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Algyroides fitzingeri, Algyroides marchi, Algyroides moreoticus, Algyroides nigropunctatus, Lacerta agilis, Lacerta lepida, Lacerta princeps, Lacerta schreiberi, Lacerta strigata, Lacerta trilineata, Lacerta viridis, Lacerta andreanszkyi, Lacerta armeniaca, Lacerta bedriagae, Lacerta brandtii, Lacerta cappadocica, Lacerta caucasica, Lacerta chlorogaster, Lacerta cyanura, Lacerta danfordi, Lacerta derjugini, Lacerta dugesii, Lacerta fraasii, Lacerta graeca, Lacerta horvathi, Lacerta jayakari, Lacerta laevis, Lacerta monticola, Lacerta mosorensis, Lacerta oxycephala, Lacerta parva, Lacerta perspicillata, Lacerta praticola, Lacerta rudis, Lacerta saxicola, Lacerta vivipara, Gallotia atlantica, Gallotia galloti, Gallotia simonyi, Podarcis erhardii, Podarcis filfolensis, Podarcis hispanica, Podarcis lilfordi, Podarcis melisellensis, Podarcis milensis, Podarcis muralis, Podarcis peloponnesiaca, Podarcis pityusensis, Podarcis sicula, Podarcis taurica, Podarcis tiliguerta, Podarcis wagleriana, Psammodromus algirus, Psammodromus blanci, Psammodromus hispanicus, Psammodromus microdactylus.

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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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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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The interspecific relationships among female size, clutch size, egg size, and hatchling size were examined for 64 European lacertids. The eggs of all species increased linearly in both linear dimensions and mass during incubation. Across species initial egg mass was positively correlated with juvenile mass, with an allometric relationship exponent of 0.87. Initial egg mass across species increased proportionally with female mass to the power of 0.57. Moreover, an increase in maternal mass was also accompanied by an increase in clutch size. The number of eggs per clutch across species scaled with female mass to the power of 0.39. Removing the effect of female mass resulted in a negative correlation between egg mass and clutch size. Species for which the average egg size was lower than expected on the basis of female mass, tended to have larger relative clutch size. The total egg mass per clutch was about one third of female mass (exponent 0.94).

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Relationships among representatives of five genera of lacertid lizards from Iberia, Morocco, and South Africa were studied using quantitative micro-complement fixation analysis of serum albumin evolution. Using the albumin molecular clock to establish divergence times we suggest (1) South African Ichnotropis and North African Psammodromus diverged from the lineage representing Lacerta lepida-L. monticola during the Oligocene, (2) South African Pedioplanis and Heliobolus diverged from this lineage during the late Miocene, and (3) ancestral representatives of L. andreanszkyi, L. perspicillata and Podarcis hispanica diverged from lineages leading to L. monticola and L. lepida during the mid-Miocene. Radiation within the Palearctic Lacertidae has clearly been extensive, yet fewer than twenty percent of the species in this radiation have been examined biochemically. Until additional data can be gathered, the current classification of the Palearctic Lacertidae cannot be much improved and we recommend adherence to the taxonomy proposed by Arnold (1973).

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The electrophoretic variation at 26 presumptive gene loci was investigated in populations of the closely related species Podarcis sicula, P. wagleriana, P. raffonei, and P. filfolensis. Low values of proportion of polymorphic loci (P) and mean observed heterozygosity (Ho) were found in P. sicula (P= 0.10; Ho= 0.016), P. wagleriana (P= 0.13; Ho= 0.029), and P. raffonei (P= 0.08; Ho= 0.017), while higher levels of genetic variability were observed in P. filfolensis (P= 0.17; Ho= 0.054). In the latter species, a multiple regression analysis was carried out in order to analyse the geographic correlates of P and Ho. The results of this analysis were consistent with the predictions of the time-divergence theory of variation, supporting the conclusion that directional selection is the main force eroding genetic variation on small islands. Intraspecific values of Nei`s (1972) standard genetic distance were relatively low in P. sicula (average D= 0.024), P. wagleriana (average D= 0.004), and P. filfolensis (average D= 0.012), while higher in P. raffonei (D= 0.040). The lizards from Pantellena Island, which were considered by BISCHOFF (1986) to be very similar to P. filfolensis from Malta on the basis of a superficial analysis of the coloration pattern, were shown to actually belong to P. sicula. This confirms that the range of P. filfolensis only includes the Maltese Archipelago, Linosa Island, and the islet of Lampione. Surprisingly, the samples of P. filfolensis from the Pelagie Islands (Linosa and Lampione) were very similar to those from the Maltese Archipelago (average D= 0.016). This could be explained by rafting or anthropogenic introduction of P. filfolensis on Linosa and Lampione. Podarcis wagleriana and P. raffonei were genetically related (average D= 0.152), confirming the results of previous electrophoretic investigations. Podarcis filfolensis, though showing some morphological affinity with P. wagleriana, was genetically highly differentiated from this latter species (average D= 0.526), while being more similar to P. sicula (average D= 0.306). This indicates a close relationship between P. sicula and P. filfolensis, suggesting that P. sicula and P. filfolensis probably diverged from a common ancestor, and that the apparent similarity between P. filfolensis and P. wagleriana could be merely due to morphological convergence.

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The chromosome complements of Podarcis filfolensis, P. tiliguerta, P. wagleriana and Archaeolacerta bedriagae were analyzed in bone marrow somatic mitoses as well as in meiotic diakinesis. All four species are characterized by the typical lacertid karyotype consisting of 38 chromosomes (36 acrocentric macrochromosomes plus 2 microchromosomes). Adaptive stability of karyotypes, as a result ofa canalization process of chromosomal evolution, and absence of complex social behaviour promoting population subdivision and inbreeding, are the evolutionary factors presumably correlated with the remarkable conservativeness of karyotype observed within the family Lacertidae.

