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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 hemipenial microornamentation of Algyroides marchi VAlVERDE, 1958 is described. It consists of crown-shaped tubercles, as in A. fitzingeri, but different from the spiniform tubercles of the Balkan species A. moreoticus and A. nigropunctatus. Possible phylogenies and intrageneric relationships are discussed.

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

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After hibernation from November till February/March, courtship of Algyroides marchi was observed in captivity from the second week of March until the end of May, beginning of June. The usual lacertid pre-copulatory display of about one minute which involved a tail bite, was followed by a flankhold on the female near a hind leg. Copulation can last from one to 22 minutes; seven minutes on average. Genital contact ended shortly after the male released his bite. In contrast to the other Algyroides species, no post-ovipositions per female, each clutch with one to three eggs, was recorded from the end of April till the end of June. Eggs measured 5.7 x 10.6 mm and weighed 0.20 g. Incubated at 25°C and 29°C (99 % relative himidity) these grew to 9.9 x 14.7 mm and 0.87 g. Hatchlings appeared after 49 and 34 days respectively, measured 22 + 37 mm, weighed 0.31 g, and resembled their parewnts but for the darker extremities and greywhite ventral surface. Adult dimensions were reached within four months, and they were sexually mature in their first spring. Measurements on a field sample of juveniles from the Sierra de Cazorla in October 1986 strongly suggested three ovipositions also in the field. The leg movements in the behavioural pattern Treteln (head-bobbing + front-leg lifting) are rarely performed. A relation with the species´ saxicolous nature (it even walks upside down on the underside of rocks) on which all four legs are needed for grip, is tempting. A. marchi seemed to prefer humid environments, possibly caused by competitions pressure: in dry terraria no problems were encountered. Lack of rainfall in their habitats as in recent years could therefore be a greater threat than the increase in tourist developments in the area.

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After hibernation from November till February/March, courtship of Algyroides marchi was observed in captivity from the second week of March until the end of May, beginning of June. The usual lacertid pre-copulatory display of about one minute which involved a tail bite, was followed by a flankhold on the female near a hind leg. Copulation can last from one to 22 minutes; seven minutes on average. Genital contact ended shortly after the male released his bite. In contrast to the other Algyroides species, no post-ovipositions per female, each clutch with one to three eggs, was recorded from the end of April till the end of June. Eggs measured 5.7 x 10.6 mm and weighed 0.20 g. Incubated at 25°C and 29°C (99 % relative himidity) these grew to 9.9 x 14.7 mm and 0.87 g. Hatchlings appeared after 49 and 34 days respectively, measured 22 + 37 mm, weighed 0.31 g, and resembled their parewnts but for the darker extremities and greywhite ventral surface. Adult dimensions were reached within four months, and they were sexually mature in their first spring. Measurements on a field sample of juveniles from the Sierra de Cazorla in October 1986 strongly suggested three ovipositions also in the field. The leg movements in the behavioural pattern Treteln (head-bobbing + front-leg lifting) are rarely performed. A relation with the species´ saxicolous nature (it even walks upside down on the underside of rocks) on which all four legs are needed for grip, is tempting. A. marchi seemed to prefer humid environments, possibly caused by competitions pressure: in dry terraria no problems were encountered. Lack of rainfall in their habitats as in recent years could therefore be a greater threat than the increase in tourist developments in the area.

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We report the first record of Algyroides marchi, Valverde 1958 in the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, Southeast Spain. The species was found during a field excursion in the mountains of the municipality of Moratalla. This record results in a significant extension of the known distribution of the species, currently considered to be restricted to the Prebetic Mountains (Southeastern Spain) in the Autonomous Communities of Andalucía and Castilla-La Mancha, being therefore of great importance for the conservation programs at the national level.

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1. Der Name Algyroides hidalgoi kann nicht als nomen dubium aufgefaßt werden. Nach der detaillierten Beschreibung von Boscá ist das Taxon ohne weiteres identifizierbar. 2. Algyroides hidalgoi Boscá und A. marchi Valverde müssen als verschiedene Species aufgefaßt werden. Sie unterscheiden sich weitgehend in Zeichnung, Färbung und morphologischen Merkmalen. 3. Algyroides marchi wird aus der Sierra de Agua (Jaén) nachgewiesen, und diese blaukehlige Population als A. marchi niethammeri subsp.nov. beschrieben.

