×

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of pesticides on the Acanthodactylus scutellatus clan in the Al-Wadi region and in comparison with two different clans of the same rank, i.e. by comparing the Scincus scincus clan that comes from the “Al-Arish desert” and Water Duty area, and the Acanthodactylus scutellatus clan from the agricultural area located in “Umayya and Nasa” `. Our work is based on the determination of the protein and catalase activity of Ras in Acanthodactylus scutellatus samples. - In our work, we chose the Belford 1957 methodology, which depends on slaughtering samples in a correct manner, and then we preserved the samples according to the stipulated conditions and charters. - We crushed the following organs: the head, the liver, and the rest of the body. We get the test results: A very significant increase in “catalase” activity in the head was recorded in the farming samples of Acanthodactylus scutellatus, which recorded 352.8 ± 0.001 μM/mn/mg compared to the samples of “catalase” activity in the head of type Acanthodactylus scutellatus, which recorded 63.7 ±25.7 μM/ mn/mg

×

The reptiles and amphibians of the Gaza Strip and Wadi Gaza were surveyed during a period of two years (2002 – 2004). A total number of 21 herpetofaunistic species (2 turtles, 8 lizards, 8 snakes and 3 anurans) belonging to three orders and 15 families was encountered. The species described were all resident and were mostly found throughout the year. The diversity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the study area encouraged the occurrence of the species. However, the ever-increasing human impact on the existing natural resources in the Gaza Strip has threatened the ecology of wildlife, where the populations of frogs and many reptilian species are declining in an alarming fashion. The results reinforce the necessity of longterm inventories in order to understand the ecology and the dynamics of herpetofaunistic and other wildlife communities in the study area. Finally, the authors recommend improving cooperation of different parties to enhance the public awareness among the Palestinians and to implement environmental laws and legislation to conserve the sensitive and rare species of herpetofauna.

×

This paper describes the morphological characteristics of a new species of Haemogregarina Danilewsky, 1885, from naturally infected Acanthodactylus boskianus (Daudin) in Egypt, based on both blood and tissue stages. The prevalence of infection was found to be 66% (33/50). The blood stages were found to be confined to the erythrocytes and could be differentiated into small and large forms. The small form (trophozoites) measures 8 × 3.5 μm, whereas the large form (mature gamonts) measures 12 × 5 μm. The tissue stages were observed only in the liver. Meronts occurred within parasitophorous vacuoles in hepatocytes and ranged from mononucleate forms to mature forms that contained c.10–15 merozoites.

×

To date, three species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 have been described from lizards of the genus Acanthodactylus Wiegmann. Two of these, although representing separate species parasitizing two different hosts, Acanthodactylus boskianus Daudin in Egypt and A. schmidti Haas in Saudi Arabia, were described under the name Isospora acanthodactyli. The third species is Isospora abdallahi Modrý, Koudela et Slapeta, 1998 from A. boskianus in Egypt. In the present study, Isospora alyousifi nom. n. is proposed to accommodate Isospora acanthodactyli Alyousif et Al-Shawa, 1997 (homonym of I. acanthodactyli Sakran, Fayed, El-Toukhy et Abdel-Gawad, 1994) and its redescription based on newly collected material is provided.

×

Haemogregarina damiettae was previously described form Acanthodactylus boskianus in Egypt, and the description was base only on the blood stages with no data on the tissue stages. In the present study, both blood and tissue stages were encountered. The prevalence of infection was found to be 60 % (30/50). The blood stages were found to be confined to the erythrocytes and none in the leucocytes. The erythrocytic stages could be differentiated into small and large forms. The small form, trophozoite, measured 10 × 3 μm, while the large form, mature gamontocyte, measured 18 × 5 μm. The cytoplasm of the mature gamontocyte was finely granular and faintly stained with Giemsa, while the nucleus was relatively large and occupied about one third of the body length and was formed of a network of chromatin filaments. Infected erythrocytes were hypertrophied and their nuclei either longitudinally stretched or split into two fragments. The tissue stages were observed in the lungs and hearts of the infected lizards. The merogonic stages were evident as multinucleated ovoid to subspherical bodies enclosed by parasitophorous vacuoles. Mature meronts measured 16 × 12 μm and estimated to produce 15–25 merozoites.

×

Chemical treatments still constitute the main method used to control desert locust during the invasion phases. In addition to their relatively high costs, these pesticides are not target specific in the majority of the cases; they can have negative effects on the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem. The goal of our study, conducted under natural conditions, was the assessment of the ecological effect of ethyl chlorpyrifos and fenitrothion, the most widely used organophosphate pesticides in desert locust control in Niger. To assess the impact of pesticides on the relative abundance of lacertid lizard Acanthodactylus boskianus and Acanthodactylus sp before and after treatments, we used the method of pedestrian transect. The analysis of the variance was used to carry out a statistical comparison based on BACI (Before-After-Control-Impact) method. The experiments were carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental plots had an area of 16 ha each, the treatments consisted of ethyl chlorpyrifos at the rate of 225 ga.i./ha; fenitrothion at the rate of 450 ga.i./ha. Unsprayed plots were used as controls. These rates are those recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) to control desert locust. Chemical treatments were carried out in total cover using a battery driven hand-held spinning disk sprayer (Micro-Ulva®), in accordance with the technical directives of the FAO for ultra-low volume applications. The field trial was carried out in the valley of Tafidet located in the eastern side of Aïr Mountains in Niger, from June to December of the years 2004 to 2006. Ineach experimental plot, two lines of 300 m length and 10 m width were used as area of counting. These lines of counting skirted one of the diagonals of each plot. The results demonstrate the noxious effect of ethyl chlorpyrifos and fenitrothion (organophosphate pesticides) on lizard. We recorded the first decrease of population at 9 days after treatment. The first decrease of the lizard populations was noted in the phase I (1-12 DAT). We also recorded the first dead or moribund lizards between 9 and 21 days after chemical treatment. The number of death or moribund lizards ranged from 0, 33±0.57 to 4±1 in the plots treated with chlorpyrifos and fenitrothion respectively. The optimum of the efficacy of the pesticides was noted in phase II (15-30 DAT) it was decreased from 76% to 98% with chlorpyrifos and fenitrothion. It was also observed; the chemicals had a delayed effect on the lizard. In the last phase (45-60 days after the treatment) no death or moribund lizards is noted in all plots (treated and untreated).

×

1. Das Geruchsvermögen ist bei den Eidechsen (L. viridis, L. agilis, L. muralis) gut ausgebildet. Sämtliche Beute wird gerochen 2. Die Nase spielt eine bei weitem größere Rolle als das Jabobsonsche Organ. Dieses tritt, übereinstimmend mit den Befunden Kahmanns, nur akzessorisch in Funktion zum unmittelbaren Prüfen vor oder in dem Munde. 3. Der Beutegruch wird durch die Nase aus ca. 8 bis 10 cm Entfernung sichtbar wahrgenommen (durch die gesteigerte Brustatmung, die als „Pumpen“ bezeichnet wurde, erkenntlich) und löst Suchbewegungen aus. 4. Dieser allein ist bei Ausfall des optischen Sinnes befähigt, Zubeißen und Freßakt, selbst bei ungeeigneten Objekten, auszulösen. Es ist höchstwahrscheinlich, daß ein Geruchsscheme den Tieren angeboren ist. 5. Eidechsen lassen sich entgegen diesem angeborenen Geruchsscheme auf fremden Geruch positiv dressieren, wie Versuche mit stark süßlich duftenden Öl aufzeigten. Es gelang, andressierte Eidechsen nach Steinen usw., die mit Dressurduft markiert waren, beißen zu lassen, selbst als die Tiere im Besitz ihres optischen Sinnes waren. 6. Es hat den Anschein, als würden die Lacerten zirka eine Woche zur Bildung neuer Assoziationen benötigen, sobald sie täglich andressiert werden. Diese Zeitspanne wurde ungefähr bei den von mir durchgeführten Geruchs- und Geschmacksdressuren, sowie auch bei den Gehördresuren von Berger (1924) als Lernzeit benötigt. 7. Die Eidechsen konnten durch Vergällung einer bestimmten Beute mit Kochsalz dazu gebracht werden, bei gleichzeitiger Ausschaltung des optischen Sinnes diese Beute zu meiden, nahmen jedoch andere Nahrungsobjekte an. Durch Engerstellung der Verschiedenheit der Beutetiere konnte gezeigt werden, daß die Echsen in der Lage sind, selbst feinste Qualitätsunterschiede des Geruches zu registrieren. Sie vermochten Grillen von Locustiden, und weiters Locustiden untereinander geruchlich zu unterscheiden, auch wenn diese lebend und unvergällt angeboten wurden. 8. Auf dieses Vermögen dürfte die Bildung eines erworbenen Nahrungskreises zurückzuführen sein. Für sein Bestehen spricht die Bevorzugung von Lieblingsfutter, sowie die Ablehnung gewisser Beutetiere schon aus relativ großer Entfernung. 9. Freilandbeobachtungen zeigen, daß der Geruch bei Nahrungssuche, in unübersichtlichem Gelände von großer Bedeutung sein dürfte, analog zu den Feststellungen im Laborversuch. 10. Der arteigene Geruch ist bei Lacerta viridis wesentlich am endgültigen Festlegen im Verhalten gegenüber dem Artgenossen als Gegner oder Geschlechtspartner beteiligt. Ein Männchen dieser Art kämpft nicht gegen ein anderes, sobald dieser Reiz in der Reizsumme fehlt. Umgekehrt wird bei Anwesenheit des typischen Geruches gekämpft, auch wenn die optischen Merkzeichen stark verändert erscheinen; daraus wird die Bedeutung dieses Faktors im Reizsummenphänomen beim Paarungsverhalten ersichtlich. Der geschlechts-charakteristische Geruch stammt nicht aus den Schenkelporen, da eine operative Entfernung derselben keinerlei Änderung des Verhaltens bewirkte. 11. Die Nasenhöhle registriert Luftfeuchtigkeit und ermöglicht den Eidechsen das Wasser gerichtet aufzufinden. Die Nase darf daher als Alarm- und Leitsinnesorgan bezeichnet werden. Bei der Auffindung von Wasser kann der optische Sinn zusätzlich in Aktion treten, wobvei auf stark lichtbrechende Stellen angesprochen wird. 12. Bei Ausschaltung des Olfactorius sind die Tiere nicht imstande, Wasser zu finden, außer in optisch günstigen Fällen. 13. Freilandbeobachtungen zeigen, daß die Eidechsen durch Tau und Regenfall ihr Wasserbedürfnis gedeckt finden. Bei großer Trockenheit ziehen sich die Tiere zu einem Trockenschlaf zurück, den sie unterbrechen, sobald genügend Feuchtigkeit vorhanden ist. Die Luftfeuchtigkeit wird von den versteckt liegenden Tieren durch die Nase perzipiert und veranlaßt das Aufsuchen der Feuchtigkeitsquelle. Diese Annahme machen Freilandbeobachtungen auch in der natürlichen Umwelt höchst wahrscheinlich.

×

The aimof this study was to determine the spatial use of the main biophysical elements present in the agro-silvo-pastoral system (trees and shrubs, fallen trunks and branches, rocky outcrops and pilesof stones/walls) by three lizard speciess: Acanthodactylus erythrurus, Podarcis virescensand Psammodromus algirus. However, A. erythruruswas not found in the ten plots studied. For the remaining two species, the hypothesis tests showed that there are differences in the number of individuals when comparing the fiveplots with grazing with the five plots without grazing,within the montado landscape. Where there are rocky outcrops, P. virescens predominates (especially in grazing areas), while Ps. algirusmainly occurs in areas without grazing. At the same time, there are also differences in the elements used as a perch and as a refuge between the two lizards. This type of work helps the creation of management plans by farmers and owners / decision makers, towardsan efficient conservation of reptiles.

×

In the course of the faunistic inventory in Wadi Ramm Protected Area, a total of 34 species of reptiles representing nine families (Gekkonidae, Chamaeleonidae, Agamidae, Lacertidae, Scincidae, Varanidae, Leptotyphlopidae, Colubridae, and Viperidae) were recorded from different habitats in Wadi Ramm and its closest vicinity. Three species (Lacerta cf. kulzeri, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, and Ablepharus rueppellii) are considered to represent relicts from earlier, more humid periods. Habitat preferences for collected species are included.

×

We studied diet and food niche relationships among sympatric lizards in two areas in Jordan using stomach contents. We found that 77 stomachs from six species in the eastern deserts and 45 stomachs from three species in the western highlands resulted in 2,478 and 1,935 prey items, respectively. Stomachs from the eastern desert contained 1–216 prey items with an average of 31.5 items (median = 16) and 1–329 prey items with an average of 43.0 (median = 13) from the western highlands. The lizards were primarily insectivorous, with ants and beetles making up the highest percentages. Additionally, we identified a snake (Eirenis rothii), a freshwater fish, and four smaller lizards in the prey remains. The results showed similar niche breadths and high food-niche overlap values, especially among the agamid lizards, suggesting that some opportunistic feeding habits are likely influenced by prey availability and similar foraging strategies. Based on similar niche breadths and high food niche overlap values, we believe that interspecific competition is an important factor in organizing these lizard assemblages. Therefore, habitat segregation and different hunting strategies may likely occur among these species and allow for species coexistence in these areas.

×

Amphibians and reptiles have interacted with humans for millennia. However, humans interact with amphibian and reptile species in different manners, which depend on their culture and traditions. This study was designed to better understand the interactions between amphibian and reptile species and their usage among the native peoples in the vicinity of the Jhelum and Chenab rivers, Pakistan. Information was collected through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, and was analyzed by using different indices, including the frequency of citation, corrected fidelity level, fidelity level, relative importance level, and informant major ailment. Two amphibians and twenty-six reptile species were used in therapeutic medicine in the study area. Based on the cultural analysis, we found that Naja naja (black cobra) was highly cited across all cultural groups. A 100% Fidelity Level was calculated for the following species: Naja naja (eye infection), Varanus bengalensis (joint pain), Eurylepis taeniolatus (cataract), and Acanthodactylus cantoris (cancer). We found five endangered species in the study area, i.e., Aspideretes gangeticus, A. hurum, Chitra indica, Varanus flavescens, and Geoclemys hamiltonii, that were used to cure joint pain, muscle stretching and pain, backbone pain, paralysis, and psoriasis, respectively. Likewise, Lissemys punctata andersoni, a vulnerable species as labelled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, was extensively used for the treatment of joint pain, body pain, paralysis, and arthritis in the study area. In terms of conservation, it is critical to protect the highly vulnerable and endangered species that are being used in therapeutic medicines. Our findings may be helpful for the conservation of amphibian and reptile species by helping to make an effective plan to prevent their extinction. The main threats to the diversity of amphibian and reptile species in the area are hunting, trading, and cultural use. These threats could potentially lead to the extinction of these species. Therefore, with the involvement of concerned authorities, e.g., local stakeholders, the Ministry of Climate Change, provincial wildlife departments, academia, and conservation managers, immediate conservation measures should be taken for the protection and sustainable utilization of medicinal species.

×

Basrah province is situated at the extreme south of Iraq, it has an interesting reptile fauna (Squamata and Serpentes) and represents a land bridge between three different zoogeographical regions ( Oriental, Palaearctic and Ethiopian). This situation gave Basrah province a topographic specific opportunity for raising its own faunal diversity including reptiles; in this study Basrah province was divided into four main zones: the cities and orchards, marshes and wetlands (sabkha), the true dessert, the seashore and Shat Al-Arab. Forty nine reptile species were recorded including snakes, sea and fresh water turtles, and Lizards; brief notes and descriptions for the rare and important species were provided and supported by Plates.

×

This study includes a list of reptiles collected from Rumaila desert, south of Iraq, with a redescription of snake Eryx jayakary were given.

×

We studied the female reproductive cycle in a population of the oviparous lizard Acanthodactylus schreiberi syriacus from sandy beaches of Tyre, Lebanon. Females emerged from hibernation in mid-April, one month later than males. They reached sexual maturity at 57 mm snout-vent length and had smaller body sizes than males. Fertilization started in May. Among 33 gravid females, only one female showed evidence for two clutches produced in the same reproductive season whereas most of females laid one clutch per season. Mean clutch size was 2.5 ± 1.0, ranging from 1-4. We found no significant correlation between female body size and clutch size.