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The insular lizard microcommunity inhabiting the Lampione islet (Pelagian islands, S Italy) is constituted by a skink (Chalcides ocellatus) and a lacertid lizard (Podarcis filfolensis). Their diet composition (taxa and sizes)) during spring-early summer were analysed based on 131 faecal pellets, which could be individually assigned to a lizard species and sex (only in P. filfolensis). The diet of C. ocellatus was biased towards hard prey of medium to large sizes (Coleoptera, insect larvae). Podarcis filfolensis displayed a more diverse prey spectrum including Formicidae, Coleoptera, insect larvae and minor prey not consumed by the skink, but restricted to the small items; differences between sexes were minimal. Both species were partially herbivorous. Evidence of cannibalism was found for P. filfolensis and C. ocellatus preyed upon P. filfolensis. Pseudocommunity analysis does not support community structure but instead points to convergence in trophic strategies between both species due to insular conditions. Evolutionary history, rather than resource partitioning, seems responsible for the moderate trophic overlaps recorded and even may explain why both species coexist under the harsh conditions of this tiny islet.

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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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Although it was obvious to us that it would be useful to include a list of the herpetofauna found on the Italian islands, it immediately became clear that this would be no easy task: the information in the literature is often incomplete, inaccurate and difficult to check, and precise data are available only for the circum-Sardinian islands (POGGESI et al., 1996), the circum-Sicilian islands (L ANZA, 1973; CORTI et al., 1998) and the Tuscan Archipelago (HOTZ, 1973; COR- TI et al., 1991; VANNI & NISTRI, 1999, 2000). In order to form as complete a picture as possible, we also consulted numerous works on single islands or groups of islands, e.g. the Handbuch der Rep- tilien und Amphibien Europas. Finally, we had access to a large vol- ume of as yet unpublished data from the Progetto Atlante, including reports for the Ligurian and Apulian islands, gathered by the region- al chapters of the Societas Herpetologica Italica. For the sake of brevity, lacustrian and riverine populations and those of delta bars, beaches and island lakes have been omitted. Apart from the fact that few data are available, these populations are not actually separate from those of adjoining coasts. We do make an important exception to this rule in mentioning the taxon Lacerta muralis borromeica Mertens, 1932, described for the Isola Madre on Lago Maggiore and later declared invalid by the author. The subspecies status of many island populations of lacertids of the Podarcis genus remains open to debate, and is discussed in more detail in the chapter “Checklist of the Italian herpetofauna with tax- onomic remarks”. These populations can present far greater variabil- ity in patterning than continental populations [e.g. Podarcis sicula caporiaccoi (Taddei, 1949) see HOTZ (1973)] or unusual colouring (e.g. melanotic) which, although they make island and archipelago populations easier to identify, are considered by modern taxono- mists to be of doubtful systematic validity. It was decided to include the description of a species or sub- species for an island as a note, with the type locality in square brack- ets, and with the name supplied by the author without commenting on its validity.

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Lizards and Eleonora’s falcon occur on many Mediterranean islets. Data given in literature and new observations concerning their asymmetrical interactions, which have been reviewed and illustrated, allow to regard those as a commensal relationship typical on these micro-insular ecosystems. Some considerations on the ecological, ecomorphological and phenological traits involved on this commensalism are also briefly discussed.

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Background Lizards of the genus Podarcis are widespread in the Mediterranean region, including islands and island archipelagos. These small-bodied lizards have a predominantly protective green-brown colouration. However, some populations display unusual patterns, in which the colouration is predominantly blue or uniformly black. This study explores the factors that influence this chromatic variation, whether environmental (climate and island conditions) or evolutionary (phylogenetic trait conservatism). The colouration of 1400 individuals (27 species) was analysed in the CIELAB colour space. Results Pagel’s λ indicated that colouration is weakly conserved within phylogenetic lineages. Although the island surface plays a key role in the chromatic variability of these lacertids, geographic isolation and climate hold less influence. The colouration of some small island populations tends to be uniform and dark, possibly due to intense intraspecific competition and lower predatory pressure. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of island populations in understanding the processes that favour the emergence of extreme phenotypes in small ectothermic vertebrates.

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Mediterranean lizards are involved in the dispersion of Capparis spinosa subsp. rupestris due to their attraction by fleshy tissues of the fruits, ripening in xeric coastal environments during the summer months. The results of field observations carried out in Linosa (Pelagie Islands) are presented, showing that dispersal by Podarcis filfolensis laurentiimuelleri principally happens through ingestion of the seeds together with parts of the fleshy pulp. This lizard, endemic to Linosa and Lampione is widespread in different habitats and shows trophic generalism. The fruit of C. spinosa subsp. rupestris, a dehiscent berry, is described and the implications of the dispersal agents on the autecology of this plant are discussed. These observations confirm the importance of lizard-plant mutualism in the islands, where lizards are often recorded as fruit consumers.

