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The aimof this study was to determine the spatial use of the main biophysical elements present in the agro-silvo-pastoral system (trees and shrubs, fallen trunks and branches, rocky outcrops and pilesof stones/walls) by three lizard speciess: Acanthodactylus erythrurus, Podarcis virescensand Psammodromus algirus. However, A. erythruruswas not found in the ten plots studied. For the remaining two species, the hypothesis tests showed that there are differences in the number of individuals when comparing the fiveplots with grazing with the five plots without grazing,within the montado landscape. Where there are rocky outcrops, P. virescens predominates (especially in grazing areas), while Ps. algirusmainly occurs in areas without grazing. At the same time, there are also differences in the elements used as a perch and as a refuge between the two lizards. This type of work helps the creation of management plans by farmers and owners / decision makers, towardsan efficient conservation of reptiles.

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The last catalogue of the Reptile collection of the Museu Bocage dates back to 1972. The collections were lost in a fire 25 years ago, so it was necessary to analyse the effort of various donors, who offered the Museum a new collection. The evaluation of the sampling effort is important to gather information (on quantity and origin) and the various samples of the species of lacertid lizards present in the Museum and enables an operational and practical visual imaged of that information. The obtained results prove that the study of the sampling effort using ordinary kriging method is robust and accurate on identifying gaps (under or no sampled areas) and a helpful tool to fulfil them. Although beginning to the representative of the Portuguese fauna, the lacertid collection of the Museu Bocage needs major improvements given that it still does not illustrate the actual distribution of lacertid lizards in Portugal. In order to stand for modern standards, when complementing the existing collection we must take into account not only the information provided by the analysis but also conservationist concerns (not killing animals) and the establishment of co-partnerships with congener institutions as well. Nowadays Museums have the duty, more than ever, to keep their collections well housed, cared for and accessible to the scientific community.

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The author describes a herpetological trip to Portugal organized by a travelling agency specialized in ecological trips. The group consisted ofeighteen people and was especially interested in reptiles and amphibians, though most of the participants were bird-watchers and nature-lovers too. Day by day the author describes the various reptiles and amphibians that were seen. A table is added, in which the num- bers represent the day the respective animals were spotted. The regions that were visited were: Sao Bras {day I), Guadiana river {day 2), Parque Natural da Ria Formosa (day 3), Huelva and Coto de Dofiana in Spain {day 4), Lagoa and the Monchique (day 5), the rocky coast of Carrapateira, Cabo de Sao Vicente (day 6), Almarjao, close to Sao Bras (day 7). Three species of newts and salamanders were seen, eight species of frogs and toads, two species of turt- les, ten species of lizards and five species of snakes. A list was made of the insects, the birds (123 spe- cies) and plants that were seen. The trip was very successful, with regard to the inte- rest of the group

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In this article we provide new data of amphibians and reptiles distribution in Teruel province: 81 unpublished records. These records constitute the first observation for a given herpetological specie in a 10 km x 10 UTM square. As a result of a bibliographical review until January 2004, the species cited in Teruel province are 30: 8 species of amphibians and 22 of reptiles, one of these reptiles has been introduced, Trachemys scripta.

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The ability to shed (autotomize) all or part of the tail, usually in response to predator attack, and often to subsequently regenerate it is widespread in lizards and amphisbaenians and also occurs in a few snakes and in the tuatara. Most species possess a sophisticated intravertebral autotomy mechanism which seems to be primitive in the Squamata. This appears to have been independently lost in members of many groups, but some agamids and snakes have regained the ability to shed their tails by a simpler intervertebral means and a -number of agamids have also redeveloped tail regeneration as well. Breakable tails are used to evade capture in two main ways: by enabling reptiles to break away from predators that have grasped them by the tail and by providing a distraction which deflects the attention of the attacker away from the vulnerable head and body. It is argued that loss of caudal autotomy has occurred when the costs of tail shedding outweigh its benefits. Likely costs include the expense of regrowing the tail and the loss of a variety of possible tail functions that may cause partial incapacitation, at least until the tail regenerates. Benefits of autotomy are liable to be low if predation is rare, if the animal is able to protect itself effectively in other ways, if it is too slow to evade further pursuit after the tail is shed, or if the tail is small or unpalatable and consequently not likely to distract a predator. Benefit variation may well be greater than cost variation and therefore more important in initiating the loss of autotomy mechanisms. Many taxa that do not shed the tail appear to conform to the above interpretation, but in some cases, such as the Platynota, Agamidae and Chamaeleonidae, lack of intravertebral autotomy may reflect the history of these groups rather than being a direct result of present ecological pressures. The distribution of intervertebral autotomy in the Agamidae suggests that it may have evolved only in rather special circumstances where tail fragility is advantageous even in the absence of the ability to regenerate. Restriction ot autotomy planes to the tail-base, so that the whole organ is lost, a condition found in a number of relatively slow-moving geckoes, is interpreted as a means of ensuring that enough of the tail is shed to distract a predator from further pursuit. The stimulus necessary to induce autotomy can vary rapidly in individual lizards and at least some of these changes probably maximize the effectiveness of the tail-shedding mechanism. Differences in the readiness with which all or part of the tail is shed exist between species and are likely to reflect the balance of costs and benefits in particular cases. Variations in incidence of broken tails between species and populations may be due to such differences in fragility but many other factors may play a part, including the age structure of samples, incidence of unsuccessful attacks by predators and ability to evade predators after autotomy. There is a clear tendency for climbing lizards, especially those living on rock surfaces, to have higher incidences of broken tails than ground-dwelling species, perhaps because the tail is usually less important in locomotion in the first group. Many lizards possess conspicuously coloured tails and tail movements that seem likely to help distract attention from the head and body. Conspicuous tail colouring is more frequent and often better developed in young animals, which tend to be more vulnerable than adults, and in active species from open habitats where crypsis may not always be very effective. Conspicuous tails usually have contrasting light and dark areas in nocturnal forms but are often a single bright colour in diurnal ones, probably reflecting the visual capacities of their respective predators. The predominance of blue tails in day-active species may be because this colour is striking close to but not very arresting at a distance, so it may not attract predators from far away while still drawing their attention at close quarters.

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Twenty-four species of lacertid lizards were examined at 31 sites in western Yogoslavia, Greece and Iberia. Comparative observations were made on over 4500 individual lizards, noting such features as times of activitiy, hunting methods, diet, micro- and macrohabitat, refuges used and body temperature. These data are used as a basis for assessing resource partition in related sympatric species, for find out whether different systematic groups have characteristic types of niche, and for comparing cumminity structures in the peninsulas of southern Europa. Acanthodactylus erythrurus, Algyroides marchi, Algyroides moreoticus, Algyroides nigropunctatus, Lacerta agilis, Lacerta graeca, Lacerta horvathi, Lacerta lepida, Lacerta monticola, Lacerta oxycephala, Lacerta mosorensis, Lacerta schreiberi, Lacerta trilineata, Lacerta viridis, Lacerta vivipara, Podarcis bocagei, Podarcis erhardii, Podarcis hispanica, Podarcis melisellensis, Podarcis milensis, Podarcis muralis, Podarcis peloponnesiaca, Podarcis sicula, Podarcis taurica, Psammodromus algirus, Psammodromus hispanicus.

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Differences in surface structure (ober- hautchen) of body scales of lacertid lizards involve cell size, shape and surface profile, presence or absence of fine pitting, form of cell margins, and the occurrence of longitudinal ridges and pustular projections. Phylogenetic information indicates that the primitive pattern involved narrow strap-shaped cells, with low posteriorly overlapping edges and relatively smooth surfaces. Deviations from this condition produce a more sculptured surface and have developed many times, although subsequent overt reversals are uncommon. Like variations in scale shape, different patterns of dorsal body microornamentation appear to confer different and conflicting performance advantages. The primitive pattern may reduce friction during locomotion and also enhances dirt shedding, especially in ground-dwelling forms from moist habitats. However, this smooth microornamentation generates shine that may compromise cryptic coloration, especially when scales are large. Many derived features show correlation with such large scales and appear to suppress shine. They occur most frequently in forms from dry habitats or forms that climb in vegetation away from the ground, situations where dirt adhesion is less of a problem. Microornamentation differences involving other parts of the body and other squamate groups tend to corroborate this functional interpretation. Microornamentation features can develop on lineages in different orders and appear to act additively in reducing shine. In some cases different combinations may be optimal solutions in particular environments, but lineage effects, such as limited reversibility and different developmental proclivities, may also be important in their genesis. The fine pits often found on cell surfaces are unconnected with shine reduction, as they are smaller than the wavelengths of most visible light.

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In this paper we provide the first data on the distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the province of Guadalajara (Castilla – La Mancha, Spain). From a heropetological point of view Guadalajara is one of the most unknown provinces in Spain. At this time we have recorded 30 species, 15 of which were not previously cited in the area. Provisional maps of distribution are presented in 10 x 10 km U.T.M. squares. Acanthodactylus erythrurus, Lacerta lepida, Lacerta schreiberi, Podarcis hispanica, Podarcis muralis, Psammodromus algirus, Psammodromus hispanicus.

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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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During the month of June 1980 the authors observed several species of amphibians and reptiles in Portugal. Notes are given on their habitat. Problems concerning the determination of some species of the genus Podarcis are discussed.

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We studied 143 specimens (84 males and 59 females) from a population of A. erythrurus located between the townships of Torrelodones and Hoyo de Manzanares (Madrid province, central Spain). Specimens were captured in successive visits to the study area during 1984 and 1985. For this study, the pertinent measures were SVL and total weight were calculated. In females, the number and diameter of the ovarian follicles and the number, length and width of thre ovidutal eggs were recorded. All data were processed according to sex and corresponding 15-day period.

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Oganismal performance abilities occupy a central position in phenotypic evolution; they are determined by suites of interacting lower-level traits (e.g., morphology and physiology) and they are a primary focus of natural selection. The mechanisms by which higher levels of organismal performance are achieved during evolution are therefore fundamentally important for understanding correlated evolution in general and coadaptation in particular. Here we address correlated evolution of morphological, physiological, and behavioral characteristics that influence interspecific variation in sprint speed in a clade of lacertid lizards. Phylogenetic analyses using independent contrasts indicate that the evolution of high maximum sprinting abilities (measured on a photocell-timed racetrack) has occurred via the evolution of (1) longer hind limbs relative to body size, and (2) a higher physiologically optimum temperature for sprinting. For ectotherms, which experience variable body temperatures while active, sprinting abilities in nature depend on both maximum capacities and relative performance levels (i.e., percent of maximum) that can be attained. With respect to temperature effects, relative performance levels are determined by the interaction between thermal physiology and thermoregulatory behavior. Among the 13 species or subspecies of lizards in the present study, differences in the optimal temperature for sprinting (body temperature at which lizards run fastest) closely matched interspecific variation in median preferred body temperature (measured in a laboratory photothermal gradient), in- dicating correlated evolution of thermal physiology and thermal preferences. variability of the preferred body tem- peratures maintained by each species is, across species, negatively correlated with the thermal-performance breadth (range of body temperatures over which lizards can run relatively fast). This pattern leads to interspecific differences in the levels of relative sprint speed that lizards are predicted to attain while active at their preferred temperatures. The highest levels of predicted relative performance are achieved by species that combine a narrow, precise distribution of preferred temperatures with the ability to sprint at near-maximum speeds over a wide range of body temperatures. The observed among-species differences in predicted relative speed were positively correlated with the interspecific variation in maximum sprinting capacities. Thus, species that attain the highest maximum speeds are (1) also able to run at near-maximum levels over a wide range of temperatures and (2) also maintain body temperatures within a narrow zone near the optimal temperature for sprinting. The observed pattern of correlated evolution therefore has involved traits at distinct levels of biological organization, that is, morphology, physiology, and behavior; and trade- offs are not evident. We hypothesize that this particular trait combination has evolved in response to coadaptational selection pressures. We also discuss our results in the context of possible evolutionary responses to global climatic change.

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Algeria is a case study of biodiversity ignorance. To date, there are neither complete inventories for any taxa nor atlas across the country! Yet, Algeria is of great importance for global biodiversity. The coastal area of Algeria is part of the global biodiversity hostpot which is the Mediterranean perimeter and has several regional red spots of biodiversity. Moreover, the Saharan part encompasses a diversity of endemic organisms adapted to the strong conditions of drought. The Algerian authorities are deploying an ambitious project for conservation aiming to reach 50% of the country`s surface as protected areas! However, the location of these protected areas and their management don’t obey to a scientific evidence based, but are rather based on experts opinion. The main aim of this thesis is the study of the biodiversity ignorance distribution in Algeria by focusing on the `Linnean, Wallacean, and Darwinian Shortfalls` and to contribute to reduce them. The first chapter aims at reducing the Linnean Shortfall by proposing 1) a first checklist of reptiles and amphibians of Algeria which is the result of an accurate review of scientific publications on these taxa in North Africa. 2) a first pre-assessment of the conservation status of reptiles and amphibians of Algeria for the production of the first national red list. The second part of this manuscript deals with the ignorance of the geographical distribution of species. The purpose of this part is to map the ignorance which is defined as the difference between the expected specific richness diversity and the observed specific richness. The predicted species richness was modelled with two approaches: 1 ecological niche modelling with the maximum entropy method (MaxEnt) to predict the suitable habitats for each species and then add the different binary layers of species presence to calculate the specific richness. 2) Minimum convex polygon method was used to create range maps of each species and were auditioned to obtain predicted species richness. Both approaches have shown the same trend at a national scale: the concentration of the richest areas along the Saharan Atlas and the High Plateaus which are the transition zone between the Sahara and the Mediterranean part of Algeria. The opposition of the Saharan with a low species richness and the northern part with a higher species richness. Finally, the Saharan massifs of the Hoggar and Tassili form a very distinct zone with a much greater wealth compared to the rest of the Sahara. In terms of gaps, in the northern part, Kabylie, El Kala National Park and the Oran region are fairly well surveyed. In the Sahara, only a few points are clearly well prospected as Biskra, Bechar and some areas of the Hoggar and Tassili. The third part deals with the distribution of genetic llineages in the Maghreb. The aim of this section is to locate the phylogeographic breaks between the divergent eastern and western populations of the Maghreb and to try to understand the mechanisms that led to this pattern of genetic diversity. To answer these questions, I carried out a comparative phylogeography on 11 species of reptiles and amphibians with continuous and wide distribution in the Maghreb. Two suture zones have been identified: one zone on the border of Algeria and Morocco, the other in Kabylia west of the Soummam valley. The divergences between the eastern clades and the western clades occurred between the pre-Messinian periods up to the pliopleistocene boundary and were maintained in climatic refugia in the East and West of the Maghreb.

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A series of phylogeographic studies in the Maghreb identified a repeated pattern of deep genetic divergence between an eastern (Tunisia) and western (Morocco) lineage for several taxa but lack of sampling in Algeria made it difficult to know if the range limits between the eastern and western lineages were shared among taxa or not. To address this question, we designed a comparative phylogeographic study using 8 reptile and 3 amphibian species with wide distribution in the Maghreb as models.We selected species where previous studies had identified an East-West phylogeographic divide and collected sampled in Algeria to 1) examine whether the simple East-West divergence pattern still holds after filling the sampling gap in Algeria or if more complex diversity patterns emerge; 2) if the E-W pattern still holds, test whether the limits between the E and W clades are shared between species, suggesting that common historical process caused the E-W divergences; 3) if E-W limits are shared between species, use information on the age of the divergence to identify possible geological or climatic events that could have triggered these E-W differentiations. We found that the E-W pattern was generally maintained after additional sampling in Algeria and identified two common disjunction areas, one around the Algeria-Morocco border, the other one in Kabylia (central Algeria), suggesting that common historical mechanisms caused the E-W divergences in the Maghreb. Our estimates for the times to most common recent ancestors to the E and W clades span a wide range between the Messinian salinity crisis and the Plio-Pleistocene limit (except for one older split), suggesting different origins for the initial divergences and subsequent preservation of the E and W lineages in common climatic refugia in the west and the east of the Maghreb.

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For the most diurnal lizards, the source of heat for thermoregulation is primarily radiant energy. Heliothermy (heat gain by radiation) has been given a prominent role in basking lizards. However, thigmotherny (heat gain by conduction) could be relevant for heating in small sized lizards. To ascertain the importance of the different heat transmission modes to the thermoregulatory processes, an experimental study was conducted where the role of heat transmission modes on heating rates was analysed in the Mediterranean lizards Psammodromus algirrus and Acanthodactylus erythrurus (Lacertidae). The study was conducted under laboratory conditions, where two situations of different operative temperatures (38°C and 48°C) were simulated in a terrarium. Individuals were allowed to heat up during two minutes at both temperatures and under both heat transmission modes. Temperature had a significant effect on the heating rates of both species, heat gain per unit of time being faster at the higher operative temperature (48°C). The effect of heat transmission mode was significant for A. erythrurus but not for P. algirus. However, both species showed a significant interaction between temperature and source when the main heat transmission mode was conduction from the substrate (’thigmothermy’) than when heating was mainly due to heat gain by radiation (‘heliothermy’); at 38°C heating rates did not significant differ between transmission modes. These results show that in some species heat transmission mode modulate heat exchange with the environment, suggesting that the different predominant heat transmission mode is a subtle property of the thermal environment involved in lizard thermoregulation.

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The spiny-footed lizard, Acanthodactylus erythrurus, is a small sized lacertid lizard that shows conspicuous red tails in juveniles and females at the reproductive season. Its distribution ranges from the center and south of the Iberian Peninsula, to north Africa. The species prefers open sandy habitats with sparse vegetation. Its diet consists of insects, arachnids and arthropods, with ants being an important part of the diet. The main concern for its conservation is habitat loss and deterioration.

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Heliothermy (heat gain by radiation) has been given a prominent role in basking lizards. However, thigmothermy (heat gain by conduction) could be relevant for heating in small lizards. To ascertain the importance of the different heat transmission modes to the thermoregulatory processes, we conducted an experimental study where we analyzed the role of heat transmission modes on heating rates and on the selection of sites for heating in the Mediterranean lizard Acanthodactylus erythrurus (Lacertidae). The study was conducted under laboratorym conditions, where two situations of different operative temperatures (38_ and 50_C) were simulated in a terrarium. In a first experiment, individuals were allowed to heat up during 2 min at both temperatures and under both heat transmission modes. In a second experiment, individuals were allowed to select between patches differing in the main transmission mode, at both temperatures, to heat up. Experiences were conducted with live, nontethered lizards with a starting body temperature of 27_C. Temperature had a significant effect on the heating rate, with heat gain per unit of time being faster at the higher operative temperature (50_C). The effect of the mode of heat transmission on the heating rate was also significant: at 50_C, heating rate was greater when the main heat transmission mode was conduction from the substrate (thigmothermy) than when heating was mainly due to heat gain by radiation (heliothermy); at 38_C, heating rates did not significantly differ between transmission modes. At 38_C, selection of the site for heating was not significantly different from that expected by chance. However, at 50_C, the heating site offering the slowest heating rate (heliothermic patch) was selected. These results show that heating rates vary not only with environmental temperature but also with different predominant heat transmission modes. Lizards are able to identify and exploit this heterogeneity, selecting the source of heat gain (radiation) that minimizes the risk of overheating when temperature is high.