×

There are limited studies on the Iskenderun Lizard, Acanthodactylus schreiberi Boulenger, 1878, which is known to distribute in a single area in Turkey, up to now. This study aimed to determine the distribution area, some ecological features, population size, species threatening factors and precautions to be taken for it. As a result of the field studies, it was determined that Acanthodactylus schreiberi distributes in the 7 local areas from Burnaz Coast in Erzin district to Dörtyol district, Hatay Province. Population size estimated as 13193 specimens.

×

Endogenous stages of Isospora acanthodactyli from sandy fringed-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus schmidti) were described for the first time, in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia. Merogony and gamogony took place inside the host cell’s cytoplasm, in the distal part of the small intestine. Multinucleated meronts, microgamonts and macrogametes were described and measured.

×

Corpuscular Constants: hemoglobin, hematocrit (packed cell volume), and red cell count; also blood glucose and total plasma protein of the lizards Acanthodactylus scutellatus and Eremias brevirostris were determined. For Acanthodactylus scutellatus the mean values are : 8.5 g/100 ml, 30.0%, 1.135 x 106/mm3, 224.6 mg/100 ml, and 4.7 g %. For Eremias brevirostris the mean values are: 9.2 g/100 ml, 30.8%, and 1.424 x 106/mm3, 217 mg/100 ml, and 4.0 g % respectively. Electrophoretic mobilities of the three protein systems, serum, plasma and hemoglobin ere similar in the two lacertid lizards, but different from those previously obtained by the same author for two agamid lizards. Electrophoretic patterns of serum and plasma proteins consist in both lizards of four fractions, albumin, ل-globulin, â-globulin and م-globulin. The ل-globulin fraction was not resolved into and ل1 and ل-2- C12 as obtained in the agamid lizards. Regarding the relative proportions of the different protein fractions and the albumin: globulin ratio. both lizards showed but little variation from each other. In all individuals of the two species examined, no fibrinogen fraction was detected in their plasma patterns. Hemoglobin of both lizards behaved as a homogeneous single fraction slightly moving towards the anode. The rate of movement was nearly the same in both lizards, but it differed from that recorded for the agamid lizards.

×

The aim of this study is to show the osteological characters of the fore- and hind-limbs and the locomotion features in some reptilian species: Laudakia stellio, Hemidactylus turcicus, Acanthodatylus scutellatus, Chalcides ocellatus, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, collected from different localities from Egypt desert and Varanus griseus from lake Nassir in Egypt. In the studied species, the fore- and hind-feet show wide range of variations and modifications as they play very important roles in the process of jumping, climbing and digging which suit their habitats and their mode of life. The skeletal elements of the hand and foot exhibit several features reflecting the specialized methods of locomotion, and are related to the remarkable adaptations. Locomotion is a fundamental skill for animals. The animals of the present studies can take various forms including swimming, walking as well as some more idiosyncratic gaits such as hopping and burrowing.

×

The present work provides a list of all amphibians and reptiles recorded from Iraq up to 2014. It includes 115 species (105 species of reptiles and 10 species of amphibians) dating back to 25 families (20 families of reptiles and 5 families of amphibians). Conservation status of each species was mentioned.

×

The aim of the present study was to describe the sperm head differentiation in the lizardAcanthodactylus boskinus at the ultrastructural level. For this purpose, five adult male lizards were collected during April and May, 2004 from the desert at the north-east area of Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Testes of the lizards were processed for transmission electron microscopy. Thorough observation of the ultrastructural differentiation events of the sperm head has led to a concept of four sequential morphogenetic phases; Golgi phase, cap phase, nuclear elongation and chromatin condensation phase and maturation phase. The Golgi phase is initiated by the proliferation of Golgi complexes in the early spermatids to generate numerous microvesicles and the phase is terminated by the formation of a voluminous acrosomal vesicle. Flattening of the developed acrosomal vesicle over the anterior nuclear portion to form a cap associated with dissolution of the acrosomal granule are the features of the cap phase. Subsequent elongation of the spermatid nucleus accompanied with nuclear chromatin condensation are the features of the following phase. The final maturation phase is characterized by complete chromatin condensation and disappearance of the microtubule manchette. The general features of the differentiation process, which accord with the common criteria of other reptiles, as well as the existing differences are discussed.

×

The major ultrastructural features of the sperm tail differentiation in the lizard, Acanthodactylus boskinus (A. boskinus) have been described. The initial step is the caudal migration of the centrioles followed by insertion of the proximal centriole in the nuclear fossa and extension of the distal centriole to form the microtubular axoneme. Thereafter, tail differentiation involves the development of neck region and middle, main and end pieces. The later three tail pieces along their extension encompass the axonemal complex which reveals the typical (9+2) arrangement of microtubules. The axonemal complex in the middle piece is enveloped within two successive sheaths, the mitochondrial and fibrous ones while its extension in the main piece is only encircled by the fibrous sheath. The end piece only manifestes the existence of the axonemal complex surrounded by the plasmalemma of the fully differentiated spermatids.

×

Desert locations in Al-Burgan oil fields of Kuwait were subjected to oil pollution generated by the Gulf war in 1990. Studying sand lizard (Acanthodactylus scutellatus) population and their ant prey in the years 2002 and 2003 to monitor the effects of oil pollution was thought to be useful in an area damaged by oil spill. Sites with apparently different levels of pollution, namely tar mat, soot and clear sites were compared with control sites outside this area. Live specimens of A. scutellatus were collected by drift fence and pitfall traps and were marked by toe clipping and painting bands before they were released. Ant population was collected by removal methods using vacuum. The mark-recapture Schnabel method of population estimation was used. The results revealed no difference in lizard population sizes between the different study sites in 2002 and 2003. A slight difference was observed in ant population sizes between the sites in 2002 but no difference was detected between the sites in 2003. Although, the mean estimated lizard numbers were lowest at the tar mat sites, the ant number in this location was greatest, meaning that food availability was highest at these sites. This suggests any reduction in the numbers of lizards is unrelated to low resource availability.

×

Desert ecosystems in Al-Burgan oil fields of Kuwait were contaminated by heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons due to oil spill generated by the Gulf War in 1990. Studying sand lizard (Acanthodactylus scutellatus) population and their ant prey in the years 2002 and 2003 to detect the effects of oil pollution is now a focus of study. Polluted sites with apparently different degrees of pollution (namely tar mat, soot and clear sites) were compared with control sites outside this region. Total lizard numbers were recorded by using transect method. Number of ants was recorded by walking the transects and counting ants present. The results showed no difference in lizard population between the different study sites in 2002 and 2003 by applying the transect method. No difference in ant populations between the different study sites in 2002 and 2003. Although, the mean estimated lizard numbers were lower at the tar mat sites, the ant number in this location was greatest, meaning that food availability was highest at these sites. This suggests any reduction in the numbers of lizards is unrelated to low resource availability. The lizard numbers at the tar mat sites could be depressed by some property of the pollutants.

×

This study investigated the impact of oil pollution on morphological measurements in adult male and female sand lizards captured in locations with apparently different pollution levels. The results of this study confirmed that there is sexual dimorphism in body size, with males being generally larger than females at all the study sites. Adult male (but not female) lizards were generally bigger at the Tar mat and soot than the clear and control sites. The increase in body size and weight suggests that there is a greater availability of food for these somewhat territorial reptiles in both the Tar mat and soot sites. An alternative explanation is that the food resource is affected by oil pollution such that lizards consuming prey with high levels of fat accumulate more adipose tissue in their bodies.

×

Using indicator species to monitor the effects of oil pollution was thought to be useful to assess whether local desert reptiles and their insect prey could fulfill such a role in an area damaged in the second Gulf War (1990). Polluted sites with apparently different degrees of contamination (namely tar mat, soot, and clear sites) located at Kuwait`s Greater Al-Burgan oil field were compared with control areas outside this region in study conducted in 2002. Five Acanthodactylus scutellatus lizards from each study and control site were humanely killed and stored in a freezer at -20 degrees C until analysis. Ants from the same sites were also collected and treated in a similar manner. Lizard and ant whole body tissues were subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons (HCs). The study concentrated on sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), EPA priority pollutants used as indicators of petrogenic HC contamination. There were significantly different concentrations of total PAHs in lizards and ants among all four study sites. Of the 16 PAHs, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and benzo[a]anthracene were present in both lizard and ant samples from the Greater Al-Burgan oil field sites irrespective of the apparent degree of pollution but were undetectable in materials from the control sites. The range of total PAHs in lizards was 26.5-301 ng g(-1) and it was 6.7-82.1 ng g(-1) in ants. Concentrations increased progressively along an expected contamination gradient. Total PAHs were detected in biota even in an area (clear site) that did not appear, virtually, to contain petroleum soil pollution which supports the value of indicator biota species. For all three sites where PAHs were found in biota, the ratio of total PAHs in ants to lizards was consistently 3.3-3.4. These data show that, although 12 years have passed since the Kuwait oil spill catastrophe, all sites are still contaminated with PAHs. Use of lizard and ant materials in monitoring such desert locations seems to be an effective strategy.

×

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of oil pollution in a desert location (the Greater Al-Burgan oil fields, an area damaged in the Gulf War in 1991) in Kuwait on the hepatotoxicity of the Sand lizard Acanthodactylus scutellatus (A. scutellatus). Twenty lizards (10 of each sex) from each polluted and each control sites were collected. Livers were removed from dissected animals and ready for fixation by Bouin`s solution and formal-saline. Twenty sections (10 from males and 10 from females) from each tar mat (polluted) and control sites were prepared and examined for cell diameter and nuclear measurements using Cell Analysis Systems. The cytology of hepatocytes showed normal appearance in samples from the control sites. Dead cells were abundant in the sections of lizard livers from the tar mat sites and occurred in notably greater numbers than the sections of livers of animals from the control sites. Examinations of the data confirm that the cell and nuclear diameters in liver samples of males collected from polluted sites were generally greater than those of corresponding females. The liver sections obtained from animals in the tar mat site had greater cellular diameters than counterparts from control sites. Females from the polluted sites were also affected by oil pollution by having larger hepatocyte diameters and their nuclei were also affected, being larger than female nuclei from the control sites. The most remarkable feature observed in hepatocytes of lizards collected from the tar mat sites were swelling of hepatocytes, ballooning degeneration of hepatic cytoplasm and cell death. This study confirmed that the prolonged exposure to oil pollution may result in increased accumulation of contaminants and may cause severe liver pathology in a range of wild organisms such as A. scutellatus.

×

Oil pollution in desert locations in Greater Al-Burgan oil fields of Kuwait generated by the 1990 Gulf war has changed field behaviour and morphology of the Fringe-toed Lizard Acan- thodactylus scutellatus (Audouin, 1827). Lizards from the dark ‘tar mat’ locations are notably darker in colour than those from the control sites. Consequently, A. scutellatus collected from ‘tar mat’ and counterparts from lighter control sites were compared in laboratory studies where the lizards could choose between a dark and a light side of an enclosure. The former lizards showed a clear preference for darker substrates whereas the latter clearly preferred the light substrate. Dark lizards on tar mat have more effective crypsis but also some advantages in terms of solar gain (surprisingly, reptiles from tar mat sites are generally larger than counterparts from uncontami- nated sites). It is uncertain whether the presence of dark substrates for more than a decade (this study was conducted in 2003) has resulted in a selection of morphologically dark sand lizards with a preference for dark surfaces or whether these reptiles simply use their skin chromatophores to adapt to different surfaces but show a preference for substrates similar to their body colour- ation.

×

An attempt was made to study the effects of oil pollution in a desert location (the Greater Al-Burgan oil fields, an area damaged in the second Gulf War) in Kuwait on the behaviour of the Sand lizard A, scutellatus. Polluted sites with apparently different degrees of contamination (namely tar mat, soot and clear sites) were compared with control areas outside this region. Between 2002 and 2003, ten lizards (5 of each sex) on each polluted and each control site were observed in the field at a time of the year when they were highly active. Air, substrate and burrow temperatures were recorded and lizards were monitored for their morning emergence times, as well as their basking and foraging activities. The present study confirmed that the morning emergence times and the basking behavior varied in sand lizards among the different pollution site categories. Physical changes in the tat mat sites caused the substrate temperatures in these locations to rise more quickly in the morning in response to solar gain than was the case in the other sites. This gives lizards in these locations the opportunity to emerge earlier and to start eating more quickly, giving them an energetic advantage (perhaps, in turn, influencing their rates of growth and fecundity). The cleat sites had the next earliest emergence and were the next hottest but it is difficult to account for this in terms of the physical characteristics of this site. The basking times were clearly shorter on the dark soot and tar mat sites that appeared to have higher solar gain than control or clear sites. There did not appear to be any obvious differences in foraging activity of lizards in the different locations. It appears that some aspects of simple behaviour in these lizards provides a reliable, noninvasive indices for assessing oil pollution in desert locations. The precise impact of these changes in these reptiles on their long-term viability needs to be evaluated.

×

The reproductive biology of (reproductive behaviour, reproductive cycle and fat body cycle) Acanthodactylus schmidti was examined using specimens obtained from north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data for this research came both from ecological studies in the field and also histological examinations. The reproductive season (which coincided with the rainy season of the area) was found to commence in October–November and terminated in May. Young lizards were seen in the study area from as early as February and as late as June. There is evidence for the presence of multiple clutches (maximum of three) during each breeding season. It is concluded that the timing and length of the reproductive season and multiple clutches are an important adaptation for this species which inhabits desert regions with unpredictable weather conditions.

×

Male lizards had larger home ranges than females and, in general, spring home ranges were greater than winter ones. Overlap in home ranges was not uncommon; extent of overlap varied greatly. Use of burrows by both species was similar but there was a difference in the use of habitats, eg A. schmidti were often seen basking in open areas, but A. boskianus were rarely seen on bare sand away from vegetation.

×

A total number of 70 herpetofaunistic species organised in 3 orders and 18 families were surveyed during a period of two years (2005– 2007) in southern Jordan. The orders are (1) Ophidia has 7 families: Leptotyphlopidae (1 species), Typhlopidae (2 species), Boidae (1 species), Colubdridae (17 species), Atractaspididae (1 species), Elapidae (1 species) and Viperidae (5 species). (2) Sauria has 7 families: Gekkonidae (12 species), Chamaeleonidae (1 species), Agamidae (8 species), Lacertidae (3 species), Sincidae (8 species), Anguidae (1 species), Varanidae (1 species). (3) Testudines has 4 families: Cheloniidae (2 species), Dermochetylidae (1 species), Emydidae (1 species) and Testudinidae (1 species). The species listed were all resident and were mostly found throughout the year. The diversity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the study area encouraged the occurrence of the species. The results reinforce the necessity of longterm inventory plannings in order to understand the ecology and the dynamics of herpetofaunistic and other wildlife communities in the study area. The over-increasing of human impact on the existing natural resources in the southern Jordan has threatened the ecology diversity of wildlife species, where the populations of some herpetofaunaistic species (especially frog species) and many reptilian species are declining in diversity status and abundance. The author recommend at the end the improving cooperation of different parties to enhance the public awareness and to implement environmental laws and legislation to conserve the sensitive and rare species of herpetofauna components.

×

A total of 70 herpetofauna species from 3 Orders and 18 Families were surveyed during a period of two years (2005-2007) in Southern Jordan. The Ophidia included Leptotyphlopidae, Typhlopidae, Boidae, Colubdridae, Atractaspididae, Elapidae and Viperidae. The Sauria included Gekkonidae, Chamaeleonidae, Agamidae, Lacertidae, Sincidae, Anguidae and Varanidae. Testudines included Cheloniidae, Dermochelyidae, Emydidae and Testudinidae. The species listed were all resident and mostly found throughout the year. The diversity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the study area likely encouraged species presence. The results reinforce the necessity for long-term inventory planning in order to understand the ecology and the dynamics of herpetofauna and other wildlife communities in the study area. The increasing human impact on the existing natural resources in Southern Jordan has threatened the ecology and diversity of wildlife species to such a degree that populations of anurans and many reptiles are declining in diversity, status and abundance. The author recommends improving cooperation of different parties to enhance public awareness and to implement environmental laws and legislation to conserve sensitive and rare species of herpetofauna.

