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En Castilla y León, en 2021, la Junta de Castilla y León determina el comienzo del proyecto `Estudio para el seguimiento del estado de conservación de los anfibios y reptiles de Castilla y León`. Se realizó el muestreo dirigido sobre 18 cuadriculas UTM 10x10 km (2 por provincia) seleccionadas sobre hábitats favorables de las 13 ZEC propuestas en el Plan de Monitorización del Estado de Conservación de la Biodiversidad; de los Espacios Protegidos de la Red Natura 2000 y de los Espacios Naturales Protegidos de Castilla y León. La metodología es tomada del programa SARE (Seguimiento de los Anfibios y Reptiles Españoles). Además, dentro de los objetivos, se llevó a cabo la revisión bibliográfica y el muestreo específico para aumentar el conocimiento de tres especies de anfibios de interés comunitario: R. dalmatina, C. lusitanica e I. alpestris. Por un lado, la sequia del año 2022 ha producido malos resultados en los muestreos de anfibios con lo que habría que repetir el esfuerzo realizado sobre las especies prioritarias y por otro se han obtenido abundancias más bajas que el año anterior. En anfibios la especie que alcanzó mayor densidad en la mayoría de las estaciones donde estaba presente resultó ser E. calamita, seguido de L. boscai y P. perezi,. La media de la densidad máxima de anfibios ya metamorfoseados es mayor para los anuros que para los urodelos. La densidad larvaria máxima no varió significativamente por regiones biogeográficas, aunque los anuros fueron ligeramente más abundantes en la región mediterránea que en la atlántica. Las densidades larvarias variaron entre especies, siendo especialmente abundantes en A. obstetricans, P. cultripes, R. parvipalmata y T. pygmeus. Las especies de reptiles más abundantes durante los dos años de muestreo fueron: M. leprosa, I. cyreni, I. martinezricai, E. orbicularis, P. algirus, I. monticola y P. muralis. La densidad máxima varió significativamente entre grupos taxonómicos, con una densidad alta en quelonios, media en saurios, y muy pequeña en ofidios. Para calcular tendencias poblacionales se requieren tres años de seguimiento, hasta que no termine el 2023, no podemos valorar una posible evolución. No obstante hemos obtenido conclusiones metodológicas. Por ejemplo la inclusión de estaciones de muestreo especialmente favorables en zonas limítrofes a las cuadrículas UTM 10x10 ha sido acertada y, de hecho, probablemente hubiera sido todavía más acertado elegir las estaciones de muestreo sin atender a los límites de las cuadriculas. Los resultados corroboran que el área de estudio presenta poblaciones abundantes de anfibios y reptiles, aunque no exentas de problemas y muy variables en importancia según la zona geográfica, destacando la riqueza de las poblaciones de quelonios. También, y como cabría esperar, la biología particular de ofidios y quelonios aconseja la realización de censos específicos para estos grupos con objeto de obtener medidas más realistas de sus abundancias.

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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 present morphological study analyzes the geographical variation of `Lacerta` monticola BOULENGER, 1905 and `L..` cyreni MÜLLER & HELLMICH, 1937 by means of univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. `L. ` monticola shows a low degree of morphological interpopulation differentiation (considerable overlap of the ranges of respective character states). Yet, one sample (Serra da Estrella) is separable from the rest of the Cantabric samples. The first corresponds to `L.` m. monticola BOULENGER, 1905, the second to `L.` m. cantabrica MERTENS, 1929. `L. ` cyreni forms several allopatric populations which have reached a considerable degree of divergence. The populations of Gredos seem to be subspecifically distinct from the Guadarrama ones `L. ` c. cyreni MÜLLER & HELLMICH, 1937) and the small endangered Pena de Francia population is strongly different from both.