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Body temperatures, heat exchange rates, behavioral thermoregulation, and movement behavior (as an index of foraging mode) were studied in two widely distributed, medium sized lacertid lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus and Psammodromus algirus). Psammodromus algirus mainly inhabits broad-leaved forests, while A. erythrurus prefers open sandy areas with sparsely distributed vegetation. These habitat preferences parallel differences between the areas in which both genera presumably originated: Eurosaharian xeric steppes with high operative temperatures (Te’s) for Acanthodactylus, and Mediterranean open forests with lower Te’s for Psammodromus. Field observations showed that percentage of time spent basking and basking rate (no. of basks per minute) were negatively related to Te, although average bask duration was not. Percentage of time spent moving, moving rate (no. Of moves per minute), and the average duration of Individual moves were inversely related to Te, and were higher in P. algirus. The percentage of total locomotion time that was spent moving in the shade was also higher in P. algirus. Behavioral thermoregulation strategies differed between both species in a laboratory thermogradient where P. algirus basked more often and for shorter periods, and selected warmer patches, than A. erythrurus. Selected body temperatures (Tb’s) in a laboratory thermogradient were significantly higher in A. erythrurus than in P. algirus. Shade Seeking Tb was higher in A. Erythrurus, while Resume Basking Tb did not differ significantly between the two species. Heating and cooling rates were also different in the two species: A. erythrurus warmed more slowly, and cooled faster, than P. algirus. Our data support the existence of a complex syndrome which combines aspects of the behavior, physiology, and ecology of both species, so that the thermal consequences of inhabiting a certain type of habitat can be counterbalanced by behavioral and physiological means that, in turn, affect movement (and hence foraging) behavior. Thus, the more active species (P. algirus) heated faster, colled more slowly, and basked more often but for shorter periods and at warmer patches than the less active one (A. erythrurus).

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Coloration is a conspicuous trait relatively widespread among lacertid lizard species. However, coloration in females during the reproductive period is extremely rare. Spiny-footed liz- ards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) show reddish color of tails in juveniles and tails and hind limbs of females during the breeding season. In this study, we investigated whether female coloration is a sexual ornament attractive to males for mating. Using experimental terraria at the laboratory, males where faced to four different situations of availability of pairs of females or their odors: a) an adult female with its natural white coloration and a juvenile female with its natural red-tailed coloration; 2) an adult female arti cially red-colored and a juvenile female arti cially white-colored; 3) two adult females arti cially red and white colored, respectively; and 4) two papers impregnated with the odor of adult and juvenile female. Through video recordings, we analyzed the time that males spent near each of the females and odoring papers, assuming that a greater proportion of time would indicate preference for mating. Males preferred adult females than juvenile females, and within adult females, they preferred those that had red-colored tails and hind limbs. Since red coloration is a juvenile trait that disappears in adult individuals, choice of adult females with red colors suggests that males prefer to mate with adult females that are probably virgin, or have experienced few episodes of reproduction.

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Female mate choice for male display traits is widely observed across animal taxa and is a well-established mechanism of evolution. However, males are increasingly seen to exhibit mate choice for female display traits, even in species with traditional sex roles, although this continues to be an understudied aspect of sexual selection. We evaluated the role of female coloration on male mate choice decisions in the spiny-footed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus), a species in which adult females show red coloration as a retained juvenile trait. Although both sexes show red tails as juveniles and subadults, only females maintain red colored tails when becoming adult; moreover, this coloration is only present at the beginning of female adulthood and becomes white after ovulation, suggesting a mating-related function. Male courtship preferences were investigated through an experimental approach, where they were offered pairs of females that differed in size (adult/subadult) and tail coloration (red/white). Male lizards preferred adult females using both visual and chemical cues and, when adult female coloration could be chosen, they preferred red females. These results suggest that red coloration is a sexual signal involved in male mate selection. We hypothesize that red coloration in adult females might indicate sexual maturity and a pre-ovulatory reproductive status. Being a juvenile trait retained until the beginning of adulthood, we also suggest that it might indicate reduced risk of sperm competition. This study highlights the role of a juvenile trait for sexual selection and adds to the understanding of the evolution of male mate choice.

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One of the primary assumptions of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis is that testosterone has an immunosuppressive effect, but conflicting results have been reported in a variety of bird species concerning the effect of testosterone on the humoral and the T cell-mediated components of the immune system. The T cell-mediated component of the immune system is particularly important during the breeding season, because the likelihood of injury during sexual competition is high and T cell-mediated immunity is essential for healing wounds and resisting infection. In this study we examined the effect of experimentally increased levels of testosterone during breeding season on T cell-mediated immunity in male lizards of two Mediterranean lacertid species, Psammodromus algirus and Acanthodactylus erythrurus. The hormonal treatment significantly increased testosterone of the experimental individuals. T cell-mediated responses to phytohemagglutinin stimulation were significantly suppressed in testosterone-treated males of both species. Furthermore, there was a significant negative relationship between individual variability in T cell-mediated responsiveness and plasma testosterone concentration. The present study is the first to demonstrate testosterone-induced suppression of T cell-mediated immunity in lizards.

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This study is the first contribution to the evaluation of reptile diversity in different habitats of M’sila region, Algeria. We carried out 94 trips between 2016 and 2018 across three sites: Mergueb (six stations), L’mhazem (three stations) and Kaf Afoul (two stations), on average, accompanied by prospectors. Our aims were to make an inventory of reptilian species in this region, as well as to study their diversity, distribution, ecology and abundance. Altogether, we recorded 193 specimens belonging to 22 species: two turtles, one amphisbaenian, twelve lizards and seven snakes. Two species classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN were recorded: Uromastyx acanthinurus (Bell, 1825) and Daboia mauritanica (Duméril & Bibron, 1848). Statistical analysis revealed that the type of habitat directly influences the distribution of reptiles in the study area. Although this small area is rich in reptilian species, their abundance remains low and worrying.

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New informations concerning systematical questions within the family Lacertidae, which were published during the last time, are presented.

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We have studies the femoral pores of 387 subjects belonging to five species of Lacertidae family (Reptilia) of the región of Andalucia (Spain): Lacerta hispanica Steind., Lacerta lepida Daud., Psammodromus algirus L., Psammodromus hispanicus Fitz., Acanthodactylus erythrurus Schinz. We have observed that these femoral pores have a big importance in the sexual dimorphism which can be observed in the subjects after the birth. Possibly they take part in the phenomenous connected with the territorial behaviour of animals.

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During a trip in the Algarve in the summer of 1987, a lot of amphibians and reptiles were seen. Of the amphibians Rona perezi and Bufo bufo spinosus were much more common than Pleuro- deles walt/ and Hyla meridiana/is. Mauremys caspica leprosa, E m ys orbicularis, T arentola mauritanica, Hemidactylus turcicus, Lacerta le- pida, Acamhodactylus erythrurus, Psammodro- mus algirus, Blanus cinereus, Chamaeleo cha- maeleon, Natrix maura were found alive. A dead Coluber hippocrepis and a skin of Elaphe sea/oris and Malpolon m onspessulanus were found. Short notes are given on the habitats of these ani- mals.

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Cette note est destinée à faire le point sur le peuplement herpétologique du Maroc. Elle comprend: — Une liste des formes effectivement présentes au Maroc, avec les affinités biogéographiques des espèces, et éventuellement les travaux récents où ces formes sont étudiées. — Des commentaires sur les espèces africaines douteuses en Europe et européennes douteuses en Afrique. — Une liste des espèces à rechercher au Maroc. — Une discussion sommaire sur la systématique de certaines espèces marocaines.

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We have analysed several scalation characters and the geographic distribution of lizards of the Acanthodactylus erythrurus group to verify the validity of these criteria. These data are collated with biogeography to demonstrate the existence of two distinct species within what are known as common fringe-toed lizards: Acanthodactylus erythrurus, consisting of three subspecies, and Acanthodactylus lineomaculatus, monotypic and endemic to Morocco. Hypotheses concerning the population history of these animals are proposed

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Courtship begins with the animals circling each other quickly for a few minutes in concentric circles (the female on the inside), the male apparently trying to bite the temporal region of the female, but without succeeding since the heads are always parallel. Occasionally the male does bite the flank or tail of the female, though without maintaining his grip. Quite suddenly copulation occurs, preceded by a second or two in which tails and legs seem to become a twirling jumble. In the first 10-20 seconds of the copulation the male, mailny, shows quick frontleg- and tail-movements. There is not bite-hold on the female; the male may even sit in an ´upright` position with neither his head, frontlegs nor front part of his body touching the female. However, after a maximum of approxomately tebn minutes, the male returns to the usual horizental position. Copulation lasts about 45 minutes, after which the pair separates. In 1995 a clutch of four eggs was laid in the first week of May, a second with three eggs in the third week of June. Eggs measured 9.6 x 16.9 mm and weighed 0.88 g. Just before hatching these reached 18.3 x 30.0 mm and 5.65 g. Incubation at 20°C takes 43 days. Young measured 30.6 + 43.2 mm (head-body + tail) and weighed 0.96 g. The juvenile skin patter consists of seven longitudinal, yellowish lines on a velvet, black body. On the flanks a longitudinal series of dull, yellow dots is found. Vemntrally the head and body are off-white. In contrast to what is known of all other Acanthodactylus species, juveniles of Acanthodactylus erythrurus belli show a bi-coloured instead of a uni-coloured tail. Dorsally and dorsolaterally it is turquoise, laterally and ventrally it is a saturated red. Since there is no clear demarcation line between the two, and because the final colour impression is somewhat dependet on the angle of observation, hues between blue via lilac to brown and red result. Except for some striping and banding in other lacertids, mostly concerning shades of the same colour, this bicoloured tail is also unique within the family Lacertidae. Even in the closely related Acanthodactylus e. erythrurus juveniles show only uni-coloured red tails. The impression is that a blue juvenile tail may be ´primitive` in Acanthodactylus; in the majority of species it still is that colour. It changes to blue with black transverse bands in A. schmidti, whitish blue in A. gongrorhynchatus and yellowish in A. haasi, A. micropholis and Egyptian A. longipes. Red tails occur in African A. boskianus, in A. e. erythrurus and A. opheodurus. In some species the colour is most intense distally and dorsally, but fades anteriorly. At the other extreme of the spectrum it is strong on the tail underside and also occurs on the back of the thighs. Presumably the former, which concentrates attention towards the tail tip and away from the more vulnerable body, distracts predators. The latter case, being striking from a lizard´s eyeview, especially if the tail is lifted, could be an intraspecific signal which in analogy to literature on Eremias may reduce agression in mature males. Sympatric Acanthodactylus species often differ in immature tail colour; this may help prevent predators developing a universal Acanthodactylus search image. It may also serve an interspecific function allowing adults to recognise and eat other species´ young. It may thus be that tail colour has two distinct puposes, in which case there may be situations where the optimum colours for signalling to conspecific and to predators are different. However, if so, it is surprising that bi-coloured tails are extremely rare. Maybe too much conspicuousness is detrimental? At an age of six months the remaining blue tail colour in A. e. belli is only just visible on an oblique angle, although the red – albeit less intensive – still shows. In the present case with young A. e. belli one might hypothesize that blue, possibly performing an interspecific function is less necessary (in the grown juvenile), but that, the presumably intraspecifically active red, apparently still is useful (like in the closely related A. e. erythrurus where in females it may persist into young adulthood). An additional three months later most of the tail colour has disappeared, the tail being only veguely greenish from a distance (the combined effect of light blue and light red). In adult A. e. belli most of the black and all of the tail colour changes into brown or brownish-grey. Some of the black persists as rows of black markings on the body. The yellow lines disappear for the greater part (in males) or change into grey or white (in females).

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Study of the system Tick-Lizard in the national park of El Kala (North-East Algeria). -- Among the emerging diseases rickettsioses would hold a prominent place in Algeria. The news was a reminder that some diseases can easily cross the species barrier and affect humans especially those related to wildlife. The pathogenicity of ticks `Ixodes ricinus is located on several levels. Ixodes ricinus in Algeria remains among the most infected ticks in North Africa, however, which represent the highest rate of infection observed in southern Europe. Many species of ticks parasitize reptiles especially lizards. Those when they are parasitized by ticks (Ixodes) are regarded as competent reservoirs of Borrelia and in a few exceptions a reservoir incompetent. For most of Ixodes (immature) Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes scapularis, ticks feed on the blood of lizards. This has served to emphasize the importance of Ixodes in epidemiology as primary vector of Lyme disease and the important role that play the lizard in the maintenance and movement of Borreliae. In this context, we are interested to ectoparasites lizards and role in the epidemiological cycle of the Rickettsioses. Our results are quite important because after PCR ticks we could detect the presence of Rickettsia sp. in 35% of all ticks collected. Given the number of rickettsioses transmitted by ticks (Rickettsia conori, `spotty mediterranean fever”, Coxiella burneti `Q fever `, R. africae `The african tick fever `), our results could not be ignored for since this is the first time that rickettsiae were detected in ticks from lizards.

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Mammals that build extensive open burrow systems are often classified as ecosystem engineers, since they have the potential to modulate the availability of resources for themselves and other organisms. Lizards may benefit from the heterogeneity created by these structures, especially if coupled with an increased offer of sites for refuge and thermoregulation. However, information about these engineering effects by burrowing animals is scarce. We investigated the influence of European rabbit burrows on several parameters of a Mediterranean lizard community (abundance, density, diversity and body condition) in three different habitats (open pastures, holm oak and scrub patches). We found that lizards were positively associated with burrows, and that burrows determined lizard presence at otherwise unfavourable habitats. Moreover, community parameters such as density and species richness were higher in sites with burrows. Burrows influenced lizard species in different ways, and were also relevant for other Mediterranean vertebrates, as revealed by questionnaires to experts. We also explored the possible resources provided by burrows for lizards. Warrens offer relatively abundant prey and appropriate retreat sites for refuge and thermoregulation. Warrens may have further implications within the ecosystem, acting as stepping stones, allowing lizards to reach otherwise inaccessible habitat patches. This study shows that European rabbit warrens have a positive influence on lizard density and diversity, and confirms the role of rabbits as ecosystem engineers. This reinforces the need for appropriate conservation measures for rabbits, especially given their threatened status in the Iberian Peninsula. Furthermore, our study highlights that taking into account the influence of engineering activities increases our awareness of species interactions, and may translate into more adequate conservation measures for the preservation of biodiversity.

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A phylogenetic-comparative approach was used to assess and refine existing secondary structure models for a frequently studied region of the mitochondrial encoded large subunit (16S) rRNA in two large lizard lineages within the Scincomorpha, namely the Scincidae and the Lacertidae. Potential pairings and mutual information were analyzed to identify site interactions present within each lineage and provide consensus secondary structures. Many of the interactions proposed by previous models were supported, but several refinements were possible. The consensus structures allowed a detailed analysis of rRNA sequence evolution. Phylogenetic trees were inferred from Bayesian analyses of all sites, and the topologies used for maximum likelihood estimation of sequence evolution parameters. Assigning gamma-distributed relative rate categories to all interacting sites that were homologous between lineages revealed substantial differences between helices. In both lineages, sites within helix G2 were mostly conserved, while those within helix E18 evolved rapidly. Clear evidence of substantial site-specific rate variation (covarion-like evolution) was also detected, although this was not strongly associated with specific helices. This study, in conjunction with comparable findings on different, higher-level taxa, supports the ubiquitous nature of site-specific rate variation in this gene and justifies the incorporation of covarion models in phylogenetic inference.

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Convergent ecology of lizards in simi-ttr, geographically isolated, desert biotopes is well known (Pianka, 1973) but Mediterranean forms have not been studied in detail. Valverde (1967) commented on the seasonal abundance of Acanthodactylus erythrurus, but there has been no detailed study of activity. Acantha-dactylus occupies a niche similar to Callisaurus or Uma in the deserts of the southwestern United States and this study examined the daily and seasonal activity of fringe-toed lizards in southern Spain. The study area was at La Algaida, on the Fig. I. Habitat of Acanthodactylus erythrurus at La Algaida (June). Pinus pinea L. (Pinaceae) stands surrounded by Juniperus phoenicea L. (Cubresaceae) provide shade. Halimium halimiifolium (L.) Willk (Cistaceae) and Corema album (L.) D. Don (Ernpetraceae) are used for foraging and escape from predators. east bank of the Guadalquivir River 25.5 km (air) NW of Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz Pro-vince, Spain, at an elevation of less than 100 m. Aridity and agriculture typify this region; present vegetation is an open evergreen forma-tion (Fig. I). Since La Algaida occupies a similar coastal position and is only 25 km from Rota, the fol-lowing data from the U. S. Naval Weather Station at Rota reflect the climate at La Algaida.

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Between 5.5 and 7.0 m.y. B.P. the formation of the Strait of Gibraltar allowed water from the Atlantic Ocean to fill the basin now known as the Mediterranean Sea. This event divided the amphibian and reptile fauna then inhabiting southern Spain and northern Morocco into allopatric and, presumably, conspecific faunas. Because the strait has continued from its formation to the present as a geographic barrier to the exchange of terrestrial vertebrates between Africa and Europe, this region and its native herpetofauna provide a natural laboratory in which various tenets of current biogeographic theory may be evaluated. Electrophoretically obtained allozymic data allowed an empirical biogeographic analysis of the trans-Gibraltar herpetofauna. Estimates of accumulated genetic distance (Nei`s D) varied from 0.0 to 0.6 between Spanish and Moroccan populations of 17 conspecific taxa. Further examination of these genetic data demonstrated that the rate of migration between these two continental populations was greater than or less than the estimated rate of mutation. European and African populations of several taxa traditionally presumed to be homogeneous were shown to be genically heterogeneous. Analysis of the distribution of alleles within and between continental populations suggests that the ability to maintain genetic continuity across the marine barrier varies from species to species. No demonstrable correlation was found between degree of habitat specificity and frequency of occurrence of individuals, and the genic differentiation demonstrated by Spanish populations of each taxon.

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Autoecological aspects of Acanthodactylus erythrurus were examined at La Algaida, Cádiz Province, Spain. The male population is composed of 60 % adult and 40 % subadult individuals; male hatchlings increase in size at a rate of 0.06 mm/day from hatching (≤ 31 mm snout-vent length) to sexual maturity (~ 61 mm); 50 % do not survive beyond 1.5 years, but those which reach adult size may live 1.9 years. Females grow from hatching (~ 28 mm) to sexual maturity (≥ 57 mm) at a rate of 0.05 mm/day; less than half survive 1.4 years and the life span of some individuals is 2.1 years. Adult males outnumber adult females 1.4:1, but subadult ratios are 1:1. Adults and subadults associate with different plant species during their activity period, but each age class tends to avoid open sand patches. These 8.4-13 g lizards feed on a wide variety of insects and appreciable quantities of plant material. 49 % of all males and 82 % of all females activiely consume Halimium helimifolium. We sespect this lizard species is wide ranging and non-territorial; only one agonistic encounter was recorded and it was interspecific (with Psammodromus algirus). The frequency of escape from predation is estimated at 26.8 %, based on tail-loss figures, and the incidence of cestode parasitism (Oochoristica cf. tuberculata) is 2.1 %. The population studied was highly resilient to 16 months of intense human predation.