×

The resting metabolic rate-temperature curves of juvenile, sub-adult and adult stages of the lizard Acanthodactylus schmidti were studied at 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C. The mass-specific resting metabolic rate equations at different temperatures were calculated. Juveniles and sub-adults were found to have higher rates of O2 consumption than adults. The values for mass regression coefficient «b» proved to be temperature-dependent and ranged from 0.11 at 10°C to 0.58 at 35°C

×

Oxygen consumption levels and metabolic rate temperature curves of various lizard species from three different climatic regions were examined in relation to ambient temperature. The species used in this research were as follows: Anguis fragilis, Lacerta vivipara, Lacerta agilis (cool temperate species); Blanus cinereus, Podarcis hispanica, Podarcis lilfordi brauni, Podarcis lilfordi lilfordi, Podarcis muralis, Psammodromus algirus, Tarentola mauritanica (warm temperate species); Chalcides ocellatus, Acanthodactylus opheodurus, Acanthodactylus schmidti (desert species). A double chamber volumetric closed system was used to measure the resting oxygen consumption of the lizards. Acute oxygen consumption determinations were made, that is the lizards were not allowed to acclimate to the test temperatures. Interspecific differences in levels of resting oxygen consumption and in the characteristics of the metabolic rate temperature curves were examined in relation to methods of thermoregulation and in relation to the ecology of the respective species. Evidence for `temperature dependent shifts` and `low thermal dependence` was found in the metabolic rate temperature curves of some species. A diminishing Q10 at or below the voluntary body temperatures suggests some degree of metabolic homeostatsis and energy conservation.

×

An extensive review on the taxonomic status, occurrence, geographical distribution, and the IUCN conservation status of 122 species/taxa (10 amphibians and 112 reptiles) belonging to 71 genera (8 genera of amphibians and 63 of reptiles) and to 25 families (5 families of amphibians and 20 families of reptiles) was made. As a part of Iraq’s unique biota, the knowledge of the herpetofauna of Iraq is poorly discovered and requires extensive field surveys, further research, and explorations in order to create full frame knowledge of its status and conservation.

×

Isospora acanthodoclyli, new species is described from the feaces of Acanthodoctylus schmidti from Al-Thomama area in the central region of Saudi Arabia. Sporulated oocysts are spherical to subspherical 27.9×25.5 (25 1-29 8×22 7-27.8) μm Oocyst wall is smooth and bilayered Micropyle, oocyst residuum and polar granule absent Sporocysts are ovoid 14.6×11.1 (13.2-15.2×9 1-11.7) μm. Stieda and substiedal bodies are present. Sprozoites are hanana shaped with two spherical refractile globules. Isospora deserti (Finkelman and Paperna, 1994) is redescribed from the feces of Agama pallida in new geographical location. Sporulated oocysts measurement were similar to those reported previously from the same host in Israel (Finkelman and Paperna, 1994). Except for our observation of double layered wall, the oocyst morphology was identical to the original description of I. deserti.

×

This paper describes the habitat of Acanthodactylus schmidti Hass in Saudi Arabia and its present systematic position. The evidence suggests A. schmidti is a valid species. It is adapted to the sand dune habitat, particularly in areas with low scrubby vegetation. Its burrows are dug only among the roots of Hammada elegans .

×

In the present study, it was hypothesized that micromorphology of the surface of many lizard scales appears to mimic the topography of the habitat in which they live. Many authors have suggested that the microstructure of the superficial surface of scales have undergone important adaptations and have functional value in lizards. In this study, we investigated the variation and adaptation of the micromorphology and microstructure of the superficial surface of the dorsal and ventral scales from the mid-body region of Stellagama stellio (Agamidae), Stenodactylus petrii (Gekkonidae), Acanthodactylus boskianus (Lacertidae), Eumeces schneideri (Scincidae), Trachylepis quinquetaeniata (Scincidae), Scincus scincus (Scincidae), Varanus griseus (Varanidae), Chameleo chameleon (Chamaeleonidae). Skin specimens were prepared and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The dorsal and ventral scale surfaces had microstructure in the studied species and they exhibited unique patterns that somewhat resembled the topography of the microhabitats in which they lived. Similarity was detected in the three most related species, those having a common family, Scincidae. Ecomorphological relationships were detected between the dorsal and ventral scale microstructures and microhabitats. We conclude that environmental factors have observable influences on the microstructure of lizard scales.

×

The Arabian Peninsula is an interesting area for research. This area has a complex geological history, a range of habitats and a number of known endemic species. However, to date, this area and its associated biodiversity has been poorly studied. The aims of this study were to investigate the phylogeography and to determine the species delimitation of a selected number of lizard species from the Arabian Peninsula. The phylogeography of fourteen co-distributed lizard species occurring within the Arabian Peninsula was investigated using a multispecies tree in STAR BEAST (*BEAST) to determine the divergence times and spatial patterns of the co-distributed species. Several common spatial and temporal patterns were identified among the different Arabian Peninsula species. The common patterns indicated close phylogeographic relationships between different regions and species. Importantly, these common patterns also corresponded to historical biogeographic processes. A wide range of ecological habitats was also detected for these groups of lizards and this was assumed to play a major role in establishing the current diversity and distribution patterns. In addition to detecting common patterns, this study also provided valuable information about the unique phylogeographical patterns shown by some of the studied species. Finally, this study also revealed patterns that provided strong evidence for the presence of multiple cryptic species within a species complex. Species delimitation methods were subsequently applied to two species that had previously demonstrated the potential for cryptic species within Acanthodactylus boskianus and A. opheodurus. Using a combined approach of genetic distance, allele networks, and Bayesian Phylogenetic and Phylogeography (BPP) analysis, this study was able to identify candidate species within A. boskianus and A. opheodurus. The mitochondrial DNA tree revealed potential candidate clades within these two species. These candidate species clades were then further examined at two nuclear loci and congruence was observed between the two markers for these clades. This congruence between mitochondrial and nuclear loci strongly indicates the discovery of several new species within A. boskianus and A. opheodurus, however further research is needed to confirm this discovery. In conclusion, this study provides the most detailed insight - to date - on the phylogeography and species delimitation of Arabian Peninsula lizards and provides the most up to date assessment of the diversity of the lizards in this important region.

×

Thirty-two species of amphibians and reptiles were reported during this study, including 16 families (Ranidae, Geoemydidae, Cheloniidae, Gekkonidae, Sphaerodactylidae, Phyllodactylidae, Agamidae, Lacertidae, Scincidae, Varanidae, Trogonophidae, Boidae, Colubridae, Psammophiidae, Viperidae and Elapidae). Family Geckkonidae was represented by the highest number of species (8), followed by families Agamidae and Scincidae (four species for each). Trachylepis tessellata is reported for the first time to the herpetofauna of Saudi Arabia.

×

A total of 44 species of amphibians and reptiles are reported from Al Madinah Al Munawwarah Province, Saudi Arabia. They include two species of amphibian in two families (Bufonidae and Dicroglossidae) and 42 reptiles belonging to 16 families (Agamidae, Boidae, Chamaeleonidae, Colubridae, Elapidae, Gekkonidae, Lacertidae, Lamprophiidae, Leptotyphlopidae, Phyllodactylidae, Psammophiidae, Scincidae, Sphaerodactylidae, Varanidae, Typhlopidae, and Viperidae). Platyceps sinai, Psammophis sibilans, Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus, are recorded for the first time to the herpetofauna of Saudi Arabia. Range expansion for Euphlyctis ehrenbergii and Acanthocercus adramitanus to northern Saudi Arabia is reported. Our records expand the known distribution range of the Arabian Cobra, Naja arabica, further northwest

×

Seventeen (17) and twenty-two (22) species of terrestrial reptiles were recorded from ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid and Harat al Harrah protected areas, respectively. Eight sites in ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid and eleven sites in Harat al Harrah were surveyed for the presence of reptiles. A comparison between the two protected areas’ reptile fauna is provided, with brief descriptions of their habitat preferences. Uromastyx aegyptia, categorised by the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable, occurs in both protected areas. Ptyodactylus puiseuxi is a new species record for the herpetofauna of Saudi Arabia. This study indicates the importance of protected areas within Saudi Arabia for the conservation of reptile biodiversity, the need for extension of the protected area network and additional biodiversity surveys in other regions. Studies on species richness, biology and population size for endangered species should be a priority for future studies.

×

Tathleeth governorate in Aseer region of southwestern Saudi Arabia has been surveyed for 22 lizard species belonging to 6 families throughout three years started from 2015. A total of 412 specimens of these lizards were encountered and identified. Gekkonidae represented the major family inhabiting the region comprising more than 50% of the collected lizards. Agamidae was represented by 5 species comprising more than 23% of the recorded lizards. The other four families (Lacertidae, Scincidae, Chamaeleonidae and Varanidae) comprised approximately 20% of all the collected lizards. The current survey could be used as conservational clue for the herpetofauna of Tathleeth.

×

We surveyed the historical Faid Hema, Ha’il region in Saudi Arabia and identified 22 species of reptiles (17 lizards and five snakes). We recorded for the first time nine reptiles (six lizards and three snakes) in the Faid Hema. Of these, one lizard, Mesalina adramitana, and two snakes, Cerastes gasperetti and Walterinessia aegyptia, were reported for the first time for the entire Ha`il region. We recorded 50% of all species for the entire study area at one site, which may be because it had three different habitat types near it (the Jannin mountain, soft soil, and firm, sandy soil). The next highest number of species we found was at an open site with firm, sandy soils and with gravel (containing 45.5% of the total species recorded), followed by a site that contained only sand (36.4% of the total). The lowest number of species was reported at an agricultural site, with only 13.6% of the total species found.

×

Eleven out of 42 (26.2%) lizards Acanthodactylus schmidti were found harboring haemogregarines in their peripheral blood. The erythrocytic stages were differentiated into 2 forms: the young form (trophozoite) measured 12.5 +/- 0.5 x 1.7 +/- 0.3 microm and the large mature form (gametocyte) measured 19.8 +/- 1.7 x 1.7 +/- 0.3 microm. The infected erythrocytes were distorted from 16.0 +/- 1.2 x 9.2 +/- 0.2 microm to 20.2 +/- 1.8 x 6.7 +/- 0.8 microm, hypertrophied and faintly stained. None of the leucocytes seemed to be parasitized by the present parasite. Schizogony took place in the endothelial cells of lung capillaries and parenchyma of liver. Two types of schizonts were recorded; microschizonts of 9.35 x 9.65 +/- 0.38 microm and macroschizonts of 25.36 +/-1.81 x 20.35 +/- 0.82 microm. The microschizonts produced 6-12 merozoites, while the macroschizonts produced 18-36 merozoites, however there were no differences between both merozoites, each measured 11.54 +/- 0.81 x 1.41 +/- 0.71 microm. The infected host cells were markedly hypertrophied with noticeable irregularity and faint stainability as well as some vacuolation, necrosis or shrinkage and necrosis.

×

Morphologic diversity was studied in 129 species of lacertid lizards and their relationship with ecology by means of comparative analysis on seven linear morphometric measurements. Body size is the most important variable determining, a continuum among small bodied species and larger ones independently evolved through the lacertid phylogeny. This variable is strongly and positively correlated with the others masking the patterns of morphologic diversity. Multivariate analysis on size-adjusted variables show a negative covariation among relative tail and limb length. Remarkably, arboreal and semiarboreal species (Takydromus and the Equatorial African clade) appeared two times independently during the evolution of lacertids and are characterized by extremely long tails, and relatively long forelimbs in comparison with hindlimb length. The arboreal and glider lizard Holaspis with their short tail constitute the only exception. Another case of convergence is found by some species dwelling into dense vegetation or grass (Tropidosaura, Lacerta agilis, Takydromus amurensis or Zootoca) which have long tails and short limbs. On the opposite, species living in deserts, steppes or scrublands with scarce vegetation isolated into extended open areas have developed long hindlimbs and short forelimbs to achieve higher speed and maneuverability This is especially the case of Acanthodactylus and Eremias.

×

The structure of the lizard community in Damietta was analyzed in the present study. Five locations were selected as a study area, each represents different habitat of Damietta Governorate. Seven lizard species were recorded which are related to four families and five genera. They were Chamaeleo africanus, Hemidactylus turcicus, Chalcides ocellatus, Mabuya quinquetaeniata, Mabuya vittata, Acanthodactylus boskianus and Acanthodactylus scutellatus. The lacertid lizards Acanthodactylus boskianus and Acanthodactylus scutellatus were the most common species in the community. Therefore, the study was extended to reveal the genetic variability for the population of these two species in Damietta. Four arbitrary chosen enzymes were analyzed electrophoretically. These enzymes were Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), esterase (EST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and acid phosphatase (ACP). Eleven presumed gene loci have been recorded. A. scutellatus showed higher genetic variability with a polymorphism of 90% of its population compared to 82% for the samples of A. boskianus.

×

In this study, we identified the diversity of the freshwater, marine and terrestrial herpetofauna of the State of Kuwait. It consists of a total of 45 extant species; 44 species of reptiles and a single species of amphibian according to recent updated taxonomic studies. All specimens of reptiles collected and held in American and European natural history museums are documented. Four species are added to the herpetofauna of Kuwait: Chalcides ocellatus, Hydrophis lapemo ides, Hydrophis viperina, and Trapelus agnetae.

×

One hundred seventy-seven species of amphibians and reptiles in sixty-fiv genera have been recorded from within the political boundaries of Iran. The actual number of species may prove to be somewhat less when problems of synonymy have been more extensively investigated. Thirty-three species or 19 per cent of the known herpetofauna, are represented in the present collection. The majority of these (21 species) were collected in the western foothills of the Zagros Mountains in southwestern Iran. Relatively few collections have been made in Iran, and many species have been recorded from single localities. Many taxonomic problems must await the collection of further specimens and examination of typical material. Distribution is incompletely known for all species. Many of the early locality records are not precise, and require confirmation. The aridity and prolonged hot season impose severe limitations on the fauna of the foothill region of southwestern Iran. The length of the growing seasonn varies with the duration of the winter and spring rainy season. The vegetation is almost entirely herbaceous in this area, and is extensively grazed by sheep and goats. By late spring the hills are completely denuded, The large numbers of insects, which coincide with the blooming of herbaceous plants in the spring, dwindle through the summer. Grasshoppers and ants form the bulk of the food supply for many species throughout the summer. Various behavioral adaptations enable the amphibians and reptiles to survive the long summer. Foraging activity begins in the early morning hours, diurnal lizards quickly reaching temperatures of normal activity by exposing a maximum surface area to the direct rays of the sun. As ambient temperatures rise, the period of activity is extended by utilization of small areas of shade (particularly the case with lacertids), brief dashes being made into direct sunlight. The agamid lizards may remain in the sun, but position themselves so that the sun´s rays strike a minimum surface area, and at a small angle. Agama agilis ascends low bushes during extremely hot periods, and thus may escape much of the reradiated heat from the hot ground surface. The agamid lizards may benefit from changes in their albedo. They are dark in color when basking, and much lighter during the heat of the day. These color changes may supplement behavioral temperature regulation. The reptiles retreat to shelter during the hottest hours. Deep crevices in limestone outcrops provide shelter for Agama nupta, Mabuya aurata septemtaeniata, and several of the snakes. Agama agilis and Eremias guttulata watsonana seek refuge under small rocks or in rock piles on level ground. The latter species also utilizes small holes and cracks in the hard-packed soil. A few small streams persist throughout the summer, ofter only as intermittent pools. In many dry stream beds, moisture may be found a few inches beneath the surface. A moist, cool, microclimate is also maintained in small caves and ssinkholes in the gypsium formations. These areas provide a summer refuge for the amphibians, and shelter nocturnal reptiles during the day. These cracks and crevices are also utilized by Agama nupta during the hottest hours, and presumably at night. Several species of geckos and snakes are able to exist in the area due to their nocturnal habits, and the fact that temperatures do not drop below their normal activity range at night during the summer. Dune-dwelling species are able to escape the severe midday temperatures by retreating the burrows a few inches below the sand surface. Anal temperatures indicate that the normal activity range for most of the diurnal lizards of southwestern Iran is between 38.0° and 42.0°C. Uromastix loricatus was actively foraging at times when its anal temperature exceeded 43°C. Agama agilis was consistently found in direct sunlicht, the anal temperature above 40°C. Critical maximum temperatures for most diurnal lizards are between 46° and 49°C. Both Uromastix loricatus and Scincus conirostris recovered from temperatures above 50°C. Cowles and Bogert (1944) found that the normal activity range of diurnal lizards of the deserts of the southwestern U.S. was approximately 35°-43°C., and that the lizards preferred temperatures of about 37°C. They found that lizards avoided temperatures above 40°C. Critical maximum temperatures were reported to bte 43°-49°C. As air and surface temperatures increased during the late spring and summer in southwestern Iran, a shift in the periods of reptilian activity was noted. During the moderate spring temperatures, activity was confined to the midday hours. By midsummer, foraging activity was noted only during the earliest daylight hours,a nd again in late afternoon. A detailed zoogeographic analysis of the Iranian herpetofauna must await more extensive locality data, and the analysis of many systematic problems. Nevertheless, it is apparent that the several geographic and ecologic provinces of Iran are characterized by distinct differences in the composition of their faunas. Southwestern Iran and the northwestern highlands have a greater number of species with Mediterranean affinities than do the regions east of the Zagros Mountains. Southeastern Iran shares species with Pakistan and India, while elements of the Central Asia fauna are present in the northeast of the country. Apparently there is a relatively high degree of ebndemism on the central plateau of Iran. A European fauna prevails north of the Elburz Mountains on the south coast of the Caspian Sea. The majority of amphibians and reptiles known Iran are restricted in their distribution to the Middle East. Southwest Asia has apparently existed as a geographic unit long enough to have developed a characteristic herpetofauna, particularly at the species level. Acanthodactylus cantoris blanfordi, Acanthodactylus cantoris schmidti, Eremias guttulata watsonana, Ophisops elegans elegans.

