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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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Relationships of lacertid lizards were assessed on the basis of 84 primary and 112 binary characters drawn mainly from morphology, including features of the skeleton, external anatomy, various internal soft part systems and two aspects of behaviour. Among features not previously used, or not fully investigated before, are structure of the septomaxilla and nasal passages, arranged of the xiphisternal cartilages, mite pockets, kidney position, ulnar nerve arragement, thoracic fascia, aspects of the hemipenis and its associated muscles, female genitalia and jaw muscles. On the basis of parsimony analysis and compatibilty treatment of this character set, the Lacertidae fall into two main portions: A paraphyletic Palaearctic and Oriental group of primitive forms, from which is derived a holophyletic assemblage of Ethiopian and advanced Saharan and Eurasian taxa. The former group ist not fully resolvable, but Psammodromus and Gallotia appear to be sister groups and are probably related to Lacerta parva and L. fraasi and then L. brandtii, Podarcis appears to be related successively to L. andreanszkyi, the sister species L. dugesii and L. perspicillata, and perhaps L. danfordi and L. laevis. This assemblage may be related to archaeolacertas and Algyroides. The separation of Lacerta lepida, L. pater and L. princeps from the agilis group, based on chemical evidence, is weakly contradicted by morphology. Takydromus may be most closely related to L. vivipara, and L. jayakari and L. cyanura constitute the most likely sister group of the Ethiopian and advanced Saharo-Eurasian assemblage. Taxe in the Ethiopian and advanced SaharoEuroasian assemblage form a long essentially pectinate tree with relatively change between the side branches, except for a strong disjunction separating the more primitive from the more advanced taxa. Most of the former fall on two main branches, with ´Lacerta` australis and ´L.` rupicola possibly basal to them. 1. the Equatorial forest group containing Gastropholis, Bedriagaia, ´Lacerta` echinata, Adolfus, ´Lacerta` jacksoni and Holaspis. The first three of these constitute a holophyletic group and the same is probably true of the remainder. 2. Tropidosaura, Poromera and Nucras, the latter being the sister group of the more advanced forms. These include successively the Ethiopian Philochortus, Latastia, Ichnotropis and Heliobolus, Pseuderemias, Meroles and Aporosaura, and Pedioplanis, and then the Saharo-Eurasian Eremias, Acanthodactylus, Mesalina and Ophisops-Cabrita. It seems probable that the ancestors of modern Lacertidae arose in western Eurasia, where the family is known since the Palaeocene and is still represented there largely by quite primitive forms (89 species and seven nominal genera). The family later invaded Africa, perhaps first in the early or middle Miocene. Relatively primitive lacertids spread widely in largely mesic situations in the Ethiopian region, radiating to some extent (six present genera and 16 species) and producing Nucras and the related series of advaned groups (eight genera and 54 species) whoich show increasing adaptation to xeric environments. These genera tend to have heir most primitive species in the northeast and north of the Ethiopian region. The most advaned gave rise to the Saharo-Eurasian clade, now made up to Eremias, Acanthodactylus, Mesalina and Ophisops-Cabrita. This invaded the arid areas of North Africa and Eurasia, where it is presently represented by 70 species. Many morphological changes in increasingly advanced lacertids may be functionally related to the problems of survival in arid, hot, open environments. Considerable ecological parallelism exists in lacertids, with members of separate stocks occupying similar niches in different geographical areas. Morphological adaptations associated with these niches contribute significantly to the high levels of character homoplasy found in the family. There is also some correlation between the degree of niche differentiation in various groups and the quality of the phylogenies that can be produced from their physical characters. A number of morphological parallels exist between advaned lacertids and New World macroteiids. In the skull at least, advaned lacertids show a complex mixture of paedomorphosis and acceleration. Nomenclatorial changes are as follows: Cabrita is synonymised with Ophisops, necessitating a new name, Ophisops nictans, for Cabrita jerdonii. Aporosaura is synonymised with Meroles, Platyplacopus with Takydromus, and Bedriagaia with Gastropholis. ´Lacerta` (or Centromastyx) echinata is also transferred to the latter genus and Lacerta jacksoni to Adolfus. ´Lacerta` australis and ´L.` rupicola are put in a new genus, Australolacerta. It is recommended that Lacerta dugesii and L. perspicillata should not be placed in the otherwise very uniform genus Podarcis. Although clearly paraphyletic, Lacerta s. lat. Should be retained at least for the present and, if necessary putative relationships within it indicated by informal groups or subgenera.

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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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DNA sequence indicates the Lacertidae contain two subfamilies, Gallotiinae and Lacertinae, the latter comprising two monophyletic tribes, the Eremiadini of Africa and arid southwest and central Asia, and the Lacertini of Europe, northwest Africa and southwest and east Asia. Relationships within the 108 species of Lacertini are explored using mtDNA (291 bp cytochrome b; 329 bp 12S rRNA for 59 nominal species, and reanalysis of the data of Harris et al. 1998, and Fu 2000). The morphology of the tribe is reviewed and 64 of its characters (equivalent to 83 binary ones) also used to assess relationships. The Lacertini are assigned to 19 monophyletic units of 1 to 27 species, recognised here as the following genera (contents are indicated in brackets): Algyroides, Anatololacerta gen. nov. (L. danfordi group), Apathya (L. cappadocica group), Archaeolacerta (L. bedriagae), Dalmatolacerta gen. nov. (L. oxycephala), Darevskia (L. saxicola group), Dinarolacerta gen. nov. (L. mosorensis), Hellenolacerta gen. nov. (L. graeca), Iberolacerta (L. monticola group), Iranolacerta gen. nov. (L. brandtii and L. zagrosica), Lacerta s. str. (sand and green lizards, L. agilis group), Parvilacerta gen. nov. (L. parva and L. fraasii), Phoenicolacerta gen. nov. (L. laevis group), Podarcis (wall lizards), Scelarcis (L. perspicillata), Takydromus (Asian grass lizards), Teira (L. dugesii), Timon (ocellated lizards, L. lepida group) and Zootoca (L. vivipara). Both mtDNA and morphology indicate that Lacerta and Timon are sister taxa, and DNA suggests further possible relationships among genera (Fig. 1, p. 6). Neither DNA nor morphology indicates that the archaeolacertas (sometimes formalised as Archaeolacerta sens. lat.) form a clade. Instead, they are representatives of an ecomorph associated with living on rock exposures and using the narrow crevices that these contain. The Lacertidae probably arose in the European area, with the Gallotiinae later reaching Northwest Africa and the Canary Islands, and the ancestor of the Eremiadini invading Africa in the mid-Miocene. The Lacertini spread through much of their present European range and diversified, perhaps largely by repeated vicariance, around 12–16 My ago, producing the ancestors of the present mainly small-bodied genera, which then underwent often modest speciation. Three units spread more widely: the Lacerta-Timon clade of large-bodied lizards probably dispersed earliest, followed by Algyroides and then Podarcis. Overall, European Lacertidae show a pattern of repeated spread, often accompanied by restriction of previous groups. Expansion of Lacertini may have displaced earlier lacertid lineages from all or much of Europe; while spread of Podarcis may have restricted many other genera of Lacertini. The earlier expansion of the Lacerta-Timon clade probably did not have this effect, as difference in adult body size restricted competitive interaction with other forms. Several invasions of more distant areas also occurred: of East Asia by Takydromus over 10 My ago, and more recently of northwest Africa by Podarcis, Scelarcis and Timon, and Madeira by Teira. Relationships within the Eremiadini estimated from both mtDNA, and nDNA differ considerably from those based on morphology. They indicate relatively mesic forms may have diversified widely across Africa and given rise to at least three independent invasions of arid habitats. MtDNA also indicates that Lacerta andreanskyi belongs in the Eremiadini and may occupy a basal position there. It is assigned to a further new genus, Atlantolacerta gen. nov.

