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1. Substantial plastic variation in phenology in response to environmental heterogeneity through time in the same population has been uncovered in many species. However, our understanding of differences in reaction norms of phenology among populations from a given species remains limited. 2. As the plasticity of phenological traits is often influenced by local thermal conditions, we expect local temperature to generate variation in the reaction norms between populations. 3. Here, we explored temporal variation in parturition date across 11 populations of the com mon lizard (Zootoca vivipara) from four mountain chains as a function of air temperatures during mid-gestation. We characterized among-population variation to assess how local weather conditions (mean and variance of ambient temperatures during mid-gestation) and habitat openness (an index of anthropogenic disturbance) influence the thermal reaction norms of the parturition date. 4. Our results provide evidence of interactive effects of anthropogenic disturbance and ther mal conditions, with earlier parturition dates in warmer years on average especially in closed habitats. 5. Variation in the reaction norms for parturition date was correlated with mean local thermal conditions at a broad geographical scale. However, populations exposed to variable thermal conditions had flatter thermal reaction norms. 6. Assessing whether environmental heterogeneity drives differentiation among reaction norms is crucial to estimate the capacity of different populations to contend with projected climatic and anthropogenic challenges.

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The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of pesticides on the Acanthodactylus scutellatus clan in the Al-Wadi region and in comparison with two different clans of the same rank, i.e. by comparing the Scincus scincus clan that comes from the “Al-Arish desert” and Water Duty area, and the Acanthodactylus scutellatus clan from the agricultural area located in “Umayya and Nasa” `. Our work is based on the determination of the protein and catalase activity of Ras in Acanthodactylus scutellatus samples. - In our work, we chose the Belford 1957 methodology, which depends on slaughtering samples in a correct manner, and then we preserved the samples according to the stipulated conditions and charters. - We crushed the following organs: the head, the liver, and the rest of the body. We get the test results: A very significant increase in “catalase” activity in the head was recorded in the farming samples of Acanthodactylus scutellatus, which recorded 352.8 ± 0.001 μM/mn/mg compared to the samples of “catalase” activity in the head of type Acanthodactylus scutellatus, which recorded 63.7 ±25.7 μM/ mn/mg

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Amphibians and reptiles have interacted with humans for millennia. However, humans interact with amphibian and reptile species in different manners, which depend on their culture and traditions. This study was designed to better understand the interactions between amphibian and reptile species and their usage among the native peoples in the vicinity of the Jhelum and Chenab rivers, Pakistan. Information was collected through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, and was analyzed by using different indices, including the frequency of citation, corrected fidelity level, fidelity level, relative importance level, and informant major ailment. Two amphibians and twenty-six reptile species were used in therapeutic medicine in the study area. Based on the cultural analysis, we found that Naja naja (black cobra) was highly cited across all cultural groups. A 100% Fidelity Level was calculated for the following species: Naja naja (eye infection), Varanus bengalensis (joint pain), Eurylepis taeniolatus (cataract), and Acanthodactylus cantoris (cancer). We found five endangered species in the study area, i.e., Aspideretes gangeticus, A. hurum, Chitra indica, Varanus flavescens, and Geoclemys hamiltonii, that were used to cure joint pain, muscle stretching and pain, backbone pain, paralysis, and psoriasis, respectively. Likewise, Lissemys punctata andersoni, a vulnerable species as labelled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, was extensively used for the treatment of joint pain, body pain, paralysis, and arthritis in the study area. In terms of conservation, it is critical to protect the highly vulnerable and endangered species that are being used in therapeutic medicines. Our findings may be helpful for the conservation of amphibian and reptile species by helping to make an effective plan to prevent their extinction. The main threats to the diversity of amphibian and reptile species in the area are hunting, trading, and cultural use. These threats could potentially lead to the extinction of these species. Therefore, with the involvement of concerned authorities, e.g., local stakeholders, the Ministry of Climate Change, provincial wildlife departments, academia, and conservation managers, immediate conservation measures should be taken for the protection and sustainable utilization of medicinal species.

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The herpetofauna of Samos Island is very rich in species (27 recognised taxa), although most of them both during previous researches carried out in May 2000, and even more during the latest carried out in May 2019 in the south-western part of the island, seemed uncommon and local ized. Regardless the adverse effect of climate change, the reasons could be attributed to three main orders of causes as follows. 1) As in all island faunas of recent settlement, among the various species the processes that lead to establish new balances with gradual reduction of the density of some taxa, may still be in progress. 2) For the chemical degradation of the environment (pesticides). 3) For mechanical and pyric degradation of the environment (cutting and forest fire), which led to a widespread olive cultivation on the island; the olive grove, the resulting open and barren environment, reduces the chance of establishment of herpetological species. Finally as regards the local population of Montivipera xanthina, main purpose of research, the few collected data describe preliminarily a large size form with a quite high number of ventral scales.

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In addition to direct classical methods for assessing diet in wildlife, non-invasive techniques are a suitable alternative, especially in the case of endangered species. As in forensic investigations, a faecal parasitological examination could be a useful approach for a diet assessment in threatened wild birds, such as the Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita). Seven faecal samples were collected from birds from the remaining wild population of Bald Ibis in the Souss Massa region (southwest Morocco). The samples were microscopically analysed, and two of them showed the presence of Pharyngodon spp. eggs, which is a ubiquitous intestinal parasite of saurian reptiles. By compiling our findings and the local bibliographic data, we were able to confirm that small endemic Moroccan lizards, especially of the Acanthodactylus pardalis group, are among the elements that compose the diet of the Northern Bald Ibis.

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Temperature affects the physiological functions of ectotherms. To maintain optimal body temperature and ensure physiological performance, these organisms can use behavioral adjustments to keep the body temperature in their specific temperature range, so-called preferred temperature (Tpref). It is therefore crucial to describe and understand how Tpref vary within and amongst populations to predict the effects of climate change of altitudinal range shifts in organisms. We aimed at determining the altitudinal variations in Tpref in three ectothermic species (the Pyrenean brook salamander – a semi-aquatic and thigmothermic amphibian – the European common lizard and the wall lizard – both heliothermic species). Using an experimental approach where Tpref were measured along a temperature gradient in laboratory conditions, we used a cross-sectional approach to compare the variation of Tpref measured in populations sampled along the altitudinal gradient in the Pyrenees. We hypothesized a complex and highly variable intra-specific response of Tpref along geographical clines, with a positive relationship between Tpref and altitude (as predicted by the countergradient variation), the reverse pattern (referring to the adaptation of local optima hypothesis), or no relationship at all. Our results corroborated partially the countergradient hypothesis in the salamander (middle to high elevation part). At high altitude level, individuals may compensate for lower opportunities of favorable conditions by choosing a high temperature which maximizes their activities. However, populations from low elevation level hence better supported the adaptation of local optima hypothesis, such as both lizard species, for which Tpref tended instead to decrease with altitude. Lizards from cold climates may be physiologically adapted to low temperature, with the ability to reach optimal functioning at lower temperature than individuals from low altitude. Our findings suggest that predicting future niche models should therefore take into account the variability of Tpref, where species might be differently affected by global warming.