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Die Peña de Francia Gebirgseidechse (´L.` cyreni martinezricai) unterscheidet sich von anderen Formen ihrer Art (Gredos: ´L.` cyreni castiliana, Guadarrama: ´L.` cyreni cyreni) durch die signifikant verminderte Häufigkeit des Auftretens eines Schuppenkontaktes zwischen Rostrale und Internasale. Weiters zeichnen sich Männchen und Weibchen des Peña de Francia Taxons gewöhnlich durch blaue Ozellen in der Schultergegend und braune Rückenfärbung aus, während ´L.` cyreni anderer Populationen keine Ozellen tragen und sehr häufig grünrückig sind. Neben diesen sehr auffälligen (und evolutiv bedeutsamen) Farbmerkmalen finden sich signifikante aber nicht sehr starke Pholidoseunterschiede (Anzahl Rückenschuppen-Längsreihen, Bauchschuppen-Querreihen, Circumanalschilder). Das Vorkommen von ´L.` cyreni martinezricai ist auf die Gipfelregion eines isolerten Berges begrenzt. Die Populationsgröße (~ 50 adulte Individuen) nimmt ständig ab. Schutzmaßnahmen sind dringend erforderlich.

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Zur Naturgeschichte von Iberolacerta martinezricai (ARRIBAS, 1996), der seltensten Reptilienart Kointinentaleuropas, liegen nur wenige Angaben vor. Das zahlenmäßige Geschlechterverhältnis betrag nach Informationen aus der Datenbank des Autors 0,74:1 (Männchen: Weibchen), während im deutlich größeren datensatz der feldbeobachtungen (dieser schließt allerdings Beobachtungswiederholungen ein) die Männchen überwogen (1,27:1). Alla Altersgruppen und Geschlechter zeigten ähnliche, die Morgenstunden betonende Tagsaktivitätszyklen. Nachmittagsaktivität erfolgte gehäuft an schattingen Orten, wobei Sonnenexposition bei hohen Lufttemperaturen vermiden wurde. Zwei Häutungsperioden (eine im April, eine um Ende Jun und Juli) wrden beobachtet. Der Lebensraum war mäßig neiegtes, ausnahmslos von Felstrümmern und großen Blöcken, mit reichlich Moos- und Flechtenbewuchs dominiertes Gelände, was auf erhöhte Feuchte und geologische Hang-Stabilität hinwies. Besondere Vorlieben fürf einzelne Mikrohabitate waren nicht feststellbar. Die Körpertemperatur aktiver Individuen war die höchste innerhalb der Gattung Iberolacerta: 33.31±0.12°C (Spannweite 22.8-39.2°C) ohne signifikanten Geschlechtsunterschied. Im Mittel hatten blaufärbige Männchen eine höhere Körpertemperatur als grüne (33.73±0.19°C gegenüber 32.8±0.28°C). Die Aufenthaltsorte adulter Weibchen wiesen eine höhere Lufttemperatur auf (23.77±0.20°C, Spannweite 13.8-37.1°C) als die der Jungtiere. Dioe Substrattemperaturen (30.08±0.31°C, Spannweite 16.5-52.1°C) waren an den Aufenthaltsorten derWeibchen höhetr als an dene der Männchen. Iberolacerta martinezricai war mäßig thermokonformistisch (Spannweite der Aktivitätstemperatur: 16.4°C) und ein effektiver und ziemlich präziser Thermoregulator was die Substrattemperatur betrifft(r = 0.36, Anstieg 0.14), aber zeigte kein thermoregulatorisches Verhalten hinsichtlich der Lufttemperatur (r = 0.15, Anstieg = 0.09). Tigmothermie, Aktivität im Schatten bei hoher Lufttemperatur und Aestivation werden diskutiert-