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The microornamentation of the scales (oberhautchen) has been studied by means of enamel casts (in negative), or with detached skin pieces (positive cast in the upper face or negative in their lower face of the scales) and its observation by transparency with optical microscopy at 40x, 400x and 1000x. In this study we have found a remarkable uniformity in all genera of Lacertini studied (already known, although significantly expanding the number of species previously studied). In light of the results obtained, it seems that the use of the microornamentation of the scales in taxonomy is limited. There is a remarkable degree of variation and probably of homoplasy, as it happens in so many characters of Lacertini. Nor is it clearly linked to certain conditions of the environment, although it may have a certain importance in mechanisms such as evapotranspiration and perhaps in the crypsis through its influence on the reflectance of the scales. These scales can present protuberances (like small tubercles) on their surface (derived character) in Algyroides (the four species), and in the case of Algyroides marchi also seems to present small pits on its scale surface. In most lacertids the cells of the “oberhautchen” are usually narrow (or short anteroposteriorly, if preferred), between 1 and 4 μm, having the appearance of ribbons or transverse straps. Smaller sizes (derivated) appear more or less marked in Algyroides spp, Darevskia praticola complex, Parvilacerta spp and in Dinarolacerta mosorensis (although not in D. montenegrina) and is difficult to interpret. Except in Dinarolacerta, in the other species it coincides that they are ground or ground-rock interface species, and the coarser stripes could have to do with reflectance (imitating the vegetation or the medium between which they move, according to the hypothesis of Allam et al.). In the case of Dinarolacerta, very saxicolous, it is probably the sister group of Algyroides and the common morphology could have a phylogenetic origin linked to its relationship with Algyroides. There is also no relationship with moisture since some come from dry places and others are from very wet areas. The posterior flange of the cells may be slightly mounted in the next cell (primitive character) but appears quite raised (derived character) in Algyroides nigropunctatus (much less in A. moreoticus and A. marchi, and apparently little or nothing in A. fitzingeri). The rear flange of the cells can be smooth, corrugated or notched. In our samples, irregular (and even dentate) posterior ridges appear in numerous Darevskia such as D. derjugini, D. parvula, D. raddei complex [D. raddei raddei, D. r. vanensis and D. nairensis], in part of the group of D. rudis [D. rudis sspp. and D. bithynica sspp.], several Iberolacerta (I. bonnali, I. horvathi and I. monticola astur), as well as in Teira dugesii. The character appears, although less marked in Algyroides (more in A. moreoticus, but less marked or barely visible in the others), in Hellenolacerta graeca, and other Iberolacerta (I. aurelioi, I. martinezricai, and scarcely marked in I. cyreni). Very little marked in Darevskia mixta, somewhat more in D. dryada and none in D. clarkorum, and also appears in the group of D. saxicola (D. saxicola, D. brauneri brauneri, D. b. darevskii, D. lindholdmi, D. szczerbaki), Dalmatolacerta oxycephala, Dinarolacerta mosorensis (only in the Biokovo sample, and not in Durmitor or D. montenegrina), Apathya cappadocica, in some places of the scales of Parvilacerta fraasii (but not in P. parva) and very little in D. (p) hungarica; also in the remaining group of D. rudis (D. valentini valentini, D. v. lantzicyreni, D. rudis bolkardaghica, D. portschinskii), and some parthenogenetic species (D. armeniaca, D. dahli, D. rostombekowi) but not in D. unisexualis, D. uzzelli, D. sapphirina, D. bendimahiensis or in the triploid hybrid between D. unisexualis and D. nairensis. In these parthenogenetic species it seems a general rule that the character of the crenulation or irregularity of the posterior flange of the cells resembles that of the paternal rather than the maternal species. The exception is the triploid hybrid [arisen from the hybridization of D. unisexualis (parthenogenetic female, without the character) and a male of D. nairensis (with fairly developed character)] that lacks character, and in this case is more similar to the maternal species of which has two genetic sets compared to only one of the paternal one.

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In connectivity conservation and ecological network planning, the selection of focal fragmentationsensitive species represents a priority step. Nevertheless, despite their strategic role, selection of focal species has traditionally been carried out using charismatic and/or non objective approaches. In this way, actions of planning and conservation could be ineffective. Using as a case study Italian reptiles, we apply an expert-based approach for the selection of focal species on the basis of sensitivity to components of habitat fragmentation (habitat area reduction, increase of habitat isolation, increase of edge effect and landscape matrix disturbance) and of intrinsic ecological traits of the species (trophic level, dispersal ability, body size, niche breadth, rarity). The threshold values for each component of fragmentation defined a set of 21 focal species that can be divided into the three macro-components of human-induced habitat fragmentation (HIHF) towards which they show a sensitivity, the suitable spatial scale of populations and relative suitable habitat categories. Among these species, seven can be sampled easily with standard, low-cost field protocols. The selected species largely coincide with the species known in literature as fragmentation-sensitive.

