are often used alone to reconstruct phylogenetic and phylogeographic patterns. Evolutionary, demographic and ecological processes that cause these patterns are most often investigated using nuclear markers. However, some mechanisms, like introgressive hybridization, may result in gene histories differing from species histories. Further, genetic consequences of introgressive hybridization may be particularly marked for cytoplasmic markers comparatively to nuclear markers. This is why the reliability of cytoplasmic markers as a tool for pattern reconstruction is currently debated. To evaluate the value of cytoplasmic markers for pattern reconstructions and process studies, we compared, within the species complex of Iberian Wall Lizards Podarcis hispanicus, the evolutionary history inferred from a mitochondrial marker with the history inferred from nuclear markers, and in fig species of section Galoglychia, the history inferred from chloroplast markers with the history inferred from nuclear markers. In both cases, we evidenced several cases of cyto-nuclear discordances caused by ancient events of introgressive hybridization. In the lizard example, discordance was caused by the complete replacement of the mitochondrial lineage of one species, in a large part of its distribution range, by a mitochondrial lineage belonging to another species currently extinct or not described yet. In the Ficus example, congruence between plant chloroplast phylogeny and pollinator phylogeny supports the hypothesis that host shifts are responsible of both cyto-nuclear discordance in plant phylogenies and pollinator-plant phylogenetic incongruence. Both cases demonstrate that, because of introgressive hybridization, cytoplasmic markers are of limited interest to precisely describe phylogenetic and phylogeographic patterns. However, these introgressive hybridization events make cytoplasmic markers useful to investigate processes.

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A total of 35 morphological characters (biometry, scalation, chromatic pattern) were studied through multivariate analyses on 10 populations sampled across the range of the Iberian wall lizard (Podarcis hispanica) in Portugal. Biometry clearly splits the samples into two different types. Differences in scalation between the two types were not clear, but multiple correspondence analyses showed that different chromatic patterns Ž t each of the types: one presented dark dorsal patterns (e.g. reticulated, eyeled, striped) and whitish-pearly belly, while the other showed green or yellow-brown patterns and yellow-orange belly. These two morphotypes constitute different molecular lineages and have different ranges of distribution.