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The study that we present has two objectives: to expand our knowledge of the herpetofauna in the region of Tiaret and bordering areas, with a primary focus on distribution and update the threats that will affect this group, to propose solutions to protect and conserve the species of these areas. In spring 2014, we identified in this study, 6 species of amphibians and 22 species of reptiles. In some cases, we collected biological samples for later analysis. The majority of locations where prospected between May 22 and June 7, has a high biodiversity of herpetofauna, which shows how important it is, to preserve this species.

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Climate change has been widely accepted as one of the major threats for global biodiversity and understanding its potential effects on species distribution is crucial to optimise conservation planning in future scenarios under global change. Integrating detailed climatic data across spatial and temporal scales into species distribution modelling can help to predict potential changes in biodiversity. Consequently, this type of data can be useful for developing efficient biodiversity management and conservation planning. The provision of such data becomes even more important in highly biodiverse regions, currently suffering from climatic and landscape changes. The Transboundary Biosphere Reserve of Meseta Ibérica (BRMI; Portugal-Spain) is one of the most relevant reserves for wildlife in Europe. This highly diverse region is of great ecological and socio-economical interest, suffering from synergistic processes of rural land abandonment and climatic instabilities that currently threaten local biodiversity. Aiming to optimise conservation planning in the Reserve, we provide a complete dataset of historical and future climate models (1 x 1 km) for the BRMI, used to build a series of distribution models for 207 vertebrate species. These models are projected for 2050 under two climate change scenarios. The climatic suitability of 52% and 57% of the species are predicted to decrease under the intermediate and extreme climatic scenarios, respectively. These models constitute framework data for improving local conservation planning in the Reserve, which should be further supported by implementing climate and land-use change factors to increase the accuracy of future predictions of species distributions in the study area.

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Dune systems are the most degraded ecosystems of the entire European coast, and human activity on the Mediterranean coast of Spain has caused dramatic transformation. In Torredembarra (Tarragona, Spain), a population of spiny–footed lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) inhabits the few remaining natural dunes and vegetation patches where wildlife coexists with intensive tourism activities. Our aim was to know whether walkways installed across the dunes were affecting the mobility of the spiny–footed lizard. We compared the mobility of marked lizards in two areas with a similar habitat, one with and one without a walkway. We found that the walkway reduced the distances between consecutive resightings, affecting juveniles more than adults. We conclude that the walkway may affect social interactions in the species.

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Lacertids are the dominant group of lizards throughout the Mediterranean Basin. Their role in food web transfer of matter and energy from arthropods and other small invertebrates to birds and mammals constitutes a major function within Mediterranean ecosystems. For many years, prey consumption by lacertids was thought to be almost indiscriminate, not much more than a byproduct of habitat use. However, increasing evidence does not support this passive view. Analyses of prey availability have revealed active prey selection/avoidance in several species. Others show an internal tendency (i.e., historical constraints) to consume specific animal items (ants, clumped prey) or plant matter (seeds, nectar, pollen, leaves). Behavioural experiments showed that lacertids not only identify different prey types by both visual and chemical cues but also modify their feeding behaviour integrating past experiences. Furthermore, size, sex, reproductive state, body condition, tail loss and probably other lizard features are relevant for feeding ecology. However, less attention has been devoted to abiotic factors such as temperature and humidity. More experimental studies of the influences of competitors, predators and parasites on diet are needed. Even though it is controversial, optimal foraging theory provides a conceptual background for future studies. The evolutionary history of the various lacertid lineages, which constrains their morphology and physiology and eventually produces exaptative traits, is to be considered as well. Finally, methodology in field sampling, lab work and statistical analysis needs to be developed. Recommendations are given as to when and where to sample, which compartment should be analysed, which is the appropriate sample size, how to assess trophic availability, which statistical descriptors should be used and how they should be compared.

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Reproductive timing is one of the most critical issues for lacertids inhabiting temperate regions where favourable conditions are restricted seasonally. Cycles of gonads and associated lipid reserves represents the manifestation of the discontinuous reproductive mode. Although lacertids seem tom use both temperature and photoperiod to adjust their reproductive clocks to the environmental conditions, these cues seem to act at different stages of the cycle. Within species, interindividual, interpopulational and interannual variation have been documented. Thermal seasonality, changing between sites and years, determines not only the length of the reproductive season but also the intensity of variation for several reproductive parameters. Except in those species/populations with extremely short reproductive activity, lacertids are rather asynchronus, large adults starting reproduction later than small ones. In contrast, the end of the breeding period is less variable and probably associated with photoperiod. Prior to all these factors, lipid storage of excess energy is necessary condition for beginning reproduction. Lipids peak in late summer or early autumn, are not depleted in winter and are consumed during the reproductive season. Males spend reserves earlier than females in the activities related with breeding and recover them soon after since mixed-type spermatogenesis distributes energy costs along a prolonged period. Only spermiogenesis is highly variable in time depending on the species/population although previous classifications based on it are simplistic. Females mainly behave as capital breeders investing lipids in developing a first (or unique) clutch but may act as income breeders for the subsequent clutches if any. The degree of iteroparity depends on the same factors but just within the species limits. Some of the patterns observed are, nevertheless, uncorrelated with abiotic environment and may reflect other pressures. Theoretically any influence able to provoke food storage would delay reproduction independently of climate conditions. In some cases, traits could be historical deriving from pressures acting in the past. Long egg retention and viviparity are strong constraints since they prolong single reproductive events preventing its repetition even when environmental conditions would allow it. Moreover, thermophile species evolved under mild conditions are unable to start reproduction when and where other more cold-adapted species do. On the other hand, insular lacertids enlarge the reproductive period in comparison with their continental equivalents living under similar climate regimes but with different demographic pressures. Finally a biogeographic scenario for the evolution of reproductive cycles in the whole family is proposed.

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Variation in the reproductive cycle of two populations of Acanthodactylus erythrurus living in coastal sandy areas of the NE extreme of its range was analyzed. This species exhibits strong influence of historical factors in its reproductive traits: vernal spermatogenic cycle, short incubation, K-selection, and high egg size variation. The populations studied are more similar to others from the Mediterranean coast than to those from Central Spain. In comparison with the latter, reproductive season is longer, adult sizes are smaller and sexual dimorphism is reduced. A second clutch can be laid when the reproductive season is long enough. Nevertheless, phenology in this species is less variable than in other Mediterranean Lacertidae. Since no evidence of suboptimal conditions was found in any population, it is concluded that factors other than reproductive ones may have restricted the range of this species in NE Spain.

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The basic morphometry of two Mediterranean lacertid lizards, Psammodromus algirus and Acanthodactylus erythrurus, is analyzed using 133 and 87 specimens respectively. In both species, femoralia and ventralia are useful characters to distinguish sexes even in juveniles. Moreover, adult males and females show shape variation whose origin is discussed. Interspecific differences in shape and size are also showed and related to ecological features.

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Variation in the reproductive cycle of two populations of Acanthodactylus erythrurus living in coastal sandy areas of the NE extreme of its range was analyzed. This species exhibits strong influence of historical factors in its reproductive traits: vernal spermatogenic cycle, short incubation, K-selection, and high egg size variation. The populations studied are more similar to others from the Mediterranean coast than to those from Central Spain. In comparison with the latter, reproductive season is longer, adult sizes are smaller and sexual dimorphism is reduced. A second clutch can be laid when the reproductive season is long enough. Nevertheless, phenology in this species is less variable than in other Mediterranean Lacertidae. Since no evidence of suboptimal conditions was found in any population, it is concluded that factors other than reproductive ones may have restricted the range of this species in NE Spain.

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Variation in the reproductive cycle of two populations of Acanthodactylus erythrurus living in coastal sandy areas of the NE extreme of its range was analyzed. This species exhibits strong influence of historical factors in its reproductive traits: vernal spermatogenic cycle, short incubation, K-selection, and high egg size variation. The populations studied are more similar to others from the Mediterranean coast than to those from Central Spain. In comparison with the latter, reproductive season is longer, adult sizes are smaller and sexual dimorphism is reduced. A second clutch can be laid when the reproductive season is long enough. Nevertheless, phenology in this species is less variable than in other Mediterranean Lacertidae. Since no evidence of suboptimal conditions was found in any population, it is concluded that factors other than reproductive ones may have restricted the range of this species in NE Spain.

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Acanthodactylus erythrurus, Psammodromus algirus.

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During a 2-year period we studied the reproductive and fat body cycles and reproductive characteristics (clutch size, egg size) of the oviparous lizard Acanthodactylus erythrurus in central Spain. Testes exhibited their maximal volume during April–June and decreased in size throughout the summer. Fat bodies of males were smallest during the spring mating period. Vitellogenesis started in May or June, with oviposition occurring during June–July. Female fat bodies declined in size during the period of yolk deposition. A delay in the timing of reproductive events in 1 year was associated with adverse weather conditions during early spring. During the `good` year, reproduction was initiated early enough to allow some females to produce a second clutch. Both clutch size and egg size increased with female body length, but did not vary between years. Environmental factors that induced temporal variation in the timing of reproduction and clutch frequency did not affect clutch characteristics.

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We discuss three aspects of the thermal biology of lacertid lizards. First, we provide an overview of the available data on field body temperatures (Tb), the thermal sensitivity of various performance functions and selected body temperatures in different species of lacertid lizards. We also briefly summarise information on the mechanisms of thermoregulation. Second, we discuss recent developments to estimate the »precision« of thermoregulation, and the contribution of distinct behavioural mechanisms. Finally, we revise available evidence for the existence of evolutionary adjustments of thermal characteristics in lacertid lizards. Existing studies have mainly dealt with within- and among-species differences in thermoregulatory behaviour (selected temperatures) and thermal physiology of adults (optimal temperatures, heating rates). Available data provide only limited evidence for clear-cut evolutionary shifts in thermal physiology characteristics along climatic gradients.

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This study was carried out to evaluate the diversity in reptile communities in wetland landscapes located in the Mediterranean region. For this, the status of the reptile populations linked to different Mediterranean wetlands in relation to the different types of land use established in the nearby drainage basins (500 m around the wetlands perimeter) was determined. The different types of land use were determined together with the presence/absence, abundance and size class of the different reptile species. The results showed that areas with high anthropic pressure had a lower diversity of species, as well as a less balanced community structure, that could put at risk the effective recruitment and hence the maintenance of the reptile populations in these areas. The reasons behind the decline in the reptile community are similar to those put forward for explaining the decline in amphibians in the same area.

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The updated distribution of the 40 amphibians and reptiles species recorded in Jaén province is showed off in 10x10 UTM squares. Distribution of 35 of them is enlarged with 323 new records, 152 for amphibians and 171 for reptiles. Main conservation problems detected for every species are expounded.

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Socioeconomic factors (e.g. rural abandonment, monoculture plantations) and global warming are changing fire regimes (fire intensity, extent, and frequency) in fire-prone regions such as the Mediterranean Basin. Understanding the factors that shape responses of animal communities to fire is a key objective for biodiversity conservation. Given the substitution of native forests to pine plantations in many regions of the world, we studied whether forest type influences the responses to fire of reptile communities, in the African rim of the Western Mediterranean. Reptiles were sampled and vegetation structure measured in 2015 and 2016. We used generalized linear mixed models to examine the influence of fire, forest type (cork oak and pine), habitat structure and climate factors on two reptile-community metrics (abundance, species richness). Given possible differences in reptile detectability between unburnt and burnt transects, we used distance sampling models to estimate the density of the five commonest reptile species. The response of reptiles to fire varied between the two forest types: reptile abundance did not change with fire in cork oak forest, and increased with fire in pine plantation. Species richness was higher in cork oak forests, and increased from unburnt to burnt areas. Two out of five commonest lizards in the region, Acanthodactylus erythrurus and Podarcis vaucheri, responded positively to fire in pine plantation and remained similar in cork oak forest. Reptile communities were more similar between burnt and unburnt cork oak forests than between burnt and unburnt pine plantations, due to the reduced effect of fire on the former tree (a resprouter species) than on the latter (a seeder species). This work is the first field-based study examining the effects of fire on animal communities from north-western Africa. Overall, our results show that the response of reptiles to fire is shaped by forest type, and this conclusion has to be considered in fire-prone regions.

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Fire is one of the main disturbances to terrestrial environments, transforming habitat structure and affecting community composition. Coupled with fire, forest type and vegetation structure modulate the taxonomic response to fire by ectotherm organisms such as reptiles. The response of each reptile species to fire is based on their functional attributes, which make some species resilient to fire and others vulnerable to that disturbance and only adapted to long-unburnt landscapes. We studied the functional response of a reptile community at 13 burnt sites within the African rim of the Western Mediterranean, and in two contrasting forest types, i.e. native cork oak forests (five sites) and pine plantations (eight sites). We compiled seven functional traits for the reptile species in the study areas, and quantified reptile functional diversity at each sampled plot. Variation in this index was examined from burnt to nearby unburnt plots, both in cork oak and pine forests, with generalized linear mixed models. Redundancy analysis was used to identify which functional traits were associated with particular plot types. We found 2149 individual reptiles from 15 species. The functional response of reptiles to fire was forest-type dependent: functional richness did not change with fire in cork oak forest plots, but increased with fire in the pine plantation ones. High reptile functional richness in cork oak plots was due to high species richness in this forest type. The functional-redundancy analysis showed that cork oak forest hosts a reptile community functionally composed of small Mediterranean ground- and rock-dwelling lizards. In pine plantation plots, however, saxicolous geckos and phytophagous tortoises indicate the availability of other microhabitat and food resources to be exploited by reptile species with different functional traits.

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An analysis of geographic distribution areas of the 41 taxa of Reptiles sampled or observed in the Aures massif is provided at two levels. At the overall level, eight groups of biogeographic affinities have been set apart; the number of mediterranean species (49 %) about equals that of saharian ones (46 %). 95 % of the total number of Reptiles species are of palearctic origin. At the regional level, we have distinguished three distribution types: (1) insular areas, isolated from populations of the neighbouring regions, with a continuous or a fragmented pattern in the Aurcs massif ; (2) parapatric areas with juxtaposed or overlapped ecological habitat ranges; (3) sympatric areas of allotopic or syntopic species. Hypothesis about origin and settlement of the Aures herpetofauna are infered.

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Dans ce (ravail nous faisons une synthese de quelques données que nous avons obtenu sur la distribution et I`écologie de I`herpétofaune portugaise. Naus faisons aussi référence à la fréquence de capture de ces animaux pendan! les différents mois de I`année et à leur occurrence dans les principales montagnes du pays.

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In spiny-footed lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus), adult females (but not males) show conspicuous red colouration in the tail and hind legs. To investigate the function of this red colouring and proximal causes of seasonal colour change, we captured adult females before the reproductive season and kept them in captivity in one of the three following situations: with a male and fertilization possible, with a male and fertilization impossible, or with another female (fertilization also impossible). Colour was quantified using spectrophotometry. Red colouration increased shortly before the onset of reproduction, but faded during the breeding season and became whitish (light buff-gray) in all cases. Both fertilized and unfertilized females laid eggs or were gravid after two months of the experiment, but while fertilized females laid mostly fertile eggs, unfertilized females only laid infertile eggs. Both egg formation and colour change might be triggered by abiotic factors, although female characteristics also play a role, since heavier females changed colour and laid eggs earlier. Females interacting freely with a male were darker at the end of the breeding season than females separated from the male, indicating that fertilization or physical contact might also have an effect on colouration. Colour change patterns found in this study suggest that female red colouration might have a mating-related function, but do not support a courtship rejection function for the red colour. However, whitish colouration resulting from red fading might signal gravidity in this species. Future experimental manipulation of female colouration will be needed to test these hypotheses.

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When integumentary tissue pigments are contained in chromatophores, tissue color might not depend exclusively on the amount of pigment. Whether coloration does or does not reflect pigment concentration may be very significant for intraspecific communication, for example when pigment concentration provides fitness-related information. We studied the pigment responsible for the orange/red ventral tail coloring in a lacertid lizard species (Acanthodactylus erythrurus), and whether the color was related to skin pigment concentration. The pigment was identified as a pterin, a higher concentration of which resulted in darker, more red-saturated, redder (less orange) ventral tail skin color. The dorsal tail integument, even though it appears mostly gray to the naked eye, also contained pterins, and furthermore, the dorsal and ventral pterin concentrations were positively correlated. A possible explanation for these results is that pterins accumulate in the skin of the whole tail, even if only needed in the ventral part, but are concealed in the dorsal part. In this way, ventral orange/red coloration would accurately reflect pterin concentration, which provides the basis for a signaling function, while dorsal coloration would become less conspicuous as an anti-predatory mechanism.

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La présente étude vient apporter les premières données faunistiques et écologiques sur les amphibiens et reptiles en Kabylie de la Soummam, région dont, à notre connaissance, aucune étude n’a été consacrée à ce sujet auparavant. Le travail de terrain s’est étalé du début avril à fin juin 2006, en suivant un protocole d’échantillonnage par stations au niveau des principales zones humides de la région (cours d’eau permanents et mares temporaires) ainsi que de quelques milieux terrestres. Un total de 6 espèces d’amphibiens et 17 espèces de reptiles a été identifié dans la région. Les données recueillies sur le peuplement herpétologique et le milieu ont fait l’objet d’une discussion autour des aspects faunistiques, biogéographiques et écologiques de l’herpétofaune de la zone étudiée et dégager quelques pistes de recherche à développer dans l’avenir.

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It is well known that lizard species from thermally diverse areas differ in their use of thermoregulatory behaviors as a means of making short-term adjustments to differences in ambient conditions. In contrast, the extent of long-term adjustments in thermal physiology is poorly documented and still under debate. In this study we report a clear interspecific relationship between heating rates, measured under standardized laboratory conditions, and environmental temperatures within a small clade of lacertid lizards. Phylogenetically based ANCOVAs demonstrate that species with a northern or montane distribution warm at a faster mass-specific rate than do species from a southern (Mediterranean) climatic zone. Correlational analyses, using phylogenetically independent contrasts, confirm that continuous among-species variation in mass-specific heating rates is negatively related to clinal differences in environmental temperatures. A reduction of the time spent warming, associated with higher heating rates, should be especially advantageous for lizards from cool climates, which bask for large amounts of time. Thus, the observed relation between heating rates and climatic conditions could be a result of adaptive evolution. The behaviorally selected preferred temperatures were lower, but not significantly so, in the northern or montane species set; interspecific correlations with ambient temperatures were positive but not significant. However, the divergence of heating rates and the statistically nonsignificant difference in preferred temperatures have similar impacts on variation in the estimated amount of time spent heating. Thus, differences in both heating rate, a physiological trait, and preferred temperature, a behavioral characteristic, contribute equally to variation in heating times.

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Uncertainties on species taxonomy and distribution are major factors hampering efficient conservation planning in the current context of biodiversity erosion, even concerning widespread and abundant species in relatively well-studied regions. Species delimitation have long been based on phylogenetic analyses of a small number of standard markers, but accurate lineage identification through this approach can be hampered by incomplete lineage sorting, introgression or isolation by distance. In that context, analyses of introgression patterns at secondary contact zones offer an interesting alternative by allowing a direct estimation of reproductive isolation, especially when using genome-wide markers. Here, we investigated a contact zone between two genetic groups of the Spiny-footed Lizard Acanthodactylus erythrurus (Schinz, 1833) in Morocco, whose status as separate lineages remained disputed in previous multilocus studies. Based on thousands of genome-wide markers obtained through a RADseq approach, we confirmed that they represent distinct evolutionary lineages. Furthermore, the transition at their contact zone was very steep, with spatially restricted gene flow, highlighting levels of reproductive isolation consistent with species-level lineages. Our study further illustrates the power of RADseq-based studies of contact zones to understand cryptic diversity in non-model organisms.