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A complete catalogue is provided for the type specimens of lacertid lizards in the herpetological collection of the Zoological Museum, Berlin, as of December, 1993. The collection contains a total of 514 type specimens, representing 63 taxa, of which 42 are currently regarded as valid at the specific or subspecific level. Types representing an additional four taxa appear to have been lost from the collection. The collections are especially rich in African lacertid types and in historically significant specimens collected early in the Nineteenth Century by Pallas, Eversmann, and Hemprich & Ehrenberg. Also present are the type series of many subspecies of Podarcis lilfordi and P. pityusensis described by Eisentraut.

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Report about the successful keeping and breeding of Fitzinger`s Algyroides or Pygmy keeled lizard.

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New data on the distribution of the herpetofauna of the La Maddalena Archipelago are reported in the present work, together with the available literature. The study reports data on 78 islands, for 19 of these islands the data are unpublished.

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Acanthodactylus arabicus, Acanthodactylus aureus, Acanthodactylus bedriagai, Acanthodactylus blanci, Acanthodactylus blanfordii, Acanthodactylus boskianus boskianus, Acanthodactylus boskianus asper, Acanthodactylus boskianus euphraticus, Acanthodactylus boueti, Acanthodactylus busacki, Acanthodactylus cantoris, Acanthodactylus dumerili dumerili, Acanthodactylus dumerili exiguus, Acanthodactylus erythrurus erythrurus, Acanthodactylus erythrurus belli, Acanthodactylus erythrurus lineomaculatus, Acanthodactylus felicis, Acanthodactylus gongrorhynchatus, Acanthodactylus grandis, Acanthodactylus guineensis, Acanthodactylus haasi, Acanthodactylus longipes, Acanthodactylus maculatus, Acanthodactylus masirae, Acanthodactylus micropholis, Acanthodactylus opheodurus, Acanthodactylus orientalis, Acanthodactylus pardalis, Acanthodactylus robustus, Acanthodactylus savignyi, Acanthodactylus schmidti, Acanthodactylus schreiberi schreiberi, Acanthodactylus schreiberi syriacus, Acanthodactylus scutellatus scutellatus, Acanthodactylus scutellatus hardyi, Acanthodactylus spinicauda, Acanthodactylus tilburyi, Acanthodactylus tristrami, Acanthodactylus yemenicus, Adolfus africanus, Adolfus alleni, Adolfus jacksoni, Adolfus vauereselli, Algyroides fitzingeri, Algyroides marchi, Algyroides moreoticus, Algyroides nigropunctatus nigropunctatus, Algyroides nigropunctatus kephallithacius, Australolacerta australis, Australolacerta rupicola

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For planning practical measures aimed at biodiversity protection, conservation priorities must be identified at a local scale. Unfortunately, identifying local conservation priorities requires high-resolution data on species distribution, and these are often unavailable. Atlases of species distribution provide data for several groups of organisms in many different areas but are often too coarse in resolution to provide valuable information. We explored the possibility of cross-scale modelling species distributions and we clarified, for the first time, its effect on prioritization exercises. We used different modelling techniques for scaling down atlas data for Sardinian reptiles, validated the outcomes with detailed, field-sampled data, and compared conservation priorities deriving from atlas maps and downscaled models. Doing this, we obtained as a further result the identification of priority species and areas for future conservation strategies. Our results encourage us to experiment further with this approach. Through the downscaling procedure, we obtain high-resolution models with strong variations in predictive performances, although most of the models show satisfactory/excellent scores. This testifies that low-resolution data can be downscaled maintaining low rates of omission and commission errors. Increasing the resolution of distribution maps used for prioritization influences the spatial patterns of priority but does not modify the evaluation of species representation. Overall, we show that atlases can meet the large demand for distribution data by decision makers if appropriate downscaling procedures are adopted. In addition, we provide practical instruments for the conservation of reptiles in Sardinia by identifying priority species and areas that require strict management.

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The author describes a herpetological vacation on Corsica. It is an island with lots ofdifferent habitats, where reptiles and amphibians are abundant. Several (sub)species are endemic to Corsica or to both Corsica and Sardinia, for instance Archaeolacerta bedriagae, Podarcis tiliguerta, Algyroides fitzingeri, Discoglossus montalemii, D. sardus, Hyla sarda, Euproctus montanus, Salamandra salamandra corsica and Natrix natrix corsa. Several others are probably introduced by men, for instance Podarcis sicula cam- pestris (in Ajaccio, Porro-Vecchio and Basria), P. s. cettii (in Bonifacio), Tarentola mauritanica, Rana esculenta, Bufo viridis and Testudo hermanni. Corsica and Sardinia are part of the natural distribution o f Phyllodactylus europaeus, Hemidactylus turcicus, Coluber viridif/avus, Emys orbicularis, Caretta caretta and Dermochelys coriacea, that inhabit other parts of Europe as well. Several species of lizards are in a more or less fierce competition with each other. A. bedriagae for instance is pushed to high altitude, bare rock and granite boulders in little streams, by P. tiliguerta. P. sicula campestris is successful in flat terrain, leaving only walls ofstacked stones toP. tiliguerta. P. s. cettii doesn`t even leave this habitat toP. tiliguerta. As for now P. sicula is restricted mainly to coastal areas, lea- ving the better part of Corsica to P. tiliguerta. D. sardus and D. montalentii are only recently recog- nised as different species. D. montalentii is endemic to Corsica, whereas D. sardus is known too from Sardinia. D. montalentii is living in high altitudes, especially in clear mountain-streams, D. sardus in lower altitudes and has a less specialised preference for its habitat. Corsica is a very interesting island from a herpetolo- gical point ofview.

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The food in nature of 42 Algyroides fitzingeri from Sardinia was determined by analysis of their faecal pellets. This method, as compared to identification of stomach contents, is briefly discussed. The main categories were formed by Arachnida and Coleoptera, a smaller portion consisted of Diptera, Blattaria and Homoptera. A relation with the availability and palatability of food items in their habitat, is suggested.