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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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In recent years there has been an exponential increase in the amount of published DNA sequences, as it has become one of the most popular sources of data for reconstructing phylogenies. A number of studies have attempted to resolve the relationships of groups of lacertids using mitochondrial DNA sequence data, in particular Podarcis and Gallotia (e.g. THORPE et al., 1994; 1996; GONZALEZ et al., 1996; FU et al., 1997; HARRIS, 1997; HARRIS et al., 1998a; 1999; CASTILLA et al., 1999a,b). Reassessment of these data suggest some alternative phylogenies to those previously published, and also highlight possible problems. Two studies have attempted to unravel the phylogeny of the whole family using mitochondrial DNA sequences (FU, 1998; HARRIS et al., 1998b). By combining these essentially congruent data sets, and reanalysing levels of support for the phylogenies produced, a more complete estimate of relationships across the family is produced. This is then compared to alternative sources of evidence, primarily morphological (ARNOLD, 1989), biochemical (MAYER & BENYR, 1994) and karyological (OLMO et al., 1993). Reasons for discrepencies are discussed, as are the relative advantages and disadvantages of the different sources of phylogenetic inference.

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The life and work of the Alsatian Louis Amédée Lantz (1886-1953), a pioneer of European herpetology. A trained and professional research-chemist, the Alsatian Louis Amédée Lantz was an active and particularly dynamic herpetologist. His residence of nearly twelve years in Russia enabled him to make several field trips to regions such as the Caucasus and Iran. He always carried with him a home made telescopic net that he used to catch lizards. That net became symbolic of Lantz for most people around him. He realized significant herpetological collections mainly deposited in the Museum of the Zoology Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. Soon after the Russian Revolution in 1917, he had to leave the country and stayed for a few years in France before joining England. During this period, Lantz visited the French Pyrenees and the Mediterranean border (Hyeres Islands, Bandol), enabling him to discover for the first time oviparous populations of common lizard and also to describe a new species of lizard from the French Pyrenees. Lantz is also at the origin of the discovery of unisexual reproduction by parthenogenesis in reptiles. His collaboration with the Swedish amateur herpetologist Otto Cyrén, whom he met through the German herpetologist Willy Wolterstorff, was particularly successful throughout his career. Lantz died at the age of 66 years, in Switzerland, as he was about to join the team of herpetologists at the Natural History Museum in Paris.

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Data on the field body temperatures of Chalcides ocellatus and Podarcis filfolensis from Lampione Islet (Pelagie Islands, Channel of Sicily) are presented and discussed. Both lizard species show a wide range (about 12.0 °C) between minimum and maximum. Mean body temperatures resulted rather higher in C. ocellatus (34.1 °C) than in P. filfolensis (32.8 °C), and their medians differ significantly. C. ocellatus seems to be less dependent on environmental factors and slightly more efficient than P. filfolensis as regard thermoregulation.

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Ecological investigations on the lizards of the R.N.O. and S.C.I.“Isola di Lampedusa”.The results of the investigations concerning six species of lizards occurring inthe Natural Reserve “Isola di Lampedusa” (Hemidactylus turcicus, Tarentola mauritanica, Psammodromus algirus and Chalcides ocellatus), and inother areas of the island (Podarcisfilfolensisand P. sicula) are given. T. mauritanica is the most common and widespread lizard, with population densitiesranging from 100 to 800 indi- viduals per ha on Lampedusa and 1,200 ind./ha on Isola dei Conigli. C. ocellatusoccurs mainly in fields and in the urban area(up to 600 ind./ha), while, on the main island, it results extremely rare or absent in wide areas characterized by rocky substrate. Population density was estimated around 220- 330 ind./ha for P. algirus, while the total number of lizards inhabiting the Conigli islet could be esti- mated around 600-1,200 individuals. Both introduced species, P. filfolensisand P. sicula, are still con- fined within small urban areas, where they seem to be less common than the autochthonous Sauria. Body temperature of P. algirus(mean 30.9 °C) seems to be scarcely related to environmental Saurias, while that of T. mauritanica(25.2-32.0 °C) and C. ocellatus(26.9-32.0 °C) resulted significatively relat- ed to air and soil temperatures. The diet of the studied species is mainly based on invertebrates, espe- cially insects. T. mauritanicashows a clear preference for terrestrial preys and its diet on Conigli islet includes an unusual high percentage of ants (14% of the whole preys’ spectrum). As already known for P. algirus, vegetal matter is largely consumed also by the other lizards. A partial herbivorism char- acterised the diet of T. mauritanicaon Conigli islet, as well asC. ocellatuson both islands. Despite the absence of snakes and domestic predators on the latter, the highest percentage of lizards with broken or regenerated tails was observed onConigli islet. A test on the potential predation pressure wascar- ried outusing plastiline models; the results show that the lizard-models were attackedmainlybygulls, even if this species is doubtfully considered as a effective predator of lizards.

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Lampione (35°33’00” N - 12°19’11” E Greenwich) is the smallest islet of the Pelagie Archipelago, with a surface of 2.10 ha and a maximum elevation of 36 m a.s.l. It is situated 17 Km off the western coast of Lampedusa Island, in the Channel of Sicily. The islet is inhabited by a population of the Maltese Wall Lizard, Podarcis filfolensis (Bedriaga 1876), which is interesting to study from an ecological point of view because of the unusual characteristics of the study area (extreme isolation and insularity, low human disturbance, etc.). This population, referred to the ssp. laurentiimuelleri (Fejérváry 1924) by Lanza & Bruzzone (1961), is characterised by an intense melanism. As expected, the population body size (SVL, mm) differed significantly among sexes and age classes, males were significantly bigger than females. Three out of five males, and one out of two females had the tail broken or regenerated. These frequencies did not differ significantly at χ2 test . A high density characterised the species on this islet, where it is syntopic with Chalcides ocellatus: 75-80 individuals of P. filfolensis per 100 m2 were counted in the upper plateau, covered by alo-nitrophilous vegetation (Salicornietea). Vegetal matters were found in 60.9% (total n = 14) of the faecal pellets examined (total n = 23), these exceeded in terms of frequency of occurrence any other food category. In particular, when we compared the frequency of occurrence of vegetal matters in specimens with known sex, it resulted that 4 out of 5 males, 2 out of 2 females, and 1 out of 2 sub- adults had eaten vegetal matters. is suggests that herbivorous habits are not exclusive of a given sex or age class, but are indeed widespread at all levels of the studied population. The rest of the dietary spectrum consists of small invertebrates (mainly Hymenoptera Formicidae, Coleoptera Tenebrionidae, and other arthropods), as usually found in the small lacertids of the Mediterranean basin.