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Morocco has a great diversity of reptiles; more than 26% of the herpetofauna species are considered to be endemic. Nevertheless, there is little information available on helminth parasites of Moroccan lizards. The purpose of this article is to establish a helminth list using non-invasive methods for natural populations of seven lizard species: Acanthodactylus maculatus, Chalcides mionecton, Chalcides montanus, Chalcides polylepis, Quedenfeldtia moerens, Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus, and Tarentola mauritanica. For each species, prevalence and intensity of infection were given as well as their relationship to some determinant parameters (sex, age class, size, altitude, and seasons). Four species of nematodes, Parapharyngodon micipsae, Pharyngodon mamillatus, Spauligodon auziensis, Thelandros alatus, and unassigned Spauligodon were found. Mean helminth intensity for the seven lizard species was 7.3 ± 16.2 SD (range = 1–92 in infected lizards), with total infection prevalence of 5.6%. Mixed infections were observed in Chalcides montanus and Chalcides polylepis co-infected by Pharyngodon mamillatus and Spauligodon sp. Furthermore, the intensity of infection by nematodes were significantly different among the seven studied species. The nematode infection in Chalcides mionecton were related to sex, host size, and altitude; in Chalcides polylepis to the host age; in Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus to elevation, age, and host size; and in Tarentola Mauritanica to age, body size, seasons, and altitude. In conclusion, our study provides data about nine new host and locality records and the effect of some determinant factors on host parasitism.

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While global patterns in body size evolution in island vertebrates have been described extensively, the ecological processes that generate these patterns are not well understood. Here we used variation among lizard populations occupying an archipelago to test hypotheses about body size evolution. We examined 35 populations of Aegean wall lizards (Podarcis erhardii, Lacertidae), a species widely distributed across the Balkan mainland and hundreds of Aegean islands. We evaluated measures of resource availability (island area and seabird density), intraspecific competition (lizard abundance) and predation risk (presence of rats, carnivorous mammals, vipers, and birds of prey) as possible factors affecting lizard body size. Lizard body size increased with island size overall, as well as with seabird colony density, suggesting a role for increased food resources and especially seabird subsidies in the evolution of body size. Lizards were larger where lizard population density was higher, suggesting a possible role for intraspecific competition in the evolution of body size. In our sample, rats, carnivorous mammals, and vipers did not have obvious effects on lizard body size, and lizards were smaller on islands with resident birds of prey. Males were larger than females on average, yet sexual dimorphism did not vary consistently with measures of resource availability and competition. Overall, our results suggest that local resource levels predict population density and body size in these lizards, and that nesting seabirds in particular can substantially affect lizard body size.

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Lizards can famously shed their tails when under threat from pursuing predators. The discarded tail, often wiggling, can distract the predator, allowing the lizard to survive the encounter. Self-amputation is known as autotomy and is a common defense strategy in lizards, salamanders, crustaceans, spiders, and other animals. This raises the important question of how does a lizard retain its tail during normal activities that can be vigorous? The tail of a lizard affects its ability to run, leap, mate, and escape the next predator, so losing the tail is a costly sacrifice. The precise mechanism that provides the lizard with the advantage of retaining the tail in situations that are not life-threatening, yet readily shedding it when threatened, has recently been addressed in an elegant study by Navajit Baban, Yong-Ak Song, and others.Baban et al. studied the tails of three common lizards, two species of geckos (Hemidactylus flaviviridis and Cyrtopodion scabrum, of the Gekkonidae family), and one from the family of “true” lizards (Acanthodactylus schmidti, of the Lacertidae family). In the laboratory the tail of the live animal was passively autotomized, and the event was captured by high-speed (3,000 frames per second) video. The proximal and distal exposed surfaces of the tail (the fracture plane) were immediately preserved in formalin and prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). There are several potential facture planes in the tail, allowing for portions of the tail to be sacrificed, depending on the need. This is made possible by the fact that the lizard tail is not one entity, but assemblies of segments connected via the fracture planes.

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It is possible that the origin of Podarcis siculus, which was introduced to Turkey by humans, is based on two different source populations or that the samples introduced to different geographies may differ at the subspecies level. The rapid evolutionary processes observed in island species can similarly occur in introduced and isolated populations. In this study Tissues were taken from samples obtained from Zonguldak, Istanbul and Samsun. mtDNA gene sequences were obtained and combined with Podarcis siculus samples from sequences downloaded from Genbank. Phylogenetic analyzes and species delimitation analyzes were executed. Accordingly results, the specimens obtained from Turkey were grouped into two different haplotypes, similar to their geographic isolation. It has been observed that these groups are different resource groups. Species delimination analyzes show that the differentiation of these haplotypes may be at the subspecies level.

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DNA barcoding remains a recognized and widely used method for taxon identification in biodiversity inventory and monitoring. In this publication, we present information about the results of using this method in the study of green lizards of the genus Lacerta. A total of 67 sequences of the COI gene fragment of three species (L. agilis, L. media, L. strigata) were analyzed. For the first time, all subspecies of L. agilis known in the Caucasus were studied using DNA barcoding, and a phylogeographic hypothesis for L. strigata in the Caucasian part of the range was proposed. Genetic identification has been successful at the species level. In the composition of L. agilis within the Caucasus, we can diagnose only the subspecies L. a. boemica and L. a. exigua, while L. a. brevicaudata, L. a. grusinica and L. a. mzymtensis are identical from L. a. exigua, while L. a. ioriensis from L. a. boemica.

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Im Gegensatz zu den meisten publizierten Angaben können Zauneidechsen auch in Feuchtgebieten beobachtet werden. In einem mit Schilfröhricht bestandenen Niedermoor bei Storkow (Landkreis Oder-Spree, Brandenburg) wurden im Zeitraum vom 18.4.2020 bis 74.6.2020 in elf Exkursioneng2 Mal Zauneidechsen nachgewiesen. Dabei wurden sowohl adulte als auch juvenile Tiere erfasst. Im unmittelbaren Umfeld der Fläche existieren keine typischen Zauneidechsenhabitate, die größere Spender-Populationen beherbergen könnten. Es entstand der Eindruck einer vitalen Zauneidechsen-Population. Zufallsbeobachtungen an anderer Stelle bestätigen, dass Zauneidechsen auch anderorts in Feuchtgebiete eindringen. Selbst Schlüpflinge können in solchen Habitaten gefunden werden. Ob sie hier geschlüpft oder eingewandert sind, muss offen bleiben. Es ist vorstellbar, dass die vergangenen trocken-heißen Sommer die Einwanderung in Feuchtgebiete möglich gemacht haben. Diese Gebiete sind ausgesprochen deckungsreich und verfügen vermutlich über ein hohes Angebot an Nahrung.