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In Sardinia the small Algyroides fitzingeri proved to be a very active species, shuttling between areas of high and low insolation. This is explained by its high surface to mass ratio. In the field, sexual activity seems to start in early May and it may last till the end of June. Indoors, following hibernation from December till March, it was observed from the second decade of March until the end of May. Courtship display adheres to the usual lacertid pattern, and may take about 30 seconds. Once the flank hold is ascertained, a copulation of about 100 seconds will follow. The flank hold outlasts copulation for almost half an hour. During this period the male jerks his head laterally and his tail vibrates at varying intensity. In captivity, three ovipositions per female, each with two eggs, were recorded inMay and June. The first oviposition in Sardinia was observed on May 18; egg-laying is assumed to last well into Juli. Eggs measure 5.6 x 9.7 mm and weigh 0.18 g. Eggs incubated at 25°C, as well as those kept at room temperature (19-25°C), and 99 % relative humidity, grow to 8.9 x 14.3 mm and 0.74 g. Hatchlings appear after 51 and 92 days respectively and measure 20+35 mm and weigh 0.21 g. The gradual transition into the non sex-dependent adult colouration is described. An intensively coloured blue throat was only seen in specimens preserved in alcohol. In captivity at least some A. fitzingeri attain adulthood within a year.

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On February 29, 2016, the authors departed to one of the best herpetofauna hotspots in Europe, Sardinia. The aim of this 4-day journey was to find as many species as possible, with a focus on the endemic specialties of the island. Although the intent was non-scientific, we did some interesting observations that contradict, confirm or complement other surveys. We spent the first three days of our trip at the east coast of the island, near the mountainous Parco Nazionale del Golfo di Orosei e del Gennargentu. Here we found our target species, the European leaf-toed Gecko (Euleptes europaea) and the Supramonte Cave Salamander (Speleomantes supramontis), as well as two other gecko species (Tarentola mauritanica and Hemidactylus turcicus), two endemic lizards (Podarcis tiliguerta and Algyroides fitzingeri), a skink (Chalcides occellatus) and two species of anurans (Hyla sarda and Bufotes viridis balearicus). The Moorish Gecko was not recorded yet for this region. The amount of observed cave salamanders was striking, as well as the relatively dry habitat in which they were found. This is probably due to the rainy conditions just before our arrival. At least four out of the seventeen observed salamanders were parasitized by the leech Batracobdella algira, significantly more than nine out of 1380 in a recent study. The last day, we tried to find some new species in the vicinity of Lago Baratz, the only natural freshwater lake of the island, at the west coast. Here, we observed six species, including Discoglossus sardus, Chalcides chalcides and Podarcis siculus, which were new species of the trip. In total, we found an estimated 114 individuals of twelve different species. Some species we missed out were Archaeolacerta bedriagae, Euproctus platycephalus, Testudo hermanni and all Sardinian snake species, giving us enough reasons to return to Sardinia!

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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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Abstract Some aspects of community ecology in a lizard assemblage composed of three sympatric and diurnal species (Algyroides fitzingeri, Podarcis tiliguerta, Chalcides ocellatus) were studied in a Mediterranean habitat of central Sardinia. The three lizards were characterized by significantly different mean body size. There was no spatial overlap between the smallest species (A. fitzingeri) and the largest one (C. ocellatus), while there was a certain amount of overlap between P. tiliguerta and each of the other two lizards. The three species preyed on a wide variety of invertebrates, but mainly on insects. Food niche breadth was higher in P. tiliguerta, and this could be related to the higher microhabitat heterogeneity of this lizard in the study area. Food niche overlap was high between Chalcides ocellatus and Podarcis tiliguerta, but low between Algyroides fitzingeri and C. ocellatus. Although further data are required before any firm conclusion can be drawn, the results of this investigation seem to indicate that (i) interspecific competition among the three lizards is rather limited, due both to food and spatial resource partitioning, and (ii) the lizard community is organized through the ecological needs of each species.

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A capture-mark-recapture procedure was used to study the demography of a population of Algyroides fitzingeri inhabiting a mountain grassy area of central Sardinia. This population was artificially enclosed to avoid emi/immigrations. The A. fitzingeri individuals from this area were morphologically and ecologically different from other conspecifics studied to date: they had a lighter dorsal colouration, exhibited totally terrestrial habits, and used prostrate funiperus bushes to hide in. Adult sex-ratio was close to 1:1, but females were more numerous and attained larger size than males. More than 80% of the marked males and females was recaptured, and the frequency of recapture was similar in the two sexes. The apparent density was 86 adults per hectare.

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The ecology of the lacertids genus Algyroides is still poorly known. Nevertheless, all four species recognized, A. nigropunctatus, A. moreoticus, A. fitzingeri and A. marchi, display some degree of restriction in distribution and habitat use when compared to other Mediterranean genera. As for other ectotherms with low dispersal abilities, in absence of other forces, such spatial restrictions are expected to be linked to ecophysiological constraints. Here, we test such prediction by focusing on two crucial features of reptilian life, thermal preferences and water loss. We performed two consecutive experiments in order to determine preferred body temperatures (Tp) and water loss rates (Wl). Tp of 5-10 adult males by species was hourly monitored in a photothermal gradient for a ten-hour period. Subsequently, Wl was estimated by placing the same specimens in sealed chambers with silica gel and weighing them hourly during a 12-hour period. Both Tp and Wl differed in mean and time profiles across species, which were arranged into two groups regarding their ecophysiology. Namely, under standard conditions, A. nigropunctatus and A. fitzingeri selected for lower temperatures but lost less water than A. moreoticus and A. marchi, although the existence a trade-off between Tp and Wl was unclear. While significant size variation between all species exists (A. fitzingeri and A. marchi being dwarfed), neither SVL nor body mass accounted for the differences in ecophysiology recorded. It is, hence, concluded that intrinsic (size/shape-free) differences in thermal and hydric physiology (high Tp and Wl) may be responsible for the decrease of the ranges and habitats available suffered by A. moreoticus and, mainly, by A. marchi. Such process is likely to be linked to the spread of Mediterranean climate during the Pliocene.