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We calculated growth rate for the spiny-footed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) inhabiting coastal eastern Spain from long-term mark-recapture data. Growth curves differ between sexes, with males growing faster than females and achieving larger size maximums. In this population each sex reaches maturity at about 300 days of age, approximately 34% faster than males, and 28% faster than females studied in a population further south and west in Iberia. Our logarithmic growth model has an accuracy of 96.8% and high statistical significance (r = 0.96 for males and r = 0.97 for females). Although both the exponential curve of “best fit” for growth estimated for males (r = 0.81), and the linear curve of “best fit” estimated for females (r = 0.77) in a population from Cádiz (Busack and Jaksic, 1982) are also significant. The overlap between growth curves and the general data cloud of the population showed that at the end of the year the proportion of individuals younger than one year was 80% and the proportion of individuals older than one year was 20%. Our data, in agreement with calculated maximum life spans for males (1.9 years) and females (2.1 years) in Cádiz, suggest a life span of approximately two years for both sexes. Females seem to reproduce only in a unique season in their lives, at this locality, as in Cádiz (Busack and Klosterman, 1987) they likely lay only one clutch, whereas females in Morocco (Bons, 1962) may produce two.

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There are many factors affecting population dynamics, both abiotic and biotic. One of the most important biotic factors affecting different ecological aspects of a species is competition. But there is relatively little research focussing on the effect of competition on population dynamics. Thus, we studied population dynamics of three insectivorous lizard species (Acanthodactylus erythrurus, Psammodromus algirus and Psammodromus edwardsianus) which cohabit in our study area. We carried out periodic censuses and samplings during 2015 and 2017. Our results seem to confirm that a high level of competition can alter some aspects of population dynamics. Also body size seems to play a role, as most adjustments we detected were related to small size classes and the most affected species was P. edwardsianus. Some possible responses to competition we detected were an advance of the reproduction period, increased growth rates and biasing the sex ratio notably towards males (as higher testosterone levels lead to more aggression and this improves success rates in interspecific encounters). However, our study area is highly anthropized and further research is needed to discern if these adjustments are really exclusively related to competition or if human disturbance also plays a role.

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We calculated growth rate for the spiny-footed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) inhabiting coastal eastern Spain from long-term mark-recapture data. Growth curves differ between sexes, with males growing faster than females and achieving larger size maximums. In this population each sex reaches maturity at about 300 days of age, approximately 34% faster than males, and 28% faster than females studied in a population further south and west in Iberia. Our logarithmic growth model has an accuracy of 96.8% and high statistical significance ( r = 0.96 for males and r = 0.97 for females). Although both the exponential curve of “best fit” for growth estimated for males (r = 0.81), and the linear curve of “best fit” estimated for females ( r = 0.77) in a population from Cadiz (Busack & Jaksic, 1982) are also significant. The overlap between growth curves and the general data cloud of the population showed that at the end of the year the proportion of individuals younger than one year was 80% and the proportion of individuals older than one year was 20%. Our data, in agreement with calculated maximum life spans for males (1.9 years) and females (2.1 years) in Cadiz, suggest a life span of approximately two years for both sexes. Females seem to reproduce only in a unique season in their lives, at this locality, as in Cadiz (Busack & Klosterman, 1987) they likely lay only one clutch, whereas females in Morocco (Bons, 1962) may produce two.

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Trophic ecology is one of the most important aspects of a species’ ecology and it is crucial when trying to assess how different species interact in an ecosystem. Showing how the diet intraspecifically changes in different body sizes, sexes or habitats and how trophic resources are shared interspecifically allows to understand how the ecosystem functions. With this objective, we studied the diet and trophic ecology of Acanthodactylus erythrurus, Psammodromus algirus and Psammodromus edwardsianus, which are in syntropy in the Albufera de Valencia Natural Park. We collected a total of 485 faecal samples and could identify 18 different prey groups. The main prey groups in A. erythrurus were Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Hemiptera; in P. algirus, Lepidoptera, Arachnida, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera and Orthoptera; and in P. edwardsianus, Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Arachnida. Our results show that A. erythrurus seems to be the most specialized species, having the lowest values of trophic niche amplitude and the lowest intraspecific diet variation. Although this species is known to feed mainly on ants, our results indicate that mirmecophagy seems to be especially important in juveniles. Indeed we observed in all three species a niche separation between small and big individuals, indicating that diet changes with age. We could also evidence a resource partitioning between A. erythrurus and P. algirus, presenting a niche overlap of only 51.6%. In conclusion, there are various factors playing together shaping the diet of a species in a certain environment: behavioural, ecological, environmental and physiological factors.

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Monfragüe National Park (Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain) is a protected area in central‐western Iberia, including some of the best preserved primary Mediterranean vegetation. Legal protection dates back to 1979 (first as a Natural Park and then as a National Park), but knowledge about its reptile communities is so far limited to sparse records. In this paper we present an updated species list based on 521 records covering 163 1x1 km UTM grids in the study area, compiled in the period 2000‐2019. We detected 20 native species, representing 71.4% of the reptile fauna in Extremadura and 35% of the ibero‐balearic reptile fauna. Additionally, based on molecular analyses populations of the amphisbaenid genus Blanus in the study area are assigned to the oriental Iberian taxon, B. cinereus. The new records extend the known distribution of the different reptile species in the study area in 56 10x10 km UTM grids. Species presenting more restricted distributions in Monfragüe are Lacerta schreiberi (one 1x1 grid), Emys orbicularis, and Acanthodactylus erythrurus (four 10x10 grids each).

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We have used mitochondrial 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and nuclear β-fibrinogen (intron 7) sequences to investigate the phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships between Acanthodactylus erythrurus group species (except for A. boueti). The phylogenetic analyses of the Acanthodactylus genus did not cluster A. guineensis and A. savignyi with the remaining species of the group (A. blanci, A. lineomaculatus and A. erythrurus). Within the A. erythrurus group, the results of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nDNA) showed a complex phylogeny with geographic structure, but it was not congruent with the present taxonomy. Some taxonomic units, such as A. blanci, A. lineomaculatus, A. e. atlanticus and A. e. belli did not form monophyletic genetic units. The application of a molecular clock suggested that the uplift of the Atlas Mountains in the mid-late Miocene and the reopening of the Strait of Gibraltar could be major biogeographic events responsible for the genetic differentiation in the group. Additionally, diverse micro-evolutionary patterns due to the recent contraction/expansion phases of the habitats in North Africa associated with the high dispersal capabilities of these lizards could be related to the complex phylogenetic patterns observed.

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Herpetological observations in Portugal and southern Spain (Cota Doñana and Sierra del Norte in Andalusia) In the first week of March 2008 a group of sixteen herpetologists visi- ted the Cota Doñana in the south of Portugal and the Sierra del Norte in Andalusia in Spain to look for reptiles and amphibians. The Cota Doñana is a wetland area close to the Mediterranean, with three types of landscapes (dunes, wetlands and shrub lands). The Sierra del Norte is a mountainous area and one of the warmest parts of southern Spain with shrub lands (maquis), low trees and Mediterranean herbs. A lot of species have been found (see table 2), though in relatively low quan- tities.

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Observations on Acanthodactylus erythrurus in the area of Matalascañas south spain, are reported.

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In many animal taxa, conspicuous colouration is a visual signal used for communication purposes among conspecifics or heterospecifics. This kind of colouration may have different functions depending on the body part where it is present and also depending on the age or reproductive status of the individual showing it. Conspicuous colouration is common in lizards, and spiny-footed lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) are particularly good subjects to test different hypotheses explaining the functions of conspicuous colouration and possible changes in these functions during ontogeny, as hatchlings develop conspicuous red colouration on the ventrolateral part of their tails that spreads towards the hind limbs in juveniles. This colouration is lost when males achieve sexual maturity, but is retained, and even enhanced, in adult females while they are sexually receptive, although it is lost when they become gravid. In this PhD thesis we addressed several possible functions of the red colouration in spiny-footed lizards. One hypotheses is the possible function of red colouration as an antipredatory mechanism. We tested whether red colouration in individuals of all age classes was related to their risky behaviours, so we recorded lizard behaviour in the field and calculated several indices of lizard activity, the use of open areas far from refuges and stereotyped movements of limbs and tail. We found that redder (less orange) individuals spent more time further from refuges, a result consistent with the antipredatory function of red colouration. We also tested whether red colouration in the tail of hatchlings was a decoy for avian predators. Using plasticine and plaster lizard models with red or striped dark and light tails, both in the field and with a common lizard predator (Falco tinnunculus) in captivity, we found that red tails increased model conspicuousness in the field, but also that they were an effective decoy for avian predators, diverting attacks from vulnerable body parts towards the tail, thus supporting the antidepredatory function. Another hypothesis about the function of conspicuous colouration in juveniles (the aggression-avoidance hypothesis) states that it reduces aggression from adult conspecifics. Therefore, we tested the influence of juvenile red colouration on the aggression received from adults by conducting videotaped encounters in captivity between adults of both sexes and juveniles that showed either their natural red colouration, or a painted red or white colouration covering their natural red parts. Our results supported the hypothesis, as redder juveniles received less adult aggression. When conspicuous colouration is present in adults, it is commonly associated with sexual selection. Therefore, we tested whether red colouration in adult females, that has already been suggested to have a mating-related function, is used by males in mate selection. We presented adult males with pairs of females differing in their age/size/sexual maturity (adult or juvenile) and/or their colour (red or white) and recorded the time the male spent near or in contact with each female. We found that males spent more time near adult females regardless of their colour, and within adult females, they preferred the red ones, suggesting that female red colouration is a sexual ornament. Red colouration might be providing information about the female reproductive status, and to test this hypothesis we studied the possible link between colouration and female sex steroid hormones that regulate their reproductive cycle, specifically β-estradiol and progesterone. We explored natural variation of colouration and hormone levels along the reproductive cycle, determined the relationships between colouration and hormones and, finally, experimentally manipulated plasma β-estradiol and progesterone concentrations to check the effects on colouration. Our results suggest that red colour in adult females signals the reproductive status, i.e., fertility, as redder females were closer to ovulation. Moreover, high concentrations of either β-estradiol alone or β-estradiol together with progesterone trigger the loss of red colouration immediately following ovulation. In conclusion, red colouration in spiny-footed lizards is a multifunctional signal that is used for different purposes at different age classes. Signals are costly to produce, so using the same signal for different functions or reutilizing the same signal at different age classes should have advantages. In spiny-footed lizards, the retraction of the red colouration to more ventral parts along the ontogenetic process suggests that predation pressures might be modulating the expression of the signal, and points out that individuals of different age classes may be suffering very different selective pressures. This study is also a good example of how signals can change during the evolutionary process, and provides evidences about the conservation of a multifunctional signal during the ontogeny of a species, something poorly studied.

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In many animal taxa, coloration is a visual signal used for communication among conspecifics, for example between age classes. Juvenile coloration has been hypothesized to reduce aggression from adults in some species, in what is called the aggression avoidance hypothesis. Spiny-footed lizards are good subjects for testing this hypothesis, as juveniles develop conspicuous red coloration on their hind limbs and tails that fades in adulthood. To test the influence of juvenile coloration on adult aggressiveness, we conducted videotaped encounters in captivity between adults of both sexes and juveniles with their natural red coloration, or experimentally painted either red or white on their natural red parts. Then we recorded the number of times juveniles were bitten and attacked. In unpainted juveniles, no significant relationship was found between juvenile coloration (brightness, red chroma or hue) and adult aggressiveness. However, juveniles painted red were bitten less than those painted white when number of times bitten was controlled for number of times attacked. This result supports the aggression avoidance hypothesis, as an escalation from low-intensity (attacking) to high-intensity aggression (biting) was less probable towards red juveniles. The presence of red coloration in juveniles caused the reduction in adult aggression, while small natural variations in this red colour did not seem to have any further effect. Juvenile red coloration in this species might indicate age or sexual immaturity to adults.

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The decoy or deflection hypothesis, which states that conspicuous colouration is present in non-vital parts of the body to divert attacks from head and trunk, thus increasing survival probability, is a possible explanation for the presence of such colouration in juveniles of non-aposematic species. To test this hypothesis we made plasticine and plaster lizard models of two colour morphs, red or dark-and-light striped tails, based on the colouration of spiny-footed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) hatchlings, which naturally show a dark-and-light striped dorsal pattern and red tail. Lizard models were placed in the field and also presented to captive common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), a common avian lizard predator. The number of attacks and the body part attacked (tail or rest-of-body) were recorded, as well as the latency to attack. Our results suggest that models of both colour morphs were recognized as prey and attacked at a similar rate, but in the field, red-tailed models were detected, and thus attacked, sooner than striped-tailed. Despite this increase in detection rate by predators, red-tailed models effectively diverted attacks to the tail from the more vulnerable body parts, thus supporting the decoy hypothesis. Greater fitness benefits of attack diversion to the tail compared to the costs of increased detection rate by predators would explain the evolution and maintenance of red tail colouration in lizards.

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Ontogenetic colour changes in animals generally involve cryptic juveniles developing conspicuous coloration when they achieve sexual maturity. However, there are several species in which juveniles develop conspicuously coloured tails that become cryptic in adults. In lizards, colourful tails may act as an antipredator mechanism, either by diverting predator attacks from vital body parts to the expendable tail (decoy hypothesis) or, when associated with tail movements, by signalling to the potential predator that it has been spotted and an attack will probably not succeed (pursuit deterrent hypothesis). In both cases, the antipredator function would allow lizards with colourful tails to show more risk-taking behaviours. The aim of this study was to test whether conspicuous coloration was related to risk behaviours in spiny-footed lizards, Acanthodactylus erythrurus, a species with red-tailed juveniles. Behaviour was recorded in free-ranging lizards and several risk-related behavioural indices were calculated. As predicted, risk behaviour and tail coloration were found to be related, as redder (less orange) lizards stayed further from refuge, maybe because redder coloration was associated with a perception of lower predation risk. Coloration was not related to any other behavioural index, including tail displays, but the level of activity was negatively related to lizard size, suggesting a change towards less active behaviour associated with growth, probably because energy and thermoregulatory requirements depend on body size. In conclusion, the link between red coloration and risk-taking behaviour in spiny-footed lizards supports the antipredator function of this coloration that enables more colourful lizards to take more risks when necessary. Moreover, the nonsignificant association between coloration and tail displays is not consistent with the pursuit deterrent hypothesis, thus making the decoy hypothesis more probable.

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Breeding coloration of females often signals aspects of their reproductive status, suggesting a link between color and sex steroid hormones. In this study, we examined the relationships between 2 sex steroid hormones (progesterone and β-estradiol) and reproductive coloration in female spiny-footed lizards Acanthodactylus erythrurus. We first explored natural variation in female plasma hormone levels and coloration during their reproductive cycle. β-estradiol was negatively related to brightness and positively related to red saturation, whereas progesterone was not significantly related to coloration. After identifying key relationships, plasma hormone concentrations were manipulated by creating 3 experimental female groups (β-estradiol-treated, progesterone-treated, and control), and the effects on coloration were monitored. β-estradiol-treated females, in which there was a rise in both β-estradiol and progesterone levels, lost their red coloration earlier than females in the other 2 experimental groups, whereas progesterone treatment had no significant effect on female coloration. Our results suggest that high levels of either β-estradiol alone or β-estradiol together with progesterone trigger the loss of red coloration in female spiny-footed lizards, and that progesterone alone does not affect coloration. We hypothesize that changes in female breeding color might be regulated by β-estradiol in species in which conspicuous coloration is displayed before ovulation, and by progesterone in species in which this color is displayed during gravidity.

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Mammals that build extensive open burrow systems are often classified as ecosystem engineers, since they have the potential to modulate the availability of resources for themselves and other organisms. Lizards may benefit from the heterogeneity created by these structures, especially if coupled with an increased offer of sites for refuge and thermoregulation. However, information about these engineering effects by burrowing animals is scarce. We investigated the influence of European rabbit burrows on several parameters of a Mediterranean lizard community (abundance, density, diversity and body condition) in three different habitats (open pastures, holm oak and scrub patches). We found that lizards were positively associated with burrows, and that burrows determined lizard presence at otherwise unfavourable habitats. Moreover, community parameters such as density and species richness were higher in sites with burrows. Burrows influenced lizard species in different ways, and were also relevant for other Mediterranean vertebrates, as revealed by questionnaires to experts. We also explored the possible resources provided by burrows for lizards. Warrens offer relatively abundant prey and appropriate retreat sites for refuge and thermoregulation. Warrens may have further implications within the ecosystem, acting as stepping stones, allowing lizards to reach otherwise inaccessible habitat patches. This study shows that European rabbit warrens have a positive influence on lizard density and diversity, and confirms the role of rabbits as ecosystem engineers. This reinforces the need for appropriate conservation measures for rabbits, especially given their threatened status in the Iberian Peninsula. Furthermore, our study highlights that taking into account the influence of engineering activities increases our awareness of species interactions, and may translate into more adequate conservation measures for the preservation of biodiversity.

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Climatic conditions changing over time and space shape the evolution of organisms at multiple levels, including temperate lizards in the family Lacertidae. Here we reconstruct a dated phylogenetic tree of 262 lacertid species based on a supermatrix relying on novel phylogenomic datasets and fossil calibrations. Diversification of lacertids was accompanied by an increasing disparity among occupied bioclimatic niches, especially in the last 10 Ma, during a period of progressive global cooling. Temperate species also underwent a genome- wide slowdown in molecular substitution rates compared to tropical and desert-adapted lacertids. Evaporative water loss and preferred temperature are correlated with bioclimatic parameters, indicating physiological adaptations to climate. Tropical, but also some popu- lations of cool-adapted species experience maximum temperatures close to their preferred temperatures. We hypothesize these species-specific physiological preferences may con- stitute a handicap to prevail under rapid global warming, and contribute to explaining local lizard extinctions in cool and humid climates.

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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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In the present work we analyse the diet of Acanthodactylus erythrurus during a two year period of study. Data were gathered in a Mediterranean scrubland area of Central Spain. The research had three objectives: the analysis of general food habits in this species, the study of seasonal effects on prey selection, and the contribution of ants to the diet of A. erythrurus in different parts of its range. Ants are the most important prey type, but in spring and the first half of the summer a shift toward the consumption of beetles take place. In general, Coleopteran taxa found in the diet are from families which typically show clumped distributions, i.e., similar to that observed in ants. These results are discussed in comparison with those from other authors. The diet of this species appears to be closely-related to food searching strategy, which is a very conservative trait within the genus. We therefore conclude that behavioural (as well as morphological) phylogenetic constraints strongly influence the diet of A. erythrurus.

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Records for the amphibian and reptile species of continental Portugal were plotted on maps using the 10 10 km squares of the UTM grid system. A total of 9394 observations were collected, from which 6485 re- cords came from previous national atlases, 1790 from recent published and unpublished work, and 1119 co- rrespond to new observations made by the authors and their collaborators. Overall 31.0% of the records are pre- sented for the first time in a national atlas. Remarkable new records include those for Tarentola mauritanica and Blanus cinereus, enlarging their known range into areas where they were not thought to occur. We present and discuss amphibian and reptile species-density maps.

