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Die geographische Variabilität Ibero-Pyrenäischer Zootoca vivipara (JACQUIN, 1787) wird untersucht. Multivariate Analysen weisen auf eine Differenzierung zentral- und west-kantabrischer Stichproben, hauptsächlich aufgrund der besonderen Pileuskonfiguration, besonders der Männchen, währen die Weibchen beträchtliche morphologische Überschneidungen mit Weibchen anderer Gebiete zeigen. Univariate Statistiken gruppieren Exemplare aus Kantabrien und dem Baskenland (s. lat.) näher beieinander, während die der Pyrenäen sich von diesen etwas abheben, ein Muster, das recht gut mit den Ergebnissen genetischer Studien übereinstimmt. Die oviparen kantabro-pyrenäischen Populationen werden als neue Unterart beschrieben. Zootoca vivipara louislantzi ssp. nov..Sie unterscheiden sich von anderen Unterarten in mehrerer Hinsicht und sind durch folgende Merkmalskombination gekennzeichnet: morphologisch (verminderte Anzahl von Collaria und Supralabialia, vermehrte Zahl von Subdigitallamellen der 4. Zehe, Fehlen eines diskontinuierlichen breiten, weiß gerandeten Rückenstreifens und bei Weibchen jeglicher gelber Pigmentierung auf der Bauchseite), osteologisch (Tendenz zur Reduktion der Präsakralwirbel), karyologisch (W-sex Chromosom einarmig) und genetisch (Nei’s genetische Distanz von 0.102 und die diagnostischen Allele ATA-150 und ATA-200 sowie 1,3(±0,5 Standardabweichung) % Sequenzdifferenz on der 16S rRNA und 1.9 % Spannweite: 1-2.6 %) im Cytochrom b). Die biometrischen und meristischen Merkmale werden für die neue Unterart insgesamt und getrennt nach den Hauptverbreitungsgebieten angegeben.

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The name “lacerta Schreibersiana var B Lutea Gachet, 1832” forgotten during near two centuries, could endanger the name of Zootoca vivipara louislantzi Arribas, 2009, described 10 years ago. In the present article, we argue that there are several reasons to rule out “lutea” as a valid name. On the one hand, there is a remarkable contradiction that could make one doubt about the species concerned (the tricuspid teeth, never are present in Z. vivipara). Even if being Z. vivipara, there is an uncertainty also regarding the subspecies concerned (the Garona river is the theoretical limit that separates both oviparous and viviparous forms, and although oviparous is closer, none lives today in the vicinity of Bordeaux). That`s why “Lutea”should be a nomen dubium. In addition, and in words of its own author, it was erected as a variety of color in some individuals, so it is an infrasubspecific name. For all these reasons, and in case any of these aspects could still be further discussed, we propose here the reversal of precedence, since the name `Lutea` has never been used as valid in the last 187 years, and the name louislantzi has more than 10 years and has been used as valid in at least 37 works and by 70 different authors (see Appendix 1; the minimum required by the ICZN is 10 years, 25 works and 10 authors). For this reason it is declared louislantzi as nomen protectum and “Lutea” nomen oblitum.

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In the herpetological collection of ZFMK 528 scientific species group names are represented by type materi- al. Of these, 304 names are documented by primary type specimens (onomatophores) while for 224 further names sec- ondary type specimens (typoids) are available, ranging chronologically from 1801 to 2010. The list is a shortened pred- ecessor of a comprehensive type catalogue in progress. It lists name bearing types with their catalogue numbers includ- ing information on further type series members also in other institutions, while secondary types are listed only by pres- ence, both in ZFMK and other collections including holotype repositories. Geographic origin and currently valid names are also provided.