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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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The results of a monitoring Project on the Spanish Algyroides (Algyroides marchi) carried out by the Asociación Herpetológica Española (AHE, Spanish Herpetolo- gical Society) in 2009 are exposed. This species is an Iberian endemism restricted to the Prebetic Mountains (Alcaraz, Segura and Cazorla). It belongs to a genus evolved in humid forest environments whose members occupy relictual areas across the Mediterranean Basin. The aims of the project were updating the kno- wledge on the distribution range, producing models of potential distribution, esti- mating the population abundance, evaluating the degree of genetic diversity, determining the main menaces and extracting conclusions for conservation from such information. The field sampling carried out between April and September, together with an exhaustive literature review, provided 559 records for 45 UTM 10x10 squares, with 224 exact localities, 162 of them with abundance index and 84 with tissue samples. Considerable progress in the chorological knowledge is observed not only due to new localities within range previously known but also to the detection of peripheral populations, especially in the east. The distribution models indicate that, at large scale, the species depends on mountains, low temperatures, high precipitation and good forest cover, whereas, at small scale, it is constrained by terrain roughness and closure minimising radiation and evaporation. The analysis of the mitochondrial markers show a high genetic diversity structured into three lineages separated since the Early Pleistocene. The first one is highly diverse and stable being distributed along the main axis of the range. The second one occupies a small area in the North western border of the range and has recently expanded. The third one extends throughout several isolated nuclei of the eastern border and is the result of a more recent historical retraction. Nevertheless, nuclear markers indicate current or recent gene flow between these lineages. The information either picked up during the field sampling or from the lite- rature indicate that the menaces for the species are habitat disturbance (forest fires, tracks, stream canalisations, touristic and energetic infrastructures) at local level and climate change (warming and precipitation decrease) at general level. Although most of the species’ range falls within protected areas, this has neither prevented the incidence of the factors above mentioned nor released the Spanish Algyroides from the risks derived from global warming. Further in- tensive studies on demography and population genetics will provide stronger evidences on the realistic size of the occupation area, its fragmentation and the declining of the populations.

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Among the relict species assigned to the genus Algyroides, the Iberian A. marchi is the most restricted, occupying a small range in the Prebetic Mountains (SE Spain). The biogeographic patterns were investigated by 1) updating the knowledge on its distribution; 2) producing models of potential distribution; 3) extrapolating such models to the past and to the future; 4) making estimations of local abundance; and 5) evaluating the degree of genetic substructuring. As a result of the work carried out in 2009, considerable progress in the chorological knowledge was attained due not only to new localities within previous range but also to the detection of peripheral populations. Ecological niche models indicate that the species depends on mountains, low temperatures, high precipitation and good forest cover at large scale, and on terrain roughness and closure minimising radiation and evaporation, at small scale., The temporal extrapolation of such models suggests a progressive range contraction during the Pleistocene which is inferred to end up with the complete species extinction if some scenarios of climate change are confirmed. Three mtDNA lineages separated since the Early Pleistocene are not coincident with current geographic barriers: the first, highly diverse and stable, distributed along the main range axis; the second occupying a small area in the NW; and the third extending throughout several isolated nuclei in the east resulting from historical retraction. Nevertheless, nDNA markers indicate recent gene flow between these lineages. The importance of such evidence for the species conservation and management is discussed.

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

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

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In August 1979 seven specimens of Algyroides marchi had been caught. Since then the lizards are kept together in a 60-1-terrarium after a hibernation period of six weeks at a temperature of from 4 to 6°C. In spring 1980 the four males of the group behaved aggressively towards each other, but they demonstrated no apparent interest in the females. In 1981 the group was separated after a hibernation period of ten weeks. One couple and one male with two females had been isolated. Two weeks later, after the male`s shedding his skin, the first copulation occurred. The males bite the females in the flanks just before the hind leg. We could observe copulations lasting from 10 to 20 minutes on three subsequent days. 17 to 18 days after the last copulation the females laid usually three eggs. These had an average length of 11,2 mm with a diameter of 6,4 mm and an average weight of 0,28 g. We obtained two clutches from one female and three from two others within an interval of from 21 to 24 days. The eggs were often deposited not deeply enough in the wet sand of the terrarium. Egg development took 34 to 38 days at temperatures of from 26 to 30°C. The hatchlings had an average body length and weight of 2,4 cm and 0,35 g, respectively.