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We describe nine new locations for Acanthodactylus erythrurus (Schinz, 1833) in Catalonia, after campaign of research on the species.

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Plusieurs séjours au Maroc entre 1974 et 1978 effectués soit dans le cadre de la RCP 249 du C.N.R.S. soit à l`occasion de voyages touristiques ont permis de rassembler des informations complémentaires sur l`herpétofaune marocaine. Captures, observations de spécimens écrasés sur les routes, mues et déterminations visuelles ont permis d`établir le texte qui suit. Il nous a paru intéressant de rassembler les observations ainsi obtenues avant leur Intégration dans un atlas des Reptiles du Maroc qui devrait voir le jour sous peu. Le découpage régional qui a été retenu est celui qui a été proposé par J. BONS (1967). Les observations les plus originales sont marquées d`un astérisque (*) et certaines sont commentées dans la conclusion.

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The term homing, as it is usually understood, indicates the ability of several animal species to return to their home range after a natural or artificial displacement from it. In this paper we use mark-displacement-relocation techniques to study homing behavior in a population of spiny-footed lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) living in a coastal sandy area at La Albufera Natural Park (Valencia, Spain). To this end, 20 lizards of both sexes were displaced 100 m from the geometric center of their respective home ranges. Five of them were relocated inside their home ranges between 3 and 13 days after displacement. Displaced animals did not show a preferred orientation after release, which suggests that initial orientation is not a good predictor of homing success in this species. This is the first time that a homing capacity has been documented for A. erythrurus. Results also suggest that homing in this species is based on true navigation.

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Residual yolk is assumed to be an important source of energy and nutrients during early life in nonmammalian amniotes. Available data show that the mean size of residual yolk is far smaller in lizards than in turtles, snakes, crocodiles, and birds, raising a question of whether residual yolk is of functional significance in lizards. Here, we compared data from 26 lizard species with those from other nonmammalian amniotes to test the hypothesis that residual yolk is functionally less significant in species producing more fully developed offspring. In our sample, species mean offspring water contents ranged from 73% to 84% of body wet mass; species mean proportions of carcass dry mass, fat-body dry mass, and residual yolk dry mass to offspring dry mass ranged from 84% to 99%, 0% to 5.0%, and 0% to 14.4%, respectively. Lizards are, on average, more fully developed at hatching or birth than snakes, as revealed by the fact that the mean proportion of carcass dry mass to body dry mass and offspring water contents were both higher in lizards than in snakes. We conclude that the functional significance of residual yolk during early life is generally less evident in lizards. Even in the lizards where residual yolk is of potential functional significance, this portion of yolk contributes little, if any, to postembryonic growth. Future work could usefully collect data across a wider spectrum of reptile taxa to establish a precocial–altricial continuum and test the hypothesis that species with a smaller amount of residual yolk are closer to the precocial end of the continuum.

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Additional data on the distribution of terrestrial herpetofauna from Morocco are pre- sented, based on fieldwork carried out in March and May 2008. Thirty-eight species were recorded from 78 localities. Some of these represent considerable range extensions for the species, indicating that more prospection is needed to complement the existing knowledge of herpetofauna from this country.

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Mitochondrial DNA sequences consisting of 645 sites from the 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes were used to estimate the phylogeny of 15 of the 32 species of spiny-footed lizards Acanthodactylus. The resultant tree has similarities to that produced from a differentially weighted data set of 32 morphological characters but there are also significant differences. However, combined analysis of molecular and morphological data sets produces the same tree topology as DNA sequence alone. The molecular data confirm that there are distinct eastern and western clades within Acanthodactylus, but place A. boskianus in the former while the A. scutellatus group constitutes a third clade. Species for which only morphological information is available were integrated with the combined tree to give a provisional phylogeny for 31 species. This phylogeny indicates that the ancestor of existing Acanthodactylus probably originated in south-west Asia and that North Africa was invaded by more than one lineage of the genus. It also suggests that soft aeolian sand habitats may have been independently occupied more than once. Molecular data provide independent evidence that the differential weighting of morphological characters in past analyses was appropriate.

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Conclusions. Our analyses indicate that Iberian A. e. erythrurus were separated from northern African forms around the time of the re-opening of the Straits of Gibraltar. This differs from Podarcis, which appear to have made two natural transmarine crossings (Harris et al., 2002) and from chamaeleons which were anthropogenically introduced to the Iberian Peninsula twice from genetically distinct source populations in North Africa (Paulo et al., 2002). As stated before, all taxa are not uniformly affected by the same geological event (Busack, 1986). More sampling from Algeria will be crucial in evaluating the distinctiveness of A. blanci. Within Morocco our data do not support the separation of A. e. lineomaculatus as a distinct species. However, patterns of relationships are not strongly supported by our preliminary data, and clearly more data will be needed to define more precisely the North African genetic lineages within the A. erythrurus species group.

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Identification of high levels of intraspecific genetic variability is common among assessments of reptiles from the Iberian Peninsula, conforming to the “refugia within refugia” hypothesis. Divergent genetic lineages are often found to be allopatric, or with limited contact or hybrid zones; such zones are more widely reported in Northern Europe, leading to the “melting pots not hotspots” hypothesis. However, population level sampling is needed to determine if divergent lineages overlap, something that is often missing in phylogenetic studies. Mitochondrial genetic diversity was assessed within the lacertid lizard Acanthodactylus erythrurus across the Iberian Peninsula. Not only were highly divergent lineages recovered in the southern region, but also considerable admixture of these was identified, particularly in northern populations. This has implications for biogeographic scenarios, with patterns typically identified at a larger scale emerging within a single European southern refugium. It also indicates that divergent mtDNA lineages appear to freely mix, at least within this species, which has taxonomic implications.

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Patterns of morphological and genetic diversity within the fringe-toed lizards of the genus Acanthodactylus have puzzled systematists since the first assessments, and none more so than the Acanthodactylus erythrurus complex. A recent study combining multi-locus sequence data and morphological characters partially resolved the situation, identifying two new species in the southern part of the range in Morocco, but leaving an unresolved “Ibero-Moroccan” clade containing much of the genetic and morphological diversity. Here we sequenced a mitochondrial marker for new samples from across much of the distribution. Our data notably increase the known ranges of various species and lineages found in Morocco, and indicate a divergent genetic lineage within one of the newly described species. While far greater numbers of genetic markers will be needed to resolve taxonomic questions, greater geographic sampling is also still needed both to delimit the species, and to identify regions where potential genetic admixture may occur.

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Quantifying intraspecific variation in heat tolerance is critical to understand how species respond to climate change. In a previous study, we recorded variability in critical thermal maxima (CTmax) by 3 C among populations of small Iberian lizard species, which could substantially influence predictions of climate-driven activity restriction. Here, we undertake experiments to examine whether we could reproduce similar levels of heat-tolerance variability in response to water deficit. We hypothesized that deprivation of drinking water should increase variability in CTmax between populations more than deprivation of food under the theoretical expectation that the variation of the more limiting resource must trigger stronger variation in physiological performance. We measured CTmax after manipulating availability of live prey and drinking water in two populations of an arid and a mesic lizard species from the Iberian Peninsula. We quantified a mean CTmax across all studied lizards of 44.2 C ± 0.2 SE for the arid species and 41.7 C ± 0.3 SE for the mesic species. Using multimodel inference, we found that water deprivation (combined with food supply) caused population differences in CTmax by 3 to 4 C which were two to three times wider than population differences due to food deprivation (combined with water supply) or to food and water provision. To highlight the need for more thermo-hydroregulatory research, we examined bias in research effort towards thermal versus hydric environmental effects on heat tolerance through a systematic literature review. We show that environmental temperature has been used five times more frequently than precipitation in ecological studies of heat tolerance of terrestrial species. Studies linking thermal tolerance of ectotherms to the interplay of air temperature and water availability are needed in the face of projected increases in aridity and drought in the 21st century, because the balance of body temperature and water resources are functionally interlinked.

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1. Research addressing the effects of global warming on the distribution and persistence of species generally assumes that population variation in thermal tolerance is spatially constant or overridden by interspecific variation. Typically, this rationale is implicit in sourcing one critical thermal maximum (CTmax) population estimate per species to model spatiotemporal cross‐taxa variation in heat tolerance. Theory suggests that such an approach could result in biased or imprecise estimates and forecasts of impact from climate warming, but limited empirical evidence in support of those expectations exists. 2. We experimentally quantify the magnitude of intraspecific variation in CTmax among lizard populations, and the extent to which incorporating such variability can alter estimates of climate impact through a biophysical model. To do so, we measured CTmax from 59 populations of 15 Iberian lizard species (304 individuals). 3. The overall median CTmax across all individuals from all species was 42.8 °C and ranged from 40.5 to 48.3 °C, with species medians decreasing through xeric, climate‐generalist and mesic taxa. We found strong statistical support for intraspecific differentiation in CTmax by up to a median of 3 °C among populations. We show that annual restricted activity (operative temperature > CTmax) over the Iberian distribution of our study species differs by a median of > 80 hours per 25‐km2 grid cell based on different population‐level CTmax estimates. This discrepancy leads to predictions of spatial variation in annual restricted activity to change by more than 20 days for six of the study species. 4. Considering that during restriction periods, reptiles should be unable to feed and reproduce, current projections of climate‐change impacts on the fitness of ectotherm fauna could be under‐ or over‐estimated depending on which population is chosen to represent the physiological spectra of the species in question. Mapping heat tolerance over the full geographical ranges of single species is thus critical to address cross‐taxa patterns and drivers of heat tolerance in a biologically comprehensive way.

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The evolutionary diversification of many terrestrial vertebrate groups is strongly linked to climatic events in the Cenozoic, the period from 65 Million years ago to today when modern animals first appeared. I investigated the effects of Cenozoic climate change on the taxonomic and morphological diversification of the Old World lizard family Lacertidae, with particular emphasis on the African radiation. African lacertids exhibit an unusual pattern of diversification, in which their highest species richness occurs in deserts north and south of the equator, despite being spread throughout the continent. This disparity is particularly surprising given that desert lacertids are thought to be evolutionarily younger than their mesic-dwelling relatives, suggesting increased diversification rates in arid habitats. To identify the evolutionary factors underlying this pattern, I use a combination of phylogenetic, morphological and ecological techniques. In Chapter 1, I apply Bayesian methods and fossil-based calibrations to molecular sequence data to construct a time-calibrated phylogeny for Lacertidae. I estimate that the family arose in the early Cenozoic, with the majority of their African radiation occurring in the Eocene and Oligocene. In Chapter 2, I describe changes in lacertid body shape across biomes and substrates, and find widespread morphological convergence in similar habitat types. I suggest that in addition to foraging demands, fluctuating and extreme climatic conditions, largely driven by precipitation and temperature, contribute to morphological convergence across independent arid-dwelling clades. Finally, I test if ancestral transitions in ecology, morphology, and rates of diversification temporally coincide with paleoclimatic events in the Cenozoic. I use High Resolution X-ray Computed Tomography to characterize changes in the skull related to life in arid habitats, and apply maximum likelihood methods to test if the origins of those traits temporally coincide with significant shifts in habitat, diversification rates and climatic changes. My results show that African lacertids experienced three major peaks in diversification, accompanied by the evolution of suites of arid-adapted morphological traits. These changes coincide with climatic shifts in Africa, including the transition from closed forests to open grasslands and savanna in the late Oligocene, prior to the peak temperatures of the mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum, and following the formation of the Benguela current leading to hyper-aridity in southern Africa. I conclude that deserts are important centers for reptile evolution, but that expected changes in climate due to global warming may outpace the ability of arid-dwelling species to adapt and persist in the future.

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The life and work of the Alsatian Louis Amédée Lantz (1886-1953), a pioneer of European herpetology. A trained and professional research-chemist, the Alsatian Louis Amédée Lantz was an active and particularly dynamic herpetologist. His residence of nearly twelve years in Russia enabled him to make several field trips to regions such as the Caucasus and Iran. He always carried with him a home made telescopic net that he used to catch lizards. That net became symbolic of Lantz for most people around him. He realized significant herpetological collections mainly deposited in the Museum of the Zoology Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. Soon after the Russian Revolution in 1917, he had to leave the country and stayed for a few years in France before joining England. During this period, Lantz visited the French Pyrenees and the Mediterranean border (Hyeres Islands, Bandol), enabling him to discover for the first time oviparous populations of common lizard and also to describe a new species of lizard from the French Pyrenees. Lantz is also at the origin of the discovery of unisexual reproduction by parthenogenesis in reptiles. His collaboration with the Swedish amateur herpetologist Otto Cyrén, whom he met through the German herpetologist Willy Wolterstorff, was particularly successful throughout his career. Lantz died at the age of 66 years, in Switzerland, as he was about to join the team of herpetologists at the Natural History Museum in Paris.

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Femoral gland secretions are believed to play an important role in chemical communication and social organization of lizards. In spite of this, few studies have investigated the chemical composition and the behavioural roles of these secretions. The lacertid lizard Acanthodactylus boskianus is a good example, having these well-developed glands in both sexes. We used GC–MS chemical analysis of gland secretions and y-maze choice test bioassays to investigate the ability of the lizards to detect and respond to different synthetic blends made from compounds identified in the gland secretions. Based upon the GC–MS quantification data, we selected representatives of the main chemical groups (steroids, alcohols, acids, alkanes) detected in the lizard secretions and used these in a behavioural bioassay against controls. Males showed significant avoidance behaviour for cholesterol and alcohol blends, combined with agonistic behaviour towards these stimuli. Females did not show any significant selection to particular odour combinations. The data support the hypotheses that lizards can potentially use femoral gland secretions in chemical odour trails and utilize scent to mark territories and potentially also to establish dominance hierarchies. Cholesterol and long chain alcohols are suggested as potential candidates functioning as scent marking pheromones in A. boskianus.

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Les amphibiens et les reptiles insectivores comme les lézards constituent une part importante dans le fonctionnement des écosystèmes arides en leur qualité de lien entre les prédateurs vertébrés et la proie invertébrée. les lézards du genre Acanthodactylus est celui qui caractérise le mieux les populations de lézards du paléarctiques occidental et sahélien. Les travaux réalisés sur l’herpetofaune, montre l’intérêt que porte l’espèce Acanthodactylus scutellatus sur le plan écologique, taxonomique et évolutif car elle joue un rôle important dans l’équilibre des écosystèmes désertiques. A fin de connaitre l’écologie de cette espèce on c’est basée sur l’étude du comportement alimentaire qui est chez les ectotherme un paramètre crucial dont dépend certaines performances et activités comme la reproduction.

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Aim To map and assess the richness patterns of reptiles (and included groups: amphisbaenians, crocodiles, lizards, snakes and turtles) in Africa, quantify the overlap in species richness of reptiles (and included groups) with the other terrestrial vertebrate classes, investigate the environmental correlates underlying these patterns, and evaluate the role of range size on richness patterns. Location Africa. Methods We assembled a data set of distributions of all African reptile species. We tested the spatial congruence of reptile richness with that of amphibians, birds and mammals. We further tested the relative importance of temperature, precipitation, elevation range and net primary productivity for species richness over two spatial scales (ecoregions and 1° grids). We arranged reptile and vertebrate groups into range-size quartiles in order to evaluate the role of range size in producing richness patterns. Results Reptile, amphibian, bird and mammal richness are largely congruent (r = 0.79–0.86) and respond similarly to environmental variables (mainly productivity and precipitation). Ecoregion size accounts for more variation in the richness of reptiles than in that of other groups. Lizard distributions are distinct with several areas of high species richness where other vertebrate groups (including snakes) are species-poor, especially in arid ecoregions. Habitat heterogeneity is the best predictor of narrow-ranging species, but remains relatively important in explaining lizard richness even for species with large range sizes. Main conclusions Reptile richness varies with similar environmental variables as the other vertebrates in Africa, reflecting the disproportionate influence of snakes on reptile richness, a result of their large ranges. Richness gradients of narrow-ranged vertebrates differ from those of widespread taxa, which may demonstrate different centres of endemism for reptile subclades in Africa. Lizard richness varies mostly with habitat heterogeneity independent of range size, which suggests that the difference in response of lizards is due to their ecological characteristics. These results, over two spatial scales and multiple range-size quartiles, allow us to reliably interpret the influence of environmental variables on patterns of reptile richness and congruency.

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Although chemoreception plays an important role in social organization of many lizards, only a few studies have examined the chemicals found in secretions used for intraspecific communication. We report the composition of the secretion of the femoral glands of males of the Spiny-footed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus). On the basis of mass spectra, obtained by GC/MS, we identified 45 lipophilic compounds, including several alcohols ranging from 10 to 29 carbon atoms (mainly hexacosanol and tetracosanol), steroids (mainly cholesterol and dehydrocholesterol), n-C9 to n-C20 carboxylic acids, esters wolf carboxylic acid, and minor components such as lactones, ketones, squalene and a-tocopherol. Some of these compounds are reported for the first time in lizards. Adult and subadult males differed in the composition of secretions, with C9 to C15 carboxylic acids being more abundant in younger than in older lizards, whereas C16 to C20 carboxylic acids were more abundant in older lizards. Also older lizards had significant lower proportions of cholesterol and campesterol but higher proportions of dehydrocholesterol.

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ln der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die Herpetofauna von über 50 portugiesischen Gebirgszügen zusammengestellt: für jedes Gebirge der hõchste bisher bekannte Fundort der einzelnen Arten mit Hôhenangabe. Es ist das Ergebnis vierjiähriger Untersuchungen (1976-1980).

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The results of two excursions (winter 1982/83 and spring 1983) to Portugal require the present additional note to my paper: `Contribution to the knowledge of the distribution of the Portuguese herpetofauna.` Remarkable new distributional data are provided for Chioglossa lusitanica, Alytes cisternasii, Pelobates cultripes, Tarentola mauritanica, Podarcis hispanica and Psammodromus hispanicus.

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Nach kritischer Wertung der bisher zur Verbreitung von Acanthodactylus erythrurus in Portugal publizierten Daten werden alle 29 bekannt gewordenen Fundpunkte subsummiert. 68 % der Fundorte liegen auf sandigen Flächen, 32 % in Felszonen der „Iberischen Masse“. Die Vegetationsausstattung der Habitate ist sehr einheitlich: lichter Wald, baumfreie offene Landschaft, großflächig vegetationsfreie Zonen mit insulär stehenden Sträuchern. Das Maximum der vertikalen Verbreitung liegt in Portugal bei 690 m. Die Acanthodactylus-Populationen sind meist homotypisch; eine Vergesellschaftung ist am ehesten noch mit Psammodromus algirus zu beobachten.