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The intraspecific variation of preferred temperatures (Tp) was analysed in an oviparous population of Lacerta vivipara and compared with viviparous populations. Lizards collected in central Pyrenees were exposed to a thermal gradient and Tp was measured at four time intervals. Tp was strongly dependent on lizard condition (males > non-pregnant females > pregnant females = immatures) and more weakly with time of day (early morning > mid-day). Individual females increased their Tp after egg-laying. Class-by-class comparisons did not reveal substantial differences with viviparous populations as expected for the thermal rigidity hypothesis. Nevertheless, on a short time scale, Tp should be interpreted as a compromise between different selective pressures including not only thermal environment but also reproductive condition and energy allocation.

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Thermo-hydroregulation strategies involve concurrent changes in functional traits related to energy, water balance and thermoregulation and play a key role in determining life-history traits and population demography of terrestrial ectotherms. Local thermal and hydric conditions should be important drivers of the geographical variation of thermohydroregulation strategies, but we lack studies that examine these changes across climatic gradients in different habitat types. Here, we investigated intraspecifc variation of morphology and thermo-hydroregulation traits in the widespread European common lizard (Zootoca vivipara louislantzi) across a multidimensional environmental gradient involving independent variation in air temperature and rainfall and differences in habitat features (access to free-standing water and forest cover). We sampled adult males for morphology, resting metabolic rate, total and cutaneous evaporative water loss and thermal preferences in 15 populations from the rear to the leading edge of the distribution across an elevational gradient ranging from sea level to 1750 m. Besides a decrease in adult body size with increasing environmental temperatures, we found little effect of thermal conditions on thermo-hydroregulation strategies. In particular, relict lowland populations from the warm rear edge showed no specifc ecophysiological adaptations. Instead, body mass, body condition and resting metabolic rate were positively associated with a rainfall gradient, while forest cover and water access in the habitat throughout the season also influenced cutaneous evaporative water loss. Our study emphasizes the importance of rainfall and habitat features rather than thermal conditions for geographical variation in lizard morphology and physiology.

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Viviparity has evolved from oviparity at least 150 independent times in vertebrates. More than 80% of these transitions have occurred in squamate reptiles, where both reproductive modes are rarely seen in different populations of the same species. This condition (bimodal reproduction) is ideal for studying the physiological and morphological changes underpinning the evolution of reproductive mode, and their genetic determinants. Here we analysed the genomes of Zootoca vivipara populations with either oviparous or viviparous reproduction using a RAD sequencing approach. No signature of interbreeding between oviparous and viviparous individuals was found. We conservatively identified 22 annotated coding sequences in genes potentially associated with parity mode differences. Six of these genes are transcription regulators that are also expressed in reproductive tissues of mammals and reptiles, suggesting that changes in gene expression are important for the evolution of viviparity. Using a more inclusive approach based on contigs mapping in either coding or non-coding regions, 45 genes were identified. Twelve of these candidate genes are transcription regulators and four encode protease enzymes. We propose that the evolution of proteases may support morphological changes to the uterus during pregnancy. This study provides the foundation for further experimental studies of the genetic basis of parity mode in Z. vivipara.

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A first complete list of the reptile type specimens preserved in the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC) of Ma-drid (updated until 15 July 2012) is provided. The collection houses a total of 319 type specimens representing 24 taxa belonging to 6 families and 12 genera. There are 22 taxa represented by primary types (19 holotypes, 2 neotypes and 1 lectotype) and at least one paratype, and only two taxa are exclusively represented by one secondary type (paratype). The collection is specially rich in Spanish endemisms. Special attention is deserved by the type series of many subspecies of Podarcis lilfordi described by A. Salvador and V. Pérez-Mellado. All type specimens are housed in the Herpetological collection except Blanus mariae and Psammodromus occidentalis type series and Psammodromus hispanicus (neotype) which are preserved in the DNA/Tissues Collection.