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We assessed whether ecophysiological requirements are consistent with the environmental traits within the current ranges in a relictual lizard group, Algyroides, composed of four species with restricted and disjunctive distributions. We considered temperature, precipitation and their seasonal profiles, and focused on the preferred body temperature (Tp) and the evaporative water loss (EWL). The ranges of all four species differed in environmental traits. The two geographically more restricted species followed divergent patterns: A. moreoticus inhabits hot and climatically buffered areas, and A. marchi occupies cold seasonal environments. Tp and EWL also differed among species following a geographical grouping: A. nigropunctatus (Slovenia) and A. fitzingeri (Sardinia) selected for lower Tp and lost less water than the southern species A. moreoticus (Peloponnese) and A. marchi (Southern Spain). Tp and EWL were correlated at species level but not at individual level within species. Results suggest that the current distribution of Algyroides species partly reflects their ecophysiology, with water ecology taking precedence over thermal ecology as constraining factor. By unravelling the environmental factors limiting the distribution of species, ecophysiology may provide directions for conservation, predicting the degree of vulnerability to climate change.

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Although distribution databases are a dynamic tool, continuously updated, it is important to take “snapshots” of the species distribution over time to promptly identify potential conservation issues. With this work, we provide an update of the distribution of amphibians and reptiles in Sardinia and satellite islands. Data derive from both direct field observations (carried out since 2005 until July 2022) and literature, accounting for over 7000 records: 1416 records of 11 species of amphibians and 5600 records of 18 species of reptiles. Distribution maps (on 10 × 10 km UTM grid) of 29 species are provided in supplementary materials as well as the updated list of the amphibians and reptiles occurring in the circum-Sardinian islands. Most of the meshes were characterized by the presence of 1-3 amphibian species (73%) and 6-8 or 9-11 reptile species (32% with 6-8 species, 30% with 9-11 species). Species abundance was favoured by environmental heterogeneity, and mostly varied in relation to elevation range and edge density.

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The aim of the present study is to synthesise the available data on the occurrence of lacertid lizards on Mediterranean islands better to understand how far human influence is involved in the present distributional patterns of insular lacertid lizard fauna. At present, the Mediterranean islands are inhabited by several lacertid genera, including endemic species of the genera Algyroides (viz. fitzingeri), Lacerta [Archaeolacerta] (viz. bedriagae) and Podarcis (atratus, filfolensis, gaigae, lilfordi, milensis, pityusensis, raffonei, tiliguerta, waglerianus). Recently reported data shed new light on the relationships between these endemics and some continental species that have recently colonised the islands. The arrival of the latter might be directly related to the progressive human colonisation of these islands. The arising conservation problems are also considered.

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Background. The western Mediterranean archipelagos have a rich endemic fauna, which includes five species of reptiles. Most of these archipelagos were colonized since early historic times by anthropochoric fauna, such as ship rats (Rattus rattus). Here, I evaluated the influence of ship rats on the occurrence of island reptiles, including non-endemic species. Methodology. I analysed a presence-absence database encompassing 159 islands (Balearic Islands, Provence Islands, Corso-Sardinian Islands, Tuscan Archipelago, and Galite) using Bayesian-regularized logistic regression. Results. The analysis indicated that ship rats do not influence the occurrence of endemic island reptiles, even on small islands. Moreover, Rattus rattus co-occurred positively with two species of non-endemic reptiles, including a nocturnal gecko, a guild considered particularly vulnerable to predation by rats. Overall, the analyses showed a very different pattern than that documented in other regions of the globe, possibly attributable to a long history of coexistence.

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During a herperological journey to Sardinia in may 2001 19 of the 25 species of reptiles and amphibians were spotted. Especially Podarcis tiliguerta, chalices ocellatus and Coluber viridiflavus were abundant throughour the entire island. Tarentola mauritanica, Hyla sarda and Podarcis sicula cettii were locally abundant. Few animals of the other species were seen. Only Hydromantes flavus, Hydromantes genei, Lacerta bedriagae, Coluber hippocrepis, Elaphe longissima and Natrix natrix cetti were not seen.

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The analysis of biogeographical structure and patterns of endemism are central topics of biogeography, but require exhaustive distribution data. A lack of accurate broad-scale information on the distribution of reptiles has so far limited the analyses of biogeographical structure. Here we analysed the distribution of reptiles within the broad-sense Western Palearctic to assess biogeographical regionalization using phylogenetic and non-phylogenetic approaches, identified areas of endemism and evaluated the environmental factors pro- moting community uniqueness and endemism. We gathered distributional records from the literature and from the field, mapping the distribution of all the Western Palearctic reptiles on a 1-degree resolution grid. bsim dissimilarity and hierarchical clustering was used to identify bioregions, analysing data both at the species and at the genus level, and considering phylogenetic dissimilarity. Consensus areas of endemism were identified on the basis of the optimality criterion. We then assessed whether biogeographical structure is related to present-day climate, insularity, orography and velocity of climate change during the Late Qua- ternary. The genus-level analysis identified five main biogeographical regions within the Western Palearctic, in partial agreement with previous proposals, while the species-level analysis identified more bioregions, largely by dividing the ones identified by genera. Phylogenetic bioregions were generally consistent with the non- phylogenetic ones. The strongest community uniqueness was observed in subtropical warm climates with seasonal precipitation and low productivity. We found nine consensus areas of endemism, mostly in regions with limited velocity of Quaternary climate change and warm subtropical climates. The biogeographical structure of Western Palearctic reptiles is comparable to what has been observed in other vertebrates, with a clear distinction between the Saharo-Arabian-Sindian and Euro-Mediterranean herpetofaunas. Unlike other vertebrates, in reptiles the highest uniqueness and endemism is observed in dry climates, but the velocity of climate change during the Quaternary remains a major driver of endemism across all the vertebrates.