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We have studied eight specimens of Algyroides marchi which were caught in August 1979. As a result, former data concerning the maximal body length and sexual dimorph- ism must be revised. Because one hatchling appeared among the specimens it is reasonable to postulate that the first egg-laying period occurs in May. Therefore, the egg-laying period in July, which PALACIOS & al. (1974) report, ought to be the second or even the third such period in the year. The lizards are very sociable in the terrarium. A remark- able behaviour is their nodding which we suppose to be an apomorphic form of the `Treteln` - connected head and arm movements - (KRAMER 1937) of other lacertids.

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Review of the distribution and conservation of amphibians and reptiles in the Province of Granada (Spain). -- The distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the Province of Granada (Spain) is recorded in 10 x 10 km U.T.M. squares. This updates previously recorded data. Thirty-four species, 12 amphibian and 22 reptiles, were found. The known spatial distribution of all the species is enlarged. Eleven species were found at higher than previously known altitudes. Conservation problems in the study area are pointed out.

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

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Distribution modelling usually makes inferences correlating species presence and environmental variables but does not take biotic relations into account. Alternative approaches based on a mechanistic understanding of biological processes are now being applied. Regarding lacertid lizards, physiological traits such as preferred body temperature (Tp) are well known to correlate with several physiological optima. Much less is known about their water ecology although body temperature and evaporative water loss (Wl) may trade-off. Two saxicolous lacertids, Algyroides marchi and Podarcis hispanica ss are sympatric in the Subbetic Mountains (SE Spain) were they can be found in syntopy. Previous distribution modelling indicates the first species is associated with mountains, low temperatures; high precipitation and forest cover whereas the second one is more generalistic. Here, we perform two ecophysiological tests with both species: a Tp experiment in thermal gradient and a Wl experiment in sealed chambers. Although both species attained similar body temperatures, A. marchi lost more water and more uniformly in time than P. hispanica ss that displayed an apparent response to dehydration. These results suggest that water loss rather temperature is crucial to explain the distribution patterns of A. marchi in relation to P. hispanica ss, the former risking dehydration in dry areas no matter what temperature is. Ecophysiological traits represent a promising tool to build future mechanistic models for (lacertid) lizards. Additionally, the implications for their biogeography and conservation are discussed.

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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 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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DNA sequences from parts of the 12S, 16S and cytochrome b mitochondrial genes, which totalled 1049 aligned base pairs, were used to estimate the relationships of 49 species of Lacertidae, including representatives of 19 out of the 23 recognized genera and 23 species of the paraphyletic genus Lacerta. These data were used, together with morphological information, to estimate the relationships within the family. Molecular evidence corroborates the monophyletic status of many genera and species groups originally based on morphology. It indicates that Psammodromus forms a clade with Gallotia, which is the sister taxon of all other lacertids. These comprise three units: the primarily Afrotropical armatured group; the largely Oriental Takydromus; and the west Palaearctic Lacerta and its derivatives, Podarcis and Algyroides. Morphology also supports the first three assemblages, but suggests that they are derived from a paraphyletic Lacerta. Within Lacerta and its allies, DNA sequence analysis corroborates the affinity of some members of each of the subgenera Lacerta s. str. and Timon, and of the L. saxicola group. It also supports the relationship of L. monticola, L. bonnali and L. horvathi, and suggests that the L. parva–L. fraasi clade and L. brandti are not related to Psammodromus–Gallotia, as morphology indicates, but instead are associated respectively with the L. danfordi and L. saxicola groups. DNA sequence data provide additional evidence that the eastern Arabian `Lacerta` jayakari and `L.` cyanura are members of the armatured clade and also sister species. Our analysis supports an origin for present lacertids in west Eurasia. The armatured clade invaded Africa, probably in the mid-Miocene, spreading widely and evolving increasingly xeric-adapted forms, one lineage of which later moved back into the Palaearctic. `Lacerta` jayakari and `L.` cyanura are assigned to Omanosaura, Lutz and Mayer 1986. The name Gallotiinae Cano, Baez, Lopez-Jurado and Ortega, 1984 is available for the Gallotia–Psammodromus clade, Eremiainae Shcherbak 1975 for the armatured clade and Lacertinae for Lacerta, Podarcis and Algyroides. Two new subgenera of Lacerta are proposed here: Caucasilacerta for L. saxicola and its allies, and Parvilacerta for L. parva and L. fraasi.

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

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Since 1980 parasitological research on the Iberian reptiles increased notably, even though the short interval of time have passed follow that it does not know the helminth fauna of diverses species. This was the case with Algyroides marchi VALVERDE, 1958 (Sairia: Lacertidae), the present parasitological study being the first for this lizard.