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The papers aims at underlining the “unespected” value of Lampione’s biological heritage, as well as the fragility of its ecosystem. Despite its very little size, this islet harbours a very rich pool of plant and animal species of high biological and/or conservation interest. Special attention is paid to the biogeographic meaning of local endemics, on local extinction and turnover processes, on some ecological or biological patterns which contribute to the distinctiveness of local biota. However, further investigations are needed in order to complete the list of animals and to monitor the demographic trends of all species. In particular, it is necessary to assess if local seagull colony may represent a major threat for local diversity.

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Circum‐Sicilian and Maltese herpetofauna includes 22 species occurring with steady populations, andsome of them (Pelophylax bedriagae, Trachemys scripta, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, Hemorrhois algirus and perhapsTelescopus fallax) were introduced during the last two centuries, while for other 7 at least one introduction withinthe study islands was documented during the same span of time; furthermore, temporary occurrences were alsodetected for other 16 species (3 amphibians and 13 reptiles), some of which (Hyla sp., Graptemys pseudogeo‐graphica, Centrochelys sulcata, Pantherophis guttatus and Lampropeltis getula) have not been previously recordedfor these islands. Accidental or intentional introductions have gradually increased in recent decades and have asignificant influence in shaping these herpetofunal assemblages. On the contrary, extinction seems to be less fre‐quent and involved especially amphibians. The updated faunal inventory for 65 islands includes several new recordsand the results of the first herpetological investigations on the islets Faraglione di terra di Cala Fico, Colombaia,Vittoria Garcia (circum‐Sicilian), Pigeon Rock and Cheirolopus Rock (Maltese).

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Atlases of fauna with distribution maps and information about biology and ecology are useful tools for the management and conservation of the species. Knowledge about distribution of the reptiles in Sicily dates back to 2006. An update of data was carried out taking also into account the systematic innovations of the last twelve years. For creating the geographic distribution maps, the UTM WGS84 cartographic system was used. At present 24 species of reptiles live and reproduce in the Sicilian territory. On the main island there are 17 species, on the minor islands the number varies from a minimum of four to a maximum of eight species. Compared to the bibliographic data, for 16 species an increase in the number of cells occupied has been recorded, with a variation between 0.3 and 81.8%, five species have not undergone variation, and for two species a decrease was recorded. The current presence of Testudo hermanni on the minor Sicilian islands is dubious or unlikely. The higher number of species compared to the previous distribution data is due to the recent confirmation of the presence of Eryx jaculus in Sicilian territory, and the presence of a new Tarentola taxon of specific rank in Lampedusa island. The decrease of Podarcis filfolensis is due to its absence from the known site in Lampedusa, while the case of Zamenis situla is due to the exclusion of data collected in some areas where there are no recent, reliable observations.

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Chemosystematic investigations on the position of Lacerta jayakari and the genera Gallotia and Psammodromus (Sauria; Lacertidae) 13 species of the genera Lacerta, Psammodromus and Gallotia (L. erhardii, L. filfolensis, L. bedriagae, L. cappadocica, L. jayakari, L. vivipara, L. trilineata, L. agilis, P. hispanicus, P. algirus, G. atlantica, G. galloti, G. stehlin:) have been examined by means of micro complement fixation tests (albumin) as well as by proteinelectrophoresis concerning 14 genetic loci. The results and their con-sequences are the follows: 1. L. cappadocica, L. bedriagae, and L. erhardii/L. filfolensis are representatives of phylogeneticly equivalent groups (subgenera). Their isolation in the Middle Miocene corresponds with the first contacts of the landmasses of Eurasia and Africa. 2. Lacerta jayakari may be considered as a representative of a further group equivalent in this aspect; though the immunological results would not exclude a position near the green lizards (subgenus Lacerta s. str.). 3. Because of this isolated position of L. jayakari for this species (and Lacerta cyanura) the subgenus Omanosaura subgen. nov. has been established. 4. Psammodromus hispanicus and P. algirus have probably been isolated of each other since the Middle Miocene, too. 5. The radiation of the genus Gallotia corresponds closely with genesis of the Canary Isles.

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Albumins from several species assigned to Lacerta s. 1. and Gallotia were investigated by means of the Micro-Complement fixation technique. The phylogenetic trees evaluated according to Fitch & Margoliash (1967) and Beverley & Wilson (1982) led us to infer a division, which is in accordance with protein electrophoretic results (Mayer & Tiedemann, 1982) as well as with the subgeneric division used before the studies of Böhme (1971) and Arnold (1973).