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Spatial changes in the population density and species diversity of amphibians and reptiles are described on the basis of material collected in 1998, 2002, and 2014–2016. The spatial and typological structures of their populations were identified and analyzed, and the strength of the connection between the heterogeneity of their communities and the main structure-forming factors of the environment was assessed. Three species of amphibians have been identified on the territory of the cis-Altai Plain during the research, common toad (Bufo bufo (Linnaeus 1758)), moor frog (Rana arvalis Nilsson 1842), and lake frog (Pelophilax ridibundus (Pallas 1771)), as well as four species of reptiles, sand lizard (Lacerta agilis Linnaeus 1758), viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara Jacquin 1787), common snake (Natrix natrix (Linnaeus 1758)), and common viper (Vipera berus (Linnaeus 1758)). The moor frog absolutely predominates in the population of amphibians (93%), the share of the common toad and lake frog is significantly lower, and the sand and viviparous lizards predominate in the communities of reptiles (48 and 46%). It is shown that amphibians and reptiles are unevenly distributed over the territory, and their greatest abundance and species diversity are typical for the forest–steppe part of the cis-Altai Plain. With an increase in the area of steppe and plowed landscapes and a decrease in the proportion of forests in the central and western parts of the cis-Altai Plain, the locality of their distribution over the territory increases. The population density of amphibians, taking into account the underyearlings, reaches the highest values near the breeding water bodies and does not depend on the landscape specifics of the environment. Excluding underyearlings, the highest total abundance of amphibians is characteristic of lowland bogs, floodplain habitats, and relatively moist small-leaved forests. The majority of reptiles live in forested habitats, while the highest abundance rates are typical for small-leaved and humid birch–pine forests and significantly lower for other habitats. The spatial heterogeneity of the amphibian population is determined, first of all, by differences in the moisture content and food supply of habitats, and anthropogenic transformation of the environment in the form of grazing, which leads to trampling of the vegetation cover and compaction of the topsoil, the degree of afforestation, and the composition of forest-forming species, moisture, and food supply have a significant impact on reptiles.

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Tis paper contains information on the records of bottom macroinvertebrates, Fish, amphibians and reptiles collected during a Field expedition to the valley of the river Tskhenistskali (in the vicinities of town of Lentekhi and village of Sasashi) in April 2018. According to the results of the study, three Fish species (Actinopterigii) of three families (Salmonidae, Cyprinidae and Nemacheilidae) inhabits three studied rivers (Kheledula, Devashi and Tskhenistskali Rivers). Seven species of reptiles (Squamata: Anguidae — 1, Colubridae — 1, Viperidae — 1, Lacertidae — 4), and ve species of amphibians (Anura: Hylidae — 1, Bufonidae — 1, Ranidae – 2; Caudata: Salamandridae — 1) were registered within the investigated area. Around Lentekhi town three species of the genus Darevskia Arribas, 1999, namely Darevskia rudis svanetica (Darevsky & Eiselt, 1980), Darevskia brauneri brauneri (Mehely, 1909) and Darevskia derjugini abchasica (Bischoff, 1982) were found to live almost sympatrically, with only river serving as a natural barrier between the species. e paper also contains descriptions of habitats characteristic of the region for the species found and the results of route surveys with D. d. abchasica and P. ridibundus being the most numerous species of herpetofauna (sensu lato) — up to 35 and 20 individuals per 100 m of route. In order to illustrate the feeding base of the registered vertebrates, the study of species composition (n = 114) of bottom macroinvertebrates, that form the main component of food source for them. The recorded invertebrates belong to 16 taxonomic groups of the higher rank (up to 98.1 % of all benthic invertebrates appeared to be insects, including Ephemeroptera — 51 %, Plecoptera — 17.4 % Сhironomidae — 14.2 %, Trichoptera — 11.5 %, Diptera — 3 %). Other groups, namely Turbellaria, Nematoda, Oligochaeta, Araneida, Acarina, Collembola, Heteroptera, Coleoptera, in total form a little less than 3 % of all recorded species. Registrations of fauna from mountain regions will help to update actual maps of natural ranges of the species within the country and tend to be a valuable addition to the data that can be potentially used in GIS-modelling of species’ distribution according to predicted climate changes.

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Von der Nord-Dodekanes Insel Lipsi waren bisher eine Amphibien- und fünf Reptilienarten nachgewiesen. Nun kommen Ablepharus kitaibelii und Cyrtopodion (M.) kotschyi dazu. Lipsi soll Teil eines geplanten Meeres Nationalparkes werden. Es werden darum die derzeit nicht nachhaltigen Aspekte der Landnutzung kommentiert und einige Anregungen für Verbesserungen unterbreitet. Als größtes Problem wird die Überbestoßung durch Kleinvieh geortet. Weiters sollte die Zersiedelung der Insel durch raumplanerische Maßnahmen verhindert werden. Für Bufo (P.) viridis sind Rettungsmaßnahmen zur Erhaltung der Laichplätze vordringlich.

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During a short visit in Hyéres (South France) im Mai 2005 a pair of Podarcis sicula sicula could be observed at the garden center “Jardinerie du gros pin”. The small introduced populaion was first mentioned by BRUECKERS (2003).

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The IPCC reports not only reported higher temperatures in the last decades but also modeled even higher temperatures and droughts for the future. This has a worldwide impact on natural populations, mostly negatively. Ectotherm populations face higher extinction risks considering their vulnerability to those changes. Being already a rare species in Flanders, the need to understand both the situation and the risk of the native populations is raised in priority by local nature conservationists. In this thesis, three different heathlands at the Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide are studied to determine the population densities of the model species Zootoca vivipara and how climate change affects their numbers. This has shown that wet heathlands are the preferred habitat for the model species, as double the number of lizards has been observed compared to dry and dried-up heathlands. Direct impacts of climate change also overshadowed indirect impacts, as prey availability was less optimal in wet heathlands, the lizard’s preferred habitats. However, soil moisture, as well as temperature, had a greater impact on prey availability than it had on the population numbers.