×

Relatively little is known about the ecology of lizards in Iran. This paper serves as a brief introduction to five representative biotopes and their associated lizard species living syntopically, based largely on my own observations. The selected localities are found in 1) Masjed Soleyman, foothills of the Zagros Mountains, Khuzestan; 2) Kupal dunes, on the Mesopotamian Plain, Khuzestan; 3) Shah ‘Abbas Caravanserai, Dasht-e Kavir, on the Central Plateau; 4) an abandoned village in Sistan, ruined buildings and loose loess substrate; 5) Hyrcanian Forest, northern slopes of lower Alborz Mountains and the Gorgan region. The biotopes are characterized briefly and the concept of syntopy is discussed.

×

The collection of amphibians and reptiles made by the Street Expedition to Afghanistan 1965 consists of 247 specimens, including six species of amphibians and 38 species of reptiles. Definite Afghan localities are recorded for the first time for the following species: Agama agrorensis, Agama erythrogaster, Agama himalayana, Agama lehmanni, Agama nuristanica (new species herein described), Agama abdakhshana (new species herein described), Cyrtodactylus watsoni, Hemidactylus flaviviridis, Eremias nigrocellata, Eryx elegans (type was recorded as coming from Afghanistan, but n precise locality was given, An analysis of the zoogeographic significance of this and other collections from Afghanistan is contemplated for the future. Acanthodactylus cantoris, Eremias guttulata watsonana, Eremias nigrocellata, Eremias velox persica.

×

Acanthodactylus boskianus, Eremias rubropunctata, Latastia spinalis.

×

The last catalogue of the Reptile collection of the Museu Bocage dates back to 1972. The collections were lost in a fire 25 years ago, so it was necessary to analyse the effort of various donors, who offered the Museum a new collection. The evaluation of the sampling effort is important to gather information (on quantity and origin) and the various samples of the species of lacertid lizards present in the Museum and enables an operational and practical visual imaged of that information. The obtained results prove that the study of the sampling effort using ordinary kriging method is robust and accurate on identifying gaps (under or no sampled areas) and a helpful tool to fulfil them. Although beginning to the representative of the Portuguese fauna, the lacertid collection of the Museu Bocage needs major improvements given that it still does not illustrate the actual distribution of lacertid lizards in Portugal. In order to stand for modern standards, when complementing the existing collection we must take into account not only the information provided by the analysis but also conservationist concerns (not killing animals) and the establishment of co-partnerships with congener institutions as well. Nowadays Museums have the duty, more than ever, to keep their collections well housed, cared for and accessible to the scientific community.

×

The author describes a herpetological trip to Portugal organized by a travelling agency specialized in ecological trips. The group consisted ofeighteen people and was especially interested in reptiles and amphibians, though most of the participants were bird-watchers and nature-lovers too. Day by day the author describes the various reptiles and amphibians that were seen. A table is added, in which the num- bers represent the day the respective animals were spotted. The regions that were visited were: Sao Bras {day I), Guadiana river {day 2), Parque Natural da Ria Formosa (day 3), Huelva and Coto de Dofiana in Spain {day 4), Lagoa and the Monchique (day 5), the rocky coast of Carrapateira, Cabo de Sao Vicente (day 6), Almarjao, close to Sao Bras (day 7). Three species of newts and salamanders were seen, eight species of frogs and toads, two species of turt- les, ten species of lizards and five species of snakes. A list was made of the insects, the birds (123 spe- cies) and plants that were seen. The trip was very successful, with regard to the inte- rest of the group

×

Morocco is one of the richest countries in the Mediterranean Basin, comprising 120 terrestrial amphibians and reptiles, of which 30 are endemic species (25%). Remarkably, the genus Chalcides hits top record with nine endemic species out of 16 existing species. Updated distribution maps were elaborated for each species. A new species was added to the taxonomic list of endemics of Morocco. Three main distribution patterns regarding the occupied area and number of localities were identified: 1/ large, extensive, or widespread, 2/ punctual, and 3/ restricted distribution. Three main distribution patterns regarding the occupied region were identified: 1/ mountain, 2/ Atlantic, and 3/ southern Morocco. The areas apparently accommodating most of the endemic species are located within the Tangitan Peninsula, Atlantic coast, Rif Massif, and High and Middle Atlas.

×

In this article we provide new data of amphibians and reptiles distribution in Teruel province: 81 unpublished records. These records constitute the first observation for a given herpetological specie in a 10 km x 10 UTM square. As a result of a bibliographical review until January 2004, the species cited in Teruel province are 30: 8 species of amphibians and 22 of reptiles, one of these reptiles has been introduced, Trachemys scripta.

×

Some 500 Dhofar reptiles and amphibians are discussed and a minimum of 48 terrestrial species recognised for the area of which 5 were previously undescribed; these are a gecko, Hemidactylus lemurinus, and the lacertids Acanthodactylus felicis, A. opheodurus,A. masirae and Mesalina ayunensis; a new subspecies of gecko from north Oman, Bunopus spatalurus hajarensis is also reported. Various other species are reviewed; it appears that Bunopus abudhabi is a synonym of B. blanfordi, which is probably conspecific with B. tuberculatus, Hemidactylus parkeri is regarded as a subspecies of H. turcicus, the Arabian agamas of the Agama cyanogaster group are shown to include 2 species to which the names adramitana and yemenensis are applicable although their status relative to African populations in the group is not clear; A. jayakari is conspecific with A. flavimaculata, and A. neumanni with A. sinaita; Chamaeleo chamaeleon orientalis is similar to more northern populations of C. chamaeleon but C. c. arabicus is very well differentiated and may be a separate species, the use of genitalia in the classification of Acanthodactylus is emphasised and A. arabicus, A. blanfordi and A. schmidti are all given full species status; the recognition of Mesalina as a genus indepemdemt of Eremias is confirmed, it is suggestes that Atractaspis engeddensis may be conspecific with A. microlepidota and that Lytorhynchus gaddi is a synonym of L. diadema; the distinctive population of Echis carinatus in Dhofar appears to be closely related to those in south-west Arabia and adjoining Africa but animals from northern Oman and the rest of south-west Asia are very different. Additional specimens are reported of Bunopus s. spatalurus and Coluber thomasi, both previously known from only 2 individuals. Geographical variations of a number of species is discribed including 3 geckos that show very considerable differences within southern Dhofar: Hemidactylus homocolepis, H. yerburii and Tropiocolotes scorteccii. Observations on the ecology of many species are noted, especially for the aberrant gecko genus Pristurus, one species of which, P. carteri, behaves like a small, ground-dwelling diurnal agamid. Resource partition, at least amongst the lizards, appears to be largely based on parameters of time, food (especially prey size), hunting method and space. A number of forms occourring in both noreth Oman and Dhofar show differences in niche in the two areas apparently related to the presence of absence of a competitor. Several species are recorded from Dhofar for the first time including Bunopus spatalurus, Hemidactylus flaviviridis, H. turcicus parkeri, Pristurus minimus, Agama adramitana, Acanthodactylus boskianus,Mabuya tessellata, Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus and Lytorhynchus diadema. The herpetofauna of the area can be divided into a largely northern element of desert-adapted forms widespread in the Arabian peninsula and a more peripheral element in the south which shows considerably more affinity to south-west Arabia than to northern Oman. No reptile of amphibian endemics occur in the forested areas of Dhofar but 3 species present in the drymesic habitats on the north side of the mountains may be restricted to the region. Acanthodactylus opheodurus, Acanthodactylus felicis, Acanthodactylus masirae, Acanthodactylus boskianus, Acanthodactylus schmidti, Mesalina adramitana, Mesalina ayunensis.

×

Aspects of the ecology of 23 lizard species found in the coastal lowlands of eastern Arabia are reported. Most forms occur in arid environments. The most obvious ecological separation is between diurnal and nocturnal species, the 10 latter all being geckos. Within these 2 groupings, species differ principally in microhabitat (particularly such features as distance from vegetation and ground softness), hunting techniques (sit and wait, active search or slow visual scanning) and the size of their mainly arthropod prey. However, 2 large diurnal forms are food specialists, feeding largely on plants and small vertebrates, respectively, and some diurnal species show differences in time of activity during morning. Body temperature of day-active species is controlled by posture, retreat into shade or burrows and use of the ground as a heat sink. Most nocturnal forms have body temperatures close to the ambient but they may sometimes be elevated in Bunopus tuberculatus, perhaps as a result of utilizing underground warmth. A wide range of predator avoidance techniques is used. Females are mainly gravid in spring. The number of eggs carried is low in species of small body size (often 1-2), suggesting that egg-laying is repetitive. Gross body shape is related to hunting and escape technique, foot structure to substratum type, and species living on soft sand have modifications that exclude sand from body orifices.

×

The ability to shed (autotomize) all or part of the tail, usually in response to predator attack, and often to subsequently regenerate it is widespread in lizards and amphisbaenians and also occurs in a few snakes and in the tuatara. Most species possess a sophisticated intravertebral autotomy mechanism which seems to be primitive in the Squamata. This appears to have been independently lost in members of many groups, but some agamids and snakes have regained the ability to shed their tails by a simpler intervertebral means and a -number of agamids have also redeveloped tail regeneration as well. Breakable tails are used to evade capture in two main ways: by enabling reptiles to break away from predators that have grasped them by the tail and by providing a distraction which deflects the attention of the attacker away from the vulnerable head and body. It is argued that loss of caudal autotomy has occurred when the costs of tail shedding outweigh its benefits. Likely costs include the expense of regrowing the tail and the loss of a variety of possible tail functions that may cause partial incapacitation, at least until the tail regenerates. Benefits of autotomy are liable to be low if predation is rare, if the animal is able to protect itself effectively in other ways, if it is too slow to evade further pursuit after the tail is shed, or if the tail is small or unpalatable and consequently not likely to distract a predator. Benefit variation may well be greater than cost variation and therefore more important in initiating the loss of autotomy mechanisms. Many taxa that do not shed the tail appear to conform to the above interpretation, but in some cases, such as the Platynota, Agamidae and Chamaeleonidae, lack of intravertebral autotomy may reflect the history of these groups rather than being a direct result of present ecological pressures. The distribution of intervertebral autotomy in the Agamidae suggests that it may have evolved only in rather special circumstances where tail fragility is advantageous even in the absence of the ability to regenerate. Restriction ot autotomy planes to the tail-base, so that the whole organ is lost, a condition found in a number of relatively slow-moving geckoes, is interpreted as a means of ensuring that enough of the tail is shed to distract a predator from further pursuit. The stimulus necessary to induce autotomy can vary rapidly in individual lizards and at least some of these changes probably maximize the effectiveness of the tail-shedding mechanism. Differences in the readiness with which all or part of the tail is shed exist between species and are likely to reflect the balance of costs and benefits in particular cases. Variations in incidence of broken tails between species and populations may be due to such differences in fragility but many other factors may play a part, including the age structure of samples, incidence of unsuccessful attacks by predators and ability to evade predators after autotomy. There is a clear tendency for climbing lizards, especially those living on rock surfaces, to have higher incidences of broken tails than ground-dwelling species, perhaps because the tail is usually less important in locomotion in the first group. Many lizards possess conspicuously coloured tails and tail movements that seem likely to help distract attention from the head and body. Conspicuous tail colouring is more frequent and often better developed in young animals, which tend to be more vulnerable than adults, and in active species from open habitats where crypsis may not always be very effective. Conspicuous tails usually have contrasting light and dark areas in nocturnal forms but are often a single bright colour in diurnal ones, probably reflecting the visual capacities of their respective predators. The predominance of blue tails in day-active species may be because this colour is striking close to but not very arresting at a distance, so it may not attract predators from far away while still drawing their attention at close quarters.

×

A new species of Acanthodactylus, A. tilburyi, is described from north and central Saudi Arabia. It occurs on aeolian sand slopes and is most closely related to A. gongrorhynchatus and A. haasi.

×

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.

×

Arabia, including the arid lowland regions of Jordan, Syria, Iraq and southwest Iran, has approximately 128 species of terrestrial reptiles and about 7 of amphibians. Endemicity is high, 55% of species being largely or entirely confined to the area. Abrupt faunal discontinuities are present between Arabia and neighbouring regions, namely the Horn of Africa, the Sahara desert and the relatively mesic areas to the north. However, there must have been substantial interchange with these areas in the past. Within Arabia, the main Zoogeographie division is between the arid regions occupying most of the peninsula and much smaller, often more mesic areas of endemicity in the south. The former are mainly occupied by Saharo-Sindian taxa and have rather more affinities with the Sahara than to arid regions east of Arabia. Southern areas of endemicity include: 1. The southwestern coast, with affinities to the Horn of Africa and the inland deserts of Arabia. 2. The southwest and southern highlands which share a number of forms with northeast African relationships but differ significantly, the former having more, often endemic species with African affinities and a number with relatives in the Mediterranean and other northern mesic regions. The drier southern mountains have their own endemics, some of which have representatives in the öiddat al-HaräsIs area to the east. 3. The north Oman mountains also possess distinctive species and populations, some of which are related to forms in the less arid parts of the Iranian area. Finally there are a number of mesic forms distributed around the periphery of Arabia, and populations at oasis sites in the arid region which are probably relicts of forms more widespread in Quaternary pluvial phases.

×

Differences in surface structure (ober- hautchen) of body scales of lacertid lizards involve cell size, shape and surface profile, presence or absence of fine pitting, form of cell margins, and the occurrence of longitudinal ridges and pustular projections. Phylogenetic information indicates that the primitive pattern involved narrow strap-shaped cells, with low posteriorly overlapping edges and relatively smooth surfaces. Deviations from this condition produce a more sculptured surface and have developed many times, although subsequent overt reversals are uncommon. Like variations in scale shape, different patterns of dorsal body microornamentation appear to confer different and conflicting performance advantages. The primitive pattern may reduce friction during locomotion and also enhances dirt shedding, especially in ground-dwelling forms from moist habitats. However, this smooth microornamentation generates shine that may compromise cryptic coloration, especially when scales are large. Many derived features show correlation with such large scales and appear to suppress shine. They occur most frequently in forms from dry habitats or forms that climb in vegetation away from the ground, situations where dirt adhesion is less of a problem. Microornamentation differences involving other parts of the body and other squamate groups tend to corroborate this functional interpretation. Microornamentation features can develop on lineages in different orders and appear to act additively in reducing shine. In some cases different combinations may be optimal solutions in particular environments, but lineage effects, such as limited reversibility and different developmental proclivities, may also be important in their genesis. The fine pits often found on cell surfaces are unconnected with shine reduction, as they are smaller than the wavelengths of most visible light.

×

In this paper we deal on the ultraviolet color (invisible to us): where we can find it, the capability of animals to see it and the advantages that this color perception offers to them. As the simplest way to detect it is the photography, we describe and review how to photograph the UV, as a result of 15 years of amateur experience, searching and testing nearly in complete blindness due to the lack of practical information about “how to do it”. We describe the different kinds of photography (chemical and digital); the cameras and objectives suitable (both astronomically expensive ones and cheap options); what are the best characteristics that the objectives should have for this purpose; the films suitable for their use in chemical photography; the different filters (current or discontinued) manufactured along the years; and the subtle combinations among the different materials to obtain pure UV photographs. This kind of scientific photography is mainly used in forensics, forgery detection, art dermatology and less in Natural History, despite the fact that a great part of animals see this color and use it in important questions of their biology as the social behavior, mate choice or the food search.