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Sex dimorphism: Males and females of Iberolacerta martinezricai differ at p < 0.001 in Ventralia (MF), Forelimbs length (M>F), Hindlimb length (M>F), Pileus length (M>F) and at p<0.05 in Collaria (M>F) and Dorsalia (M>F). Batuecan lizards are overall less di-morphic than the three species of Pyrenean rock lizards. Morphological variability: Variability Index calculated (ΣCV) for I. martinezricai was 6.8 in males and 6.0 in females. Results are very similar (although slightly smaller) to the obtained in the Pyrenean Iberolacerta spp. From two chosen characters, variation coefficient in Gularia falls also between the normal values for the bisexual species and it is a bit greater than in parthenogenetic species; or it is clearly greater as in Dorsalia. Nothing suggests a drastic reduction of the variability in the Batuecan lizard but some characters recall for a relatively small morphologic variability in some characters, in parallel with the lack of mitochondrial variability, perhaps due to its reduced effectives. Allometry: Both in males and females, the most representative character of growth is the body length (SVL). Most other characters match very closely to this SVL with very similar coefficients: limbs, Parietal, Pileus length and the Anal plate width. Masseteric, Tympanic and Anal length also grow, but not in parallel with SVL. Anal length grows considerably and independently of body size. In the case of fe-males, body limbs have a negative allometry respect to female’s body length and Masseteric, and especially Tympanic plates have a negative allometry respect to the total growth. Parallel variation in escalation: In males the most related characters of escalation are the two rows of Femoralia, and two characters that have contrary signs: Supraciliar Granula (but not very marked, as coefficients are very small) and specially Circumanalia (that varies with total independence). Also there is a small relationship of Supraciliar Granula with Gularia and even more distant with 4th-toe Lamellae and Circumanalia. In females on one side (first axis), both Supraciliar Granula rows are related to Femoral pores, 4th toe Lamellae, Ventralia and Femoralia; and on the other side (second axis) both sided Femoralia are lonely related with Dorsalia, Collaria and Gularia, and just inversely related to Supraciliar Granula. Sexual maturation is probably reached when lizards are three years old (in his 4CY). Our smallest gravid female was 56.7 mm, and was probably reproducing in the spring of their 5 CY (when 4 years old). Al-though it is possible that some specimens (especially males, but also some females) reach maturity during 3CY, as it occurs in I. monticola. Growth rate (K) in the first years is 0.145696 ± 0.0633135 (95% confidence). Calculated length at infinite (maximum size if the same rate or growth curve was ap-plied throughout the lifetime of the animal) would be: L∞ = 70.036 ± 13.7598 (95%). This estimate of the asymptotic size (70.036 mm) is very close to the true maximum size found in the total sample of adults (69.31 mm). Growth decreases progressively and the resulting curve is fairly straight, being the growth not far from linear and very similar in both sexes. Longevity: The biggest male (SVL 68.15 mm) and the biggest female conserved (SVL 68.86 mm) had 7 growth rings (two big and five narrow) in the femur. The two wide rings correspond to the two first years of rapid growth (2CY and 3CY), but when lizards reach sex maturation growth decreases, being latter rings very narrow and even difficult to count. Both specimens had presumably 8 years old (they are 9CY animals: the birth year and 7 growths seasons, and captured just in the beginning of their 9 CY). Tail autotomy: Iberolacerta martinezricai hatchlings are able to break their tails from birth. Observed hatchlings (1CY) in nature had intact tails. In 2CY, 3CY and 4CY already appear broken and regenerated tails in some specimens. In adults, there are less than a quarter of specimens with apparently unbroken tails, and the others fall in the different categories of regenerated ones (tail tip, middle of the tail or the whole tail from basis) in proportions similar to one quarter. There are no differences between both sexes in the different categories of broken tails, but there are significant differences between juveniles and adults. Females have a slightly big percentage of broken tails from its basis. Bright colored tail in juveniles (bluish in I. martinezricai), is lost during their 2CY. It seems to be an antipredatory strategy. Hatchlings of the Batuecan lizard are able to attract attention on its tail by a striking whirl of its distal part, unlike adults that are unable with their stiffer tail (which can move only in very limited cases of danger or excitement).