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Telomeres are nucleotide-protein caps, predominantly at the ends of Metazoan linear chromosomes, showing complex dynamics with regard to their lengthening and shortening through life. Their complexity has entertained the idea that net telomere length and attrition could be valuable biomarkers of phenotypic and genetic quality of their bearer. Intuitively, those individuals could be more heterozygous and, hence, less inbred. However, some inbred taxa have longer, not shorter, telomeres. To understand the role of inbreeding in this complex scenario we need large samples across a range of genotypes with known maternity and paternity in telomere-screened organisms under natural conditions. We assessed the effects of parental and hatchling inbreeding on telomere length in >1300 offspring from >500 sires and dams in a population of sand lizards (Lacerta agilis). Maternal and paternal ID and their interactions predict hatchling telomere length at substantial effect sizes (R2 > .50). Deviation from mean maternal heterozygosity statistically predicts shorter offspring telomeres but this only when sibship is controlled for by paternal ID, and then is still limited (R2 = .06). Raw maternal heterozygosity scores, ignoring absolute deviation from the mean, explained 0.07% of the variance in hatchling telomere length. In conclusion, inbreeding is not a driver of telomere dynamics in the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) study system.

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Im Jahre 1999 wurde Podarcis muralis merremia in einer kleinen Population inmitten der Bonner Innenstadt festgestellt. Das Vorkommen befindet sich in einem künstlichen Habitat und ist nicht autochthon.

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1. Contemporary climate change affects population dynamics, but its influence varies with landscape structure. It is still unclear whether landscape fragmentation buffers or amplifies the effects of climate on population size and the age and body size of individuals composing these populations. 2. This study aims to investigate the impacts of warm climates on lizard life-history traits and population dynamics in habitats that vary in their connectivity. 3. We monitored common lizard Zootoca vivipara populations for 3 years in an experimental system in which both climatic conditions and connectivity among habitats were simultaneously manipulated. We considered two climatic treatments (i.e. present-day climate and warm climate [+1.4°C than present-day climate]) and two connectivity treatments (i.e. a connected treatment in which individuals could move from one climate to the other and an isolated treatment in which movement between climates was not possible). We monitored survival, reproduction, growth, dispersal, age and body size of each individual in the system as well as population density through time. 4. We found that the influence of warm climates on life-history traits and population dynamics depended on connectivity among thermal habitats. Populations in warm climates were (i) composed of younger individuals only when isolated; (ii) larger in population size only in connected habitats and (iii) composed of larger age-specific individuals independently of the landscape configuration. The connectivity among habitats altered population responses to climate warming likely through asymmetries in the flow and phenotype of dispersers between thermal habitats. 5. Our results demonstrate that landscape fragmentation can drastically change the dynamics and persistence of populations facing climate change.

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Bericht über die Entdeckungsgeschichte der Eidechsen des Lacerta kulzeri-Komplexes, speziell jener des Djebel Druz in Syrien. Der Lebensraum der Dj. Druz-Eidechsewn sowie einige Freilandbeobachtungen werden mitgeteilt. Bemerkenswert ist, dass die Eidechsen offensichtlich von sich aus das Wasser aufsuchen. Die übrige Herpetofauna des Dj. Druz wird aufgelistet und teilweise kurz kommentiert.

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In this study the terrestrial Herpetological fauna of the Ancient City of Phaselis and in its Territorium were evaluated. Also in this study the general properties of some of the species observed in the field are given together with a photograph. In consequence of the field studies conducted during 2014‐2015: 36 species of amphibians and reptiles were identified. Considering the conservation status of these species; the IUCN status for the herpetofauna: 1 species located in category CR, 1 species located in category EN, 3 species located in category NT, 1 species located in category VU, 29 located in category LC and 1 species is in an undefined category, the Bern Convention status for the herptils: 25 species located in Appendix II (Strictly Protected Fauna Species) category, 9 Species located in Appendix III (Protected Fauna Species) category. The current situation recorded during the course of this study, the number of the species and some features of the fauna, will vary through the wider range of future studies examining the fauna and their environmental situation.

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In the literature, there are a lack of knowledge on how the movements of motile individuals are influenced by socially acquired information from multiple conspecifics. This thesis aims to better understand the relative importance of such information on the determinism of these movements, and its use, depending on the context, individual condition, or its nature. I began by investigating how social information provided locally by many conspecifics influences dispersal, its relative importance, and its dependence on individual phenotype. Using a 30-year markrecapture monitoring of the viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara), I was able to explore how natal dispersal depends on multiple components of the social context in the natal area, as well as other factors internal to the individual or abiotic. Results highlighted that dispersal is multi-determined, with several components of social context (sex ratio, age structure, body condition of conspecifics) having a concurrent impact. This study has highlighted, for this species, the particular relative importance of traits related to the sex of the individuals and the substrate’s characteristics. Finally, the results obtained appear to reveal a match between the competitiveness of the individual and the use of social information related to intra-specific competition. I also conducted experiments on the same species to test the ability to orientate when confronted with multiple sources of social information. For this, I considered the concurrent arrival of two conspecifics, from contrasting rearing conditions, in the habitat of a focal individual. Although no effect on orientation was observed, this experiment provided a better understanding of how information from competing sources was used on movement decisions, with the use of the mean information (resource accessibility and maternal phenotype), but not its contrast. Then, by using the same tracking as in the first part, I explored how immigrants-based information influences natal dispersal. I investigated whether its use depended on the local context and/or phenotype of the individual, as well as distance, variability, and the number of information sources. I observed that this information was used depending on the needs of the individuals (defined by their phenotype and context), and that information was preferentially used when it was not too uncertain (too variable or transmitted by too few immigrants) or in a way that minimized costs (preference for habitats similar to the one of birth when the information is distant or uncertain). Interestingly, individuals seem to prefer the same habitats locally and at a distance. Finally, experimental work was performed in microcosms to understand how conflicting social information influences dispersal in a ciliate (Tetrahymena thermophila). Although the initial treatment resulted in minimal effects on dispersal rates or dispersal syndromes, significant variance and mean effects of informant cell traits were identified. This suggests the existence of important physiological signals provided by informants, of which determinism remains to be explored. All these results underline the joint use of multiple social information, both local and distant, in individual movements such as dispersal. They highlight the importance of considering such information with the context in which it is studied, the individual who uses it, and its nature (What does it inform about? Is it reliable? Is it costly to exploit?).

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Above-ground activity of the wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) during wintertime is obviously quite common in Mediterranean populations with peaks in December and February. In populations north of the Alps with less favourable climate conditions a similar behaviour was observed, although less frequent. Potential reasons for winter-thermoregulation are discussed. It is concluded, that thermoregulation during winter might create an advantage in competing for scarce resources (territories) in early spring and thus increase the reproduction success.