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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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The four species of Algyroides Bibron & Bory, 1833 form part of the relatively plesiomorphic Palaearctic clade of lacertids comprising Lacerta and its allies. An estimate of phylogeny based on DNA sequence from parts of the 12S and 16S rRNA mitochondrial genes confirms the monophyly of the genus already suggested by several morphological features. The molecular data also indicates that relationships within the clade are: (A. nigropunctatus (A. moreoticus (A. fitzingeri, A. marchi))); this agrees with an estimate of phylogeny based on morphology that assumes the taxon ancestral to Alygroides was relatively robust in body form, and not strongly adapted to using crevices. Initial morphological evolution within Algyroides appears to involve adaptation to crypsis in woodland habitats. The most plesiomorphic form (A. nigropunctatus) is likely to have originally climbed extensively on tree boles and branches and there may have been two subsequent independent shifts to increased use of litter and vegetation matrices with related anatomical changes (A. moreoticus, A. fitzingeri), and one to increased use of crevices (A. marchi). Some members of Algyroides are strikingly similar in superficial morphology to particular species of the equatorial African genus Adolfus. This resemblance results from a combination of many shared primitive features plus a few independently acquired derived ones that are likely to give performance advantage in the relatively similar structural niches that these forms occupy. This study provides evidence that: (1) the use of a combination of molecular and morphological data may sometimes allow the estimation of ancestral anatomical features when these are otherwise unknown; (2) process considerations may permit a choice to be made in cases of character evolution where tree topology means that equally parsimonious alternatives exist; such decisions about character evolution may allow ecological shifts to be similarly assessed; (3) parallel evolution in ecological analogues may involve relatively few characters.

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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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Background: Although current molecular clock methods offer greater flexibility in modelling evolutionary events, calibration of the clock with dates from the fossil record is still problematic for many groups. Here we implement several new approaches in molecular dating to estimate the evolutionary ages of Lacertidae, an Old World family of lizards with a poor fossil record and uncertain phylogeny. Four different models of rate variation are tested in a new program for Bayesian phylogenetic analysis called TreeTime, based on a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences. We incorporate paleontological uncertainty into divergence estimates by expressing multiple calibration dates as a range of probabilistic distributions. We also test the reliability of our proposed calibrations by exploring effects of individual priors on posterior estimates. Results: According to the most reliable model, as indicated by Bayes factor comparison, modern lacertids arose shortly after the K/T transition and entered Africa about 45 million years ago, with the majority of their African radiation occurring in the Eocene and Oligocene. Our findings indicate much earlier origins for these clades than previously reported, and we discuss our results in light of paleogeographic trends during the Cenozoic. Conclusion: This study represents the first attempt to estimate evolutionary ages of a specific group of reptiles exhibiting uncertain phylogenetic relationships, molecular rate variation and a poor fossil record. Our results emphasize the sensitivity of molecular divergence dates to fossil calibrations, and support the use of combined molecular data sets and multiple, well-spaced dates from the fossil record as minimum node constraints. The bioinformatics program used here, TreeTime, is publicly available, and we recommend its use for molecular dating of taxa faced with similar challenges.

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During a short study trip to Sardinia in May 2012 the Pygmy Algyroides (Algyroides fitzingeri) was focussed on five occasions with seven individuals in the north of the island. The localities and habitat structures are described. Two species of the additional herpetofauna were the Tyrrhenian Wall Lizard (Podarcis tiliguerta) and the Italian Wall Lizard (Podarcis siculus).

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The gaps as yet existing in our knowledge on the palaeogeography of the Mediteranean area, one of the most geologically «restless» on the globe, the scarcity of palaeontological data on amphibians and reptiles (often identified or identifiable only as far as the genus or family) as well as the uncertainties on the systematic position and true relationships of several of the taxa involved make many of the following conclusions on the origins of the herpetological population of Sardinia opinable. This population seems to have occurred i n at least five periods: 1) premiocenic age (taxa deriving from ancestors already present on the Sardinian Corsican microplate prior to its detachment from the main European plate): Euproctus platycephalus, Hydromantes genei, Discoglossus sardus?, Phyllodactylus europaeus??, Algyroides fitzingeri?, Archaeolacerta bedriagae?, Podarcis tiliguerta?; 2) messinian age (salinity crisis of the Upper Miocene), from European or African areas: Hydromantes flavus, Hydromantes imperialis, Hydromantes n.sp., Discoglossus sardus? Hemìdactylus turcicus??, Tarentola mauritanica??, Phyllodactylus europaeus?, Algyroides fitzingeri?, Archaeolacerta bedriagae?, Podarcis tiliguerta?, Chalcides chalcides?, Chalcides ocellatus?, Coluber hippocrepis?, Natrix natrix?, Natrix maura? 3) pliocenic age: Bufo viridis?, Hyla sarda, Hemìdactylus turcicus??, Tarentola mauritanica??, Natrix natrix?; 4 ) pleistocenic age (Cassian regression), from Tuscany across the so-called Elba-Brücke: Bufo viridis? Emys orbicularis, Testudo hermanni?, Hemìdactylus turcicus?, Tarentola maurìtanica?, Podarcis sicula?? Coluber viridiflavus, Elaphe longissima?, Natrix natrix?; 5) protohistoric and/or historic period (transport by man followed by acclimatization): Rana sp. plurimae of the «Rana escidenta-complex», Testudo graeca, Testudo marginata, Hemìdactylus turcicus?, Tarentola mauritanica?, Podarcis sicula?, Chalcides chalcides??, Chalcides ocellatus??, Coluber hippocrepis??, Elaphe longissima?, Natrix maura??, Testudo hermanni?.

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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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Aim Body size is instrumental in influencing animal physiology, morphology, ecology and evolution, as well as extinction risk. I examine several hypotheses regarding the influence of body size on lizard evolution and extinction risk, assessing whether body size influences, or is influenced by, species richness, herbivory, island dwelling and extinction risk. Location World-wide. Methods I used literature data and measurements of museum and live specimens to estimate lizard body size distributions. Results I obtained body size data for 99% of the world`s lizard species. The body size–frequency distribution is highly modal and right skewed and similar distributions characterize most lizard families and lizard assemblages across biogeographical realms. There is a strong negative correlation between mean body size within families and species richness. Herbivorous lizards are larger than omnivorous and carnivorous ones, and aquatic lizards are larger than non-aquatic species. Diurnal activity is associated with small body size. Insular lizards tend towards both extremes of the size spectrum. Extinction risk increases with body size of species for which risk has been assessed. Main conclusions Small size seems to promote fast diversification of disparate body plans. The absence of mammalian predators allows insular lizards to attain larger body sizes by means of release from predation and allows them to evolve into the top predator niche. Island living also promotes a high frequency of herbivory, which is also associated with large size. Aquatic and nocturnal lizards probably evolve large size because of thermal constraints. The association between large size and high extinction risk, however, probably reflects a bias in the species in which risk has been studied.