×

In this paper we provide the first data on the distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the province of Guadalajara (Castilla – La Mancha, Spain). From a heropetological point of view Guadalajara is one of the most unknown provinces in Spain. At this time we have recorded 30 species, 15 of which were not previously cited in the area. Provisional maps of distribution are presented in 10 x 10 km U.T.M. squares. Acanthodactylus erythrurus, Lacerta lepida, Lacerta schreiberi, Podarcis hispanica, Podarcis muralis, Psammodromus algirus, Psammodromus hispanicus.

×

The sclerotic ring consists of several bones that form in the sclera of many reptiles. This element has not been well studied in squamates, a diverse order of reptiles with a rich fossil record but debated phylogeny. Squamates inhabit many environments, display a range of behaviours, and have evolved several different body plans. Most importantly, many species have secondarily lost their sclerotic rings. This research investigates the presence of sclerotic rings in squamates and traces the lineage of these bones across evolutionary time. We compiled a database on the presence/absence of the sclerotic ring in extinct and extant squamates and investigated the evolutionary history of the sclerotic ring and how its presence/absence and morphology is correlated with environment and behaviour within this clade. Of the 400 extant species examined (59 families, 214 genera), 69% have a sclerotic ring. Those species that do not are within Serpentes, Amphisbaenia, and Dibamidae. We find that three independent losses of the sclerotic ring in squamates are supported when considering both evolutionary and developmental evidence. We also show that squamate species that lack, or have a reduced, sclerotic ring, are fossorial and headfirst burrowers. Our dataset is the largest squamate dataset with measurements of sclerotic rings, and supports previous findings that size of the ring is related to both environment occupied and behaviour. Specifically, scotopic species tend to have both larger inner and outer sclerotic ring apertures, resulting in a narrower ring of bone than those found in photopic species. Non-fossorial species also have a larger sclerotic ring than fossorial species. This research expands our knowledge of these fascinating bones; with further phylogenetic analyses scleral ossicles could become an extremely useful character trait for inferring the behaviour of fossil squamates.

×

We report the impact of human-induced desertification on the species richness, abundance, and composition of sand dune flora and herpetofauna of North Sinai, Egypt. Our hypothesis was that degraded habitats would have reduced vegetation complexity, richness, and abundance, and consequently lower reptile species richness and abundance. We also hypothesized that desert lizards would not follow the typical generalist/specialist responses to habitat degradation found in other biomes. Instead, we predicted that because vegetation loss intensifies the environmental extremity of deserts, those species specialized for open and sandy environments would be more likely to persist in desertified habitats than would desert generalists. Our results showed that areas protected from vegetation loss did not have significantly higher vegetation richness or abundance except for only a few species. However, protected sites did have significantly higher percent veg etation cover and height. Habitat protection clearly had strong effects on the reptile community as species richness and abundances were significantly higher in protected sites. The composition of the reptile community between protected and unprotected sites differed significantly. Contrary to past studies in other environments, desert generalist species were not able to persist in degraded sites and were only found in protected sites. Specialist species were ubiquitous in that they occurred in both areas protected and unprotected from vegetation loss. We propose that the effects of disturbance on species composition (specialists or generalists) depends on whether the disturbance exacerbates or reduces environmental harshness and the conditions that favor specialization. In extreme environments, specialist and generalist responses to habitat degradation are opposite to that of more productive environments.

×

The preliminary distribution of amphibians and reptiles of the Ciudad Real province (Castilla-La Mancha, Spain) is presented. Thirty-four species, 13 amphibians and 21 reptiles, have been found. For each species, distribution maps in 10 x 10 Km U.T.M. quadrats and a discussion on the distribution, habitat and threats affecting its conservation are provided. We conclude that the Ciudad Real province presents one of the richest herpetofauna of the Iberian Peninsula, despite the scarcity of Eurosiberian species. Among all the species present in Ciudad Real, the relative abundance of Emys orbicularis populations is especially relevant compared to the rest of Spain. Similarly, it is remarkable the presence of a newly discovered population of Hemidactylus turcicus in Castilla-La Mancha, which represents one of the most inland populations of this species in the Iberian Peninsula.

×

Bénéficiant de paramètres climatiques favorables aux reptiles, les milieux arides représentent un laboratoire et un observatoire idéal de la faune reptilienne, essentiellement les lézards. Ces derniers jouent un rôle prépondérant dans l’équilibre des écosystèmes et le maintien de la diversité biologique dans les milieux arides. Le genre Acanthodactylus, est celui qui caractérise le mieux les populations de lézards du paléarctique occidental et saharienne, on retrouve quelques Espagne et en Asie. Mais c’est surtout en Afrique du Nord où on rencontre le plus gros des effectifs. Ce genre a la particularité d’avoir un taux de polymorphisme très important il scindé en quatre complexe d’espèce (A. , A. pardalis, A. boskianus et A scutellatus). Cette diversité est associée à une variabilité morphologique importante au sein des populations. C`est dans cette optique que s`inscrit la présente étude qui porte sur la variabilité phénotypique des caractères morphologiques externes, de trois populations de lézard du genre Acanthodactylus appartenant au complexe A. scutellatus. Nos échantillons, ont couvert deux différentes stations situées au Sahara algérien: Adrar et El Oued; soit un effort de collecte de N = 108 spécimens dont 48 femelles et 60 mâles. Nous avons pris en compte 04 caractères morphologiques scalamétriques qui ont été joignis à 30 caractères morphologiques. Il ressort des résultats que les caractères d’écailleurs chez les Acanthodactyles ne présentent pas un effet sur le dimorphisme sexuel. En revanche nous avons mis en évidence que 08 des 30 caractères analysés sont discriminants et permettent par leur combinaison de caractériser la population d’Adrar.

×

Lizard tail autotomy is an antipredator strategy consisting of sturdy attachment at regular times but quick detachment during need. We propose a biomimetic fracture model of lizard tail autotomy using multiscale hierarchical structures. The structures consist of uniformly distributed micropillars with nanoporous tops, which recapitulate the high-density mushroom-shaped microstructures found on the lizard tail’s muscle fracture plane. The biomimetic experiments showed adhesion enhancement when combining nanoporous interfacial surfaces with flexible micropillars in tensile and peel modes. The fracture modeling identified micro- and nanostructure-based toughening mechanisms as the critical factor. Under wet conditions, capillarity-assisted energy dissipation pertaining to liquid-filled microgaps and nanopores further increased the adhesion performance. This research presents insights on lizard tail autotomy and provides new biomimetic ideas to solve adhesion problems.

×

The epidermal glands of lizards are considered an important source of semiochemicals involved in lizard communication. Many features of the lizard epidermal gland system vary among and within species (e.g., gland number, size, and shape), and some are believed to reflect the degree of intra- and interspecific variation in glandular secretion production, and by extension, the chemical signalling investment of lizards. Traditionally, herpetologists estimate secretion production based on the number of glands or the size of the glands, rather than quantifying the amount of secretion produced. Still, the reliability of these proxies for secretion production has never been validated. Here, I explored the relationship among secretion production (in mass), pore size (surface area, diameter), and gland number in three species of lacertid lizards (Acanthodactylus boskianus, Timon lepidus, Holaspis guentheri), and tested which proxies predicted secretion production variation best, and examined whether the same trend is true for all species. The findings of this study show that the total secretion production of lacertids is highly variable among and within species. Variation in secretion production among-species (but not within-species) could partly be explained by variation in body size. While both measures of pore size were positively related with secretion production, my tests revealed the model with only pore diameter as contributing variable explaining absolute secretion production variation (both within and across species) as the best one. Although gland number appeared a suboptimal estimate for secretion production in the three lacertids under study, only family-wide, multi-species comparative tests counting large within-species sample sizes can provide further insight on the matter.

×

Animals communicate via a variety of sensory channels and signals. Studies on acoustic and visual communication systems suggest that differences in the physical environment contribute to the variety of signalling behaviour, with species investing in those signals that are transmitted best under the local conditions. Whether or not environmental tuning also occurs in chemical communication systems has received much less attention. In the present study, we examined the effect of several aspects of the physical environment on the chemical communication system of lacertid lizards (family Lacertidae). The numbers of femoral pores are used as a proxy reflecting how much a particular species invests in and relies upon chemical signalling. Femoral pores are specialized epidermal structures that function as a secretion channel for the waxy substance produced by glands. In some lacertid species, the secretion carries infochemicals that play an important role in social communication. The number of femoral pores varies considerably among species. We have compiled data on femoral pore numbers for 162 species and tested for the effects of climate and substrate use. After correcting for body size and taking the phylogenetic relationships among the species into account, we found no effect of climate conditions or latitude on species pore numbers. Substrate use did affect pore numbers: shrub-climbing species tended to have fewer femoral pores than species inhabiting other substrates.

×

Lizards communicate with others via chemical signals, the composition of which may vary among species. Although the selective pressures and constraints affecting chemical signal diversity at the species level remain poorly understood, the possible role of diet has been largely neglected. The chemical signals of many lizards originate from the femoral glands that exude a mixture of semiochemicals, and may be used in a variety of contexts. We analyzed the lipophilic fraction of the glandular secretions of 45 species of lacertid lizard species by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The proportions of nine major chemical classes (alcohols, aldehydes, fatty acids, furanones, ketones, steroids, terpenoids, tocopherols and waxy esters), the relative contributions of these different classes (‘chemical diversity’), and the total number of different lipophilic compounds (‘chemical richness’) varied greatly among species.We examined whether interspecific differences in these chemical variables could be coupled to interspecific variation in diet using data from the literature. In addition, we compared chemical signal composition among species that almost never, occasionally, or often eat plant material. We found little support for the hypothesis that the chemical profile of a given species’ secretion depends on the type of food consumed. Diet breadth did not correlate with chemical diversity or richness. The amount of plants or ants consumed did not affect the relative contribution of any of the nine major chemical classes to the secretion. Chemical diversity did not differ among lizards with different levels of plant consumption; however, chemical richness was low in species with an exclusive arthropod diet, suggesting that incorporating plants in the diet enables lizards to increase the number of compounds allocated to secretions, likely because a (partly) herbivorous diet allows them to include compounds of plant origin that are unavailable in animal prey. Still, overall, diet appears a relatively poor predictor of interspecific differences in the broad chemical profiles of secretions of lacertid lizards.

×

1. The signals that animals use to communicate often differ considerably among species. Part of this variation in signal design may derive from differential natural selection on signal efficacy: the ability of the signal to travel efficiently through the environment and attract the receiver`s attention. For the visual and acoustic modalities, the effect of the physical environment on signal efficacy is a well-studied selective force. Still, very little is known on its impact on chemical signals. 2. Here, we took a broad, phylogenetic comparative approach to test for a relationship between animals` signal chemistry and properties of their natural environment. Our study focused on lizards from the Lacertidae family. 3. We sampled 64 species across three continents and determined the lipophilic composition of their glandular signalling secretions using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. For each species, an array of environmental variables of high temporal and spatial resolution was obtained from climate databases. 4. Species varied considerably in the overall richness (number of constituents) of their secretions, as well as in the relative contribution of the major chemical compound classes. Signal richness and the relative contribution of the respective compounds exhibited little evidence of phylogenetic relatedness, suggesting that chemical signals may change very rapidly. Neither insularity nor substrate use affected chemical signal composition, however, we found a strong statistical relationship between the chemistry of the lizards` secretions and aspects of the thermal and hydric environment they inhabit. 5. Species from `xeric` milieus contained high proportions of stable fatty acid esters and high molecular weight alcohols in their glandular secretions, which likely increase the persistence of secretion scent-marks. In contrast, species inhabiting `mesic` environments produced secretions of a high chemical richness comprising high levels of aldehydes and low molecular weight alcohols. This chemical mix probably creates a volatile-rich signal that can be used for long-distance airborne communication. 6. We argue that the observed variation in signal design results from differential natural selection, optimizing signal efficacy under contrasting environmental conditions.

×

Acanthodactylus longipes Boulenger, 1918 wurde vor kurzem in der Sandwüste Nordägyptens erstmals nachgewiesen. Obwohl die Art häufig und weit verbreitet ist, wurde sie bisher wohl stets mit der sehr ähnlichen Art A. scutellatus (Audouin, 1829) verwechselt. A. longipes ist in den Flugsandgebieten (besonders in den Sanddünen) zumindest von Nordägypten die dominante Art der meisten tagaktiven Reptiliengesellschaften.

×

Es warden zwei morphologisch und ökologisch unterschiedliche Populationen von Eidechsen aus der Acanthodactylus scutellatus-Artengruppe dokumentiert, die bisher als konspezifisch unter dem Namen A. longipes behandelt wurden. Es wird gezeigt, dass beide Populationen in einem großen Arealbereich sympatrisch vorkommen. Die Zugehörigkeit von Tieren aus der Westliche Wüste Ägyptens zu A. longipes wird bestätigt, während Populationen aus östlichen Landesteilen, die bisher ebenfalls als zu A. longipes gehörend angesehen wurden, als neue Art beschrieben wird.

×

During the month of June 1980 the authors observed several species of amphibians and reptiles in Portugal. Notes are given on their habitat. Problems concerning the determination of some species of the genus Podarcis are discussed.

×

Description of the new lacertid Acanthodactylus harranensis from Harran (SE Turkey). The new taxon shares many features in common with A. grandis but differs from it in having the dorsal proximal tail scales smooth or hardly keeled, the 4th supraocular more fragmented and a characteristic dorsal pattern. It is also easily destinguishable from all congeners with no keeling on proximal dorsal caudal scales (A. tristrami, A. orientalis, A. robustus) in having anterior border of the ear opening pectinate, subocular not reaching the mouth (often separated from the lip by a small scale only in A. robustus), ventrals usually arranged in 14 oblique longitudinal rows (instead of 10-12), 4 longitudinal continuous rows of scales on the fingers (instead of 3; rudimentary, discontinuous 4th row sometimes occurs in A. robustus), tail more than 1.5 times the snout-vent distance (at least in the juveniles and subadults), and a different pattern, lacking the two rows of large ocellar or dark markings along the back. The description includes also some juveniles, up to now undescribed and/or unknown within the A. grandis complex and the A. tristrami group. Some data on the ecology and habitat of the new species are given.

×

This study reports the observations of 54 species of amphibians and reptiles obtained during four field surveys to Morocco, including the southern and southeastern regions. Our records reveal a notable expansion of the current distribution range for several species especially in the eastern part of the country, highlighting the need for more intensive sampling within this region.

×

We studied 143 specimens (84 males and 59 females) from a population of A. erythrurus located between the townships of Torrelodones and Hoyo de Manzanares (Madrid province, central Spain). Specimens were captured in successive visits to the study area during 1984 and 1985. For this study, the pertinent measures were SVL and total weight were calculated. In females, the number and diameter of the ovarian follicles and the number, length and width of thre ovidutal eggs were recorded. All data were processed according to sex and corresponding 15-day period.

×

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

×

Oganismal performance abilities occupy a central position in phenotypic evolution; they are determined by suites of interacting lower-level traits (e.g., morphology and physiology) and they are a primary focus of natural selection. The mechanisms by which higher levels of organismal performance are achieved during evolution are therefore fundamentally important for understanding correlated evolution in general and coadaptation in particular. Here we address correlated evolution of morphological, physiological, and behavioral characteristics that influence interspecific variation in sprint speed in a clade of lacertid lizards. Phylogenetic analyses using independent contrasts indicate that the evolution of high maximum sprinting abilities (measured on a photocell-timed racetrack) has occurred via the evolution of (1) longer hind limbs relative to body size, and (2) a higher physiologically optimum temperature for sprinting. For ectotherms, which experience variable body temperatures while active, sprinting abilities in nature depend on both maximum capacities and relative performance levels (i.e., percent of maximum) that can be attained. With respect to temperature effects, relative performance levels are determined by the interaction between thermal physiology and thermoregulatory behavior. Among the 13 species or subspecies of lizards in the present study, differences in the optimal temperature for sprinting (body temperature at which lizards run fastest) closely matched interspecific variation in median preferred body temperature (measured in a laboratory photothermal gradient), in- dicating correlated evolution of thermal physiology and thermal preferences. variability of the preferred body tem- peratures maintained by each species is, across species, negatively correlated with the thermal-performance breadth (range of body temperatures over which lizards can run relatively fast). This pattern leads to interspecific differences in the levels of relative sprint speed that lizards are predicted to attain while active at their preferred temperatures. The highest levels of predicted relative performance are achieved by species that combine a narrow, precise distribution of preferred temperatures with the ability to sprint at near-maximum speeds over a wide range of body temperatures. The observed among-species differences in predicted relative speed were positively correlated with the interspecific variation in maximum sprinting capacities. Thus, species that attain the highest maximum speeds are (1) also able to run at near-maximum levels over a wide range of temperatures and (2) also maintain body temperatures within a narrow zone near the optimal temperature for sprinting. The observed pattern of correlated evolution therefore has involved traits at distinct levels of biological organization, that is, morphology, physiology, and behavior; and trade- offs are not evident. We hypothesize that this particular trait combination has evolved in response to coadaptational selection pressures. We also discuss our results in the context of possible evolutionary responses to global climatic change.

