Species:

Eremias persica  BLANFORD, 1874

Synonyms:

Eremias persica   BLANFORD, 1874

Eremias nigrolateralis   RASTEGAR-POUYANI & NILSON, 1997

Eremias (Aspidorhinus) nigrolateralis   BARABANOV, 2009

Podarces persica   STRAUCH, 1876

Eremias velox persicus  PROCTER, 1921

Common names:

Persian Racerunner (English)
Wüstenrenner (German)

Types:

Lectotype: BMNH 1946.8.7.32

Terra Typica:

Near Ispahan (=Isfehan), Iran.

Taxonomic notes:

Subgenus Aspidorhinus

Relevant taxonomic literature:

• Blanford, W.T. (1874) -  Description of Eremias persica. -  In: “Descriptions of new Reptilia and Amphibia from Persia and Baluchistan”. The Annals and magazine of natural history, (4) 14: 31-35.   

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• Rastegar-Pouyani, E. & Rastegar-Pouyani, R. & Kazemi Noureini, S. & Joger, U. & Wink, M. (2010) -  Molecular phylogeny of the Eremias persica complex of the Iranian plateau (Reptilia: Lacertidae), based on mtDNA sequences. -  Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 158 (3): 641-660.    

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  The Persian racerunner Eremias persica Blanford, 1875 is confined to the Iranian plateau, and forms one of the most widespread but rarely studied species of the family Lacertidae. With many local populations inhabiting a variety of habitats, and exhibiting considerable morphological, genetic, and ecological variations, it represents a species complex. We analysed sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b and 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes derived from 13 geographically distant populations belonging to the E. persica complex. Using our knowledge of palaeogeographical events, a molecular clock was calibrated to assess the major events in fragmentation, radiation, and intraspecific variation. The sequence data strongly support a basal separation of the highland populations of western Iran from those of the open steppes and deserts, occurring in the east. The subsequent radiation, fragmentation, and evolution of these major assemblages have led to several discernable geographical lineages across the wide area of the Iranian plateau. The results indicate a middle-Miocene origin for the clade as a whole. The first split, isolating the western and eastern clades, appears to have occurred 11–10 Mya. Further fragmentations and divergence within the major clades began about 8 Mya, with an evolutionary rate of 1.6% sequence divergence per million years among the lineages in the genes studied (combined data set). Molecular and morphological data strongly support a taxonomic revision of this species complex. At least four of the discovered clades should be raised to species, and two to subspecies, rank.