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Planning conservation actions requires detailed information on species’ geographic distribution. Species distribution data are most needed in areas hosting unique or endangered biodiversity. Italy is one of the European countries with the highest levels of herpetological diversity and endemism and is home to several threatened species of amphibians and reptiles. Information on the distribution of species’ habitats can help identify sites where the species is most likely to thrive, as viable populations depend on it. Area of Habitat (AOH) maps reveal the distribution of the habitat available to the species within their geographic range. We produced high resolution, freely accessible global area of habitat maps for 60 species of reptiles and amphibians distributed in Italy, which represent 60% of all Italian amphibian and reptile species. We validated a total of 44 AOH maps through a presence-only based evaluation method, with 86% of these maps showing a performance better than expected by chance. AOH maps can be used as a reference for conservation planning, as well as to investigate macroecological patterns of Italian herpetofauna. Furthermore, AOH maps can help monitoring habitat loss, which is known to be a major threat to many reptile and amphibian species in Europe.

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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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Lacertinae is one of the three lacertid lizard subfamilies with a geographical distribution confined to the Palaearctic. Several past attempts to reconstruct its phylogeny resulted in unresolved bush-like topologies. We address the question of whether the lack of resolution is due to insufficient data or whether this lack reflects a rapid succession of speciation events. We analyzed four partial and one complete gene sequences from mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, totalling roughly 3600 bp. We included 29 species representing all 19 genera suggested in recent revision of Lacertinae [Arnold, E.N., Arribas, O., Carranza, S., 2007. Systematics of the palaearctic and oriental lizard tribe Lacertini (Squamata: Lacertidae: Lacertinae), with descriptions of eight new genera. Zootaxa 1430, 1–86]. The resulting phylogeny, first, corroborates monophyly at the genus level for the suggested genera, as well as the finding that Atlantolacerta andreanskyi, until recently part of Lacertinae, belongs to the subfamily Eremiadinae. Second, we find that increasing the sequence length and combining multiple nuclear and mitochondrial sequences did not resolve the polytomy, suggesting that the inferred topology indicates a multiple cladogenesis within a short geological period, rather than a methodical artefact. Divergence time estimates, based on previous estimates of several node ages, range from 13.9 to 14.9 million years for the radiation event, however with very broad confidence interval. To associate the radiation with a narrower geological time we consider palaeogeographic and palaeoclimatic data, assuming that the Lacertinae probably evolved in Central Europe andWAsia after the collision of Africa and Eurasia. We suggest that this radiation may date to the late Langhian (ca. 14–13.5 million years) when geological events caused abrupt changes in regional water–land distribution and climate, offering a window of distinct conditions.

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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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Here we report on the combined observations of 10 years of opportunistic field work conducted during short visits to Sardinia, from 1999 to 2012. A total amount of 433 distribution records of 27 species were collected from 187 different localities covering 52 unique UTM squares. We report species presence in 157 new UTM squares and additionally reconfirm previous reported presence in 150 UTM squares. Overall, we produce a remarkable increase in the knowledge of the Sardinian herpetofauna. Notes and observations on ecology, taxonomy and conservation are provided.

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Common Italian names of the amphibians and reptiles present in the geographic Italy are proposed. We analysed a large set of bibliography in order to assess a list of Italian common names used and we proposed the utilization of a single name, also in view of the forthcoming publication of the distribution atlas of the Italian herpetofauna. The criteria used to assign such names follow in general the current use, the possibility to clearly distinguish similar species, geographic and linguistic parameters.

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The link between ecology and economies is manifest over the umrld as a result of long-term processes. But because these processes are long term, it is bard to prove the link. On Sardinia serious economic development was late to arrive, having occurred only over the last few decades. As a case study, research was carried out for 10 years on the state of nature as well as the economic growth in one of the least developed areas abutting the Gulf of Orosei on the east coast Based on research and lasting attention to political affairs concerning the projecg we formulate general recommendations for the area In 1995, the Italian Government will he asked by the European Government to undertake serious steps to save endemics (especially herpetofauna) of Europe`s last pristine areas.

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Sardinia shows a clear lack of herpetological data due to an evident paucity of herpetological surveys. This gap of knowledge is worthy of attention, since Sardinia hosts a rich herpetofauna with a large proportion of endemic species, and distribution data are crucial for targeting conservation efforts. In this paper we provide new distribution data for Sardinian reptiles, with the aim of updating our knowledge on their specific distribution. Data were opportunistically recorded during ten years of field research in Sardinia, carried out in more than twenty campaigns from April 1999 to June 2009. All the eighteen reptile species belonging to the Sardinian fauna were recorded. A total amount of 293 faunistic data were collected from 178 different localities covering the entire study area. Within this dataset, 137 faunistic data fall outside known species’ ranges as reported in the Atlas of Italian amphibians and reptiles. In conclusion, data presented here produced a remarkable increase of knowledge on Sardinian reptiles distribution compare to that reported in the last available syntheses. Nevertheless, it should be evidenced that, notwithstanding the present updating, the knowledge of Sardinian reptiles’ distribution is probably still far from being exhaustive. Thus, further investigations are strongly required for obtaining a complete picture and identifying conservation priorities in terms of isolated species/populations and areas of high diversity and endemicity.

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Corsica and Sardinia are important hotspots of diversity and endemism. Surprisingly, only a few studies are available on geographic variation and evolutionary history of Corsican-Sardinian species. In this study we investigate biogeographic and evolutionary patterns of three lacertid lizards endemic to Corsica and Sardinia under a comparative phylogeographic framework. We analysed mitochondrial gene genealogies in Archaeolacerta bedriagae, Podarcis tiliguerta, and Algyroides fitzingeri including populations from the entire species’ distribution range. Preliminary results show a complete lack of phylogeographical concordance among significant genealogical partitions across the studied species. Each species shows an idiosyncratic pattern of geographical distribution of genetic diversity and a different degree of differentiation among the main lineages with P. tiliguerta likely representing a species-complex, A. bedriagae showing two main (well differentiated) lineages and A. fitzingeri showing a very low differentiation among populations. Based on these preliminary results, the absence of common phylogeographic patterns in these three co-distributed species would reflect a complex of historical, evolutionary and biogeographical processes within the Corso-Sardinian biota. Further investigations with the inclusion of nuclear markers are needed for a better understanding of the complexity of the processes underlying the origin and the patterns of diversity in endemic reptiles from Corsica and Sardinia.