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Pleistocene glacial and interglacial periods have been greatly affected the distribution pattern of the species. The impact of the global climate change upon species distributions such as range shifts in latitude or elevation has been widely studied. In this study, it was aimed to have a better understanding on the effects of the Late-Pleistocene climatic oscillation and the global climate changes on a widely distributed reptile species, the Balkan wall lizard (Podarcis tauricus). To find out the dynamics of the species’ range shifts, ecological niche modelling approach was applied. Bioclimatic variables and regenerated species occurrence records were used to construct models. The chosen model was projected to the present, reconstructed past and predicted future bio-climatic conditions. Moreover, distribution change and landscape connectivity analyzes were executed. Under present conditions, model prediction for the Balkan wall lizard was largely caught its known distribution area. The LGM distribution prediction was limited to a few spots (57,596.19 km2 ) in the southern Balkans, mainly due to the negative effect of the mean winter temperature. From the LGM to the present, distribution area of the species remarkably extended, particularly noticeable during Mid-Holocene (1,254.59%). The model predicted the distribution area of the species would extend due to high mean summer and high mean winter temperatures in the future and move basically towards northern latitudes and at higher elevations. A connectivity pattern in between the southwestern and northeastern

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Many species of lizards are partially enveloped by a dermal armour made of ossified units called osteoderms. Lizard osteoderms demonstrate considerable species-specific variation in morphology and histology. Although a physical/protective role (against predators, prey, conspecifics and impact loading during falls) is frequently advanced, empirical data on the biomechanics of lizard osteoderms are scarce, limiting our understanding of form–function relationships. Here, we report deformation recorded at the surface of temporal osteoderms during controlled external loading of preserved specimens of 11 lizard species (Tiliqua rugosa, Tiliqua scincoides, Corucia zebrata, Pseudopus apodus, Timon lepidus, Matobosaurus validus, Broadleysaurus major, Tribolonotus gracilis, Tribolonotus novaeguineae, Heloderma horridum and Heloderma suspectum). Based on the strain recorded in situ and from isolated osteoderms, the skin of the species investigated can be ranked along a marked stiffness gradient that mostly reflects the features of the osteoderms. Some species such as T. rugosa and the two Heloderma species had very stiff osteoderms and skin while others such as T. lepidus and P. apodus were at the other end of the spectrum. Histological sections of the osteoderms suggest that fused (versus compound) osteoderms with a thick layer of capping tissue are found in species with a stiff skin. In most cases, loading neighbouring osteoderms induced a large strain in the instrumented osteoderm, attesting that, in most species, lizard osteoderms are tightly interconnected. These data empirically confirm that the morphological diversity observed in lizard osteoderms is matched by variability in biomechanical properties.

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Transposable elements (TEs) constitute a considerable fraction of eukaryote genomes repre- senting a major source of genetic variability. We describe two DNA sequences isolated in the lizard Zootoca vivipara, here named Zv516 and Zv817. Both sequences are single-copy nuclear sequences, including a truncation of two transposable elements (TEs), SINE Squam1 in Zv516 and a Tc1/Mariner- like DNA transposon in Zv817. FISH analyses with Zv516 showed the occurrence of interspersed signals of the SINE Squam1 sequence on all chromosomes of Z. vivipara and quantitative dot blot indicated that this TE is present with about 4700 copies in the Z. vivipara genome. FISH and dot blot with Zv817 did not produce clear hybridization signals. Bioinformatic analysis showed the presence of active SINE Squam 1 copies in the genome of different lacertids, in different mRNAs, and intronic and coding regions of various genes. The Tc1/Mariner-like DNA transposon occurs in all reptiles, excluding Sphenodon and Archosauria. Zv817 includes a trait of 284 bp, representing an amniote ultra-conserved element (UCE). Using amniote UCE homologous sequences from available whole genome sequences of major amniote taxonomic groups, we performed a phylogenetic analysis which retrieved Prototheria as the sister group of Metatheria and Eutheria. Within diapsids, Testudines are the sister group to Aves + Crocodylia (Archosauria), and Sphenodon is the sister group to Squamata. Furthermore, large trait regions flanking the UCE are conserved at family level.

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We discovered a local population of the lizard Podarcis tauricus (Pallas, 1814) in the South Moravia, Czech Republic, in 2019. Previously, this species was never reported from the Czech Republic. Its nearest known distribution lies 207 km far away in Hungary. An origin of this remote population remains unclear. Nevertheless, our findings of syntopically occurring adult males, adult females (including gravid one), subadults and juveniles show that it is viable, with an evident potential to reproduce.

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Vertebrate skin is a remarkable organ that supports and protects the body. It consists of two layers, the epidermis and the underlying dermis. In some tetrapods, the dermis includes mineralised organs known as osteoderms (OD). Lizards, with over 7,000 species, show the greatest diversity in OD morphology and distribution, yet we barely understand what drives this diversity. This multiscale analysis of five species of lizards, whose lineages diverged ∼100–150 million years ago, compared the micro- and macrostructure, material properties, and bending rigidity of their ODs, and examined the underlying bones of the skull roof and jaw (including teeth when possible). Unsurprisingly, OD shape, taken alone, impacts bending rigidity, with the ODs of Corucia zebrata being most flexible and those of Timon lepidus being most rigid. Macroscopic variation is also reflected in microstructural diversity, with differences in tissue composition and arrangement. However, the properties of the core bony tissues, in both ODs and cranial bones, were found to be similar across taxa, although the hard, capping tissue on the ODs of Heloderma and Pseudopus had material properties similar to those of tooth enamel. The results offer evidence on the functional adaptations of cranial ODs, but questions remain regarding the factors driving their diversity.

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The area called “Padule di Bientina” (Bientina marshy area) is a semi natural area, originated as a large lake at the end of XI century (Bientina Lake), later drainaged and reduced in surface for agricultural purposes. The whole area, the Bientina plain, is characterized by human settlements, some rectilinear artificial canals and some small remains of the original marshy and wooded area. A few of them are under protection, like the “Oasi del Bottaccio”, one of the WWF Italian Oases and Bosco di Tanali, a provincial protected area. The herpetofauna of the Bientina marshy area is represented by seven Amphibian and 10 Reptile species: two Urodeles (Lissotriton vulgaris, Triturus carnifex), five Anurans (Bufo bufo, Bufotes viridis, Hyla intermedia, Rana dalmatina, Pelophylax bergeri), one allochtonous Chelonian (Trachemys scripta) and nine Squamates (six lizards, Tarentola mauritanica, Lacerta bilineata, Podarcis muralis, Podarcis siculus, Anguis veronensis, Chalcides chalcides, and three snakes, Hierophis viridiflavus, Natrix natrix, Zamenis longissimus). Despite the small surface of preserved natural habitats, the Bientina marshy area hosts all the species considered typical of hygrophilous and mesophylous woods and of ecotonal areas associated to such a prevailing habitat. On the whole, comparing recorded data with regional herpetological atlas, the “Padule di Bientina” herpetofauna represents about 100% of Amphibians and 62% of the Reptiles of the northernTuscany plain species and the 37% of Amphibians and the 55% of Reptiles of all the known species of Tuscany, once more underlining the fundamental role of protected natural areas, especially in highly anthropized regions.