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The genus Hepatozoon Miller, 1908 (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) is composed of intracellular haemogregarine parasites that are widely distributed among all tetrapod groups. The present study combines microscopic and molecular data on haemogregarine parasites from lizards in the western Mediterranean. We screened tissue samples and examined blood smears for the presence of species of Hepatozoon from four lizards, namely Algyroides marchi Valverde, endemic to Southeast Spain, Podarcis bocagei Seoane from Spain and Portugal, P hispanica Steindachner from Spain, and P lilfordi Günther from Cabrera, Balearic Islands (Spain). Our results show that prevalence and intensity of Hepatozoon parasites vary between and within lizard species from different regions. Algyroides marchi and P bocagei from Spain had the lowest values, whereas P hispanica had the highest. Phylogeny based on 18S rRNA gene sequences indicates that most of the new Hepatozoon sequences are part of a clade exclusive from North African and Iberian lizards, except for a single P bocagei isolate that is found related to another clade including isolates from other reptile host species and rodents. Interestingly, isolates from Algyroides form a distinct monophyletic subgroup, which could be a signal of strict host-specificity within this host genus.

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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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In this paper the authors study Valverde´s lizard, Algyroides marchi, Valverde 1958. The first part refers to the biometry, pholidosis and coloration of a population of Riopar (Sierra de Alcaraz), province of Albacete, obtaining the following results: Biometry. – The old males weigh more and have larger heads and limbs than the females. The old females are longer as measured from the end of the snout to the vent. In both sexes the length of the tail is similar. Pholidosis. – The pholidosis is pratically the same in both sexes. The only significant differences is in the number of transverse series of ventral plates, 25,3 in the males and 27,9 in the females. Coloration. – The males generally present greater pigmentation than the females. There is an elevated proportion of females that maintain the juvenile coloration. In a later chapter a systematic revision of the species is made. Three known Iberian population are compared: Sierra de Cazorla, Riopar and Bogarra. No specimen from Riopar or Bogarra (Sierra de Alcaraz) presented the characteristics of niethammeri, subspecies described by Buchholz (1964). For that reason niethammeri is not considered valid and is asimilated to marchi. Some data on the biology of reproduction have also been included. The egg-laying takes place during the first two weeks of July and there are 1.4 eggs. The measurements of two eggs which had been completed formed varies greatly from spring to summer. During the copulation period, in April, the testicles are 3-7 times larger than in the summer. The last chapter studies the ecology of this species.It lives between 1.000 and 1.550 m above sea level, in the most humid mountain zones. Its ecological niche corresponds to the vegetal associations: Pino-Juniperion sabinae, Quercion pubescentis and Erinacetalia. The optimum is the Quercion pubescentis enclaved in very humid ravines. Lacerta hispanica ecologically replaces Algyroides marchi in the dry zones subject to strong solar exposure.

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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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The development of molecular methods is becoming a promising field in the analysis of parasite fauna in wildlife species. This is especially useful in the case of parasite species where developmental larval stages are difficult to assess using standard methods. In this study we screened for the presence of parasitic nematodes infecting lacertid lizards from the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic islands using nematode-specific 18S ribosomal RNA gene primers on host tissue samples. Sequencing of positive samples revealed the presence of different genera of nematodes. The detection of Strongyloides, a monoxenous genus reported for the first time in Podarcis lilfordi is probably the result of the amplification of larval stages present in the host circulatory system. Two spirurid nematodes, Synhimantus and a new unidentified clade, were also found, suggesting that reptiles might be paratenic hosts of several spirurid species. This study demonstrates the benefits of using specific molecular markers on tissue samples to identify infecting larval stages of nematodes, otherwise difficult to assess using traditional screening methods.

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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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The Iberian Algyroides (Algyroides marchi) is a lacertid lizard with one of the narrow est distribution ranges in continental Europe, restricted to a minute area in the Subbaetic mountains in SE Spain. Due to specifc habitat requirements, this species is considered threatened by climate change and habitat degradation. Here, an improved and time-cali brated multilocus phylogenetic analysis, combining two mitochondrial, three nuclear mark ers as well as a battery of 12 microsatellite loci, was performed. Moreover, ancestral changes in efective population size were determined under Approximate Bayesian Com putation (ABC) analysis. In parallel, past, present and future habitat suitability was inferred using Ecological Niche Models (ENMs). The diversifcation of A. marchi in the Iberian Peninsula began during the Upper-Pleistocene around 0.10 Mya. However, during the Last Interglacial the species had much larger suitable habitats along NE Iberia and/or the Can tabrian region. Indeed, ABC analysis indicates that not the Last Interglacial, but instead the Last Glacial Maximum led to a population bottleneck followed by a recovery/expan sion. The footprint of this complex evolutionary history is refected today in six mono phyletic lineages, with little genetic diferentiation and geographic coherency. This pat tern most likely arises from the climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene, leading to a complete range shift and secondary contact, with very divergent haplogroups in sympatry and exchanging genes. Finally, the ENMs predict a considerable future retraction and shift in the area suitable for the species, which should be taken into account for conservation policies.

