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We report the first study of diet composition of a Pyrenean lizard of the genus Iberolacerta, the Aurelio`s lizard, I. aurelioi, living in an alpine rocky slope at 2300 m of altitude in Andorra. Diet composition was studied during two years from 289 faecal pellets containing 966 prey items. Number of prey per pellet shows annual, seasonal and sexual differences. Diet of the species is poorly diverse, mainly dominated by insects, but we find clear evidences of opportunistic cannibalism based on the presence of toes and scales in feces. In addition, we detected minor sexual, annual and month differences in prey presence and abundance. Low amplitude of trophic niche width and prey diversity, as well as predation on clumped prey and cannibalistic behaviour suggest that Iberolacerta aurelioi has a remarkable dietary strategy in response to strong thermal and food availability constraints at high mountain habitats.

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The geographic limits of the three high mountain pyrenean lizards (Archaeolacerta bonnali, A. aranica and A. aurelioi) are relatively congruent with the biogeographic sectorizations proposed up till now, although don’t fit well with the hierarchy of these subdivisions. The differentiation degree among conspecific populations is significatively correlated with their separation distances. Our sectorization from the Alpine belt developed in basis to the alpine carabofauna is the first model specifically proposed for these biota. It clusters the alpine massifs in four groups: a) Occidental Pyrenees; b) Central Pyrenees (with a central portion s. str., an aranese portion, and a preoriental portion); and c) Eastern Pyrenees.

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Auf Grundlage allen verfügbaren Materials werden neben einer umfangreiche Diagnose (Biometrie, Pholidose, Osteology, Karyotyp, Allozymdifferenzen, hemipenismorphologie) Angaben zu Verbreitung, Sexualdimorphismus und geographischer Variabilität von ´Lacerta` aurelioi ARRIBAS, 1994 vorgelegt. Pholidotische und metrische Merkmale werden dabei mit uni- und multivariatenn statistischen Methoden untersucht. `Lacerta` aurelioi ist in einem kleinen Bereich der östlichen Zentralpyrenäen endemisch. Die Art bewohnt die spanischen Gebirgsmassive Montroig und Pica d´Estats i. w. S. (inklusive Serrat de Capifonts) sowie NW-Andorra (Gebirgsstöcke Coma Pedrosa und Tristaina), woe sie zwischen 2100 m bis fast 2940 m Höhe gefunden wird. Dort kommt die Eidechse hauptsächlich auf kambrio-ordovizischen quarzitischen Schiefern und Phylliten, aber auch auf schwach metamorphosierten Staurolitschichten und schiefrigem Cordierit und Andalusit vor. Morphologisch zeiegen die untersuchten Populationen nur schwache Unterschiede auf infrasubspezifischem Niveau. Auch lassen sich keine Korrelationen zwischen Differenzierungsgrad und geographischer Lage oder Entfernung der Populationen feststellen: Die Subpopulationen eines gebirgsstockes (verschiedener benachbarter Hänge) sind häufig untereinander stärker verschieden als gegenüber Subpopulationen anderer Gebirgsstöcke, sodaß geographisch weiter voneinander entfernte Populationen einander morphologisch stärker ähneln können als geographisch nahe Populationen. Ein denkbares Szenario der Artbildung, das pleistozene Überleben und die Ausbreitung sowie die gegenwärtige Verbreitung der Art werden diskutiert. Die heutige Verschiedenheit der Populationen wird auf ihre holozäne Isolation zurückgeführt. Die Südhänge des Montroig Massives werden als ein würmzeitliches Refugium angesehen, von dem aus die Art ihr gegenwärtiges Verbreitungsgebiet, in dem die verschiedenen Populationen isoliert wurden, besiedelte.

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Iberolacerta bonnali is endemic from the Central Pyrenees, where inhabits from the Arriel Massif in the west, to the Aigüestortes mountains in the east. His range is characterized by the greater size of the mountain massifs which inhabits, and by to present granitic (igneous) rock substrates. By other side, his localities are also characterized by lesser insolations and sun radiations, as corresponds to the pyrenaean parts with greater atlantic influence. I. aranica is endemic from the Mauberme Massif and its spurs. His area appears characterized by greater snow accumulations both in winter and spring. I. aurelioi is endemic from the Montroig, Pica d`Estats and Coma Pedrosa massifs. His area is characterized by the greater insolations and sun radiations, and by the presence of lesser alpine belt surface and absolute heights of the inhabited massifs. Also, he inhabits only paleozoic rocks (mainly cambroordovician quarzites). In respect to other species present in the alpine belt: Lacerta agilis appears in localities characterized by high insolation and sun radiations in respect to other pyrenaean lizards. Zootoca vivipara do not present specific traits as lives in all the pyrenaean range and frequently sympatrically with all the other species here studied. Podarcis muralis appears in the comparatively more outer parts, with greater insolations, from the Pyrenees.