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Gene flow is an important factor determining the evolution of a species, since it directly affects population structure and species’ adaptation. Here, we investigated population structure, population history, and migration among populations covering the entire distribution of the geographically isolated South-West European common lizard (Zootoca vivipara louislantzi) using 34 newly developed polymorphic microsatellite markers. The analyses unravelled the presence of isolation by distance, inbreeding, recent bottlenecks, genetic differentiation, and low levels of migration among most populations, suggesting that Z. vivipara louislantzi is threatened. The results point to discontinuous populations and are in line with physical barriers hindering longitudinal migration south to the central Pyrenean cordillera and latitudinal migration in the central Pyrenees. In contrast, evidence for longitudinal migration exists from the lowlands north to the central Pyrenean cordillera and the Cantabrian Mountains. The locations of the populations south to the central Pyrenean cordillera were identified as the first to be affected by global warming; thus, management actions aimed at avoiding population declines should start in this area.

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The European common lizard, Zootoca vivipara, is one of the very few reptile species with two reproductive modes, viz. viviparity and oviparity. Oviparity in this otherwise viviparous form has been known since 1927 for the allopatric Z. v. louislantzi. Only with the discovery of a second oviparous form, Z. v. carniolica, a parapatric occurrence of oviparous and viviparous populations became conceivable. In this study, we (1) detect a contact zone where both forms meet, (2) find evidence for natural hybridization between both reproductive strains, and (3) compare the reproductive strategies of egg-layers and live-bearers independent from environmental interference. Thirty-seven gravid females were captured in a supposed contact zone in Carinthia, Austria, and maintained in the laboratory until oviposition or parturition. Clutch size, embryonic mortality and birth weight of the neonates were compared among the reproductively differentiated samples. Hybrids were identified by intermediate reproductive characteristics. Our results provide the first proof of a contact zone between live-bearing and egg-laying Z. vivipara, and of natural hybridization among them. The study further provided evidence that hybrid females of the two strains are at least partially fertile, and that oviparous and viviparous Z. vivipara show clear differences in their reproductive strategies.

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The wet Atlantic heaths vs. industrialization: Chronicle of the extinction of the Common Lizard in the plain south of Tarbes (Hautes-Pyrénées ). The common lizard Zootoca vivipara has a very fragmented distribution in the lowlands of the Hautes-Pyrénées, where it only survives west of Tarbes, in some residual humid heaths. The species is nowadays unknown in the cultivated lowlands south of Tarbes, but the testimony of the naturalist Pierre Beck proves it used to occupy one Atlantic heath in the village of Odos during the 1940’s, that have disappeared during the 1970’s. The chronology and context of the extinction of this natural habitat and of the common lizard are developed and discussed.

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Andorra was visited two times in August. A survey of landscape, vegetation, and climate of Andorra is given. Six species of lacertid lizards (Lacerta agilis garzoni, Podarcis liolepis, Podarcis muralis brongniardii, Psammodromus algirus, Timon lepidus lepidus, Zootoca vivipata louislantzi) could be found. Mainly information on distribution and habitat observations are reported.

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Aim: Determining whether altitudinal shifts in species distributions leave molecular footprints on wild populations along their range margins from rear to leading edge. Location: South-west France. Methods: We compared the demographic and genetic variation in 42 wild populations of the Western oviparous subclade B2 of a cold adapted lizard (Zootoca vivipara louislantzi). These populations can be divided into four ecological units across altitudinal clines in South-west France (rear edge: <100 m, admixture zone: 100-500 m, continuous range: 500-1300 m and leading edge: >1300 m above sea level). Results: Within the rear edge were found the highest levels of inbreeding, genetic differentiation and evidence of interrupted gene flow compared to central or colonising areas. Within the leading edge, altitudinal range expansion occurred over the last centuries and populations showed relatively low genetic diversity. These demographic and genetic trends were better explained by inhospitable (warm and dry) climate conditions and forest cover. Main conclusions: This empirical evidence illustrates that molecular footprints of climate conditions and habitat quality on wild population trends can be perceived after recent events, which should be of particular importance to accurately understand and anticipate human-induced global change on wild species and ecosystems.