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Die Verbreitung der Amphibien und Reptilien Südost-Portugals — östlich der Linie Albufeira-Ourique und südlich des Rio Terges — sind Gegenstand dieser Veröffentlichung. Nach Darstellung der geologischen und klimatischen Bedingungen erfolgt eine Habitatcharakterisierung auf der Basis von Vegetationseinheiten. Ein kurzer Abriß zur Geschichte der Herpetofaunistik des Untersuchungsgebietes zeigt, daß die ersten Fundortmeldungen bis 1879 zurückzuverfolgen sind. Es wurden 12 Amphibienund 22 Reptilienarten (einschließlich 2 mariner Schildkröten) registriert - 62 % der Herpetofauna Festland-Portugals. Die Verbreitungsdarstellung der einzelnen Arten erfolgt in Form einer Punktkartierung. Habitatstruktur, geologische, hydrologische und klimatische Voraussetzungen sind in den einzelnen Landschaftsgroßräumen teilweise sehr unterschiedlich mit einer entsprechend unterschiedlichen Artenzusammensetzung der sie besiedelnden Herpetozönosen und zum Teil scharfen Verbreitungsgrenzen einzelner Arten. Die größte Artendiversität (12 Amphibien, 20 Reptilien) beherbergen die requisitenreichen zum Teil mit Eichenhainen durchsetzten Macchien, während Pinus- und Ewcs/i/pfus-Aufforstungen und Extremstandorte (Dünen, Marschwiesen) weniger als 5 Arten aufweisen. Großflächige anthropogene Eingriffe (forstliche Monokulturen, touristische Erschließung und Zersiedlung der Küstenzone, starke Verschmutzung der Fließgewässer) der letzten zehn Jahre führten regional besonders unter den Amphibienbeständen zu starken Rückgängen.

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Es werden die Verbreitungsverhältnisse der Amphibien und Reptilien in der Region der Serra de Grândola zwischen Rio Sado und der Linie São−Torpes−Alvalade dargestellt sowie die geologischen und klimatischen Voraussetzungen und Habitattypen des Untersuchungsgebietes charakterisiert. Die Verbreitung der 13 Amphibien- und 20 Reptilienarten (einschließlich zweier mariner Schildkröten) erfolgt als Punktkartierung innerhalb des 10 x 10 km UTM−Gitternetzes. Das Artenspektrum setzt sich aus mediterranen Formen zusammen. Bemerkenswert ist die hohe Verbreitungsdichte von Acanthodactylus erythrurus in den Küstendünen. Zwar sind auch heute noch ca. 60 % der Gesamtfläche mit anthropogen kaum oder wenig beeinflussten Dünenheiden und Wäldern (Quercus, Pinus) bedeckt, doch erfolgten in den letzten Jahrzehnten zahlreiche nachhaltige Habitatbelastungen durch touristische Erschließungen einzelner Küstenabschnitte, durch Urbanisierung, Intensivierung der Landwirtschaft, sowie durch Zerstörung und Verschmutzung von Gewässern, was regional zu starken Beeinträchtigungen, lokal zur völligen Auslöschung von Herpetozönosen führte, besonders im Raum Sines−Santiago do Cacém.

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Zwischen 1976 und 2002 wurde die Artenzusammensetzung der Herpetofauna an 90 Ruinen von Wassermühlen in Portugal untersucht. Es wurden 12 Amphibien- und 19 Reptilienarten registriert, die 69 % der in Kontinental-Portugal vorkommenden Arten repräsentieren. Die Zusammensetzung der Herpetozönosen wird durch die geografische Lage, den Habitattypus des Umfeldes und der Phase des Zerfallsprozesses der einzelnen Mühlen geprägt. Durch die anthropogene Belastung der Flüsse ist vielerorts eine deutliche Reduzierung der Individuendichte und Artenzahl der Amphibien und hydrophiler Reptilien zu verzeichnen.

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Die Arbeit befasst sich mit den Verbreitungsverhältnissen der Amphibien und Reptilien in einem atlantomediterranen Karstgebiet, Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros (PNSAC). Die geologischen und klimatischen Verhältnisse, sowie das Habitatinventar und die herpetofaunistische Literatur werden vorgestellt. Es folgen Angaben zu den im Naturpark registrierten 12 Amphibien- und 17 Reptilienarten, deren Verbreitung in Form einer Punktkartierung innerhalb des 10 x 10 km UTM-Gitternetzes dargestellt wird. 85 % der Arten sind thermophile westmediterrane, die übrigen holomediterrane, west- und zentraleuropäische Faunenelemente. Unterschiede der Artenzusammensetzung des Untersuchungsgebietes im Vergleich zu jener von Karstgebieten im südlichen Portugal sowie die menschlichen Einflüsse durch den wachsenden Verkehr, die expandierende Urbanisierung, der übermäßige Einsatz an Agrochemie, der Landnutzungswandel und die häufigen Großbrände werden diskutiert.

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Gegenstand dieser Veröffentlichung ist die Darstellung der Verbreitungsverhältnisse der Amphibien und Reptilien der östlichen Beira Baixa (östliches Mittelportugal). Einleitend werden die geologischen und klimatischen Bedingungen beschrieben, das Habitatinventar und die den Raum betreffende herpetofaunistische Literatur vorgestellt. Im Untersuchungsgebiet wurden 16 Amphibien- und 23 Reptilienarten registriert, deren Verbreitung kartografisch auf der Basis eines 1 x 1 km UTM-Gitternetzes dargestellt wird. Während auf dem südlichen und zentralen Planalto mesomediterrane Arten vorherrschen, werden diese im nördlich gelegenen höheren Bergland durch supramediterrane und eurosibirische ersetzt. Pelodytes ibericus erreicht im Untersuchungsgebiet sein küstenfern nördlichstes, Hyla meridionalis den Grenzbereich seines landesweit nördlichsten Vorkommens. Triturus marmoratus und Triturus pygmaeus erscheinen in einer teilweise über 10 km breiten Überlappungszone in Sympatrie. Abschließend wird das Gefährdungspotenzial anthropogener Einflüsse (Ausbau der Infrastruktur, Einsatz von Agrochemie, Landnutzungswandel) auf die Herpetozönosen diskutiert und die Bedeutung der im Untersuchungsgebiet liegenden beiden großen Schutzzonen (Reserva da Serra da Malcata, Parque Natural Tejo Internacional) für die Herpetofauna erläutert.

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Gegenstand der Veröffentlichung ist die Darstellung der Verbreitungsverhältnisse der Amphibien und Reptilien des Parque Natural do Douro Internacional (PNDI) im Nordosten Portugals. Einleitend werden die geologischen und klimatischen Voraussetzungen des Untersuchungsgebietes, das Habitatinventar und die sich auf den Kartierungsraum beziehende herpetofaunistische Literatur vorgestellt. Es wurden 12 Amphibien- und 20 Reptilienarten registriert, deren Verbreitung kartografisch auf der Basis des 1 x 1 km UTM-Gitternetzes dargestellt wird. Das Untersuchungsgebiet besteht aus einem Planalto, einem westlichen Ausläufer der spanischen Meseta, und wird vom Canyon des Rio Douro und seinen Zuflüssen gegliedert. Diesem Talsystem folgend, dringen thermophile mesomediterrane Arten (z. B. Pleurodeles waltl, Alytes cisternasii, Mauremys leprosa, Tarentola mauritanica, Macroprotodon brevis) tief in die supramediterrane Zone des Planaltos ein. Sie besiedeln hier ein weit nach Nor- den vorgeschobenes Isolat. Ein Gebirgsriegel zwischen Serra da Estrela und den zentralspanischen Kordilleren blockiert eine Verbindung zu den großflächigen, Verbreitungsarealen dieser Arten in Mittel- und Südportugal. Hemorrhois hippocrepis und Macroprotodon brevis erreichen im Untersuchungsgebiet die Nordgrenze ihrer Gesamtverbreitung. Abschließend wird die Bedeutung des Einflusses der anthropogenen Landschaftsgestaltung auf die Verbreitungsmuster der einzelnen Arten erläutert und die aktuellen Gefährdungsursachen (Landnutzungswandel, Einsatz von agrochemischen Produkten, Verschmutzung der Gewässer, Einführung von Zoozoen) beschrieben.

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In order to study the composition of the south Kabylie’s herpétofauna (Bouira’s and Bordj Bou Arreridj’s wilaya), we have chosen six different ecological areas. 19 species (1 Amphibian and 18 Reptiles) have been inventoried. They are mainly of mediterranean origin (12 species of 19) with 3 species typically North Africans (Timon pater, Chalcides chalcides and Mesalina olivieri). But in this herpétofauna we have found two saharian species (Psammophis schokari and Mesalina olivieri). The field analysis of the species distribution showed that the landscape composition played an important role. Some species such as P. algirus frequented various areas, others such as Natrix natrix and Natrix maura preferred humid areas, Acanthodactylus erythrurus localized in biotopes with sandy substratum, also Timon. pater who frequents forests, on the six community studied none presents q high diversity. The main important specific riches were observed in the low scrub (10 species). The intermediate situation that corresponds to the average of the diversity and the regularity was observed in the rocky open ground and the low scrub.

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The locality of El Salt (Middle Paleolithic, Alcoy, Spain) is mainly known by having one of the youngest Neanderthals records of the southeastern Iberian Peninsula. In this work, we have analysed the herpetofaunal fossils from the upper part of stratigraphic unit Xb, dated at 52.3 } 4.6 ka (MIS 3). The faunal list is composed by three taxa of anurans (Alytes obstetricans, Bufo bufo s.l., and Epidalea calamita), one taxon of blanid (Blanus cinereus s.l.), two taxa of lizards (Chalcides bedriagai and cf. Acanthodactylus erythrurus), and one taxon of snakes (cf. Rhinechis scalaris). All of them have a broad distribution range in the Mediterranean, with wide ecological preferences range. This association of amphibians and reptiles from the Unit Xb suggests a slightly warmer and more humid climate than the current one; with an annual temperature range less accused and a similar seasonality of the rainfall than it is recorded nowadays in Alcoy. These results may correspond to a warm period (Daansgard-Oeschger event) during the MIS 3. A landscape composed by bushland and forest patched in which some open areas were present, with presence of permanent water bodies in the nearby areas, would characterize the surroundings areas of El Salt.

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An ultrastructural study of the mucous cells of the intestinal epithelium of four lacertilian species (Lacerta lepida, Lacerta hispanica, Psammodromus algirus and Acanthodactylus erythrurus) is here reported. Two types of mucous cells have been found in these species: common mucous cells and granular mucous cells. Immature and mature forms of both types have been observed. The common mucous cells or typical goblet cells have the same characteristics in all four species. The granules of the granular mucous cells of the two species of Lacerta are similar but differ from those of the other two species.

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Management of dehesas (i.e. oak woodland pastures) creates a patchwork of sectors that differ in their structure and composition of understorey vegetation. We analysed whether different management techniques affect the populations of several species of lizards (Podarcis hispanica, Psammodromus algirus, Psammodromus hispanicus, Acanthodactylus erythrurus, and Lacerta lepida). Multivariate analyses showed that lizards preferentially used forested areas with scrub while they avoided open herbaceous areas. The abundance of lizards increased when the understorey bushy vegetation increased. In contrast, grasslands or cereal fields were scarcely occupied even if holm oak trees (Quercus ilex) were present, apparently because low shrubs were scarce here. Therefore, some of the traditional management practices of dehesas may negatively affect lizard populations. These conclusions could have wider implications for the design of wildlife reserves within dehesas, which has been previously based on the umbrella species concept (e.g. some dehesas are managed for imperial eagle Aquila adalberti conservation), without considering habitat requirements of other representative animal groups.

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We hypothesized that, through persistent predatory attacks, lizards should increase progressively the magnitude of their escape response. We simulated in the field a continuous attack by a persistent predator on Acanthodactylus erythrurus lizards and examined the characteristics of successive escape responses, microhabitats used for fleeing, and the refuges used. Lizards responded to the persistent attacks by increasing the distances they fled and the degree of cover in microhabitats into which they escaped. Lizards also changed their escape strategy from the first to the successive attacks. Initially, most individuals did not hide but stopped after running and remained vigilant, whereas almost all individuals hid subsequently. In addition, after successive predatory attacks, lizards used more structurally complex refuges (i.e., larger and with more obstructive cover). These refuges were probably safer although they may lower the lizard`s capacity to observe the predator`s subsequent behavior. These data suggest that lizards interpret persistent predatory attacks as an increase in predation risk and that lizards adjusted the magnitude of their escape and antipredatory responses to predation risk level.

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Karyotype and NOR position of three Lacertid species (Acanthodactylus erythrurus, Lacerta schreiberi and Lacerta perspicillata), not estudied yet, are made known in this paper. In the three of them it is observed that 2n = 38 and NF = 38, with 36 acrocentric macrochromosomes and 2 microchromosomes. Neither sexual nor other type variation have been observed. In the three species the only pair of NOR is situated in telomeric position of the 6th chromosomic pair.

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The collection of Amphibians and Reptiles of the Museum of Natural History of Ferrara has characteristics of historical representation, taxonomic and zoogeography that may be considered as examples of medium-sized types of collections more preva- lent in Italian museums. It consists of a historic part of the study and a donation from Guido Campadelli. The collection consists of 1739 specimens of amphibians (1734 of which held in 437 containers with ethanol and 5 taxidermized specimens) for a total of 78 amphibian species. There are 811 specimens of Reptiles (769 of which are stored in 526 containers with ethanol and 42 taxidermized specimens) representing a total of 108 species. The findings that form the collection of Amphibians come from 153 loca- lities of 15 states and 12 regions and 29 provinces of Italy. In the batrachological col- lection 62.1% of the total European species, and 94.3% of the total species in Italy, are represented. Zoogeographic regions most represented are the Palaearctic with 67% of the species of Amphibians in the collection and the Neotropical with 29%, fol- lowed by the Ethiopian (6%) and Nearctic (5%). Reptiles specimens come from 247 lo- calities of 15 states and 15 regions and 36 provinces of Italy. In the collection 46,2% of European species and 91,5% of the Italian ones are represented. The most represen- ted zoogeographic region are the Palaearctic with 89% of species in the collection, followed by the Ethiopian (14%), the Eastern (13%), Neotropical (11%) and the Nearctic (7%); australian and malagasy species do not exceed 3%. The herpetology collection was the subject of taxonomic and biogeographic analysis.

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1. Female and male hosts may maximise their fitness by evolving different strategies to compensate for the costs of parasite infections. The resulting sexual dimorphism might be apparent in differential relationships between parasite load and body condition, potentially reflecting differences in energy allocation to anti-parasitic defences. For example, male lacertids with high body condition may produce many offspring while being intensely parasitised. In contrast, female lacertids may show a different outcome of the trade-offs between body condition and immunity, aiming to better protect themselves from the harm of parasites. - 2. We predicted that females would have fewer parasites than males and a lower body condition across parasitaemia levels because they would invest resources in parasite defence to mitigate the costs of infection. In contrast, the male strategy to maximise access to females would imply some level of parasite tolerance and, thus, higher parasitaemia. - 3. We analysed the relationship between the body condition of lizards and the parasitemias of Karyolysus and Schellackia, two genera of blood parasites with different phylogenetic origins, in 565 females and 899 males belonging to 10 species of the Lacertidae (Squamata). These lizards were sampled over a period of 12?years across 34 sampling sites in southwestern Europe. - 4. The results concerning the Karyolysus infections were consistent with the predictions, with males having similar body condition across parasitaemia levels even though they had higher infection intensities than females. On the other hand, females with higher levels of Karyolysus parasitaemia had lower body condition. This is consistent with the prediction that different life strategies of male and female lacertids can explain the infection patterns of Karyolysus. In contrast, the parasitaemia of Schellackia was consistently low in both male and female hosts, with no significant effect on the body condition of lizards. This suggests that lizards of both sexes maintain this parasite below a pathogenic threshold.

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Aim Temperature influences most components of animal ecology and life history – but what kind of temperature? Physiologists usually examine the influence of body temperatures, while biogeographers and macroecologists tend to focus on environmental temperatures. We aim to examine the relationship between these two measures, to determine the factors that affect lizard body temperatures and to test the effect of both temperature measures on lizard life history. Location World-wide. Methods We used a large (861 species) global dataset of lizard body temperatures, and the mean annual temperatures across their geographic ranges to examine the relationships between body and mean annual temperatures.We then examined factors influencing body temperatures, and tested for the influence of both on ecological and life-history traits while accounting for the influence of shared ancestry. Results Body temperatures and mean annual temperatures are uncorrelated. However, accounting for activity time (nocturnal species have low body temperatures), use of space (fossorial and semi-aquatic species are ‘colder’), insularity (mainland species are ‘hotter’) and phylogeny, the two temperatures are positively correlated. High body temperatures are only associated with larger hatchlings and increased rates of biomass production. Annual temperatures are positively correlated with clutch frequency and annual longevity, and negatively correlated with clutch size, age at first reproduction and longevity. Main conclusions Lizards with low body temperatures do not seem to have ‘slower’ life-history attributes than species with high body temperatures. The longer seasons prevalent in warm regions, and physiological processes that operate while lizards are inactive (but warm enough), make environmental temperatures better predictors of lizard life-history variation than body temperatures. This surprisingly greater effect of environmental temperatures on lizard life histories hints that global warming may have a profound influence on lizard ecology and evolution.

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The authors present an actualized and commented list of the amphibia and reptilia species noted in Morocco. The changes witch happened during the 16years after the last checklist established by BoNS(1972) are discussed. These are new additions (species recently discovered in Morocco and new taxa for Science, sorne of witch resulting from systematic modifications of other species or subspecies) and changes of names (new combinations) or status. Problems concerning the exact delimitation of several species are discussed, insisting particularly on the most conflictual groups (e.g. Chalcides, Aoenthodactylus). Thus we think that the number of species in the present checklist is probably surestimated. Taking in account these problems, we must consider this inventory as provisional, till clearing up the several questions still in suspense.

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This note describes general patterns of winter activity in lizard populations along a latitudinal gradient with an approximate range of twelve degrees (26 to 38°N) in southern Europe and North Africa. We make use of qualitative data gathered through the last ten years in the area, as well as much more accurate quantitative data obtained from periodic censuses covering the whole year cicle in certain populations. Results allow us to impute a great importance to the activity observed in the unfavourable season. This activity seems to be an attribute at the population level and shows a great variability between and within species and populations.

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Patterns of space use in the four sand lizard (Acanthodactylus) species groups living in Morocco (A. erythrurus, A. boskianus, A. pardalis and A. scutellatus) have been analysed. The use of space has been described using 16 environmental variables recorded in 82 plots situated throughout the study area. A principal component analysis was used to report the relationships between variables and plots. Univariate and multivariate (discriminant) analyses were used to describe specific patterns of space use and interspecific differences among lizards. The species richness observed was much lower than expected from the distribution ranges on a regional scale

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We generated an extensive morphological and multilocus molecular dataset to investigate the taxonomy of Acanthodactylus erythrurus, a widespread species across the Mediterranean and semiarid habitats of the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb. Our integrated analyses revealed the existence of at least five basal lineages: (i) an Ibero-Moroccan clade widespread across Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula, from sea-level up to a maximal known altitude of 1,930 m, (ii) an Algero-Tunisian clade, distributed in coastal and inland areas of eastern Algeria and Tunisia, (iii) a Central Algerian clade, formed by two inland populations located in central Algeria (1,000–1,500 m a.s.l.), (iv) a western High Atlas clade including two montane populations from Jbel Siroua and Tizi n’Tichka (at 2,320 m and 2,176 m a.s.l., respectively) and (v) an eastern High Atlas clade, including at least two montane populations from Isli and Tislit (both localities around 2,275 m a.s.l.). An integrated species delimitation approach combining molecular and multivariate morphological analyses demonstrated complete reproductive isolation and hence speciation between the Ibero-Moroccan clade and the eastern High Atlas clade in their contact zone. The divergence between all five clades is broadly similar, supporting the existence of at least five species in the Acanthodactylus erythrurus complex. In the present work we describe the two well-differentiated endemic species from the Moroccan Atlas for which no name is available: Acanthodactylus lacrymae sp. nov. from Isli and Tislit and A. montanus sp. nov. from Jbel Siroua and Tizi n’Tichka. Further work will be needed to fully resolve the taxonomy of this species complex.