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The study techniques permit us to check, from a morphological point of view, the existence of three well differentiated species in the Pyrenees: Iberolacerta aranica (Arribas, 1993), Iberolacerta aurelioi (Arribas, 1994) and Iberolacerta bonnali (Lantz 1927). ANOVA detects differences which accumulate aiming populations of different species. Characters with greater discriminative power among taxa are dorsalia, gularia, ventralia and the relative diameter of the tympanic scale. In the canonical analysis, first axis separates central-eastern pyrenaean populations (I. aurelioi) in respect to central pyrenaean ones (I. bonnali and I. aranica). Second axis separates central pyrenaean populations living in a small isolate at the northeast to the Garona river (I. aranica) from the western ones living in the main part of the pyrenean range (I. bonnali). I. aurelioi is characterized by high values ol ventral pattern, gularia, dorsalia and ventralia; and Iow values of masseteric and tympanic diameters, (temporal areas covered only by small tiny scales are not uncommon), generalyzed absence of contact among postocular and parietal scales and a lower number of circumanals and femoral pores. This species can be distinguished unequivocally also by his yellow belly, which is absent in the other pyrenaean species. I. aranica is characterized by greater diameters of the masseteric plate, relatively well developed ventral pattern. low values of dorsalia. ventralia, circumanalia and relatively short fore and hindlimbs. Usually shows a very characteristic scale disposition in temporal area, with three great scales (masseteric. tympanic and a great wedge-shaped intermediate scale). I. bonnali has intermediate pholidotic values among I. aurelioi and I. aranica. The three species show a good discrimination degree among them (superior to 75 %). The best discrimination is for I. aurelioi from which specimens rarely are mistaken with the other two species. Between I. aranica and I. bonnali there is a more imprecise discrimination, although ever superior to 75 % and more marked in males. In respect to the intraespecific variability among species from which more than one massif has been studied. I. aurelioi is the one which shows samples with the best discrimination degree among it (correct classification percentages from 71.42 to 91.6 %). In I. bonnali intracspecific discrimination is lower. Only the males from Bigorre reach the 75 % of correct classification, which suggests that this species is relatively uniform.

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Iberolacerta aurelioi (ARRIBAS, 1994) ist eine in ihrem Bestand gefährdete Eidechsenart mit einer sehr kleinräumigen Verbreitung. Wesentliche Merkmale ihrer Fortpflanzungsbiologie wie etwa die hohe Lebenserwartung (von bis zu 17 Jahren, die verzögerte Geschlechtsreife (nicht vor dem 5. Kalenderjahr bzw. 4 Überwinterungen) und sehr geringe Vermehrungsrate (ein Gelege aus 2 oder 3 Eiern pro Jahr) stehen im Zusammenhang mit der kurzen Jahresaktivitätsdauer in großen Höhen. Das Datum des Erscheinens nach der Winterruhe hing von den tatsächlichen Wetterverhältnissen im jeweiligen Jahr ab und war dann für alle Altersstufen und beide Geschlechter dasselbe. Die Paarung begann bald nach dem Verlassen der Winterquartiere (zweite Maihälfte bis erste Junihälfte). Für die Paarungsstellung war der Flankenbiß des Männchens charakteristisch. Die Eientwicklung erfolgte im Verlauf des Juni und die Eiablage fand zwischen Mitte Juni und Mitte Juli statt. Es erfolgte nur eine Eiablage pro Jahr, wobei (1) 2 oder 3 Eier gelegt wurden, welche Embryonen in fortgeschrittenen Reifestadien (Stadium 30 bis 32 nach DUFAURE et al. 1961) Bevorzugt wurden Ablageorte unter mittelgroßen bis großen flachen Steinen in leicht geneigtem Gelände. Unter solchen Steinen fanden sich zwei bis 12 frisch abglegte Eier, die von mehreren (im Durchschnitt zwei) Weibchen gemeinsam am selben Platz abgelegt worden sein mussten. Allerdings wurde solche Ablageorte häufig von Jahr zu Jahr gewechselt, sodaß nur wenige von ihnen in aufeinanderfolgenden Jahren benutzt waren. Die Veränderungen in den Abmessungen der Eier während der Inkubation werden beschrieben. Die Eizeitigung dauerte im Labor zwischen 31 bis 44 (im Mittel 35) Tage. Im Freiland traten die ersten Schlüpflinge zwischen Mitte August und Mitte September auf. Im Freiland zerstörte Fraß durch die Larve der Fliege Sarcophaga protuberans 25 % der Gelege. 64 % der im Labor erbrüteten Eier schlüpften. Der Schlupfvorgang und das frisch geschlüpfte Jungtier werden beschrieben.