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Reptiles, Amphibians and terrestrial Birds from the circum Sicilian Islands -- The study of the number of terrestrial bird species from the circum Sicilian Islands allowed to note a mean density (species/ln of area) of 4,45. This value increase with the surface in the Mediterranean islands (12,2 for the Island of Elba and 19,5 for Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica). The computation of the linear regression between In-area and In-species gives a slope around 0,26 but the corelation is poor r = 0.51). The subdivision of the island into two large groups (Archipelago of Eolie = 7 islands; and all the others, Egadi, Ustica. Pantelleria and Pelagia = 7 islands) gives a better correlation (r = 0,9 and 0,62). This probably depends on certain variables that are taken in consideration here. The altitude is not an important variable (r = 0,39) but the isolation degree and the distance from the continent are importants (r =-0,60 and r = -0,61). but the highest correlation is obtained between the number of species and the habitat’s diversity (r = 0,80). This is confirmed by the analysis of similarities between the islands. Many islands have not yet reached species saturation as can be seen from the actual exploration confronted to that of the authors. The study of the number of species of Amphibians and Reptiles does not give any of the correlations found for the terrestrial birds. Il can thus be retained that these taxa quickly reach saturation and that, given the low number of colonizing species, the relation between area and species is hardly relevant. These are probably populations that are not in equilibrium.

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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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Aim Temperature influences most components of animal ecology and life history – but what kind of temperature? Physiologists usually examine the influence of body temperatures, while biogeographers and macroecologists tend to focus on environmental temperatures. We aim to examine the relationship between these two measures, to determine the factors that affect lizard body temperatures and to test the effect of both temperature measures on lizard life history. Location World-wide. Methods We used a large (861 species) global dataset of lizard body temperatures, and the mean annual temperatures across their geographic ranges to examine the relationships between body and mean annual temperatures.We then examined factors influencing body temperatures, and tested for the influence of both on ecological and life-history traits while accounting for the influence of shared ancestry. Results Body temperatures and mean annual temperatures are uncorrelated. However, accounting for activity time (nocturnal species have low body temperatures), use of space (fossorial and semi-aquatic species are ‘colder’), insularity (mainland species are ‘hotter’) and phylogeny, the two temperatures are positively correlated. High body temperatures are only associated with larger hatchlings and increased rates of biomass production. Annual temperatures are positively correlated with clutch frequency and annual longevity, and negatively correlated with clutch size, age at first reproduction and longevity. Main conclusions Lizards with low body temperatures do not seem to have ‘slower’ life-history attributes than species with high body temperatures. The longer seasons prevalent in warm regions, and physiological processes that operate while lizards are inactive (but warm enough), make environmental temperatures better predictors of lizard life-history variation than body temperatures. This surprisingly greater effect of environmental temperatures on lizard life histories hints that global warming may have a profound influence on lizard ecology and evolution.

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Leishmania tarentolae is a nonpathogenic trypanosomatid species isolated from geckoes in the Mediterranean basin. In Italy, L. tarentolae and Leishmania infantum occur in sympatry in areas where canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is endemic. Here, we investigated the prevalence and distribution of L. tarentolae in reptilian hosts and the presence of L. infantum in the same animals in southern Italy. From April 2020 to April 2021, lizards and snakes were captured in urban, peri-urban sites, natural parks, and dog shelters. Blood was individually sampled and assessed for the presence of Leishmania spp. by cytology and/or molecular biology. Captured lizards were euthanized and their tissues/organs were tested by duplex real-time-PCR for the detection of L. infantum and L. tarentolae and the positive ones were amplified by conventional PCR to confirm the species identification by sequencing. Samples were also screened by real-time PCR for L. infantum kDNA minicircle. Of the 259 collected Squamata reptiles, 34 (13.1%) specimens scored positive for Leishmania spp., with a prevalence of 10% for L. tarentolae (n=26) and of 3.1% for L. infantum (n=8). Positive lizards were mostly Podarcis siculus (n=26) from dog shelters, with six specimens positive for L. infantum. In addition, L. tarentolae was detected in one Podarcis filfolensis lizard, and in five T. mauritanica geckos (with one gecko and P. filfolensis lizard showing amastigote-like forms in thrombocytes), whereas L. infantum was detected in one T. mauritanica, and one Hemidactylus turcicus. Data herein reported demostrate that saurian reptiles living in CanL endemic areas of the Mediterranean basin may be exposed to both L. tarentolae and L. infantum indicating a sympatric circulation of these species in different vertebrate hosts. Moreover, this study represents the first molecular evidence of L. infantum infection in European reptiles.

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Die letzte zusammenfassende Obersicht der Malta- Reptilien durch Lanfranco (1955) ist durch Chelonia mydas und Lepidochelys (wahrscheinlich kempii) zu ergiinzen. lm Gegensatz zu seiner und der Auffassung der iilteren Autoren sind die Mauereidechsen Maltas sicherlich keine Rassen von Lacerta 11111ralis, sondern bilden einen eigenen Rassenkreis, der von der sizilianischen Lacerta 1/Nigleriana abzuleiten ist. Da die Originalbe- schreibung von L

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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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Aim We discuss biogeographical hypotheses for the Mediterranean lizard species Podarcis and Teira within a phylogenetic framework based on partial mitochondrial DNA sequences. Methods We derived the most likely phylogenetic hypothesis from our data set (597 aligned positions from the 12S rDNA and phenyl tRNA) under parsimony, distance and maximum likelihood assumptions. Results The species usually included in Teira do not form a strongly monophyletic clade. In contrast, the monophyly of the genus Podarcis is rather well supported. Seven lineages are identified in the genus; in order of appearance within the tree, these are: the Balearic pityusensis and lilfordi pair, the sicula complex, a Tyrrhenian tiliguerta and raffonei pair, muralis, the Siculo-Maltese filfolensis and wagleriana pair, the Balkan group (erhardi, peloponnesiaca, milensis, melisellensis and taurica), and the Ibero-Maghrebian group (bocagei, atrata, hispanica and vaucheri). Conclusions The origin of the three European genera of lacertid assayed (Lacerta, Teira and Podarcis) is hypothesized to have occurred in the Oligocene. For Podarcis, a possible scenario of a Miocene diversification is derived from the sequence data, and the zoogeography of the lineages are discussed in relation to the palaeogeography of the Mediterranean. It is hypothesized that in the early history of the genus the main lineages separated by rapid, numerous and close events that produced a starting point very similar to a polytomy, hard to resolve by parsimony analysis of the data set.