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Some life-history traits (e.g. body size, SSD and age) of the Danford’s lizard Anatololacerta danfordi were studied applying skeletochronology techniques to the phalangeal bones (n = 33). The mean of the snout-vent-length (SVL) was 59.02 ± 1.07 mm in females and 62.17 ± 1.38 mm in males. The mean SVL was not significantly different between sexes. Sexual size dimorphism was weakly expressed in the slightly bigger SVL of the males (SDI = -0.053). Sexual maturity was attained between the second and the fourth year of life in both sexes. The age ranged from 2 to 6 years in females and from 3 to 8 years in males. The means of age were 4.29 ± 0.31 LAGs in female specimens and 4.63 ± 0.37 LAGs in male specimens. The mean age was not significantly different between the sexes.

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The Madeiran wall lizard, Teira dugesii (Milne-Edwards, 1829) is an endemic lizard of the Madeiran archipelago and is widely dispersed throughout different environments. The previous reports of morphological variation of T. dugesii within Madeira have not provided clear patterns but prompted this research into sexual and environment-related differences in morphology. For this study, geometric morphometrics (GMM) techniques combined with phenotypic trajectory analysis were applied to investigate the dorsal and lateral head shape morphology of T. dugesii. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to assess sexual dimorphism within the species and identify if ecological adaptations towards intertidal and terrestrial habitats occurred in the T. dugesii populations across four different localities within Madeira. Sexual dimorphism accounted for the largest proportion of size and shape variation in head morphology. Males exhibited a larger and more robust head shape compared to that of females which displayed relatively more petite and slender head shapes. Intertidal/terrestrial habitats were associated with head shape variation between sexes. Specimens from terrestrial environments also consistently had larger heads compared to intertidal specimens from the same locality. Additionally, phenotypic trajectory analysis revealed habitat differences in head morphology, again supporting parallel phenotypic divergence across localities between lizards from terrestrial and intertidal habitats.

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In this study, the fish, amphibian and reptile fauna of Karatas Lake were investigated between October-2002 and May 2004. In the research area, totally 15 species belong to 9 families from the studied groups were determined. According to the species richness; 4 fish, 2 amphibians and 9 reptiles were determined and given as a list. All of the frog and reptil species and one fish species, Carassius carassius, are reported for the first time from the research area.

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In this study the terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna around the Ancient City of Phaselis and in its Vicinity were evaluated. The project over the course of 5 years that began in 2012, surveyed the terrestrial fauna which could be found during 2012‐2013 and the list of the literature recording this vertebrate fauna present in the area is provided in this report. Also in this study the general properties of some of the species observed in the field are given with a photograph. In this context, field studies conducted during 2012‐2013, from the results of these field studies: 35 species of amphibians and reptiles, 26 species of mammals and 122 species of birds were identified. Considering the conservation status of these species; undefined IUCN status for one of the species in the reptile and amphibian group, 1 species in CR, 1 EN, 3 NT, 1 VU, 28 LC located in this category; for birds: 2 species NT, 2 VU and 118 species LC located in this category; for the mammals: 2 species NT, 3 types VU, 20 LC located in category and 1 species is in an undefined category. The current situation during this study and the number of the species and some features of the fauna will change through the wider range of future studies to examine the fauna and their environmental situation).

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Morphological divergence under gene flow was investigated in the wall lizard Teira dugesii from the Atlantic island of Madeira island. Lizards (n=334) were sampled using a matched pairs design at four distinct coastal localities. Matched pairs comprised adjacent (<1 km) grey shingle beach and inland sites. Luminances of specific dorsal areas were recorded for each RGB channel from digital photographs taken in the field. Lizards were found to be significantly darker at beach sites than inland sites. Geometric morphometric analyses using 35 landmarks placed on dorsal photographs of the head revealed significant divergence between beach/inland habitats: wider snouts were found at beach sites. Genotyping-by-sequencing of 93 individuals provided 19311 cross-genomic SNPs. A spatial principal components analysis showed significant genomic divergence across the four sampled localities and within these localities. However, there was no evidence that beach and inland populations formed distinct lineages. Patterns of genomic divergence were compared with those generated from simulations under three models. Primary findings were repeated across all four localities. The model of divergence without gene flow was rejected, while the most strongly supported model incorporating two periods of gene flow: an early period of lower gene flow followed by a period of higher gene flow. Gene flow from inland to beach was greater than that in the opposite direction. This study demonstrates ecologically significant morphological divergence in the face of gene flow and adds to understanding of how divergence and speciation may occur within small islands.

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The influence of temperature on the physiological processes in reptiles is well known, for example growth, repro duction and muscular energy are all temperature dependent. However, there may be constraints on the ability of a reptile to harness thermal energy, particularly during cold seasons in the temperate zones. Substrate selection is a key factor in enhancing thermoregulation since it can enhance rate of heat uptake. For example, wood substrates are known to increase rates of heat gain in basking reptiles enabling earlier attainment of optimum body tempera tures compared to other substrate types, which enables increased time available for other activities. In this paper we describe substrate use for basking in populations of Lacerta bilineata and Podarcis muralis in a hedgerow and a population of Podarcis muralis in a suburban garden in western France. The proportions of substrate used were compared against a null model of substrate availability. When different substrates were pooled based on material similarities both species were recorded in greater frequency on wood based materials in comparison to their avail ability compared to non-wood substrates. However at a finer level, in comparison to the null model of substrate availability (fallen tree branches, tree stumps, open ground etc), P. muralis showed strong substrate selection whereas L. bilineata did not depart significantly from the null model. We speculate that intra-specific aggression in L. bilineata was one possible cause of this result due to dominant individuals limiting access to prime basking sites in smaller or female lizards. Differences in communal basking between the two species supported this notion.