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We generated an extensive morphological and multilocus molecular dataset to investigate the taxonomy of Acanthodactylus erythrurus, a widespread species across the Mediterranean and semiarid habitats of the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb. Our integrated analyses revealed the existence of at least five basal lineages: (i) an Ibero-Moroccan clade widespread across Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula, from sea-level up to a maximal known altitude of 1,930 m, (ii) an Algero-Tunisian clade, distributed in coastal and inland areas of eastern Algeria and Tunisia, (iii) a Central Algerian clade, formed by two inland populations located in central Algeria (1,000–1,500 m a.s.l.), (iv) a western High Atlas clade including two montane populations from Jbel Siroua and Tizi n’Tichka (at 2,320 m and 2,176 m a.s.l., respectively) and (v) an eastern High Atlas clade, including at least two montane populations from Isli and Tislit (both localities around 2,275 m a.s.l.). An integrated species delimitation approach combining molecular and multivariate morphological analyses demonstrated complete reproductive isolation and hence speciation between the Ibero-Moroccan clade and the eastern High Atlas clade in their contact zone. The divergence between all five clades is broadly similar, supporting the existence of at least five species in the Acanthodactylus erythrurus complex. In the present work we describe the two well-differentiated endemic species from the Moroccan Atlas for which no name is available: Acanthodactylus lacrymae sp. nov. from Isli and Tislit and A. montanus sp. nov. from Jbel Siroua and Tizi n’Tichka. Further work will be needed to fully resolve the taxonomy of this species complex.

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It is predicted that climate change will drive extinctions of some reptiles and that the number of these extinctions will depend on whether reptiles are able to change their distribution. Whether the latitudinal distribution of reptiles may change in response to increases in temperature is unknown. We used data on reptile distributions collected during the 20th century to analyze whether changes in the distributions of reptiles in Spain are associated with increases in temperature. We controlled for biases in sampling effort and found a mean, statistically significant, northward shift of the northern extent of reptile distributions of about 15.2 km from 1940–1975 to 1991–2005. The southern extent of the distributions did not change significantly. Thus, our results suggest that the latitudinal distributions of reptiles may be changing in response to climate change.

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The spatial and seasonal variations in amphibian and reptile diversity were studied in different biotopes (lowlands, desert pavements “Reg,” Sabkhas “salt lakes,” date palm groves, wadis, and urban sites) at the Algerian Sahara Desert. No prior research has explored the connection between the distribution of reptiles and amphibians in Algeria’s Sahara and the environmental diversity of biotopes and landscapes. This study aimed to address this significant knowledge gap by investigating the relationships between Saharan habitats and landscapes and their impact on herpetofaunal presence, abundance, and diversity. The diversity of amphibians and reptiles was assessed based on quantitative data of species captures using nonparametric diversity indices, species richness accumulation curves, and similarity analysis. At the Region of Oued Righ (Northern Sahara Desert), we identified 3 amphibians, 19 lizards, and 10 ophidian species. These 32 species (approximately 30% of the Algerian herpetofauna) were classified into 2 orders (Anura and Squamata), 15 families, and 23 different genera.The study area included 8 protected species in Algeria and 9 endemic species to the Mediterranean region, including 1 amphibian and 7 species of reptiles. Acanthodactylus dumerilii was the most abundant species (20.5% of the total), whereas Chalcides ocellatus occurred in 32.9% of specimens. The highest values of species richness were recorded in palm groves with 22 species and Shannon’s diversity index (H’) was 3.5,whereas the lowest values were obtained in Sabkhas (5 species) and urban sites (7 species).The number of individuals experienced significant variations between study biotopes and seasons. Overall, species richness estimators (Chao2 and Jackknife1) revealed that the current survey achieved 90% of inventory completeness. Estimates and interpolations of species richness showed higher values in urban sites, palm groves, desert pavements, and wadis compared to Sabkhas and lowlands where completeness ranged between 90% and 100%. The analysis of similarity indicated low similarity values (<50%) between biotopes studied. The highest similarities were noted between the mesic biotopes (Sabkhas, wadis, and palm groves), the xeric and undisturbed biotopes (desert pavements and lowlands), whereas urban sites showed a distinct herpetofaunal community that was completely different of that recorded in Sabkhas, wadis, and lowlands.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the histological and fine structure of the liver of Acanthodactylus boskianus during the hibernation period, using ten adult specimens captured from sandy areas of Aswan Governorate, Egypt. Specimens of liver were fixed for light and transmission electron microscope to study the hepatic architecture during this period. In addition to haematoxylin and eosin stain, the histochemical and special stains were used. The hepatocytes are arranged in hepatic plates. The radial arrangement of hepatic cords around the central vein is generally not apparent. The several-cell-thick plate type showed with multi-layered of hepatocytes separated by narrow tortuous capillaries networks, sinusoids that are localized in the space between hepatic plates. The hepatic cells of Acanthodactylus boskianus under light and T.E.M. are similar to those of other vertebrates (birds and mammals), except for the presence of melano- macrophages.

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The occurrence and form of sex chromosomes were investigated with the aid of C-banding and 4′-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining in 13 species of lacertid lizards. The results obtained show the presence in five species of a female heterogamety in which the two sex chromosomes have the same shape and size, but the W differs from the Z in being almost entirely heterochromatic. This condition is clearly similar to that found in some snakes and considered to be an early stage of differentiation of sex chromosomes by Singh et al. (1976, 1980). A more evolved condition may be that found in three other species in which the W is distinctly smaller than the Z. A third situation is that found in all Podarcis species which, even though they are considered to be among the more evolved species in the family, possess two sex chromosomes that are indistinguishable. In general, the situation in lacertids may be compatible with the hypothesis of sex chromosome evolution put forward by Singh et al. (1976, 1980). However a differentiation mechanism of this kind does not seem to be well established in lacertids, and is probably not the only mechanism that is in operation in this family.

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ventaire exhaustif des espèces indigènes et naturalisées, présentes e n France et au Benelux : 85 taxons, relevant de 72 espèces, sont cités, mais deux autre s taxons, dont le statut reste à définir, sont mentionnés au n os 31 (Rana esculenta) et a u n° 53 (Podarcis muralis) et huit autres au n` 56 (Podarcis muralis tiliguerta) de l`inven- taire. On signale les zones à prospecter par priorité et les problèmes taxonomiques à résoudre d`urgence . Les aires sont définies par rapport aux provinces ou aux départements : des cartes d`aire provisoires, en France, sont données pour 33 taxons. En ce qui concerne la liste des taxons relatifs à la France, les modifications suivante s sont à noter : 1°) taxons admis : Triturus alpestris apuanus, Acanthodactylus erythrurus cf. erythru- rus, Lacerta agilis garzoni, Podarcis hispanica hispanica, Podarcis muralis merremia , Vipera latastei latastei, Vipera seoanei ; 2.) deux intergrades de Salamandra salamandra sont retenus : 30) taxons refusés : Rana iberica, Coronella austriaca fitzingeri, Natrix tessellata tessellata ; 4.) tombent en synonymie les deux taxons suivants : Podarcis muralis occidentalis (= P. m. muralis) et P. m. calbia (= P. m. oyensis). En outre, liste des espèces introduites, liste des espèces citées par erreur et list e des taxons à rechercher . Quelques données inédites concernent le nord de l`Espagne .

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Lacertids show three types of conspicuous lateral colour patches (i.e. ultraviolet-blue, ultraviolet- green, and ultraviolet-yellow), that appear repeatedly as alternative phenotypes across the phylogeny of this lizard family. Theory predicts that chromatic signals have evolved to be more conspicuous in their own visual ecosystem. Thus, there should be a relationship between a species’ habitat and the type of conspicuous coloration it shows, considering all observers that might exploit these conspicuous colour patches (i.e. conspecifics, predators). In this work we tested if three sympatric species, Psammodromus algirus, P. edwardsianus, and Acanthodactylus erythrurus (which show the three alternative phenotypes), (1) present differences in conspicuousness, and (2) are segregated by habitat (i.e. light spectral quality, openness, and available refuges). We hypothesized a relationship between the degree of conspicuousness and microhabitat selection, with the most conspicuous species occupying the most vegetated and refuge-rich habitats, and the less conspicuous species occupying more open habitats with less refuges. Our results confirmed our initial hypothesis, and suggest that lizards with the most conspicuous colorations select those microhabitats in which they are less vulnerable to visual predators. These results agree with the idea of a direct relationship between habitat and colour signal design.

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Ultraviolet (UV) vision and UV colour patches have been reported in a wide range of taxa and are increasingly appreciated as an integral part of vertebrate visual perception and communication systems. Previous studies with Lacertidae, a lizard family with diverse and complex coloration, have revealed the existence of UV-reflecting patches that may function as social signals. However, confirmation of the signalling role of UV coloration requires demonstrating that the lizards are capable of vision in the UV waveband. Here we use a multidisciplinary approach to characterize the visual sensitivity of a diverse sample of lacertid species. Spectral transmission measurements of the ocular media show that wavelengths down to 300 nm are transmitted in all the species sampled. Four retinal oil droplet types can be identified in the lacertid retina. Two types are pigmented and two are colourless. Fluorescence microscopy reveals that a type of colourless droplet is UV-transmitting and may thus be associated with UV-sensitive cones. DNA sequencing shows that lacertids have a functional SWS1 opsin, very similar at 13 critical sites to that in the presumed ancestral vertebrate (which was UV-sensitive) and other UV-sensitive lizards. Finally, males of Podarcis muralis are capable of discriminating between two views of the same stimulus that differ only in the presence/absence of UV radiance. Taken together, these results provide convergent evidence of UV vision in lacertids, very likely by means of an independent photopigment. Moreover, the presence of four oil droplet types suggests that lacertids have a four-cone colour vision system.

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Many animals display complex colour patterns that comprise several adjacent, often contrasting colour patches. Combining patches of complementary colours increases the overall conspicuousness of the complex pattern, enhancing signal detection. Therefore, selection for conspicuousness may act not only on the design of single colour patches, but also on their combination. Contrasting long- and short-wavelength colour patches are located on the ventral and lateral surfaces of many lacertid lizards. As the combination of long- and short-wavelength-based colours generates local chromatic contrast, we hypothesized that selection may favour the co-occurrence of lateral and ventral contrasting patches, resulting in complex colour patterns that maximize the overall conspicuousness of the signal. To test this hypothesis we performed a comparative phylogenetic study using a categorical colour classification based on spectral data and descriptive information on lacertid coloration collected from the literature. Our results demonstrate that conspicuous ventral (long wavelength-based) and lateral (short wavelength-based) colour patches co-occur throughout the lacertid phylogeny more often than expected by chance, especially in the subfamily Lacertini. These results suggest that selection promotes the evolution of the complex pattern rather than the acquisition of a single conspicuous colour patch, possibly due to the increased conspicuousness caused by the combination of colours with contrasting spectral properties.

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A study on taxocenosis of Lacertidae with 8 species: Lacerta lepida, Lacerta schreiberi, Lacerta montícola, Acanthodactylus erythrurus, Psammodromus algirus, Psammodromus hispanicus, Podareis hispanica and Podareis bocagei in the western part of the Sistema Central (Iberian Península) has been carried out. Most of these behave as feeding generalists but A. erythrurus seems to specialize in mymecophagy whereas L. montícola turns out to be a «forced» sthenophage. The overlap valúes in each niche dimensión suggest that the spatial dimensión and habitat preference are the most important factors. However, segregation is produced jointly due to the interaction of the three dimensions considered which act interdependently.

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We report on the reproductive cycle and reproductive characteristics of three oviparous lizard species: Psammodromus algirus, Psammodromus hispanicus and Acanthodactylus erythrurus from a sandy coastal area in SW-Spain. Maximum testicle activity in P. algirus is research between March-May. Oviposition occurs along the activity cycle until September, clutch size average 4.8 eggs (2-10) and larger females tend to produce larger clutches. In P. hoispanicus testicle reaches maximal volume during February-May. Oviposition occurs throughout April-September, and two clutches, averaging 3.6 egg (2-5), are produced annually. In A. erythrurus mean testicle colume reaches its maximum in March, oviposition occurs in two cycles: spring and summer, clutch size averages 4.4 eggs (3-6) and increases with female snout-vent length.

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In this study we examine the structure of a Mediterranean lizard assemblage from the west of the Iberian peninsula. Four lizard species inhabit the area: Lacerta lepida, Psammodromus algirus, Psammodromus hispanicus and Acanthodactylus erythrurus . Activity patterns, microhabitat use and diet composition were studied in the latter three species. Activity patterns and microhabitat were found to be similar among species. However, unlike the results of studies on other Iberian lizard assemblages, we found an interspecific segregation along the trophic dimension. A tendency for myrmecophagy within the genus Acanthodactylus indicates that the trophic segregation of A. erythrurus is due to phylogenetic constraints. The diet of Psammodromus hispanicus , however, appears to be influenced by its small body size.

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1. 1.In the field, adult fringe-toed lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrusus) had a mean body temperature of 38.8 ± 0.2 (S.E.) °C while subadults maintained a significantly lowr temperature ( ). 2. 2.Laboratory measurements of oxygen consumption, ventilation frequency, and heart rate indicate that temperatures above 38°C are stressful to subadults. 3. 3.Activity periods of subadults are curtailed by high temperatures for 3 months in summer while the activity of the more thermophilic adults is curtailed only during July and August. 4. 4.Some lizards maintained a high metabolic rate by achieving a low Q10 ( ) between 13 and 25°C. 5. 5.Because these lizards initiate activity at black body temperatures of 13°C in their natural habitat, the ability to sustain high rates of aerobic metabolism at low temperatures is probably valuable.

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The integration of spatial area prioritization algorithms and species distribution modelling has shown great promise in conservation planning in recent years. However, despite the fact that reptiles and amphibians have the highest threat status of all terrestrial vertebrates, these species are often under-represented in conservation planning. The Kingdom of Morocco possesses the richest and most varied herpetofauna in the Maghreb and the western Mediterranean, and is characterized by high species richness, endemism and number of European relict species. Despite the fact that Moroccan reptiles and amphibians have been the subject of numerous studies by a large number of international herpetologists since the beginning of the 20th century, few or none of these concerned their conservation. This study had three main objectives: (1) to identify those areas that harbour the highest species richness; (2) to evaluate the existing and proposed future ‘important biological and ecological sites’ (SIBES) conservation area network (CAN) with respect to their ability to protect the herpetofauna adequately; and (3) to identify priority areas into which the existing protected areas can be augmented. We used maximum-entropy species distribution modelling to run distribution models for 11 amphibian and 86 reptile species (27.6% endemics and 12.4% threatened) for which we had 2,170 single geographic records. A total of 97 models were used to create a richness map of the Moroccan her- petofauna and thereby detect both areas of high species richness and the distribution patterns of individual species. This map was subsequently used as a basis for performance evaluation of the CAN and area prioritization using the ConsNet conservation planning software initialized by ‘‘Rarity’’ first, while using representation targets of 5% and 10%. Additionally, the proposed future Moroccan CAN (SIBES) was evaluated in terms of its overlay and proximity with ConsNet solutions using visual interpretation and distance measurements in a GIS. Our results show that Moroccan herpetofauna is poorly protected under the existing and future CAN. Prioritization of areas shows that a major increase in conservation area is required to guarantee the persistence of individual herpetofauna species even with a global minimum representation target of only 10%. An increase of the existing CAN is especially needed along parts of the Atlantic coast, in the north-western Mediterranean region, on the north-eastern Moroccan coast, as well as in several areas in the Sahara, notably vast proportions of the Valle ́e du Haut and Bas Draˆa.

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Aim: Discontinuity in the distribution of genetic diversity (often based on mtDNA) is usually interpreted as evidence for phylogeographic breaks, underlying vicariant units. However, a misleading signal of phylogeographic break can arise in the absence of barrier to gene flow, under mechanisms of isolation by distance (IBD). How and under which conditions phylogeographic breaks can be reliably differentiated from populations evolving under IBD remain unclear. Here, we use multi-locus sequence data from a widely distributed lizard species to address these questions in an empirical setting. - Location: Morocco. - Taxon: Spiny-footed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus), Squamata: Lacertidae. - Methods: Using 325 samples from 40 localities, we identified genetic discontinuities within A. erythrurus based on a mitochondrial fragment and nine nuclear markers independently. Using the nuclear markers, we then applied linear regression models to investigate whether genetic divergence could be explained by geographical distances alone, or barriers to gene flow (real phylogeographic breaks). - Results: A. erythrurus is characterized by an important mitochondrial diversity, with 11 strongly supported phylogeographic lineages with a crown age of 6 Mya. Nuclear markers, however, yielded weak phylogenetic support for these lineages. Using clustering methods based on genotypes at nine nuclear loci, we identified phylogeographic clusters that were partly discordant with the mtDNA lineages. Tests of IBD delimited at least four groups of populations separated by barriers to gene flow, but unambiguous separation of vicariance from IBD remained challenging in several cases. - Main conclusions: The genetic diversity of A. erythrurus originates from a mix of IBD and vicariance, which were difficult to distinguish, and resulted in similar levels of mitochondrial differentiation. These results highlight that phylogeographic breaks inferred from mitochondrial data should be further investigated using multilocus data and explicit testing to rule out alternative processes generating discontinuities in mitochondrial diversity, including IBD. We identified four groups of populations within A. erythrurus, separated by barriers to gene flow, but even using nine independent nuclear makers the power of our approach was limited, and further investigation using genome-wide data will be required to resolve the phylogeographic history of this species.

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Over the last few centuries, forestry management assumed different functions, since forest optimization, necessary for exclusive wood production, up to Nature resources’ management to biodiversity conservation, but also to promote nature recreation activities. Thereby, and supported by those last factors, this survey had as main objective the evaluation of biodiversity significance, in concrete case the avifauna, for the development of a summarized characterization of some local natural values, for future marks on the most interesting places to watch different species. This study was made in Valpaços municipality, located in Vila Real district, on summer season, and it was defined a path with nine different points (Lilela, Miradeses, Gorgoço, Cachão, Ponte do Arquinho, Parque de Campismo, Foz da Ribeira do Piago, Agordela, Tinhela), between Rabaçal and Calvo rivers, and according to a possible greenway construction project. For this process were used MacKinnon’s List and Point Count as study’s methods, with the main of helping evaluate species’ richness and abundance in different places. As a first approach to results it was possible to count a total of 72 bird species, corresponding to 79% of the already identified species in the region. Regarding the place, it was detected a larger number of species in Foz da Ribeira do Piago, a Calvo’s river affluent, and in Cachão. Lilela was the place with a smaller number of species’ observations. According to the results, it was possible to conclude that the creation of a local greenway can be an economic, cultural and a biodiversity conservation asset.