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Der Autor legt eine vergleichende Untersuchung über Aktivität, Mikrohabitatwahl (Hangneigung, Flächenanteil von Fels, Steinen, nacktem Boden, Gebüsch und krautiger Vegetation im Lebensraum) und temperaturabhängiges Verhalten von Iberolacerta aranica (ARRIBAS, 1993), I. aurelioi (ARRIBAS; 1994) und I. bonnali (LANTZ, 1927) vor und beschreibt die Unterschiede in den untersuchten Größen im Hinblick auf Art, Geschlecht und Alter der Eidechsen. Im Aktivitätsmuster finden sich keine Unterschiede zwischen den Arten, doch differierten sie in mehreren Faktoren der Habitatausstattung ihres Aufenthaltsortes signifikant. Iberolacerta aurelioi wurde in steilerem Gelände als I. bonnali besonders aber als I. aranica festgestellt, doch waren die Unterschiede in der Hangneigung nich signifikant. Iberolacerta aurelioi und I. bonnali bevorzugten felsige Substrate und vermieden steinige Stellen (beide Geschlechter, alle Altersklassen) und nackte Böden (nur I. aurelioi). Iberolacerta aranica bevorzugte weniger felsigen als eher steinigen un d unbewachsenen Bodengrund. Büsche waren im Habitat von I. bonnali häufiger als in jenem von I. aurelioi und I. aranica. Krautige Pflanzen (Ganz allgemein alle Formen von Vegetation) fanden sich häufiger im Lebensraum von I. bonnali als an Stellen, wo I. aurelioi oder I. aranica vorkamen. Die drei Arten unterschieden sich voneinander in der Körpertemperatur (BT) und erwiesen sich als gute aber nicht sehr präzise Thermoregulatoren (besonders gegenüber den Subastrattemperaturen) sowie mäßige Thermokonformisten. Die Körpertemperatur war bei Iberolacerta aurelioi niedriger als bei I. bonnali (p < 0.05) und besonders I. aranica (p < 0.01). Die mittlere Körpertemperatur betrug bei I. bonnali 29.20 ± 0.30°C (22.8 – 35.2°C; n = 64), bei I. aranica 29.49 ± 0.20°C (22 – 36.5°C; n = 143) und bei I. aurelioi 28.13 ± 0.32°C (16.6 – 34.4°C; n = 109). Die Erwärmung schien bei I. aurelioi und I. bonnali hauptsächlich heliothermisch, bei I. aranica tigmothermisch zu erfolgen.

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Tail regeneration in 706 Iberolacerta (Pyrenesaura): 300 I. bonnali, 212 I. aranica and 194 I. aurelioi was studied, distinguishing four situations: 0) intact tail; 1) distal part (point) of the tail regenerated; 2) Tail regenerated from its half part and 3) tail broken and regenerated from its basis. The incidence of autotomy (tail break) in Iberolacerta (Pyrenesaura) runs in adults from a 47.5% up to a 68.3%. In juveniles is sensibly lower and goes from 10.9% to 23.8%.In I. bonnali percentage of autotomized tails is almost identical in both sexes (48% in males and 47.5% in females), whereas in juveniles is only 22.4%, without differences between adults but yes between adults and juveniles. In I. aranica, percentage of autotomized tails is 68.3% in males (fairly high), a 55.3% in females and a 10.9% in immatures. There are not significant differences between males and females (despite to be near to significance) but exist between adults and juveniles. In I. aurelioi males have a break percentage of 54.4%, females 59.8% and juveniles 23.8%, without differences between males and females, and contrary to the other two Pyrenean species, also inexistent between adults and juveniles. Comparing the three species among them, only males differ (the difference arises between I. bonnali and I. aranica), and all the other comparisons among females and juveniles are not significant. Juveniles of I. aurelioi (only any population of I. aranica or rarely and few vivid in I. bonnali) present bluish of greenish tails that do not broke until some days after birth and are able to wave sinuously in order to attract the predators attention upon it. Also, the known and possible predators are reviewed.