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Past climatic events are one of the major drivers for divergence of species that could shape the present biodiversity and species dispersal patterns. Irano-Anatolian region is one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world. This region is predicted to serve various refugia during Quaternary glaciations. The eastern three-lined lizard (Lacerta media media) is a medium-sized lacertid species, which is originated from central Anatolian and is currently distributed almost across Irano-Anatolian region. In this study, the phylogeography, demographic history of the subspecies using mtDNA genes (cyt b, 12S and 16S) along with the species distribution models (SDMs) under past-present-future scenarios have been investigated. The results revealed that four distinct clades are well-established within the L. m. media which may intensely diverge during Pleistocene climatic fluctuations since the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT). The past climate oscillations may isolate the population in various refugia throughout the Irano Anatolian region which has been led to this divergence. The results of SDMs also indicates several localities with suitable climate conditions for eastern three-lined lizard in the region since LGM (21 thousand years ago) until the current date. This suitability can be expanded under future climate scenarios considering the existence of various low and high altitude refugia. Some conservation implications arise from the results that emphasize the importance of the region and its multiple refugia in preserving biodiversity. It can be suggested that, future conservation practices should be focused on the obtained biogeographical units such as central Anatolia, west and northwestern Iran, which encompass high levels of diversity including distinct clades within the eastern three-lined lizard.

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We sequenced and annotated the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Takydromus kuehnei Van Denburgh, 1909 (Squamata: Takydromus). This mitogenome was 17,224 bp long and encoded 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, one non-coding regions of an L-strand replication origin and a displacement loop region. The overall nucleotide composition was 32.8% of A, 13.8% of G, 24.8% of T, and 30.5% of C. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood method validated the taxonomic status of T. kuehnei, exhibiting the close relationship with the species from the genus Takydromus.

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The Iberian Peninsula was one of the most important Pleistocene glacial refugia in Europe. A number of recent studies have documented the phylogeography of Iberian taxa and their relationship to more widely distributed species that expanded from this southern European refugium. We use a comparative approach to review the literature that challenges the paradigm of Iberia as a single refuge during Pleistocene glacial maxima and instead supports the occurrence of several Iberian refugia for a range of flora and fauna. Some patterns of phylogeographic concordance were found between the refugial areas identified by different case studies and these broadly overlapped with previously recognized areas of high endemism in the Iberian Peninsula. Such patterns help to illustrate the internal complexity of the Iberian Peninsula as a glacial refugium, and show that for many species, populations with a high degree of genetic structure have existed throughout the Pleistocene. Importantly, the occurrence of these ‘refugia within-refugia’ may confound the interpretation of phylogeographic patterns of European species, and can misleadingly support the occurrence of northern refugia. We discuss these and other consequences, especially when a limited number of samples from the southern European refugia are used.

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We used Takydromus septentrionalis, a sexually size-monomorphic lacertid lizard, as a model system to test the hypothesis that sexual size monomorphism may evolve in lizards where reproductive performance is maximized at a similar body size for both sexes. We allowed lizards housed in laboratory enclosures to lay as many clutches (for females) as they could or to mate as many times (for males) as they could in a breeding season. Size-assortative mating was weak but evident in T. septentrionalis, as revealed by the fact that male and female snout–vent lengths (SVLs) in mating pairs were significantly and positively correlated. Mating frequency (indicative of male reproductive performance) varied from 1 to 8 per breeding season, generally increasing as SVL increased in adult males smaller than 67.4 mm SVL. Clutch frequency varied from 1 to 7 per breeding season, with female reproductive performance (determined by clutch frequency, annual fecundity, and annual reproductive output) maximized in females with a SVL of 68.0 mm. Accordingly to our hypothesis, the reproductive performance was maximized in the intermediate sized rather than the largest individuals in both sexes, and the body size maximizing reproductive performance was similar for both sexes. Future work could usefully investigate other lineages of lizards with sexually monomorphic species in a phylogenetic context to corroborate the hypothesis of this study.

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The Tuscan Archipelago is one of the most ancient and ecologically heterogeneous island systems in the Mediterranean. The biodiversity of these islands was strongly shaped by the Pliocene and Pleistocene sea regressions and transgression, resulting in different waves of colonization and isolation of species coming from the mainland. The Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus, is present on the following islands of the Tuscan Archipelago: Elba, Giglio, Giannutri, Capraia, Montecristo and Cerboli. The species in the area displays a relatively high morphological variability that in the past led to the description of several subspecies. In this study, both the genetic and morphological diversity of P. siculus of the Tuscan Archipelago were investigated. Specifically, the meristic characters and the dorsal pattern were analyzed, while the genetic relationships among these populations were explored with mtDNA and microsatellite nuclear markers to reconstruct the colonization history of the Archipelago. Our results converge in the identification of at least two different waves of colonization in the Archipelago: Elba, and the populations of Cerboli and Montecristo probably originate from historical introductions from mainland Tuscany, while those of Giglio and Capraia are surviving populations of an ancient lineage which colonized the Tuscan Archipelago during the Pliocene and which shares a common ancestry with the P. siculus populations of south-eastern Italy. Giannutri perhaps represents an interesting case of hybridization between the populations from mainland Tuscany and the Giglio-Capraia clade. Based on the high phenotypic and molecular distinctiveness of this ancient clade, these populations should be treated as distinct units deserving conservation and management efforts as well as further investigation to assess their taxonomic status.

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The Pamphylian green lizard, Lacerta pamphylica, whose distribution is only known from Antalya and Mersin provinces of Turkey, is recorded in the Isparta Province for the first time in the present study. The present note re ports the new locality records of L. pamphylica, which constitutes the species’ the northernmost known Turkish locality. With the record of the present study, the known distribution area of the species has been extended about 100 km to the northward. The pholidolial and morphometric characters and color-pattern features of the specimens were found similar to the specimens of L. pamphylica reported in the literature.

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Alto de São Bento is a granite hill near the city of Évora, with floristic, geological and landscape interest, having been declared a núcleo museológico (NMASB). In this study, the local herpetofaunistic diversity was evaluated, the results of which demonstrated the presence of 12 species of amphibians and 11 species of reptiles in the area. Salamandra salamandra and natterjack toad Epidalea calamita predominate in the sampled amphibians; the most common reptiles are the Psammodromus algirus and the gecko Tarentola mauritanica. Such a contribution of diversity seems regionally important, however the NMASB model does not seem efficient in ist conservation, so a redesign into an ecomuseum is suggested.

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Spatial gradients of species richness can be shaped by the interplay between historical and ecological factors. They might interact in particularly complex ways in heterogeneous mountainous landscapes with strong climatic and geological contrasts. We mapped the distribution of 171 lizard species to investigate species richness patterns for all species (171), diurnal species (101), and nocturnal species (70) separately. We related species richness with the historical (past climate change, mountain uplifting) and ecological variables (climate, topography and vegetation). We found that assemblages in the Western Zagros Mountains, north eastern and north western parts of Central Iranian Plateau have the highest number of lizard species. Among the investigated variables, annual mean temperature explained the largest variance for all species (10%) and nocturnal species (31%). For diurnal species, temperature change velocity shows strongest explained variance in observed richness pattern (26%). Together, our results reveal that areas with annual temperature of 15–20 °C, which receive 400–600 mm precipitation and experienced moderate level of climate change since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) have highest number of species. Documented patterns of our study provide a baseline for understanding the potential efect of ongoing climate change on lizard diversity in Iran.