×

Phylogeography has contributed considerably to our understanding of factors influencing population structure and species divergence. We assess the phylogenetic structure of the widely distributed lacertid lizard Acanthodactylus boskianus, collected for this study from the Fayoum Depression in Egypt, using partial mitochondrial DNA (12S rRNA and ND4). We analyze specimens of A. boskianus from the Fayoum Depression and compare the genetic content to gene bank-retrieved data for the South Sinai Peninsula and Siwa Oasis. The phylogenetic results indicate two isolated geographic lineages. We suggest that the divergence observed in this phylogenetic study is probably due to the geographical and physical barrier represented by the Nile River, which could have been responsible for a vicariant event producing divergent populations east and west of the Nile. Environmental factors are also discussed.

×

The Nile River is the longest channel system in the world. It divides the Egyptian land into two halves with diverse fauna. The effect of the origin of the Nile on diversity of endemic fauna is still poorly understood. Acanthodactylus is a widespread lacertid genus distributed around the Nile River across Egypt. Besides, its distribution range extends from western India including the Middle East, Cyprus, and the Arabian Peninsula to the Iberian Peninsula and western North Africa, with problematic taxonomy and phylogenetics, particularly for Acanthodactylus boskianus. In this study we define the phylogeographic structure of A. boskianus across most of its distributional range across Egypt in both sides of the Nile River using partial mitochondrial DNA analyses. DNA sequences (12S rRNA and ND4) (408 and 846 base pairs, respectively) were analysed from 46 specimens of A. boskianus from different areas in Egypt. Also, 40 sequences of 12S were downloaded from Gene Bank and included to our sequences. The phylogenetic results indicate that the populations of A. boskianus in Egypt are grouped into four distinct clades: east and west of the Nile, Nile Delta and Middeterranean coastal poulations, and Sinai. The messinian crisis and colonization of A. boskianus at the Mideterranean coast resulted in A. boskianus boskianus which differed from A. boskianus asper remained in zeric zones with dry habitats. Our results indicate that the Nile River might present physical barrier that potentially have led to the vicariance separation of A. boskianus. We think that Acanthodactylus is still with problematic taxonomy.

×

Algeria is a case study of biodiversity ignorance. To date, there are neither complete inventories for any taxa nor atlas across the country! Yet, Algeria is of great importance for global biodiversity. The coastal area of Algeria is part of the global biodiversity hostpot which is the Mediterranean perimeter and has several regional red spots of biodiversity. Moreover, the Saharan part encompasses a diversity of endemic organisms adapted to the strong conditions of drought. The Algerian authorities are deploying an ambitious project for conservation aiming to reach 50% of the country`s surface as protected areas! However, the location of these protected areas and their management don’t obey to a scientific evidence based, but are rather based on experts opinion. The main aim of this thesis is the study of the biodiversity ignorance distribution in Algeria by focusing on the `Linnean, Wallacean, and Darwinian Shortfalls` and to contribute to reduce them. The first chapter aims at reducing the Linnean Shortfall by proposing 1) a first checklist of reptiles and amphibians of Algeria which is the result of an accurate review of scientific publications on these taxa in North Africa. 2) a first pre-assessment of the conservation status of reptiles and amphibians of Algeria for the production of the first national red list. The second part of this manuscript deals with the ignorance of the geographical distribution of species. The purpose of this part is to map the ignorance which is defined as the difference between the expected specific richness diversity and the observed specific richness. The predicted species richness was modelled with two approaches: 1 ecological niche modelling with the maximum entropy method (MaxEnt) to predict the suitable habitats for each species and then add the different binary layers of species presence to calculate the specific richness. 2) Minimum convex polygon method was used to create range maps of each species and were auditioned to obtain predicted species richness. Both approaches have shown the same trend at a national scale: the concentration of the richest areas along the Saharan Atlas and the High Plateaus which are the transition zone between the Sahara and the Mediterranean part of Algeria. The opposition of the Saharan with a low species richness and the northern part with a higher species richness. Finally, the Saharan massifs of the Hoggar and Tassili form a very distinct zone with a much greater wealth compared to the rest of the Sahara. In terms of gaps, in the northern part, Kabylie, El Kala National Park and the Oran region are fairly well surveyed. In the Sahara, only a few points are clearly well prospected as Biskra, Bechar and some areas of the Hoggar and Tassili. The third part deals with the distribution of genetic llineages in the Maghreb. The aim of this section is to locate the phylogeographic breaks between the divergent eastern and western populations of the Maghreb and to try to understand the mechanisms that led to this pattern of genetic diversity. To answer these questions, I carried out a comparative phylogeography on 11 species of reptiles and amphibians with continuous and wide distribution in the Maghreb. Two suture zones have been identified: one zone on the border of Algeria and Morocco, the other in Kabylia west of the Soummam valley. The divergences between the eastern clades and the western clades occurred between the pre-Messinian periods up to the pliopleistocene boundary and were maintained in climatic refugia in the East and West of the Maghreb.

×

A series of phylogeographic studies in the Maghreb identified a repeated pattern of deep genetic divergence between an eastern (Tunisia) and western (Morocco) lineage for several taxa but lack of sampling in Algeria made it difficult to know if the range limits between the eastern and western lineages were shared among taxa or not. To address this question, we designed a comparative phylogeographic study using 8 reptile and 3 amphibian species with wide distribution in the Maghreb as models.We selected species where previous studies had identified an East-West phylogeographic divide and collected sampled in Algeria to 1) examine whether the simple East-West divergence pattern still holds after filling the sampling gap in Algeria or if more complex diversity patterns emerge; 2) if the E-W pattern still holds, test whether the limits between the E and W clades are shared between species, suggesting that common historical process caused the E-W divergences; 3) if E-W limits are shared between species, use information on the age of the divergence to identify possible geological or climatic events that could have triggered these E-W differentiations. We found that the E-W pattern was generally maintained after additional sampling in Algeria and identified two common disjunction areas, one around the Algeria-Morocco border, the other one in Kabylia (central Algeria), suggesting that common historical mechanisms caused the E-W divergences in the Maghreb. Our estimates for the times to most common recent ancestors to the E and W clades span a wide range between the Messinian salinity crisis and the Plio-Pleistocene limit (except for one older split), suggesting different origins for the initial divergences and subsequent preservation of the E and W lineages in common climatic refugia in the west and the east of the Maghreb.

×

For the most diurnal lizards, the source of heat for thermoregulation is primarily radiant energy. Heliothermy (heat gain by radiation) has been given a prominent role in basking lizards. However, thigmotherny (heat gain by conduction) could be relevant for heating in small sized lizards. To ascertain the importance of the different heat transmission modes to the thermoregulatory processes, an experimental study was conducted where the role of heat transmission modes on heating rates was analysed in the Mediterranean lizards Psammodromus algirrus and Acanthodactylus erythrurus (Lacertidae). The study was conducted under laboratory conditions, where two situations of different operative temperatures (38°C and 48°C) were simulated in a terrarium. Individuals were allowed to heat up during two minutes at both temperatures and under both heat transmission modes. Temperature had a significant effect on the heating rates of both species, heat gain per unit of time being faster at the higher operative temperature (48°C). The effect of heat transmission mode was significant for A. erythrurus but not for P. algirus. However, both species showed a significant interaction between temperature and source when the main heat transmission mode was conduction from the substrate (’thigmothermy’) than when heating was mainly due to heat gain by radiation (‘heliothermy’); at 38°C heating rates did not significant differ between transmission modes. These results show that in some species heat transmission mode modulate heat exchange with the environment, suggesting that the different predominant heat transmission mode is a subtle property of the thermal environment involved in lizard thermoregulation.

×

The spiny-footed lizard, Acanthodactylus erythrurus, is a small sized lacertid lizard that shows conspicuous red tails in juveniles and females at the reproductive season. Its distribution ranges from the center and south of the Iberian Peninsula, to north Africa. The species prefers open sandy habitats with sparse vegetation. Its diet consists of insects, arachnids and arthropods, with ants being an important part of the diet. The main concern for its conservation is habitat loss and deterioration.

×

Heliothermy (heat gain by radiation) has been given a prominent role in basking lizards. However, thigmothermy (heat gain by conduction) could be relevant for heating in small lizards. To ascertain the importance of the different heat transmission modes to the thermoregulatory processes, we conducted an experimental study where we analyzed the role of heat transmission modes on heating rates and on the selection of sites for heating in the Mediterranean lizard Acanthodactylus erythrurus (Lacertidae). The study was conducted under laboratorym conditions, where two situations of different operative temperatures (38_ and 50_C) were simulated in a terrarium. In a first experiment, individuals were allowed to heat up during 2 min at both temperatures and under both heat transmission modes. In a second experiment, individuals were allowed to select between patches differing in the main transmission mode, at both temperatures, to heat up. Experiences were conducted with live, nontethered lizards with a starting body temperature of 27_C. Temperature had a significant effect on the heating rate, with heat gain per unit of time being faster at the higher operative temperature (50_C). The effect of the mode of heat transmission on the heating rate was also significant: at 50_C, heating rate was greater when the main heat transmission mode was conduction from the substrate (thigmothermy) than when heating was mainly due to heat gain by radiation (heliothermy); at 38_C, heating rates did not significantly differ between transmission modes. At 38_C, selection of the site for heating was not significantly different from that expected by chance. However, at 50_C, the heating site offering the slowest heating rate (heliothermic patch) was selected. These results show that heating rates vary not only with environmental temperature but also with different predominant heat transmission modes. Lizards are able to identify and exploit this heterogeneity, selecting the source of heat gain (radiation) that minimizes the risk of overheating when temperature is high.

×

Body temperatures, heat exchange rates, behavioral thermoregulation, and movement behavior (as an index of foraging mode) were studied in two widely distributed, medium sized lacertid lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus and Psammodromus algirus). Psammodromus algirus mainly inhabits broad-leaved forests, while A. erythrurus prefers open sandy areas with sparsely distributed vegetation. These habitat preferences parallel differences between the areas in which both genera presumably originated: Eurosaharian xeric steppes with high operative temperatures (Te’s) for Acanthodactylus, and Mediterranean open forests with lower Te’s for Psammodromus. Field observations showed that percentage of time spent basking and basking rate (no. of basks per minute) were negatively related to Te, although average bask duration was not. Percentage of time spent moving, moving rate (no. Of moves per minute), and the average duration of Individual moves were inversely related to Te, and were higher in P. algirus. The percentage of total locomotion time that was spent moving in the shade was also higher in P. algirus. Behavioral thermoregulation strategies differed between both species in a laboratory thermogradient where P. algirus basked more often and for shorter periods, and selected warmer patches, than A. erythrurus. Selected body temperatures (Tb’s) in a laboratory thermogradient were significantly higher in A. erythrurus than in P. algirus. Shade Seeking Tb was higher in A. Erythrurus, while Resume Basking Tb did not differ significantly between the two species. Heating and cooling rates were also different in the two species: A. erythrurus warmed more slowly, and cooled faster, than P. algirus. Our data support the existence of a complex syndrome which combines aspects of the behavior, physiology, and ecology of both species, so that the thermal consequences of inhabiting a certain type of habitat can be counterbalanced by behavioral and physiological means that, in turn, affect movement (and hence foraging) behavior. Thus, the more active species (P. algirus) heated faster, colled more slowly, and basked more often but for shorter periods and at warmer patches than the less active one (A. erythrurus).

×

Coloration is a conspicuous trait relatively widespread among lacertid lizard species. However, coloration in females during the reproductive period is extremely rare. Spiny-footed liz- ards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) show reddish color of tails in juveniles and tails and hind limbs of females during the breeding season. In this study, we investigated whether female coloration is a sexual ornament attractive to males for mating. Using experimental terraria at the laboratory, males where faced to four different situations of availability of pairs of females or their odors: a) an adult female with its natural white coloration and a juvenile female with its natural red-tailed coloration; 2) an adult female arti cially red-colored and a juvenile female arti cially white-colored; 3) two adult females arti cially red and white colored, respectively; and 4) two papers impregnated with the odor of adult and juvenile female. Through video recordings, we analyzed the time that males spent near each of the females and odoring papers, assuming that a greater proportion of time would indicate preference for mating. Males preferred adult females than juvenile females, and within adult females, they preferred those that had red-colored tails and hind limbs. Since red coloration is a juvenile trait that disappears in adult individuals, choice of adult females with red colors suggests that males prefer to mate with adult females that are probably virgin, or have experienced few episodes of reproduction.

×

Female mate choice for male display traits is widely observed across animal taxa and is a well-established mechanism of evolution. However, males are increasingly seen to exhibit mate choice for female display traits, even in species with traditional sex roles, although this continues to be an understudied aspect of sexual selection. We evaluated the role of female coloration on male mate choice decisions in the spiny-footed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus), a species in which adult females show red coloration as a retained juvenile trait. Although both sexes show red tails as juveniles and subadults, only females maintain red colored tails when becoming adult; moreover, this coloration is only present at the beginning of female adulthood and becomes white after ovulation, suggesting a mating-related function. Male courtship preferences were investigated through an experimental approach, where they were offered pairs of females that differed in size (adult/subadult) and tail coloration (red/white). Male lizards preferred adult females using both visual and chemical cues and, when adult female coloration could be chosen, they preferred red females. These results suggest that red coloration is a sexual signal involved in male mate selection. We hypothesize that red coloration in adult females might indicate sexual maturity and a pre-ovulatory reproductive status. Being a juvenile trait retained until the beginning of adulthood, we also suggest that it might indicate reduced risk of sperm competition. This study highlights the role of a juvenile trait for sexual selection and adds to the understanding of the evolution of male mate choice.

×

One of the primary assumptions of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis is that testosterone has an immunosuppressive effect, but conflicting results have been reported in a variety of bird species concerning the effect of testosterone on the humoral and the T cell-mediated components of the immune system. The T cell-mediated component of the immune system is particularly important during the breeding season, because the likelihood of injury during sexual competition is high and T cell-mediated immunity is essential for healing wounds and resisting infection. In this study we examined the effect of experimentally increased levels of testosterone during breeding season on T cell-mediated immunity in male lizards of two Mediterranean lacertid species, Psammodromus algirus and Acanthodactylus erythrurus. The hormonal treatment significantly increased testosterone of the experimental individuals. T cell-mediated responses to phytohemagglutinin stimulation were significantly suppressed in testosterone-treated males of both species. Furthermore, there was a significant negative relationship between individual variability in T cell-mediated responsiveness and plasma testosterone concentration. The present study is the first to demonstrate testosterone-induced suppression of T cell-mediated immunity in lizards.

×

This study is the first contribution to the evaluation of reptile diversity in different habitats of M’sila region, Algeria. We carried out 94 trips between 2016 and 2018 across three sites: Mergueb (six stations), L’mhazem (three stations) and Kaf Afoul (two stations), on average, accompanied by prospectors. Our aims were to make an inventory of reptilian species in this region, as well as to study their diversity, distribution, ecology and abundance. Altogether, we recorded 193 specimens belonging to 22 species: two turtles, one amphisbaenian, twelve lizards and seven snakes. Two species classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN were recorded: Uromastyx acanthinurus (Bell, 1825) and Daboia mauritanica (Duméril & Bibron, 1848). Statistical analysis revealed that the type of habitat directly influences the distribution of reptiles in the study area. Although this small area is rich in reptilian species, their abundance remains low and worrying.