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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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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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The three lacertid lizards species of the Iberolacerta genus, which have recently been described or recognised as different species, are reptiles that live strictly at the highest altitudes in Europe, from elevations of near 1900 up to more than 3000 m a.s.l. in the Pyrenees (Spain, Andorra, France). In this paper, the reproductive cycle and reproductive characteristics of these species are described for the first time. Data were obtained from field studies carried out in different high-mountain Pyrenean locations from 1989–2002. In addition we also conducted hatching studies in laboratory. Due to the harsh climatic conditions in the high mountains the activity cycle of these species is very short, just over 4 months, from mid-May to late September or beginning of October. This affects their reproductive cycle (i.e., only one annual egg-clutch is produced), as well as other reproductive characteristics, as the existence of a very advanced embryonic development at oviposition, which is interpreted as an advanced stage in the tendency towards viviparity, and diverse life history characteristics as a very little annual growth which greatly delays sexual maturity to 4 years in males and 4–5 years in females. Clutch size correlates significantly with female snout-vent length (SVL) in all three species. The average clutch size is 2.53 eggs in I. aurelioi (the smallest species), 3.03 in I. bonnali and 3.44 in I. aranica (the biggest species). Notwithstanding the differences in egg number the three species have a similar egg volume. The incubation period in the laboratory is very short with an average of 30–36 days among the species. The low reproductive potential observed in these three species and revealed in this paper is a strongly threatening factor which, together with their extremely reduced distribution area, endangers these endemic, rare and very threatened species.

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A phylogenetic-comparative approach was used to assess and refine existing secondary structure models for a frequently studied region of the mitochondrial encoded large subunit (16S) rRNA in two large lizard lineages within the Scincomorpha, namely the Scincidae and the Lacertidae. Potential pairings and mutual information were analyzed to identify site interactions present within each lineage and provide consensus secondary structures. Many of the interactions proposed by previous models were supported, but several refinements were possible. The consensus structures allowed a detailed analysis of rRNA sequence evolution. Phylogenetic trees were inferred from Bayesian analyses of all sites, and the topologies used for maximum likelihood estimation of sequence evolution parameters. Assigning gamma-distributed relative rate categories to all interacting sites that were homologous between lineages revealed substantial differences between helices. In both lineages, sites within helix G2 were mostly conserved, while those within helix E18 evolved rapidly. Clear evidence of substantial site-specific rate variation (covarion-like evolution) was also detected, although this was not strongly associated with specific helices. This study, in conjunction with comparable findings on different, higher-level taxa, supports the ubiquitous nature of site-specific rate variation in this gene and justifies the incorporation of covarion models in phylogenetic inference.

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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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A male of Aurelio’s Rock Lizard was observed devouring its own distal part of the tail after suffering an incomplete amputation (autourophagy). This is the first observed case of this phenomenon and is compared with other cannibalism observations in Sauria.

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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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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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Six nominal taxa (`Lacerta` monticola cantabrica, `L. ` monücola monticola, `L. ` aranica, `L. ` aurelioi, `L. ` bonnali, `L. ` cyreni) of the Iberian-Pyrenean Mountain Lizards were investigated by allozyme electropho- resis with regard to IS enzymatic loci. `L. ` horvathi was used as an outgroup for phylogenetic analysis. On the basts of our results - which are in perfect agreement with karyological data (ODIERNA & al. in press a, b) - five taxa can be distinguished (`£.`. monticola, `L`. aranica, `L`. aurelioi, `L`. bonnali, %`. cyreni) which we consider to be species.

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The genus Karyolysus was originally proposed to accommodate blood parasites of lacertid lizards in Western Europe. However, recent phylogenetic analyses suggested an inconclusive taxonomic position of these parasites of the order Adeleorina based on the available genetic information. Inconsistencies between molecular phylogeny, morphology, and/or life cycles can reflect lack of enough genetic information of the target group. We therefore surveyed 28 localities and collected blood samples from 828 lizards of 23 species including lacertids, skinks, and geckoes in the western Mediterranean, North Africa, and Macaronesia, where species of Karyolysus and other adeleorine parasites have been described. We combined molecular and microscopic methods to analyze the samples, including those from the host type species and the type locality of Karyolysus bicapsulatus. The phylogenetic relationship of these parasites was analyzed based on the 18S rRNA gene and the co-phylogenetic relationship with their vertebrate hosts was reconstructed. We molecularly detected adeleorine parasites in 37.9% of the blood samples and found 22 new parasite haplotypes. A phylogenetic reconstruction with 132 sequences indicated that 20 of the newly detected haplotypes clustered in a well-supported clade with another 18 sequences that included Karyolysus galloti and Karyolysus lacazei. Morphological evidence also supported that K. bicapsulatus clustered in this monophyletic clade. These results supported the taxonomic validity of the genus. In addition, we found some parasite haplotypes that infected different lizard host genera with ancient diverging histories, which suggested that Karyolysus is less host-specific than other blood parasites of lizards in the region. A co-phylogenetic analysis supported this interpretation because no significant co-speciation signal was shown between Karyolysus and lizard hosts.