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There is growing concern that anthropogenic climate change may particularly affect ectotherm groups such as amphibians and reptiles. Effects of anthropogenic climate change were already observed on different levels, ranging from changes in the phenology of individuals to changes in entire populations, their demography and geographic ranges with losses and range gains. Especially the latter is exacerbated by interactions of climate change with existing risk factors such as the spread of patho- gens and invasive species. In extreme cases, species are threatened by extinction, which is most likely in endemic species occupying restricted ranges. In this review, possible future climate change scenarios as well as previous observations and general expectations of climate change induced changes in phenology, demography and bio- geography of amphibian and reptile species are presented. Individual case studies on climate change induced changes in demography of the common lizard as well as possible range shifts in the alpine newt are highlighted, with applied methods being discussed regarding different elements of uncertainty.

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Cannibalism is a widespread behavior, although relatively less reported in reptiles than other taxa. Many studies indicate its importance in population regulation and life history of the species concerned, while others regard it as an opportunistic behavior. We present the first report of cannibalism in the Spanish Algyroides (Algyroides hidalgoi), a small and stenotopic lacertid lizard that occupies rocky shaded and humid localities in a reduced distribution area in the southeastern mountains of the Iberian Peninsula. Within an ongoing study of the species trophic ecology, we found tail-scales of this lizard within a fecal pellet. By studying the morphology and microornamentation of the scales, we identified the victim as an adult conspecific, and we discuss the implications of the event within the framework of the particularities of the species. While cannibalism by lizards has been associated mainly with high lizard population densities and unproductive and predator-scarce environments (mainly islands), the Spanish Algyroides shows nearly the opposite characteristics. The scales found represent a very small proportion of the studied ingested prey. Cannibalism seems not to have important demographic implications in this species. The case adds to other cannibalism reports that do not find adaptive value of this behavior in lizards, and contributes to the discussion found in the literature (opportunism vs adaptation) stressing the need of further research.

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We study the habitat selection of Algyroides marchi, a small lizard endemic to the southeastern mountains of the Iberian Peninsula whose populations are concentrated in a few small localities. Three spatial scales of study were used to analyse the different factors affecting the species distribution patterns: regional scale, local scale and within-habitat use of different substrates. The results obtained at these different spatial scales showed a high consistency, suggesting that the same ecological pressures probably acted at different scales. Localities occupied by A. marchi were characterized by high altitude, high geomorphological complexity, northern aspect, high cover of large rocks, and presence of water. Density of A. marchi in a favourable locality was 213 adult-subadult lizards/ ha. Abundance and use of space of A. marchi (at local and individual levels) were directly associated with extent of water (streams and small pools) and the presence of large rocks, and inversely with hours of direct solar radiation and cover of small stones and vegetation. Considering the habitat selection of A. marchi and the management practices within its geographical range, potential risks for the conservation of the species are identified.

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Peripheral populations are considered vulnerable but important for conservation. The Spanish algyroides is a small and endangered lacertid lizard, endemic to a small area in the southeastern mountains of the Iberian Peninsula. It is a stenotopic species that will typically inhabit shaded and humid microhabitats in enclosed rocky situations. These habi¬tat preferences relate to a very low thermal inertia and high evaporative water loss consistent with its small body size. Its patchy distribution is delimited by dryer and warmer lowlands. Newly detected localities seemed to expand its known dis¬tribution range, providing a contact zone with core populations. We studied the habitat selection and conservation status of populations living in the border zone, produced a species distribution model of the new area, and compared border ver¬sus core structural and environmental variables. The results confirmed the predicted occurrence, showing no differences in border vs. core selected habitat characteristics. From the perspective of habitat selection alone, edge effects and local adaptation seem insignificant. This could be related to the ‘hard-type edge’ and ‘two-patch system’ of the small distribu¬tion of this species. Detected alterations of the habitat in this border area were mainly road and forest track construction, urbanisation, and livestock grazing. In the longer term, aridification of the area due to the global climate change could po¬tentially gain importance, considering the dependency of the species on humid habitats, and the proximity of the edge of its distribution to the uninhabitable lowlands that determine its range limits. It is of great importance to identify the shape of the whole edge of this species’ range, effect in-depth evaluations, and monitor its conservation status.