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The hemipenis of all the Iberolacerta species is studied. Overall morphology is very similar among the different species. Hemipenes are symmetrically bilobed, with the apical section shorter than the basal one (I. galani, I. cyreni, I. monticola monticola, I. horvathi, I. bonnali, I. aranica and I. aurelioi) or subequal or with slightly inverted proportions (I. m. astur and I. martinezricai). All are similarly sized and proportional to the animal’s SVL, except in I. aurelioi (and perhaps to a lesser extent in I. horvathi) that have notably small hemipenes. Concerning the hemipenial microornamentation, all the Iberolacerta s. str. (I. monticola, I. galani, I. martinezricai, I. cyreni and I. horvathi) have hemipenial microornamen-tation of crown-shaped tubercles, more or less elongated with a series or a crown of small spinules in their apex. Among these, isolate odd shaped tubercles can appear, probably corresponding to immature states that do not reach their complete development. The Pyrenean species (subgenus Pyrenesaura) are variable. Iberolacerta bonnali and I. aranica have mainly spiny-like tubercles (among which some crown shaped can appear), whereas I. aurelioi presents crown-shaped microornamentation (with scattered spiny-like, as occur in other Iberolacerta species). Our hypothesis is that crown shaped models are derived (or more mature, following an ontogenetic criterion) in respect to the spiniform ones, but some spiny (or finger-shaped) can be secondary reversals by incomplete maturation. These secondary derived and the original primitive spiny-shaped ones are very difficult if not impossible to distinguish. Phenomena as the heterochronies could be beneath these reversals in maturation.

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Der Autor untersuchte das Fortpflanzungsgeschehen von Iberolacerta martinezricai (ARRIBAS, 1996). Kopulationen begannen Ende April. Im Juli trugen alle Weibchen zahlreiche frische Paarungsnarben auf Bauch und Schwanzbasis. Iberolacerta martinezricai ist monoestrisch. Die Eiablage erfolge im Juli und Anfang August, am häufigsten gegen Ende Juli. Das Eiablageverhalten wird beschrieben. Eier wurden zwischen 9:00 und 15.30 Uhr (GMT) gelegt, wobei der ganze Ablagevorgang 33-42 Minuten (Durchschnitt: 36:57 Minuten) dauerte. Die Kopf-Rumpf-Länge reproduktiver Weibchen betrug 56.7 – 69.71 mm. Die Gelege umfaßten zwei bis sechs Eier (Median und Modalwert: 4, Mittel: 4,23). Die abgelegten Eier klebten nicht aneinander. Biometrische Daten von 49 Eiern (darunter 12 Laboraufzuchten) werden angegeben. Während des Großteils der Inkubationsphase nahmen Eivolumen und Eimasse durch Wasseraufnahme kontinuierlich zu. Zu Begin der Inkubation erfolgte ein rascher Anstieg des Ei-Querdurchmessers (dieser wurde während der Ablage durch die Enge des Geburtskanals verringert). Die Inkubation dauerte 33-42Tage (im Mittel 37.75 Tage). Das Schlüpfen erfolgte zwischen 3:00 und 22:00 Uhr (GMT) (im Mittel 9.40 Uhr) und dauerte 4.10 – 12 Stunden (im Mittel 6.9 Stunden). Die Merkmale des Schlüpflings werden beschrieben. Der Eizahn bestand für acht bis 36 Stunden (im Mittel 23.6 Stunden nach Schlupfbeginn. Schlüpflinge können von Geburt an mit ihrem leuchtend blauen Schwanz wedeln und diesen autotomieren. Diese auffällige Schwanzfärbung verschwand im Laufe des zweiten Kalender-Lebensjahres.