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Food habits and daily activity patterns were studied in sympatric populations of the lizards Psammodromus algirus and Acanthodactylus erythrurus (Lacertidae) from the Parc National d’El Kala, north-eastern Algeria. In this area, these two species inhabited nearly the same microhabitats and were similar in terms of body length and weight. Both species were insectivorous, and fed primarily upon Coleoptera, Formicidae, and Diptera. The interspecific diet overlap was very high in terms of both the total number of prey items and the per cent of lizards containing a given food type. Null model analysis by Monte Carlo simulations (using the RA2 and RA3 algorithms) revealed that the high diet overlap values were not produced by chance. Daily activity patterns differed intraspecifically depending on the season, and interspecifically during both spring and summer. It is possible that the interspecific differences in daily activity patterns may help facilitating coexistence of the two study species. The high diet overlap may depend on the convergent eco-physiological needs of these two species in the arid environment, which forces them to apply a similar foraging strategy, i.e. preying on a few abundant and easily found prey sources.

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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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Algeria is situated at the crossroads between Europe and Africa. The northern part of the country is listed as an area of high biodiversity. Currently, the ecosystems (rivers, lakes, deserts, forests etc.) and the species are under more pressure than ever. The impact of humans is significant and many factors constitute a strong threat to this fauna, especially reptiles, which are the most vulnerable because of their low mobility. Thus, pollution, the drying up of wetlands and their conversion to agriculture have clearly affected the existence of many species. The herpetofauna of Algeria is one of the most diversified in the Mediterranean Basin, consisting of 104 species of which 16.98% are endemic. We suppose that the present list of reptilian fauna provided in this paper is not exhaustive and it is expected to include more species given the lack of research on reptiles in Algeria and its large area. Our dataset contains information on reptile occurrences in Algeria. The dataset is based on original research by the staff of the Laboratory of Environmental Sciences and Agroecology of Chadli Bendjedid University in Algeria. The conservation status of all recorded species is given.

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Homing behavior in the spiny-footed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus). –The term homing, as it is usually understood, indicates the ability of several animal species to return to their home range after a natural or artificial displacement from it. In this paper we use mark-displacement-relocation techniques to study homing behavior in a population of spiny-footed lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) living in a coastal sandy area at La Albufera Natural Park (Valencia, Spain). To this end, 20 lizards of both sexes were displaced 100 m from the geometric center of their respective home ranges. Five of them were relocated inside their home ranges between 3 and 13 days after displacement. Displaced animals did not show a preferred orientation after release, which suggests that initial orientation is not a good predictor of homing success in this species. This is the first time that a homing capacity has been documented for A. erythrurus. Results also suggest that homing in this species is based on true navigation.

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Diagnose, Beschreibung (Maße, Äußere Merkmale, Schädel, Postcranialskelett, Karyotyp), Verbreitung, Merkmalsvariation (Geschlechtsdimorphismus, Altersbedingte Variationen, Jahreszeitlicher Wandel, Ökologisch bedingter Wandel, Unterartgliederung), Ökologie (Biotop, Nahrung, Fortpflanzung, Populationsdynamik), Jugendentwicklung, Verhalten (Aktivität, Fortpflanzungsverhalten, Kommunikation), Literatur.

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Die vorliegende Revision betrifft die Gattung Acanthodactylus (Damilie Lacertidae), die die Trocken- und Wüstengebiete des nördlichen Afrika und des südwestlichen Asiens bewohnt, mit Randpopulationen auf der Iberischen Halbinsel und auf Zypern. Mehr als 6000 Exemplare der Gattung, aus den bedeutendsten europäischen und amerikanischen Sammlungen, wurden untersucht. Zusätzlich wurden über 450 Röntgenaufnahmen für osteologische Untersuchungen ausgewertet. Die historische Übersicht behandelt in chronologischer Reihenfolge alle Arbeiten, die sich mit der Gattung Acanthodactylus beschäftigen, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung taxonomischer Studien. Ein beigegebener Bestimmungsschlüssel ermöglicht die Determination aller Arten der Gattung. Eine Reihe äußerer (Größe und Proportionen, Pholidose, Färbung und Zeichnung) und innerer (d.h. osteologischer) Merkmale wurde im Hinblick auf ihre Variabilität untersucht. Dann wurde ein Land ausgesucht, z.B. Ägypten, aus dem eine gute Materialbasis zur Verfügung stand. Für einen bestimmten Fundort in diesem Lande wurden sodann einige Kombinationen von Merkmalszuständen ermittelt, die sich aus dem Auftreten verschiedener Arten ergaben. Derselbe Vorgang wurde sodann auf den Rest Ägyptens übertragen, und die Merkmalskombinationen stellten sich als übereinstimmend heraus; sie erlaubten dadurch eine sichere Zuordnung von Tieren zu folgen Arten: A. boskianus, A. scutellatus und A. pardalis. Durch die Ausdehnung der Untersuchung nach Westen und Osten kamen weitere Taxa hinzu. Besonderer Aufmerksamkeit wurde diesen Merkmalskombinationen im Hinblick auf sympatrisches oder allopatrisches Auftreten der betroffenen Arten gezollt, mit dem Ergebnis, daß es in einigen Fällen möglich war, abzusichern, daß es sich um Populationen derselben Art handelt. Die Gattung Acanthodactylus wurde in mehrere Artengruppen gegliedert, die sich durch engere Beziehungen ihrer Arten untereinander auszeichnen. Die erste ist die micropholis-Gruppe mit der einzigen Art A. micropholis. Sie wird als die ursprünglichste der gesamten Gattung angesehen. Eine weitere Gruppe ist die boskianus-Gruppe, mit den Arten A. boskianus und A. schreiberi. Erstere wird ausführlich analysiert im Hinblick auf ihre außerordentlich große geographische Variabilität. Die yemenicus-Gruppe besiedelt die Arabische Halbinsel und besteht aus A. yemenicus sp.n., A. masirae, A. opheodurus und A. felicis. Eine weitere Gruppe ist die tristrami-Gruppe mit den Arten A. tristrami und A. robustus. Für erstere wird die Validität der Unterart orientalis verneint, die für iracensis dagegen bejaht. In die grandis-Gruppe wird hier nur A. grandis gestellt, während A. fraseri als dessen Synonym aufgefaßt wird. Die erythrurus-Gruppe enthält A. erythrurus, A. savignyi, A. blanci, A. boueti und A. guineensis. Letzterer rangierte bislang in der Gattung Eremias, gehört aber nach den hier vorgelegten Befunden in die erythrurus-Gruppe von Acanthodactylus. In der pardalis-Gruppe sind enthalten: A. pardalis, A. bedriagai, A. maculatus, A. spinicauda und A. busacki sp.n. aus Marokko. Die scutellatus-Gruppe besteht aus A. scutellatus, A. aureus, A. dumerili und A. longipes. Die letzte Gruppe ist die cantoris-Gruppe mit den Arten A. cantoris, A. arabicus, A. schmidti, A. blanfordi, A. gongrorhynchatus und A. haasi. Eine Bibliographie über die Gattung beschließt die Arbeit. Für jede Art werden Diagnosen, Verbreitungskarten, Synonymien, Beschreibungen und Materiallisten der untersuchten Tiere sowie auch Strichzeichnungen gegeben.

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Under the so-called PEIN (Natural Interest Sites Plan, declared by the catalan government) a in the south of the of Lleida demarcation (NE Iberian Peninsula) the herpetological species observed in recent years are shown. There are a total of 8 protected areas sampled, all belonging to the semi-arid continental scrubland region, below the first slopes of the pre-Pyrenees. In one of these areas there is a wetland with a reservoir. For all the areas sampled the data of localization, in UTM 10x10 sq. Km, and date of observation of the different species is given. A total of 23 species have been found in the different habitats visited.

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The Middle Atlas of Morocco was visited several times in May/June. A survey of the landscape, climate and vegetation is given: Five species of lacertid lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus atlanticus, Podarcis vaucheri, Psammodromus algirus, Scelarcis perspicillata, Timon tangitanus) could be found. Mainly information on distribution and ecology of these species is communicated. Additional information on Psammodromus microdactylus is given. Threats affecting species and conservation measures are discussed.

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The Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada, Sierra de Peña de Francia and the Cantabrian Mountains were visited during the second half of May, 1994. In northern Spain Podarcis hispanica and P. muralis are living in syntopy. On all sites Lacerta lepida was common. North of Murcia the only typical L. lepida nevadensis have been seen. In the Sierra Nevada this subspecies had a large amount of green colouration. South of Madrid Acanthodactylus erythrurus and Psammodromus algirus were found in nearly every habitat. In the vicinity of Béjar Podarcis bocagei and Lacerta schreiberi were seen. In the Sierra Covadonga a large population of L. schreiberi was found in a very dry mountain slope.

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The resource partitioning between two abundant psammophile lizard species: Acanthodactylus erythrurus and Psammodromus algirus, was studied in a coastal sand area of Eastern Spain. We have studied the resource partitioning on the three fundamental niche dimensions, space, food and time, to which we have added the thermic dimension. In two different seasons, 1980 and 1982, significative trophic differences in A. erythrurus are found, and it can atribute to precipitation differences. The intraspecific variation, by size classes, of the trophic dimension in A. erythrurus is apparent, and it is deffined as a myrmecophagic species in juvenile stages. In Ps. algirus there is not such variation. Temporal niche breadth, by hours, in the five months, differs clearly from one species to another. Trophically, Ps. algirus behaves like the more euriphagic species. Both species are fundamentally separated by the food type and food size, further, the horary regime of activity. Other dimensions (space, cloacal temperatures and seasonal time), show very high overlap.

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he spatial and temporal distribution by sex and size classes of the fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus, Schinz) are described here. This paper is a study of a reptile population in the sand dune ecosystem at El Saladar beach (Alicante, Spain). Three factors have been considered in the spatial distribution: slope, cover and different kinds of vegetation. As for the time factor in our observations, we have noted daily and seasonal changes. The species prefers low slope spots, covered in 10% and more, and places with types I and III for vegetation. Females (more adults than juveniles) reject medium and great slope zones. As for cover, male juveniles and adult females select zones covered in 30%. Type I vegetation is occupied by adult females preferably, because of the trophic and reproductive requirements. Type III is prefered by juvenile females and adult males. Type IV is neutral and type II is always depreciated. In activity pattern, juvenile individuals begin the daily activity before adult ones, except in April and July. In summer months, the activity curve appears bimodal because of the thermoregulation exigences, with a first peak greater than the second. In spring and fall months, the curve is unimodal. In winter months the activity continues in a few juveniles when the air temperature is highest in the day Sex ratio varies progressively between April and July.

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The theoretical numbers of individual permanence for a long term, contrast with the random distribution numbers, and such differences, point at the species trend for concrete kinds of substrate, vegetation types, slope, vegetation cover and so on. The same analysis, applied to goings between the 4 types of vegetation in the plot, show no difference between the theoretical last distribution and the actual one, being constant the population density.

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Whereas the range size of endangered species is undoubtfuly useful to predict risk of extinction, the role of their life-history characteristics is much less clear, and their effects may depend on the nature of the threatening factors. Such factors, for instance, are known to be different on islands and on the mainland. We used phylogenetically based statistical analyses to study the relationships among conservation status, insularity, range size, and life-history traits in a clade of Western Palaearctic lacertids including insular and continental species. These lizards are ecologically similar, but they show wide variation in life-history traits and vulnerability to extinction. Insular species of a given size had smaller clutches than mainland ones. Degree of threat was best predicted by a logistic regression including range size, insularity, clutch size, and the insularity × clutch size interaction. On the mainland, but not on islands, threatened species had smaller clutches than non-threatened ones. On islands, small clutch size is probably an adaptive trait, and it might predispose certain species to extinction, but the intrinsic characteristics of such species remain unclear. However, small clutch size was a good predictor of extinction risk on the mainland, having evolved most frequently in late maturing species from montane habitats in which climatic conditions limit their reproductive output and increase their vulnerability to stochastic hazards or habitat fragmentation.

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Research on the taxonomy of European amphibians and reptiles has increased noticeably over the last few decades, indicating the need for recognition of new species and the cancellation of others. This paper provides a critical review of recent changes and draws up a tentative species list.

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The last species list of the European herpetofauna was published by Speybroeck, Beukema and Crochet (2010). In the meantime, ongoing research led to numerous taxonomic changes, including the discovery of new species-level lineages as well as reclassifications at genus level, requiring significant changes to this list. As of 2019, a new Taxonomic Committee was established as an official entity within the European Herpetological Society, Societas Europaea Herpetologica (SEH). Twelve members from nine European countries reviewed, discussed and voted on recent taxonomic research on a case-by-case basis. Accepted changes led to critical compilation of a new species list, which is hereby presented and discussed. According to our list, 301 species (95 amphibians, 15 chelonians, including six species of sea turtles, and 191 squamates) occur within our expanded geographical definition of Europe. The list includes 14 non-native species (three amphibians, one chelonian, and ten squamates).

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Elements of the herpetofauna are in the author`s opinion of great importance for the zoogeographical division of the Palaearctic region. It is suggested that this region be divided into the following four subregions: 1/ arctic, 2/ boreal Euro-Siberian, 3/ bo- real Himalayan-Manchurian and 4/ Mediterranean-Central-Asiatic.

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Acanthodactylus lizards are among the most diverse and widespread diurnal reptiles in the arid regions spanning from North Africa across to western India. Acanthodactylus constitutes the most species-rich genus in the family Lacertidae, with over 40 recognized species inhabiting a wide variety of dry habitats. The genus has seldom undergone taxonomic revisions, and although there are a number of described species and species-groups, their boundaries as well as their interspecific relationships are largely unresolved. We constructed a multilocus phylogeny, combining data from two mitochondrial (12S, cytb) and three nuclear (MC1R, ACM4, c-mos) markers for 302 individuals belonging to 36 known species, providing the first large-scale time-calibrated molecular phylogeny of the genus. We evaluated phylogenetic relationships between and within species-groups, and assessed Acanthodactylus biogeography across its known range. Acanthodactylus cladogenesis is estimated to have originated in Africa due to vicariance and dispersal events from the Oligocene onwards. Radiation started with the separation into three clades: the Western and scutellatus clades largely distributed in North Africa, and the Eastern clade occurring mostly from Arabia to south-west Asia. Most Acanthodactylus species diverged during the Miocene, possibly as a result of regional geological instability and climatic changes. We support most of the current taxonomic classifications and phylogenetic relationships, and provide genetic validity for most species. We reveal a new distinct blanfordii species-group, suggest new phylogenetic positions (A. hardyi, A. masirae), and synonymize several species and subspecies (A. lineomaculatus, A. boskianus khattensis and A. b. nigeriensis) with their phylogenetically closely-related species. We recommend a thorough systematic revision of taxa exhibiting high levels of intraspecific variability as well as clear evidence of phylogenetic complexity such as A. guineensis, A. grandis, A. dumerilii, and A. senegalensis and the pardalis and erythrurus species-groups.

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Evolutionary changes in foraging style are often believed to require concurrent changes in a complex suite of morphological, physiological, behavioural and life-history traits. In lizards, species from families with a predominantly sit-and-wait foraging style tend to be more stocky and robust, with larger heads and mouths than species belonging to actively foraging families. Here, we test whether morphology and foraging behaviour show similar patterns of association within the family Lacertidae. We also examine the association of bite force abilities with morphology and foraging behaviour. Lacertid lizards exhibit considerable interspecific variation in foraging indices, and we found some evidence for a covariation between foraging style and body shape. However, the observed relationships are not always in line with the predictions. Also, the significance of the relationships varies with the evolutionary model used. Our results challenge the idea that foraging style is evolutionarily conservative and invariably associated with particular morphologies. It appears that the flexibility of foraging mode and its morphological correlates varies among lizard taxa.

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Foraging strategy is often considered to play a central role in moulding diverse aspects of an animal`s general biology. Active foragers should have greater locomotor endurance, allowing high movement activity rates, while sit-and-waiting foragers may be better adapted to sprinting, allowing catching prey by a quick attack from an ambush site, and going with specific predator escape tactics. In this study we investigate these predicted patterns in a set of lacertid lizard species. There is considerable variation in foraging activity within Lacertidae, which allows the close investigation of the co-evolution of the traits considered. We found a tendency of positive correlation of foraging measures (PTM, percentage of time moving; MPM, number of movements per minute) with laboratory measured endurance capacity. However, the relationship of foraging measures with maximal sprint speed remains less clear. MPM correlates negatively with maximal sprint speed, but PTM does not. When sprint speed was corrected for body size, no correlations were found at all.

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The author joined a herpetological journey ro Extremadura in Spain. The group consisred of eigllteen per- sons and was travelling vith two vans. The area is more or less as large as the Nerherlands, but Jess popula- ted. The largestpart ofthis region is occupied by `dehesa`, an open mediterrenean wood1311dscenery with catrle-breeding. Moreover there is steppe coumry, mounrains in the north (Sierra de Gredos) and finally hilly cotumy (Sierra de Guadalupe a11d Monfragüe). Day by day the areas that were visited a11d rhe reptiles and 3lnphibians that were seen are described. In total twelve species of a111phibians and twenty species of reptiles are found.

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The author joined a herpetological journey ro Extremadura in Spain. The group consisred of eigllteen per- sons and was travelling vith two vans. The area is more or less as large as the Nerherlands, but Jess popula- ted. The largestpart ofthis region is occupied by `dehesa`, an open mediterrenean wood1311dscenery with catrle-breeding. Moreover there is steppe coumry, mounrains in the north (Sierra de Gredos) and finally hilly cotumy (Sierra de Guadalupe a11d Monfragüe). Day by day the areas that were visited a11d rhe reptiles and 3lnphibians that were seen are described. In total twelve species of a111phibians and twenty species of reptiles are found.

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During two journeys from 27.04. – 07.05.2008 and from 21.04. – 27.04.2012, I visited several parts pf Spain together with some friends of mine. We focused on the lizards of the Iberiasn Peninsula. Specifically, we wanted to make some beautiful pictures of the Ocellated Lizatrds Timon lepidus and Timon nevadensis, which unfortunately did not always succeed on the first trip. In the following article, I briefly present the lizards of the family Lacertidae that were found during the two journeys together with some of their localities.

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Spatial and trophic resource partitioning among seven sympatric insectivorous lizard species was investigated in arid area in the central Jbilet mountains (Western Morocco) during spring 1995. Two foraging guilds are apparent: a specialist sit-and-wait (Agama impalearis, Tarentola mauritanica et Saurodaclylus brosseti) and a generalist one (Eumeces algeriensis, Chalcides polylepis, Acanthodaclylus erythrurus and Mesalina simoni). The studied lizard species differentiate from each other in substrate use relatively to their respective adaptive morphological traits. A. impalearis and T. mauritanica occur mainly in rocky areas, E. algeriensis and M. simoni appear mostly on rocky and pebbly-bare ground substrates, A. erythrurus and C. polylepis are found on sandy-pebbly substrates while S. brosseti occurs in pebbly soils. By contrast, there were large overlaps in the taxonomic composition of their diets which are numerically dominated by Formicidae, Isoptera, Coleoptera and Araneidae with different proportions according to lizard species. However, important prey-size differences between species allowed to reduce trophic overlap. A selectivity analysis of lizard diet revealed patterns of prey selection based on criteria inherent either to predator (foraging behaviour, morphological constraints) or prey (size, abundance and activity). Results suggest that spatial and trophic segregation along with taxonomic divergence make possible the coexistence of these lizard species.