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Phylogenetic relationships within the Italian species of the lacertid genus Podarcis were examined by parsimony analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences from the genes encoding the small ribosomal RNA and the phenyl transfer RNA. Lacerta viridis was used as outgroup and Teira dugesii was also included in the ingroup. The 80 phylogenetically informative positions produced four most parsimonious trees, with the Italian Podarcis split into three groups: the first comprised P. filfolensis, P. melisellensis. P. wagleriaria, P. muralis, and P. raffonei, the second P. sicula with its various subspecies. The third lineage was that of P. tiliguerta, whose relationships were resolved as more closely related to the first clade, when weighting transversion three times transitions. Bootstrap analyses on a subset of sequences representing all species herein studied, supported the results from the larger dataset. The present results are only partly in agreement with previous hypotheses based on morphology, immunology, and allozyme variation analyses.

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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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Understanding the role of the developmental pathways in shaping phenotypic diversity allows appreciating in full the processes influencing and constraining morphological change. Podarcis lizards demonstrate extraordinary morphological variability that likely originated in short evolutionary time. Using geometric morphometrics and a broad suite of statistical tests, we explored the role of developmental mechanisms such as growth rate change, ontogenetic divergence/convergence/parallelism as well as morphological expression of heterochronic processes in mediating the formation of their phenotypic diversity during the post-natal ontogeny. We identified hypermorphosis – the prolongation of growth along the same trajectory – as the process responsible for both intersexual and interspecific morphological differentiation. Albeit the common allometric pattern observed in both sexes of any species constrains and canalizes their cephalic scales variation in a fixed portion of the phenotypic space, the extended growth experienced by males and some species allows them to achieve peramorphic morphologies. Conversely, the intrasexual phenotypic diversity is accounted for by non-allometric processes that drive the extensive morphological dispersion throughout their ontogenetic trajectories. This study suggests a model of how simple heterochronic perturbations can produce phenotypic variation, and thus potential for further evolutionary change, even within a strictly constrained developmental pathway.

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920 bp of the 12SrRNA mitochondrial gene was sequenced from several samples of the Podarcis species from the central Mediterranean region. These sequences were compared with these published before. For two species, P. wagleriana and P. tiliguerta, intraspecific divergences were found as usual for well separated species.

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The monophyletic species subgroup of Podarcis tauricus is distributed in the western and southern parts of the Balkans, and includes four species with unresolved and unstudied inter- and intra-specific phylogenetic relationships. Using sequence data from two mitochondrial and three nuclear genes and applying several phylogenetic methods and species delimitation approaches to an extensive dataset, we have reconstructed the phylogeny of the Podarcis wall lizards in the Balkans, and re-investigated the taxonomic status of the P. tauricus species subgroup. Multilocus analyses revealed that the aforementioned subgroup consists of five major clades, with P. melisellensis as its most basal taxon. Monophyly of P. tauricus sensu stricto is not supported, with one of the subspecies (P. t. ionicus) displaying great genetic diversity (hidden diversity or cryptic species). It comprises five, geographically distinct, subclades with genetic distances on the species level. Species delimitation approaches revealed nine species within the P. tauricus species subgroup (P. melisellensis, P. gaigeae, P. milensis, and six in the P. tauricus complex), underlining the necessity of taxonomic re-evaluation. We thus synonymize some previously recognized subspecies in this subgroup, elevate P. t. tauricus and P. g. gaigeae to the species level and suggest a distinct Albanian-Greek clade, provisionally named as the P. ionicus species complex. The latter clade comprises five unconfirmed candidate species that call for comprehensive studies in the future.

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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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Hemoparasites were harvested from 993 individuals belonging to 15 reptilian and 1 amphibian species, from various Italian localities. Hemogregarins were found in 10 reptilian species while a flagellate and microfilariae were found only in Tarentola mauritanica from Lampedusa. For each host species and place of origin the frequencies of hemogregarins are reported and discussed. Longitudinal studies with periodical thin smears were carried out on 5 Tarentola mauritanica, 4 Lacerta viridis, 26 Podarcis filfolensis, 10 Podarcis muralis, 38 Podarcis sicula, 8 Chalcides ocellatus. This material, whose study has not yet been completed, is made available by the author who strongly encourages further investigations on this subject.

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Se ha llevado a cabo un estudio helmintológico de muestras fecales de tres especies de saurios (Podarcis filfolensis, Podarcis raffonei y Chalcides ocellatus) en islas del Norte y Sur de Sicilia (Mediterráneo Central). Se detectaron cuatro especies de nematodos, Parapharyngodon micipsae, Parapharyngodon sp., Pharyngodon sp. y Skrjabinelazia sp. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren, para los tres hospedadores, pobreza de sus comunidades helmintianas y hábitos alimenticios esencialmente carnívoros.