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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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Iberolacerta cyreni martinezricai is elevated to the species level (I. martinezricai) based on both morphological and molecular data. The phylogenetic analysis using two mitochondrial and one nuclear gene shows I. martinezricai is more closely related to I. monticola than to I. cyreni. A multivariate analysis of the morphological data also supports the affinities between I. martinezricai and I. monticola but, at the same time, clearly indicates that I. martinezricai is morphologically distinct from both I. monticola and I. cyreni. The molecular data suggests I. cyreni and the clade formed by I. monticola + I. martinezricai split approximately 6.1 Mya, during the Mesinian Salinity Crisis, when climatic conditions around the Mediterranean area changed dramatically as a result of the desiccation of the Mediterranean Sea. Separation between I. martinezricai and I. monticola occurred approximately 2 Mya but, with at least two equally plausible alternative hypotheses, their biogeography is still unclear. New data on the habitat and distribution of I. martinezricai indicates its distribution area is very small (12–15 km2), and that it lives in a climatically extreme habitat for this kind of mountain species. As a result of that and the low numbers of individuals, I. martinezricai is considered here as Critically Endangered.

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Iberolacerta (cyreni) martinezricai has a karyotype of 2n = 36, all acrocentric macrochromosomes. Nucleolar Organizer Regions (NORs) are interstitially situated on a medium small (MS-type) chromosome, a derived character shared with I. cyreni, which differs in details of W-sex chromosome: W is heteromorphic and heterochromatic in I. cyreni, while it is homomorphic and euchromatic in I. (c.) martinezricai. Osteologically, it is characterized by the presence of a triangular-shaped expansion of the squamosal towards the supratemporal fenestra, and by the presence of seven (instead of six) posterior short ribbed presacral vertebrae. These odd characters probably became fixed in this relic taxon by imbreeding. Its differences and affinities are discussed, proposing a specific status for this taxon.

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seven species of the rock lizard genus Iberolacerta are represented on the iberian Peninsula. These lizards are considered to be under threat of extinction, with Iberolacerta martinezricai (ArribAs, 1996), being one of the most endangered reptiles in Europe. There is however, lack of knowledge about its conservation status, distribu- tion and ecology. The authors’ surveys in 2007 and 2008 aimed at clarifying the distribution status of the species in Central spain, where 63 uTM squares (1 km x 1 km in size) were sampled and the density of the lizards, their distribution and habitat preferences studied. Iberolacerta martinezricai was detected in 23 out of the 63 uTM squares (36.5 %), with densities ranging from 25 to 50 lizards/ha. The statistical analysis revealed that the presence of the rock lizards was associated with altitude, lichen cover and rock/boulder size. Accordingly, the species is restricted to rocky slopes of the Peña de Francia mountain range. The results clearly indicate that the range of the species is highly restricted, that the habitats occupied are very specific, and that the population size is low compared with other species of the genus Iberolacerta. based on these findings, the species is categorized as Critically Endangered (Cr) under the criteria of the international union for the Conservation of nature (iuCn).

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West European Rock lizards, Lacerta (Iberolacerta) have small widely separated ranges in highland areas. Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences corroborate the monophyly of the group and show it is not closely related to any of the other Rock lizards with which it was formerly placed in Archaeolacerta, an assemblage for which there is no evidence of clade status. L. (Iberolacerta) consists of four main units: L. (I.) horvathi of NW Croatia and neighbouring regions; the Pyrenees species, L. (I.) bonnali, L. (I.) aranica and L. (I.) aurelioi; L. (I.) cyreni of the Iberian Sistema Central, with distinctive populations in the Sierras de Béjar,Gredos and Guadarrama; and L. (I.) monticola of the Serra da Estrela of Central Portugal and NWSpain, this unit also contains L. (I.) cyreni martinezricai of La Peña de Francia, W. Spain and a distinctive population in the Montañas de Sanabria. L. (Iberolacerta) has persisted in some mountain ranges for at least 4.2±1.4Ma and may have been restricted tomountains by competition from Wall lizards (Podarcis). Its clade status shows it has lost range extensively and has produced few external branches since its initial fragmentation. In contrast, Podarcis diversified about the time L. (Iberolacerta) fragmented, producing a series of widespread lineages that have persisted until the present time. The mainly European subfamily Lacertinae, to which both L. (Iberolacerta) and Podarcis belong, diversified rapidly 13–9 Ma ago, probably largely replacing other lacertid lizards of earlier origin. As another round of replacement started at approximately 9 Ma ago with the spread of Podarcis, this may be a recurrent phenomenon in the evolution of some lizard communities.