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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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We conducted a karyological study of Iberian rock lizards by standard and C-, AgNOR-, DAPI-, and Alu I-banding methods. The results showed that Lacerta monticola monticola and L. m. cantabrica possess 2N = 36 uniarmed chromosomes. Lacerta m. cyreni differs from the other two subspecies of L. monticola in the NOR-bearing chromosome pairs and in the presence of the heteromorphic and heterochromatic W-chromosome. The Pyrenean species L. aurelioi and L. bonnali differ from L. monticola in having a karyotype rich in biarmed elements. In fact, L. aurelioi possesses a 2N = 26 karyotype with 10 biarmed + 16 uniarmed macrochromosomes. In L. bonnali, an intraspecific variability in diploid number due to Robertsonian translocations was found: the specimens of L. b. aranica have a karyotype similar to that of L. aurelioi while the specimens from nominal subspecies (population of Monte Perdido) possess a 2N = 24 karyotype with 12 biarmed + 12 uniarmed macrochromosomes. Our results confirm that Iberian rock lizards form a heterogeneous group in which at least five taxa can be distinguished karyologically.

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Thermal biology of lizards affects their overall physiological performance. Thus, it is crucial to study how abiotic constraints influence thermoregulation. We studied the effect of wind speed on thermoregulation in an endangered mountain lizard (Iberolacerta aurelioi). We compared two populations of lizards: one living in a sheltered rocky area and the other living in a mountain ridge, exposed to strong winds. The preferred temperature range of I. aurelioi, which reflects thermal physiology, was similar in both areas, and it was typical of a cold specialist. Although the thermal physiology of lizards and the structure of the habitat were similar, the higher wind speed in the exposed population was correlated with a significant decrease in the effectiveness thermoregulation, dropping from 0.83 to 0.74. Our results suggest that wind reduces body temperatures in two ways: via direct convective cooling of the animal and via convective cooling of the substrate, which causes conductive cooling of the animal. The detrimental effect of wind on thermoregulatory effectiveness is surprising, since lizards are expected to thermoregulate more effectively in more challenging habitats. However, wind speed would affect the costs and benefits of thermoregulation in more complex ways than just the cooling of animals and their habitats. For example, it may reduce the daily activity, increase desiccation, or complicate the hunting of prey. Finally, our results imply that wind should also be considered when developing conservation strategies for threatened ectotherms.

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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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Les Reptiles des Pyrénées traite en détail les 32 espèces protégées présentes sur l’ensemble de la chaîne (France, Espagne et Andorre). Cette faune herpétologique est le résultat d’une entreprise natu­raliste combinant enquête bibliographique et reportage photographique. Elle propose une vaste synthèse de données relatives à plusieurs champs disciplinaires – systématique, ­taxi­nomie, biogéographie, écologie, biologie… – jusque-là dispersées dans plusieurs centaines d’articles et ouvrages. Les variations phénotypiques et les particularités écologiques des serpents, lézards et tortues occupant l’espace pyrénéen y sont illustrées par de très nombreuses photo­graphies exclusivement réalisées in situ, de 2 m à 3 143 m d’altitude. Des cartes de répartition précises (mailles UTM 10 km × 10 km), basées sur des sources scientifiques, complètent et éclairent le propos biogéographique. Les espèces et sous-espèces endémiques ou subendémiques de la chaîne, de même que celles qui y ont un statut particulier (très localisées, vulnérables…), ont fait l’objet d’une attention par­ti­cu­lière et les menaces qui pèsent sur les reptiles des Pyrénées sont largement exposées. Cet ouvrage sera précieux pour les pyrénéistes, naturalistes et gestionnaires d’espaces naturels de la chaîne (parc national, réserves, sites Natura 2000, parcs naturels régionaux…), qui disposeront là d’une mine d’informations sur le sujet.

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

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

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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).