×

Within reptiles, lizards cover less area across the globe than snakes do. One out of every seven known species of lizards in the world is found only in its type locality. Acanthodactylus harranensis Baran, Kumlutaş, Lanza, Sindaco, Ilgaz, Avcı & Crucitti, 2005, is one of these species. It is an endemic lizard species in Turkey with a very small area of occupancy and is listed in the critically endangered category (CR) by the IUCN. Here we document the age structure and body size of A. harranensis using skeletochronological methods for the first time and aim to point out current problems and contribute to an understanding of its demography. The mean age of males was found to be significantly higher than that of females. The maximum life span was 10 years in males while it was 9 years in females. The 8-year-old age group contained a higher number of individuals than any other age group. The mean snout-vent length of specimens was not significantly different between the sexes. As in many other lizards, A. harranensis exhibits a low-level male-biased sexual dimorphism. Acanthodactylus harranensis also displayed a considerably bigger body size than other studied lacertids from Şanlıurfa province. The data presented in this study may contribute to future conservation efforts for this endangered species.

×

This study aims at providing the first faunistic and ecological data on the herpetofauna of the Oum El Bouaghi region. The observation period was spread over two seasons (2018-2019), from mid-March to the end of October. A total of 18 species of reptiles and 4 species of amphibians have been recorded. The data collected were analyzed in terms of the biogeographical and trophic aspects of the herpetofauna of the study area. The region of Oum El Bouaghi has a great herpetofaunistic diversity, which shows how important it is to ensure its protection.

×

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

×

New informations concerning systematical questions within the family Lacertidae, which were published during the last time, are presented.

×

Kurze Vorstellung der drei Eidechsenarten Acanthodactylus felicis, A. opheodurus und Mesalina ayunensis aus der omanischen Provinz Dhofar.

×

The study of colouring and scale pattern of 20 specimens of each of the 4 species represented in Tunisia: A. boskianus (Aud.), A. pardalis (Licht.), A. savignyi (Aud.) and A. inornatus Gray reveals the reasons for difficulties and uncertainties in the classification of this genera. These reasons are the existence of undependant, gradual and progressive variations, which may also be ontological, of the morphological particularities used as specific criteria. The mathematical analysis of 25 types of scale formation showing 71 variables allows us to estimate the interspecific distances which divide the 4 species into 2 groups each of 2 species. It is also possible to establish a dichotomic key based upon various elements of proved validity.

×

The four species of the g. Acanthodactylus Wieg., 1834 occuring in Tunisia are quite indidualized by their biomedical relations which, moreover, allow to bring out their relationships. The size of the upper quarter in our sampling oppose two goups of two species each one. The distribution of the ratio between the lenght of the body and that of the tail place apart A. boskianus from the three other species in a more marked way for adults of both sexes than for juveniles.

×

Extensive field investigations have determined the geographic distribution of four species of Acanthodactylus in Tunisia: A. inornatus, A. pardalis, A. boskianus and A. savignyi blanci. Important changes of the ranges, in comparison to those given in the literature, are available for the last three species. The ranges of these species are here related to bioclimatic zones and habitats.

×

The herpetological populations in the islands of Zembra and Zembretta -- An extensive research of the Reptilian fauna on these two islands was conducted through three expéditions by the Tunis Science Faculty. The islands of Zembra is populated by three species of lizards Psammodromus algirus (Lacertids), Chalcides ocellatus (Scincids) and Hemidactylus turcicus (Gekkonids) and the three species of Colubrid snakes: Malpolon monspessulanus, Macroprotodon cucullatus, Coluber hippocrepis. On the Island of Zembretta only the three species of lizards mentioned above were found. Their distribution and biotope were precised. Two sea turtles visit their costal waters: Caretta caretta (Chelonids) and Dermochelys coriacea (Dermochelyids). The terrestrial herpetofauna on Zembra and Zembretta displays the fundamental characteristics of an insular environment — spécific poorness: the western slopes of the Cap Bon tip include 11 Lacertids, 7 Ophids, 3 Chelonids and 6 Batrachian species. — individual abundance in the Zembra Lacertid populations and even more on Zembretta. — composition unbalance: some species would not find convenient biotops or preys on these two islands but the absence of a few others species cannot be ecologically explained.

×

A multidimensional analysis of 34 characters of the colouring and scale pattern, providing 101 mathematical variables, applied to 77 Acanthodactylus collected in ten field stations in the Saharien Far-South of Tunisia, reveals a gradual and continuous morphological variation from populations of Acanthodactylus inornatus (with the back and sides of their body blackly reticulated and short legs) to populations with a A. longipes habitus (orange light body with small dorsal white spots, faint or nul black marks on their flanks and longer legs). Variation axis, approximately directed from North to South, also express an habitat difference between the populations dwelling on the reg nebkhas and sandy knolls in the beds and edges of the rivers (oueds) and those restricted to the high sand dunes of the Great Eastern Erg. The taxonomic status of the Acanthodactylus populations living in the Southern Tunisia should obviously be revised in relation with a high and mostly uncorrelated variability of the morphological characters of diagnostic use.

×

Applied to 135 Acanthodactylus, from eight clusters of collecting sites, a multidimensional analysis of 11 characters, mainly of colouring and scale patterns, providing 35 mathematical variables, reveals a hight intrapopulational variability. Samples dwelling on reg nebkhas and sandy knolls in the river beds are Acanthodactylus inornatus. Some specimens, in the sample from barkhanes and sand dunes areas, are morphologically close to A. longipes.

×

Herpetologic fauna of Kerkennah islands: check list, geographic distribution and zoogeography. -- During a survey of Kerkennah islands, the check-list of Reptiles and Amphibians has been established to eleven species belonging to two classes, to seven families and to eleven genera. Geographic distribution on the islands and habitats of most species has been reported All species have a large distribution area in continental Tunisia and zoogeographic affinities are mainly with Mediterranean region.

×

Acanthodactylus pardalis, a small lizard whose morphological variation is high, is found in sandy areas. The species is widespread in Tunisia, from the Saharan zone in deep south to the northern coast with strong variations in population density. Genetic variability of Acanthodactylus pardalis has been estimated from analysis of 22 protein loci in samples of five populations, including an insular population and a coastal isolate. Rate of polymorphism and heterozygosity are high; the insular sample (Kerkennah Island) is one of the two most variable genetically, along with one continental sample. While theses samples were collected in areas where Acanthodactylus densities were highest, including on Kerkennah island, species numbers of diurnal lizards were lowest in the same areas, including the continental area concerned.

×

Allozymic variation at 22 loci was analyzed in four species of the lacertid Acanthodactylus occurring in Tunisia. Only two loci were strictly monomorphic in all samples. Five loci are highly polymorphic and contribute largely to the total variability. Mean heterozygosity ranks from 14% to 25%. No obvious relation was found between this level of variability and habitat, environment requirements or territoriality of these species.

×

Acanthodactylus is a widespread lacertid genus including about thirthy species whose systematics remains much debated. The present study is aimed at improving the taxonomic status of the Tunisian species whose geographical distribution and ecological requirements have been studied elsewhere. Allozymic variation at 22 loci was scored in 14 populations for a total of 249 individuals. High genetic variability is confirmed in all samples; it is higher in species displaying a wide bioclimatic habitat range. No reduction of genetic variability was observed in two insular populations. Any interspecific hybrid could be detected from our genetic data, even in sympatric areas arguing in favor of specific status of four taxons in Northern, Central and Southern Tunisia. Phylogenetic relationships are discussed on the basis of UPGMA and Fitch-Margoliash procedures applied to the genetic distances matrix and centered data analysis of allozyme frequencies.

×

Electrophoretic analysis of allozymes encoded by 22 loci supports the specific status of four lizard taxa in the genus Acanthodactylus. LDH-2 appears as a diagnostic locus for the four species. Measures of genetic distance suggest two groups: A. inornatus- A. savignyi and A. pardalis- A. boskianus. A. boskianus relationships might yet be modified when intraspecific variability is more extensively known.

×

We have studies the femoral pores of 387 subjects belonging to five species of Lacertidae family (Reptilia) of the región of Andalucia (Spain): Lacerta hispanica Steind., Lacerta lepida Daud., Psammodromus algirus L., Psammodromus hispanicus Fitz., Acanthodactylus erythrurus Schinz. We have observed that these femoral pores have a big importance in the sexual dimorphism which can be observed in the subjects after the birth. Possibly they take part in the phenomenous connected with the territorial behaviour of animals.

×

During a trip in the Algarve in the summer of 1987, a lot of amphibians and reptiles were seen. Of the amphibians Rona perezi and Bufo bufo spinosus were much more common than Pleuro- deles walt/ and Hyla meridiana/is. Mauremys caspica leprosa, E m ys orbicularis, T arentola mauritanica, Hemidactylus turcicus, Lacerta le- pida, Acamhodactylus erythrurus, Psammodro- mus algirus, Blanus cinereus, Chamaeleo cha- maeleon, Natrix maura were found alive. A dead Coluber hippocrepis and a skin of Elaphe sea/oris and Malpolon m onspessulanus were found. Short notes are given on the habitats of these ani- mals.

×

I had the opportunity to gather information on the Tunisian herpetofauna during a one week visit to Tunisia in September 1995. Tarelllola mauritanica, Natrix maura. Malpolon mons- pessultmus. Chalcides ocellatus tiligugu. Rana salwrica , Bufo mauretanicus and Bl{{o l`iridis were all encountered in the surroun- dings of my hotel in Hammam-Sousse. I pri- marily saw reptiles in shops and at markets where they were offered as souvenirs either dried (and sometimes mounted) or preserved in alcohol. The dried animals were displayed in small glass cases or placed in a picture frame. Live animals were sold at the markets as well. Dried and framed lizards seen inclu- ded Mabu.va ••ittata, C. ocellatus tiligugu. Scincus scincus and Clwmaeleo chamaeleon salwrica. Dried snakes encountered were N. maura. Co/uber algims. Spalerosophis sp.. Malpolon monspes.mlcmus. Malpolon moilen- sis. P .mmmophis sclwkari. Macrol`ipera mcw- ritanica (and/or Macmvipera deserti), Cerastes cerastes. Cerastes ••ipera, Naja haje lwje and Eryx spec. There were more desert species offered in Gabes than in Sousse (for example S. scincus and M. moilensis). I saw Coluber hippocrepis in place of C. algims in Nabeul. The correlation between the species offered and the habitats present where the ani- mals were offered suggested that they were caught and processed locally. I occasionally saw a mounted li1ranus griseus or Uromastyx accmthinura in the Nabeul markets. The most commonly encountered reptile on the market was Clwmaeleo chamaeleon .mlwrica. offered both live and dried. Various reptiles were set on tourists. and then the tourists charged for the usc of the animals as a photo prop. Young Testudo graeca, seen in every market in every city visited, were clearly meant for tourists (according to the dealers these were the easiest to smuggle back to Europe). Relatively few animals were seen in their natural habitats. Rana salwrica and Mauremys leprosa were seen in Gabes. Rcma salwrica, M. /epro.m, Ophisops occidentalis. Psammodromus algi- l`liS en Acalltlwdactylus cf. boskianus were observed between Kairouan and Kesra (direc- tion Makthar). It is ironic that the legislation regarding kee- ping of reptiles has become so strict for terra- rium enthusiasts in Europe while no or inade- quate measures are taken to protect the ani- mals in their countries of origin. Our legisla- tive measures are then senseless.

×

Zwei Eidechsenarten, zu bisher nicht aus der Türkei bekannten Gattungen gehörig, werden erstmals für die türkische Herpetofauna nachgewiesen: Phyllodactylus elisae und Acanthodactylus boskianus. Einige Aspekte ihrer Verbreitung, Taxonomie und Ökologie werden kurz besprochen.

×

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

×

Cette note est destinée à faire le point sur le peuplement herpétologique du Maroc. Elle comprend: — Une liste des formes effectivement présentes au Maroc, avec les affinités biogéographiques des espèces, et éventuellement les travaux récents où ces formes sont étudiées. — Des commentaires sur les espèces africaines douteuses en Europe et européennes douteuses en Afrique. — Une liste des espèces à rechercher au Maroc. — Une discussion sommaire sur la systématique de certaines espèces marocaines.

×

We have analysed several scalation characters and the geographic distribution of lizards of the Acanthodactylus erythrurus group to verify the validity of these criteria. These data are collated with biogeography to demonstrate the existence of two distinct species within what are known as common fringe-toed lizards: Acanthodactylus erythrurus, consisting of three subspecies, and Acanthodactylus lineomaculatus, monotypic and endemic to Morocco. Hypotheses concerning the population history of these animals are proposed

×

Cytochemical methods have shown a progressive elimination of nuclear RNA from mature spermatids in the lizard Acanthodactylus erythrurus. The RNA bound to chromatin has been observed throughout spermiogenesis and is eliminated only at the final stage, i. e., the stage of transformation from the spermatid to the spermatozoon. These results differ from those obtained in insects where the nuclear as well as the nucleolar RNA disappears during the early stages of spermiogenesis.

×

The physical geography of Iraq is summarised. Using data from the relevant literature and current information from the Internet, a very provisional checklist of Iraqi amphibians and reptiles is presented. Ten amphibian species are reported for Iraq, and exactly 100 reptile species.

×

Courtship begins with the animals circling each other quickly for a few minutes in concentric circles (the female on the inside), the male apparently trying to bite the temporal region of the female, but without succeeding since the heads are always parallel. Occasionally the male does bite the flank or tail of the female, though without maintaining his grip. Quite suddenly copulation occurs, preceded by a second or two in which tails and legs seem to become a twirling jumble. In the first 10-20 seconds of the copulation the male, mailny, shows quick frontleg- and tail-movements. There is not bite-hold on the female; the male may even sit in an ´upright` position with neither his head, frontlegs nor front part of his body touching the female. However, after a maximum of approxomately tebn minutes, the male returns to the usual horizental position. Copulation lasts about 45 minutes, after which the pair separates. In 1995 a clutch of four eggs was laid in the first week of May, a second with three eggs in the third week of June. Eggs measured 9.6 x 16.9 mm and weighed 0.88 g. Just before hatching these reached 18.3 x 30.0 mm and 5.65 g. Incubation at 20°C takes 43 days. Young measured 30.6 + 43.2 mm (head-body + tail) and weighed 0.96 g. The juvenile skin patter consists of seven longitudinal, yellowish lines on a velvet, black body. On the flanks a longitudinal series of dull, yellow dots is found. Vemntrally the head and body are off-white. In contrast to what is known of all other Acanthodactylus species, juveniles of Acanthodactylus erythrurus belli show a bi-coloured instead of a uni-coloured tail. Dorsally and dorsolaterally it is turquoise, laterally and ventrally it is a saturated red. Since there is no clear demarcation line between the two, and because the final colour impression is somewhat dependet on the angle of observation, hues between blue via lilac to brown and red result. Except for some striping and banding in other lacertids, mostly concerning shades of the same colour, this bicoloured tail is also unique within the family Lacertidae. Even in the closely related Acanthodactylus e. erythrurus juveniles show only uni-coloured red tails. The impression is that a blue juvenile tail may be ´primitive` in Acanthodactylus; in the majority of species it still is that colour. It changes to blue with black transverse bands in A. schmidti, whitish blue in A. gongrorhynchatus and yellowish in A. haasi, A. micropholis and Egyptian A. longipes. Red tails occur in African A. boskianus, in A. e. erythrurus and A. opheodurus. In some species the colour is most intense distally and dorsally, but fades anteriorly. At the other extreme of the spectrum it is strong on the tail underside and also occurs on the back of the thighs. Presumably the former, which concentrates attention towards the tail tip and away from the more vulnerable body, distracts predators. The latter case, being striking from a lizard´s eyeview, especially if the tail is lifted, could be an intraspecific signal which in analogy to literature on Eremias may reduce agression in mature males. Sympatric Acanthodactylus species often differ in immature tail colour; this may help prevent predators developing a universal Acanthodactylus search image. It may also serve an interspecific function allowing adults to recognise and eat other species´ young. It may thus be that tail colour has two distinct puposes, in which case there may be situations where the optimum colours for signalling to conspecific and to predators are different. However, if so, it is surprising that bi-coloured tails are extremely rare. Maybe too much conspicuousness is detrimental? At an age of six months the remaining blue tail colour in A. e. belli is only just visible on an oblique angle, although the red – albeit less intensive – still shows. In the present case with young A. e. belli one might hypothesize that blue, possibly performing an interspecific function is less necessary (in the grown juvenile), but that, the presumably intraspecifically active red, apparently still is useful (like in the closely related A. e. erythrurus where in females it may persist into young adulthood). An additional three months later most of the tail colour has disappeared, the tail being only veguely greenish from a distance (the combined effect of light blue and light red). In adult A. e. belli most of the black and all of the tail colour changes into brown or brownish-grey. Some of the black persists as rows of black markings on the body. The yellow lines disappear for the greater part (in males) or change into grey or white (in females).