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Podarcis filfolensis is an endemic lizard from the Maltese archipelago. There is evidence of human-mediated decline and even extirpation of some insular populations of this species. However, information about the intraspecific genetic diversity and phylogeographic patterns of this species is limited. Here we analyze genetic markers from a multi-locus dataset (mtDNA, 2,533 bp; nuclear c-mos gene, 353 bp; 11 microsatellites) for individuals from extant populations of P. filfolensis. Despite generally low genetic variability, two main mitochondrial groupings were clearly identified. In general, individuals from the main island of Malta were genetically distinct from those from Gozo, Comino, Cominotto and Small Blue Lagoon Rock, and also from Linosa and Lampione individuals. Three genetic clusters were detected based on microsatellite data: one was found at higher frequency on Malta, while the other two included samples from the remaining islands, showing some concordance with the mtDNA pattern. A time-calibrated Bayesian tree for the principal mitochondrial lineages indicated strong statistical support for two P. filfolensis lineages that originated in the Pleistocene (105.4–869 Ka). We show that these lineages largely meet the criteria for recognition as evolutionary significant units despite some recent admixture (possibly due to recent translocations between islands). Human disturbance, low genetic variability, evidence of bottlenecks and extirpation on one island indicate that a thorough review of the current conservation status of P. filfolensis would be timely.

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VIP and its receptors (VPACRs) are largely investigated in vertebrate testis, as well as their functions in the control of spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis. By contrast, a few data are available about the presence and role of VIP in the epididymis. The aim of the present paper was to investigate the localization of VIP and its receptors in the epididymis of two vertebrates: Podarcis sicula, a seasonal reproducer, and Rattus rattus, a continuous reproducer. By immunohystochemical investigation, we demonstrated for the first time that VIP and its receptors are widely represented in the epididymis of Podarcis sand Rattus; in particular in Podarcis, we showed that during the reproductive period, as well as in Rattus, VIP and its receptors are well represented in all the epithelial cells and the connective tissue of the epididymis; by contrast, during the non-reproductive period, VIP and its receptors are represented only in the connective tissue. The possible role of the VIP/VPACR system in the control of reproduction is discussed.

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The Expansion-Contraction (EC) model predicts demographic and range contraction of temperate species during Pleistocene glaciations as a consequence of climate-related habitat changes, and provides a paradigm for explaining the high intraspecific diversity found in refugia in terms of long-term demographic stability. However, recent evidence has revealed a weak predictive power of this model for terrestrial species in insular and coastal settings. We investigated the Pleistocene EC dynamics and their evolutionary consequences on temperate species using the Maltese archipelago and its endemic lizard Podarcis filfolensis as a model system. The evolutionary and demographic history of P. filfolensis as inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear sequences data does not conform to the EC model predictions, supporting (i) demographic and spatial stability or expansion, rather than contraction, of the northern and southern lineages during the last glacial period, and (ii) a major role for allopatric differentiation primed by sea-level dynamics, rather than prolonged demographic stability, in the formation of the observed genetic diversity. When combined with evidence from other Mediterranean refugia, this study shows how the incorporation of Pleistocene sea-level variations in the EC model accounts for a reverse demographic and range response of insular and coastal temperate biotas relative to continental ones. Furthermore, this cross-archipelago pattern in which allopatric diversity is formed and shaped by EC cycles resembles that seen between isolated populations within mainland refugia and suggests that the EC model, originally developed to explain population fluctuations into and out-of refugia, may be appropriate for describing the demographic and evolutionary dynamics driving the high genetic diversity observed in these areas.

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We investigated the phylogeography and historical demography of the Maltese wall lizard Podarcis filfolensis using both mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers. We included samples from all the main islands of the Maltese and Pelagian archipelagos and from every islet and offshore rock where this species occurs. The phylogenetic analyses show two main mitochondrial phylogroups, one occurring in the island of Malta and the islet of Filfla (Maltese lineage) and the other one mainly distributed on Gozo and Comino islands and their surrounding islets, and on the Pelagian islands (Gozitan lineage). We discuss what demographic dynamics and microevolutionary processes have been involved in shaping the pattern of genetic diversity and distribution of P. filfolensis within the general framework of Pleistocene biogeography of temperate biota in coastal areas.

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Podarcis filfolensis is a lacertid lizard endemie to the Maltese and Pelagian archipelagos (Channel of Sicily). In Italy, this species occurs on Linosa and Lampione islands only, where the populations are referred to the endemic ssp. laurentiimuelleri. The Linosa population was studied using capture/recapture methods during two sampling seasons (1993, 2001), in order to analyse various ecological parameters and to assess habitat distribution and overall conservation status. A clear preference to xeric Mediterranean habitats dominated by Pistacia lentiscus was seen. The lizard density of the whole Linosa population, estimated by various methods, is extremely high. Molecular analyses (partial sequencing of mitochondria! tRNAphe and 12S rDNA genes) and electrophoretic analysis of 26 presumptive gene loci were also carried out on samples representing the three P. filfolensis populations from Malta, Filfola and Linosa islands. Both molecular and allozyme data indicate that the populations of the Maltese Archipelago (Malta and Filfola) are closely related to each other, and that these populations are genetically relatively differentiated from the Linosa population. High levels of genetic variability characterise the latter population. Recent observations of the species on Lampione Islet indicate that it is locally widespread and abundant Even though P. filfolensis does not seem to be threatened on either Linosa or Lampione, the populations occurring on these islands need to be regularly monitored as island populations are known to be more susceptible to change and extinction than mainland ones.

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A general portrait of the Maltese Wall Lizard (Podarcis filfolensis) is given including description, subspecies, distribution, ecology and reproduction. In particular the distribution and habitats of P. f. maltensis on Malta and Gozo are compared. While the Maltese wall lizard is abundant on Gozo it is rare or missing in many parts of the main island Malta. Reasons for this unexpected scattered distribution on Malta are discussed.