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In Heidelberg fielen in den vergangenen Jahren vermehrt melanistische – schwarze – Exemplare der Mauereidechse (Podarcis muralis merremius) auf. Haben sich die Umweltbedingungen am Neckar derart verändert, dass eine schwarze Eidechse einen Selektionsvorteil erlangt? Oder kann das Vorkommen der schwarzen Tiere am Neckar gar nicht durch natürliche Faktoren erklärt werden, weil die Tiere einfach ausgesetzt wurden? Teilnehmer des Heidelberger Life-Science Lab suchten mit molekularbiologischen Methoden nach einer Erklärung für das Phänomen.

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1. Although the effects of global warming on thermoregulation are usually ex-plored using predictions of climate envelop modelling, such effects should best be analysed empirically, studying the same population with the same methods after a long enough period of temperature rise.2. We used a 30-year long database about body temperatures (Tbs) of field-active Psammodromus algirus lizards inhabiting a well-conserved temperate open for-est, and we focused on the summers of 1997 and 2017 to compare Tbs, envi-ronmental operative temperatures (Tes), their proximity to the selected thermal range (Tsel), and the selection of sunlit and shaded patches all along the day. From these data, we estimated the precision (standard deviation of Tbs), accuracy (av-erage distance between Tbs and Tsel) and effectiveness (extent to which Tbs are closer to Tsel than Tes) of thermoregulation.3. Of the highest 5% of all Tbs in the database, 95% were recorded in 2017, when the adjustment to Tsel was much better for Tbs selected in a laboratory ther-mogradient than for field Tbs (percentages of Tbs above Tsel of 2% and 52% respectively).4. In 2017, especially after 12:00 h, the selection of shaded patches (87% of lizards in full shade vs. <1% in full sun) was more intense than in 1997, contributed more to overall thermoregulation, and produced a larger difference between Tes and Tbs. In spite of this, Tbs were lower—and closer to Tsel— in 1997 (when most shaded patches offered favourable thermal opportunities, with Tes within or below Tsel) than in 2017 (when only 33% of full shade Tes, and 8% of all Tes, were within or below Tsel). As a consequence, estimates of the accuracy and ef-fectiveness of thermoregulation decreased over the 20-year period examined.5. We conclude that given the low availability of Tes within or below Tsel, lizards cannot longer prevent the rise of their Tbs above Tsel, at least in hot summer days. Thus, the effects of global warming are already hindering the ability of lizards to buffer environmental change by behavioural means, even in temperate forests with a fine- grained mosaic of sun and shade patches.

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This brief review is focused on the viviparous lizard Zootoca vivipara (Lichtenstein, 1823), of the family Lacertidae, which possesses female heterogamety and multiple sex chromosomes (male 2n = 36, Z1Z1Z2Z2/Z1Z2W, female 2n = 35, with variable W sex chromosome). Multiple sex chromosomes and their changes may influence meiosis and the female meiotic drive, and they may play a role in reproductive isolation. In two cryptic taxa of Z. vivipara with different W sex chromosomes, meiosis during early spermatogenesis and oogenesis proceeds normally, without any disturbances, with the formation of haploid spermatocytes, and in female meiosis with the formation of synaptonemal complexes (SCs) and the lampbrush chromosomes. In females, the SC number was constantly equal to 19 (according to the SC length, 16 SC autosomal bivalents plus three presumed SC sex chromosome elements). No variability in the chromosomes at the early stages of meiotic prophase I, and no significant disturbances in the chromosome segregation at the anaphase–telophase I stage, have been discovered, and haploid oocytes (n = 17) at the metaphase II stage have been revealed. There should be a factor/factors that maintain the multiple sex chromosomes, their equal transmission, and the course of meiosis in these cryptic forms of Z. vivipara.

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An analysis of the spatial distribution of green lizards of the genus Lacerta in Dagestan is given. The distribution ranges of L. agilis, L. media, and L. strigata are specified and detailed. A set of vector (points of records) and raster synthetic maps is created, reflecting the spatial distribution of species. Bioclimatic mod- eling of habitat suitability is carried out. The minimum overlap of ecological (eco-climatic) niches is noted for L. media with all the species studied, and the maximum overlap is observed in L. agilis and L. strigata.

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Aim: Hyper-arid sandy and rocky fields rank among the least biologically diverse habitats of the desert biome, yet knowledge of local biodiversity patterns is also ex tremely poor. In the Sahara Desert, palaeoclimate oscillations affected the extent of hyper-arid habitats, but it is unclear how these dynamics determined the evolution and distribution of local specialists. Herein, we assessed cryptic diversity, diversification patterns and spatial connectivity within a Sahara-widespread group of dryland adapted lizards. Location: Sahara-Sahel ecoregions. Taxon: Acanthodactylus scutellatus species group. Methods: Inter- and intraspecific phylogenetic structure, divergence times, spatial genetic patterns and cryptic diversity were assessed using nuclear and mitochondrial loci. The effects of topography and land cover on phylogeographic structure and diversity were tested with generalized linear models. Interspecific hybridization was evaluated using 11 microsatellites across the group`s major sympatry zone, predicted based on ecological niche models. Results: Species of Acanthodactylus scutellatus group exhibit Late Miocene origins, followed by extensive intraspecific divergence throughout the Pliocene. The northern Sahara worked as a major diversification hotspot, harbouring a patchwork of small ranged, divergent lineages. These lineages are parapatric or sympatric and present concordant nuclear and mitochondrial differentiation, suggesting species status. Genetic connectivity increases in southern latitudes, with wide-ranging lineages spanning from the Red Sea to the Atlantic coast. Within these potential corridors, mountain outskirts and sand fields in the Sahara interior seemingly acted as origins for recent population expansions. Genetic diversity and connectivity are favoured by terrain roughness and soft-sand cover respectively. Three species inhabit the Atlantic Sahara sympatry zone without evidence of gene flow. Main conclusions: Overlooked species-level diversity within a major specialist group of Sahara drylands exposes the recurrent knowledge shortfalls present in hyper-arid desert environments. Humidity and sandy habitat shifts triggered potential successions of population isolation and re-connectivity, which favoured cladogenesis in northern desert regions and population expansions across southern east–west corridors.