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The Batuecan lizard Iberolacerta martinezricai is a critically endangered species due to ist significantly reduced distribution, which is restricted to the scree slopes (SS) of a few mountain peaks within the Batuecas-Sierra de Francia Natural Park (western Spain). Given its high specialisation in this type of discontinuous habitat, the long-term conservation of the species requires maintaining the connectivity between populations. This study analyses the contribution of connectivity, as well as other patch-related factors, in the distribution and density patterns of the species. With this aim, 67 SS were sampled by line transects from May to October 2018. Each SS was characterised using variables indicative of the microhabitat conditions for the lizard. Inter-SS connectivity was quantified using graph theory for seven distances. Generalised linear models (GLMs) were performed for both presence and density. Model results showed that while connectivity was a relevant factor in the presence of lizards, density only involved patch-related variables. Discrepancies probably occurred because the factors influencing presence operate on a wider scale than those of abundance. In view of the results, the best-connected SS, but also those where the lizard is most abundant and from which more dispersed individuals are likely to depart, seem to be the essential patches in any conservation strategy. The results may also be relevant to other species with habitat-specific requirements.

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Parts of the mitochondrial genes coding for 12SrRNA and 16SrRNA (together about 960 bp) were sequenced for all Mediterranean species of `Mountain lizards` of the genera Archaeolacerta (sensu lato) and Iberolacerta. All subspecies of the Iberian species Iberolacerta cyreni and I. monticola were included in this study. In addition, samples of Apathya cappadocica and Darevskia rudis were analysed to elucidate the relationships of the European `Mountain lizards` to their possible relatives in the Near East. Maximum parsimony and neighbour joining analyses lead to the following major conclusions: (i) the monophyly of the genus Iberolacerta is very well supported; (ii) Archaeolacerta bedriagae (the type species of the genus) is most basal with respect to the ingroup taxa. If we accept Iberolacerta as a genus, Archaeolacerta becames paraphyletic. Therefore, we propose to restrict Archaeolacerta to the type species and to treat A. mosorensis and A. oxycephala provisionally as members of the collective genus Lacerta; (iii) within the genus Iberolacerta three groups were found: a Pyrenean group, an Iberian group and I. horvathi. The relationships among these groups remain unresolved; and (iv) the Peña de Francia lizards, described originally as a subspecies of I. cyreni, are in fact more closely related to I. monticola.

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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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Satellite DNAs compose a large portion of all higher eukaryotic genomes. The turnover of these highly repetitive sequences is an important element in genome organization and evolution. However, information about the structure and dynamics of reptilian satellite DNA is still scarce. Two satellite DNA families, HindIII and TaqI, have been previously characterized in four species of the genus Iberolacerta. These families showed different chromosomal locations, abundances, and evolutionary rates. Here, we extend the study of both satellite DNAs (satDNAs) to the remaining Iberolacerta species, with the aim to investigate the patterns of variability and factors influencing the evolution of these repetitive sequences. Our results revealed disparate patterns but also common traits in the evolutionary histories of these satellite families: (i) each satellite DNA is made up of a library of monomer variants or subfamilies shared by related species; (ii) species-specific profiles of satellite repeats are shaped by expansions and/or contractions of different variants from the library; (iii) different turnover rates, even among closely related species, result in great differences in overall sequence homogeneity and in concerted or non-concerted evolution patterns, which may not reflect the phylogenetic relationships among taxa. Contrasting turnover rates are possibly related to genomic constraints such as karyotype architecture and the interspersed organization of diverging repeat variants in satellite arrays. Moreover, rapid changes in copy number, especially in the centromeric HindIII satDNA, may have been associated with chromosomal rearrangements and even contributed to speciation within Iberolacerta.

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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).