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The Maltese Wall Lizard, Podarcis filfolensis, exists in a number of isolated populations, some of which have been given formal scientific names as subspecies. Special attention was given to the population of P.filfolensis kieselbachi, which is endemic to Selmunett Island due to the fact of its rapid decrease. The prime suspect for this matter is Rattus sp. Through the literature read it was noted that between the late 80`s to early 90`s, the population of P.filfolensis kieselbachi was very dense all over the island. Since the present author started visiting the island in late 1997, there was still quite a good stable population that scarcely could be found in all over the island. During these studies since 1999 the author divided the island in several sections in order to organise my observations. Today, lizards inhabit approximately only 1/10 of the island and they are all located in one particular section of the smaller islet that the author have designated as Area C. Here the maximum population is of the order of 30 to 35 lizards. This very small population is a matter of concern and some kind of action has to be taken to reverse this decline.

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The Mediterranean chameleon Chamaleo chamaleon is one of nine terrestrial reptile species that occur in the Maltese islands. Because it is an introduced species very few studies have been conducted inMalta and much of the available knowledge is derived from research made abroad in a different environment. This study tackles some of data in circulation and the discovery of this reptile on the islet of Cominotto, and endeavours to investigate its potential impact on the local population of Podarcis filfolensis.

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Caudal autotomy, the ability to shed the tail, is common in a number of lizard species as a response to attempted predation and is a well studied subject. In this short work, attention to the species Podarcis filfolensis (Bedriaga 1876) is given based on several years of field observations.

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The population of the endemic Maltese wall lizard, Podarcis filfolensis, on the small island of Selmunett (10.9 ha), off the northeast coast of the island of Malta, has been described as a distinct subspecies P. f. kieselbachi. Selmunett is a protected site and its lizard is a protected species. Reports of a pronounced decline in the Selmunett lizard population were investigated by systematic visual estimates of lizard population density started in 1999. Since August 1999, population counts declined from a high of 18 individuals observed per hour to zero by August 2005. The rate of decline was greatest for juveniles and females. Numerous cases of predation of the lizards by rats were observed and such predation seemed to be the cause of the decline in lizard populations; visual counts of daytime-active rats, also started in 1999, showed a large rat popuation on Selmunett. In turn, the rat population appeared to have increased as a result of organic waste left by human visitors to the islet. A rat eradication programme implemented in 2006 2007 exterminated rats from Selmunett by the summer of 2007, when a few lizards captured in 2004 and kept in captivity since were released back to the islet to augment what remained of the population there (some lizards were spotted by casujal observers, even if none were recorded during the actual counts). It remains to be seen if this attempt at saving the Selmunett wall-lizard population has been successful.

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The islet’s recent discovery by the authors hold quite a rich biota compared to its size. In this work topography is re- described adding one species of flora to the already known six (SCIBERRAS & SCIBERRAS 2010, SCIBERRAS et al. 2012) and 32 new species of fauna to the two recorded (LO CASCIO & SCIBERRAS 2020, AGUIS & SCIBERRAS 2022) with a complete description of the endemic lacertid, Podarcis filfolensis, in situ.

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Different behavior in populations of Podarcis filflolensis on the Maltese and Pelagian islands are described and discussed.

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In recent years, great attention has been paid to many Podarcis species for which the observed intra-specific variability often revealed species complexes still characterized by an unresolved relationship. When compared to other species, P. siculus underwent fewer revisions and the number of species hidden within this taxon may have been, therefore, underestimated. However, recent studies based on genetic and morphological data highlighted a marked differentiation of the populations inhabiting the western Pontine Archipelago. In the present work we used published genetic data (three mitochondrial and three nuclear gene fragments) from 25 Podarcis species to provide a multilocus phylogeny of the genus in order to understand the degree of differentiation of the western Pontine populations. In addition, we analyzed new morphometric traits (scale counts) of 151 specimens from the main islands of the Pontine Archipelago. The phylogenetic analysis revealed five principal Podarcis groups with biogeographic consistency. The genetic distinctiveness of the Podarcis populations of the western Pontine Islands is similar or even more ancient than those observed in numerous other pairs of Podarcis sister species. In the light of these evidences we raise the western Pontine lizards to specific rank; thus they should be referred to as Podarcis latastei.

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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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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.

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The aim of this study was to determine if divergence in habitat use among lacertid lizards is paralleled by morphological differentiation. For 35 lacertid species, we measured body, head and limb dimensions. Habitat use was inferred from the literature: ground-dwelling on open terrain, ground-dwelling in vegetated areas, shrub-climbing, tree-climbing, saxicolous (i.e. rock-climbing). Traditional (i.e. non-phylogenetic) statistical analyses suggest morphological differences among species groups with different habitat use. Ground-dwelling species from open habitats tend to have longer femurs, tibiae and humeri (relative to body length) than other groups. Cursorial (i.e. level-running) species have relatively high heads and trunks compared to climbing species. These differences follow biomechanical predictions and it is tempting to consider tham as adaptations to habitat use. However, phylogenetic analyses of the data fail to establish a clear relationship between habitat use and morphology in the data set considered. There is a weak indication that the differences in head and trunk height have evolved as an adaptation to different habitat use, but the differences in relative limb dimensions among species groups with different habitat use vanish. Either adaptation of limb dimensions to habitat use has not occurred in lacertid lizards, or our methods are unable to demonstrate such an adaptation. We show that uncertainties in the topology of the phylogenetic tree used are unlikely to influence the outcome of our study. We also address the fact that habitat use is often similar in different branches of the phylogenetic tree, and the consequences this may have for the power of our statistical analyses.