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Algyroides fitzingeri is a Corso-Sardinian endemic lizard belonging to a relictual genus within the Lacertini radiation. In recent phylogeographic studies of Corso-Sardinian endemic lizards incongruent patterns are emerging. We investigated the mitochondrial genetic variation of A. fitzingeri across Corsica and Sardinia to obtain a preliminary portrait of its phylogeographic history. This species showed some polymorphism, but with low genetic differentiation between populations, that probably originated during the Pleistocene. Corsican populations are closely related to those from North Sardinia and are likely to have originated from them, given the higher diversity and deeper phylogeographic structure observed in Sardinia than in Corsica. While the phylogeographic structure of A. fitzingeri in Corsica is surprisingly shallow when compared with other co-distributed lizards, in Sardinia a common pattern apparently emerges. Further research is needed to confirm the hypotheses here presented and to provide a conclusive assessment of the phylogeography of this species.

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On the basis of contradictory data from TADDEI (1952) and MERTENS & WERMUTH (1960), specimens of Algyroides fitzingeri from different areas were compared with one another. lt is shown, that the status of a separ,ate North-Sardinian subspecies could not be maintained and that the subspecies logudorensis and fitzingeri are to be regarded as synonymous with Algyroides fitzingeri. The area of the species Algyroides fitzingeri and the area of the genus Algyroides were interpreted zoogeographically.

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We analysed the species–area relationship and structural connectivity among islands of La Maddalena Archipelago (Italy), a numerous group of small islands very close to Sardinia. We related species richness (amphibians and reptiles) to several environmental factors (area; number of unique habitats; topographical variables; and distances of each island to Sardinia, to the nearest island and to the nearest large island) using generalized additive models and connectivity analysis by graph theory and the software Conefor 2.6. Using each method, we performed several comparisons: considering all species; excluding species with a high exchange rate (‘in transit’); including only autochthonous species; and including species present on large islands. We also excluded, in turn, all amphibians; all Scincidae; all Gekkonidae; all Lacertidae; all Colubridae; and one species in turn. Except in the case of species present on large islands, all models selected the same variables: ruggedness standard deviation, area, number of unique habitats, and mean and maximal elevation. When excluding Sardinia, the highest connectivity value corresponded to the largest islands. Species richness is related to island complexity (habitat diversity and topographical complexity) and not simply to area. Network connectivity is dominated by the internal connectivity of the largest islands, but small islands are essential to maintain the network connectivity and endemicity.

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This book shows a comprehensive picture of the reptiles, excluding snakes, living in Europe, North Africa, Middle and Near East and Central Asia. The bulk of the book is an annotated checklist and a distributional atlas of approx 500 species of lizards, crocodiles, turtles and terrapins, and amphisbaenians, living in the Western Palearctic. Information on distribution, subspecies, chorotype and main references are provided for each species, as well as 226 colour maps showing the global distribution of the species on a grid of one degree. For each species map the bibliographic and original sources (more than 850 sources are listed) are indicated. A further 83 maps show the distribution of all genera and main species groups of Palearctic reptiles. Beside the checklist and the atlas, in some additional chapters the following arguments are treated: Materials and methods; status of knowledge on the Palearctic fauna; composition of the Western Palearctic reptile fauna (including a statement on biodiversity and species richness); descriptive biogeography (including a discussion on the Palearctic region boundaries based on reptile distribution and the herpeto-geographic sectors of the Western Palearctic); conservation status. A list of more than 730 references quoted in the text and high quality colour plates including photos of the most of the supraspecific taxa living in the study area completes the book.

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This paper represents an update of the list of Italian amphibians and reptiles published 15 years ago by Razzetti et al. (2006) and of the checklist published in 1993 by the late Benedetto Lanza. At present, the Italian herpetofauna includes 100 species (41 amphibians and 59 reptiles) and an amphibian taxon of hybrid origin. Seven species and one subspecies are allochthonous and became naturalized within the last century. Since the last published list, a new species has been described (Vipera walser), five taxa have been raised to species rank (Salamandrina perspicillata, Speleomantes sarrabusensis, Zootoca carniolica, Malpolon insignitus and Natrix helvetica) while three taxa have been downgraded to subspecies. All the relevant taxonomic changes based upon new research have been discussed, including tentative revisions and controversial taxa. Nine species reported or listed dubitatively in Lanza’s 1993 list are excluded here.

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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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The area of the south-western Balkans hosts a remarkably high species richness and has been considered a biodiversity hotspot. The significance of the Balkan Peninsula as a biodiversity refugium during the Quaternary climatic fluctuations has been repeatedly pointed out in literature, yet the area remains quite understudied in terms of phylogeography. Contributing to the biogeography and phylogeography of the Balkan area, we herein present the phylogeographic relationships within the lizards of the genus Algyroides, focusing on the two species that occur in the Balkans (namely, A. nigropunctatus and A. moreoticus), including representatives of Dinarolacerta and Lacerta lizards as outgroups. We combined phylogenetic, phylogeographic and species distribution modelling analyses, using both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data, in order to uncover the phylogeographic history of the genus and evaluate the validity of the extant taxonomy. Our results reveal three major clades within Algyroides in southern Balkans; one corresponds to A. moreoticus, having sister group relationships with the genus Dinarolacerta, and the other two to A. nigropunctatus, each corresponding to one of the morphological subspecies, which seem to be monophyletic, allopatric and reproductively isolated. These results expose an unprecedented phylogeographic pattern in the area of western Greece where the two major clades of A. nigropunctatus meet, and can contribute to a taxonomic re-evaluation of the species. Moreover, questions are raised on the validity of Dinarolacerta as a genus due to it clustering within the genus Algyroides.

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Beobachtungen des Paarungsverhaltens und zum Gelege von Algyroides fitzingeri werden mitgeteilt.