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Since the recent discovery of this Iberian endemic, with an area of distribution in the Alcaraz and Cazorla Mountains (provinces of Albacete and Aen, respectively, Spain), the few communications on the species have been dedicated mainly to biometric and systematic aspects contributed the first data on the reproduction of this lizard. The existence of a single egg-laying period (in the first half of July), postulated in this paper on the basis of paretial data of the activity period, was contradicted by the findings of Eickhorst et al. (1979), who found young specimens of small size in the month of August and have suggested a different reproductive cycle. In the present communication, the variation of the genital tract throughout the activity period was studies, data on egglaying were obtained and the age of the youngest specimens was determined by the skeletochronological method until now in the bibliography.

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After the study of the reproductive cycle of Algyroides marchi Valverde, 1858 in the Alcaraz Mountains, we considered the multivariate analysis of a series of morphologic and sexual features throughout the reproductive cycle to be of interest. The objective was to be detect possible relations between variables presumably associated with the sexual cycle and direct indicators of this cycle.

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The taxonomy and nomenclature of Iberian Algyroides are problematic. The first taxon described, A. hidalgoi Boscá, 1916, was based on a single specimen that was subsequently lost. The description of the second taxon, A. marchi Valverde, 1958, was based on the comparison of a newly discovered population with the original description of A. hidalgoi. However, A. hidalgoi specimens have never been recorded since for any locality. Therefore, three questions need to be addressed: Is A. hidalgoi Boscá, 1916 a morphologically diagnosable taxon different from all non-Iberian species of Algyroides? are A. hidalgoi and A. marchi conspecific? And if so, which is the correct name for the species? To clarify the taxonomic status of the Iberian Algyroides we (1) compare Boscá’s A. hidalgoi original description against the descriptions of all other species of Algyroides, (2) test the accuracy of Boscá’s A. hidalgoi by comparing it against 204 Iberian museum specimens, and (3) designate a neotype of A. hidalgoi that fits the head pholidosis described in the original description. We show that none of the diagnostic characters used by Valverde to differentiate between A. hidalgoi and A. marchi are actually diagnostic, as we found high levels of variability on those characters in the studied specimens. Our results validate Boscá’s description of A. hidalgoi, which fits within the morphological variability observed for southern Iberian Algyroides. As a result, we propose the strict synonymy of A. marchi Valverde, 1958 with A. hidalgoi Boscá, 1916.

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

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The lberian lizard Algyroides marchi is endemic to a small range in the Prebetic Mountains (SE Spain). Current, past and future biogeographic patterns were identified by 1) updating distribution knowledge; 2) calculating models of current potential distribution; and 3) extrapolating these models to past and future climatic scenarios. Climatic variables obtained from the Worldclim series were derived to develop an average model of the species realized niche, from an iterative process with 10 replicates, using the presence-only ecological niche modelling software Maxent. Models were projected to three future scenarios of climatic change (HADCM3, CSIRO, and CCCMA), using two possible economical situations (a2a and b2a) for three years (2020, 2050 and 2080); and two past scenarios (last interglacial and last glacial maximum, the latter with two models). Current distribution models indicate that the species depends on low temperatures and high precipitation. Past models suggest that the species` refuge during the interglacial period was located in the lberian System, the same area where the species is predicted to be distributed in the future. In contrast the distribution during the last glacial maximum was inferred to be spread in the eastern half of the lberian Peninsula. In a non-dispersal scenario, the species will be almost extinct in this century due to clime change.

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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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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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In pristine conditions, Mediterranean Europe was covered by dense forests during all Pleistocene and in more recent warm periods. Combined with its rather northern position this means that at that time, apart from in coastal environments, lizard habitats would have been present only where open places were formed by the action of storms, natural fires and the erosive forces of rivers. The latter will have been the most reliable and also the most important force, especially combined with the influence of large grazing and browsing animals. Variations in habitat quality in the resulting open spaces are determined by longitudinal gradients in temperature, humidity, steepness and trophic conditions. Present day ecological differentiation and some special characteristics of the lizards will be discussed in the light of these hypotheses.

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