×

1. Intercellular bridges connect the oocyte with its surrounding follicle cells. 2. Fibrillar bundles and microtubules are oriented along the length of the bridge. Mitochrondria, endoplasmic reticulum, multivesicular vesicles and other cytoplasmic components are also present in this region. 3. This communication may be very important for the flow of nutrients necessary for the growth of the oocyte.

×

The ultrastructure of the nuclei in the ovarian follicular cells has been examined in the lizards Acanthodacylus scutellatus hardyi, and Eremias brevirostris. During certain growth stages, the nuclei of the intermediate and the pyriform cells become large and conspicuous, and usually contain numerous morphologically variable nucleoli. The latter may be nucleolonemal, compact, ring-shaped, “filamentous”, “fine-filamentous”, “amorphous” or “course-granular” in type, and the number and type in each nucleus seems to be related to the developmental stage. The type of nucleolus may indicate different phases of activity in the nucleus and may also suggest an association with the production of different types of RNA.

×

Tail undulation or vibration and waving of both forelegs (often called “hand waving”) are two of the displays commonly used by lizards. Researchers interpreted these displays as having various anti-predator functions. According to one suggestion (the predator-monitoring hy- pothesis, Magnusson 1996) lizard’s tail and hand waving may serve as a stimulus for predators to attack by creating a movement illusion while the lizard is sedentary and able to detect a preda- tor. So far, this hypothesis has not been tested. We observed 94 Acanthodactylus schreiberi in Mediterranean coastal dunes and recorded 1385 arm waving cases and 1382 tail displays that were performed while no predator was nearby. We concentrated on the cases with no predators in order to determine whether these displays are consistent with the distinctive predictions of the predator-monitoring hypothesis. Lizards’ arm waving and tail display were highly associated. As predicted by the predator-monitoring hypothesis, arm waving was highly associated also with movement: most of the arm-waving cases were conducted by the lizards in short pauses while moving or a few seconds before starting to move. Furthermore, arm waving and tail displays were related to predation risk: individuals that use more risky foraging (i.e., juveniles and individuals in active dunes) performed tail display and/or arm waving more frequently than individuals that use safer foraging. Both the timing of the arm display and its high association with tail display and with risky foraging support the hypothesis that under the circumstance observed, the display is used to monitor potential predators.

×

Study of the system Tick-Lizard in the national park of El Kala (North-East Algeria). -- Among the emerging diseases rickettsioses would hold a prominent place in Algeria. The news was a reminder that some diseases can easily cross the species barrier and affect humans especially those related to wildlife. The pathogenicity of ticks `Ixodes ricinus is located on several levels. Ixodes ricinus in Algeria remains among the most infected ticks in North Africa, however, which represent the highest rate of infection observed in southern Europe. Many species of ticks parasitize reptiles especially lizards. Those when they are parasitized by ticks (Ixodes) are regarded as competent reservoirs of Borrelia and in a few exceptions a reservoir incompetent. For most of Ixodes (immature) Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes scapularis, ticks feed on the blood of lizards. This has served to emphasize the importance of Ixodes in epidemiology as primary vector of Lyme disease and the important role that play the lizard in the maintenance and movement of Borreliae. In this context, we are interested to ectoparasites lizards and role in the epidemiological cycle of the Rickettsioses. Our results are quite important because after PCR ticks we could detect the presence of Rickettsia sp. in 35% of all ticks collected. Given the number of rickettsioses transmitted by ticks (Rickettsia conori, `spotty mediterranean fever”, Coxiella burneti `Q fever `, R. africae `The african tick fever `), our results could not be ignored for since this is the first time that rickettsiae were detected in ticks from lizards.

×

Mammals that build extensive open burrow systems are often classified as ecosystem engineers, since they have the potential to modulate the availability of resources for themselves and other organisms. Lizards may benefit from the heterogeneity created by these structures, especially if coupled with an increased offer of sites for refuge and thermoregulation. However, information about these engineering effects by burrowing animals is scarce. We investigated the influence of European rabbit burrows on several parameters of a Mediterranean lizard community (abundance, density, diversity and body condition) in three different habitats (open pastures, holm oak and scrub patches). We found that lizards were positively associated with burrows, and that burrows determined lizard presence at otherwise unfavourable habitats. Moreover, community parameters such as density and species richness were higher in sites with burrows. Burrows influenced lizard species in different ways, and were also relevant for other Mediterranean vertebrates, as revealed by questionnaires to experts. We also explored the possible resources provided by burrows for lizards. Warrens offer relatively abundant prey and appropriate retreat sites for refuge and thermoregulation. Warrens may have further implications within the ecosystem, acting as stepping stones, allowing lizards to reach otherwise inaccessible habitat patches. This study shows that European rabbit warrens have a positive influence on lizard density and diversity, and confirms the role of rabbits as ecosystem engineers. This reinforces the need for appropriate conservation measures for rabbits, especially given their threatened status in the Iberian Peninsula. Furthermore, our study highlights that taking into account the influence of engineering activities increases our awareness of species interactions, and may translate into more adequate conservation measures for the preservation of biodiversity.

×

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.

×

In the present study we use an unprecedented database of 5,535 distributional records to infer the diversity, ecological preferences and spatial distribution of the 60 species of terrestrial reptiles of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and use the 57 native species to test the effectiveness of the protected areas’ network in conserving this unique vertebrate fauna. We infer a time-calibrated phylogeny with 146 species of squamates and 15 genes including all UAE terrestrial reptile species to determine the phylogenetic diversity (PD) and evolutionary distinctiveness (ED) of the native species and to compare it with the distribution of the hotspots of native species richness. The results of this study indicate that the sampling effort is remarkable, covering 75% of the country’s territory representing nearly the entire climatic space of the UAE defined by the mean annual temperature and the total annual precipitation, as well as the multivariate climatic space defined by a principal component analysis (PCA). Species richness is highest in the northeast of the country, in a transitional area from sandy desert to the mountainous terrain of the Hajar Mountains. The highest PD of a single square cell of 10 arc-minutes grid is of 2,430 million years (my) of accumulated evolutionary history and the strong correlation between PD and species richness suggests that the raw number of species is a good surrogate to quantify the evolutionary history (i.e., PD). The species with the highest values of ED are those in families represented by only one species in the UAE. Finally, the assessment of the UAE protected areas shows that, despite their relevance in protecting the terrestrial reptiles, they do not offer adequate protection for some threatened species. Therefore, a reassessment of some of the protected areas or the creation of species specific conservation action plans are recommended in order to ensure the preservation of the unique diversity of UAE terrestrial reptiles.

×

Convergent ecology of lizards in simi-ttr, geographically isolated, desert biotopes is well known (Pianka, 1973) but Mediterranean forms have not been studied in detail. Valverde (1967) commented on the seasonal abundance of Acanthodactylus erythrurus, but there has been no detailed study of activity. Acantha-dactylus occupies a niche similar to Callisaurus or Uma in the deserts of the southwestern United States and this study examined the daily and seasonal activity of fringe-toed lizards in southern Spain. The study area was at La Algaida, on the Fig. I. Habitat of Acanthodactylus erythrurus at La Algaida (June). Pinus pinea L. (Pinaceae) stands surrounded by Juniperus phoenicea L. (Cubresaceae) provide shade. Halimium halimiifolium (L.) Willk (Cistaceae) and Corema album (L.) D. Don (Ernpetraceae) are used for foraging and escape from predators. east bank of the Guadalquivir River 25.5 km (air) NW of Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz Pro-vince, Spain, at an elevation of less than 100 m. Aridity and agriculture typify this region; present vegetation is an open evergreen forma-tion (Fig. I). Since La Algaida occupies a similar coastal position and is only 25 km from Rota, the fol-lowing data from the U. S. Naval Weather Station at Rota reflect the climate at La Algaida.

×

Between 5.5 and 7.0 m.y. B.P. the formation of the Strait of Gibraltar allowed water from the Atlantic Ocean to fill the basin now known as the Mediterranean Sea. This event divided the amphibian and reptile fauna then inhabiting southern Spain and northern Morocco into allopatric and, presumably, conspecific faunas. Because the strait has continued from its formation to the present as a geographic barrier to the exchange of terrestrial vertebrates between Africa and Europe, this region and its native herpetofauna provide a natural laboratory in which various tenets of current biogeographic theory may be evaluated. Electrophoretically obtained allozymic data allowed an empirical biogeographic analysis of the trans-Gibraltar herpetofauna. Estimates of accumulated genetic distance (Nei`s D) varied from 0.0 to 0.6 between Spanish and Moroccan populations of 17 conspecific taxa. Further examination of these genetic data demonstrated that the rate of migration between these two continental populations was greater than or less than the estimated rate of mutation. European and African populations of several taxa traditionally presumed to be homogeneous were shown to be genically heterogeneous. Analysis of the distribution of alleles within and between continental populations suggests that the ability to maintain genetic continuity across the marine barrier varies from species to species. No demonstrable correlation was found between degree of habitat specificity and frequency of occurrence of individuals, and the genic differentiation demonstrated by Spanish populations of each taxon.

×

Autoecological aspects of Acanthodactylus erythrurus were examined at La Algaida, Cádiz Province, Spain. The male population is composed of 60 % adult and 40 % subadult individuals; male hatchlings increase in size at a rate of 0.06 mm/day from hatching (≤ 31 mm snout-vent length) to sexual maturity (~ 61 mm); 50 % do not survive beyond 1.5 years, but those which reach adult size may live 1.9 years. Females grow from hatching (~ 28 mm) to sexual maturity (≥ 57 mm) at a rate of 0.05 mm/day; less than half survive 1.4 years and the life span of some individuals is 2.1 years. Adult males outnumber adult females 1.4:1, but subadult ratios are 1:1. Adults and subadults associate with different plant species during their activity period, but each age class tends to avoid open sand patches. These 8.4-13 g lizards feed on a wide variety of insects and appreciable quantities of plant material. 49 % of all males and 82 % of all females activiely consume Halimium helimifolium. We sespect this lizard species is wide ranging and non-territorial; only one agonistic encounter was recorded and it was interspecific (with Psammodromus algirus). The frequency of escape from predation is estimated at 26.8 %, based on tail-loss figures, and the incidence of cestode parasitism (Oochoristica cf. tuberculata) is 2.1 %. The population studied was highly resilient to 16 months of intense human predation.

×

The study that we present has two objectives: to expand our knowledge of the herpetofauna in the region of Tiaret and bordering areas, with a primary focus on distribution and update the threats that will affect this group, to propose solutions to protect and conserve the species of these areas. In spring 2014, we identified in this study, 6 species of amphibians and 22 species of reptiles. In some cases, we collected biological samples for later analysis. The majority of locations where prospected between May 22 and June 7, has a high biodiversity of herpetofauna, which shows how important it is, to preserve this species.

×

Climate change has been widely accepted as one of the major threats for global biodiversity and understanding its potential effects on species distribution is crucial to optimise conservation planning in future scenarios under global change. Integrating detailed climatic data across spatial and temporal scales into species distribution modelling can help to predict potential changes in biodiversity. Consequently, this type of data can be useful for developing efficient biodiversity management and conservation planning. The provision of such data becomes even more important in highly biodiverse regions, currently suffering from climatic and landscape changes. The Transboundary Biosphere Reserve of Meseta Ibérica (BRMI; Portugal-Spain) is one of the most relevant reserves for wildlife in Europe. This highly diverse region is of great ecological and socio-economical interest, suffering from synergistic processes of rural land abandonment and climatic instabilities that currently threaten local biodiversity. Aiming to optimise conservation planning in the Reserve, we provide a complete dataset of historical and future climate models (1 x 1 km) for the BRMI, used to build a series of distribution models for 207 vertebrate species. These models are projected for 2050 under two climate change scenarios. The climatic suitability of 52% and 57% of the species are predicted to decrease under the intermediate and extreme climatic scenarios, respectively. These models constitute framework data for improving local conservation planning in the Reserve, which should be further supported by implementing climate and land-use change factors to increase the accuracy of future predictions of species distributions in the study area.

×

Lizards can famously shed their tails when under threat from pursuing predators. The discarded tail, often wiggling, can distract the predator, allowing the lizard to survive the encounter. Self-amputation is known as autotomy and is a common defense strategy in lizards, salamanders, crustaceans, spiders, and other animals. This raises the important question of how does a lizard retain its tail during normal activities that can be vigorous? The tail of a lizard affects its ability to run, leap, mate, and escape the next predator, so losing the tail is a costly sacrifice. The precise mechanism that provides the lizard with the advantage of retaining the tail in situations that are not life-threatening, yet readily shedding it when threatened, has recently been addressed in an elegant study by Navajit Baban, Yong-Ak Song, and others.Baban et al. studied the tails of three common lizards, two species of geckos (Hemidactylus flaviviridis and Cyrtopodion scabrum, of the Gekkonidae family), and one from the family of “true” lizards (Acanthodactylus schmidti, of the Lacertidae family). In the laboratory the tail of the live animal was passively autotomized, and the event was captured by high-speed (3,000 frames per second) video. The proximal and distal exposed surfaces of the tail (the fracture plane) were immediately preserved in formalin and prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). There are several potential facture planes in the tail, allowing for portions of the tail to be sacrificed, depending on the need. This is made possible by the fact that the lizard tail is not one entity, but assemblies of segments connected via the fracture planes.

×

Dune systems are the most degraded ecosystems of the entire European coast, and human activity on the Mediterranean coast of Spain has caused dramatic transformation. In Torredembarra (Tarragona, Spain), a population of spiny–footed lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) inhabits the few remaining natural dunes and vegetation patches where wildlife coexists with intensive tourism activities. Our aim was to know whether walkways installed across the dunes were affecting the mobility of the spiny–footed lizard. We compared the mobility of marked lizards in two areas with a similar habitat, one with and one without a walkway. We found that the walkway reduced the distances between consecutive resightings, affecting juveniles more than adults. We conclude that the walkway may affect social interactions in the species.

×

Islands are very important hotspots of biodiversity and provide premier settings for studying the evolutionary and ecological processes that have resulted in such unique biotas. Unfortunately, in most cases the lack of a similar taxonomic and ecological knowledge of the associated continental faunas prevents any comparison between continental and island faunas. During the last years we have been trying to improve our knowledge on the systematics, biogeography and evolution of Arabian reptiles, including the endemic reptile fauna of the Socotra Archipelago and continental related taxa. This archipelago, situated in the western Indian Ocean, is a case example of an ancient continental fragment, a block of Precambrian Gondwanaland with a long biogeographic history. With 93.5% of the 31 species and 41% of the 12 genera being found nowhere else in the world, reptiles constitute the most relevant vertebrate group of the Socotra Archipelago and an excellent model to study in depth the role of historical and contemporary factors (i.e., island size and geographic isolation, biogeographic history and ecological disparity) in the origin and diversification of this unique faunal assemblage. In this talk I will review the work that we are doing on the reptiles of the Socotra Archipelago and continental Arabia to assess their origin and real diversity, to test the relative role of adaptive processes in the diversification of Socotran reptiles and compare the patterns of diversification and phenotypic differentiation of continental and Socotran sister groups to see whether island and continental species differ in their dynamics of diversification and eco- phenotypic evolution. Despite being the size of Mallorca, the endemicity and habitat specialization of the reptiles of Socotra is much higher than in any other Mediterranean Island, the possible causes of these differences will be analyzed.

×

In the present work, we use an exceptional database including 5,359 records of 101 species of Oman’s terrestrial reptiles together with spatial tools to infer the spatial patterns of species richness and endemicity, to infer the habitat preference of each species and to better define conservation priorities, with especial focus on the effectiveness of the protected areas in preserving this unique arid fauna. Our results indicate that the sampling effort is not only remarkable from a taxonomic point of view, with multiple observations for most species, but also for the spatial coverage achieved. The observations are distributed almost continuously across the two-dimensional climatic space of Oman defined by the mean annual tempera- ture and the total annual precipitation and across the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the multivariate climatic space and are well represented within 17 out of the 20 climatic clusters grouping 10% of the explained climatic variance defined by PC1 and PC2. Species richness is highest in the Hajar and Dhofar Mountains, two of the most biodiverse areas of the Arabian Peninsula, and endemic species richness is greatest in the Jebel Akhdar, the highest part of the Hajar Mountains. Oman’s 22 protected areas cover only 3.91% of the country, including within their limits 63.37% of terrestrial reptiles and 50% of all endemics. Our analy- ses show that large areas of the climatic space of Oman lie outside protected areas and that seven of the 20 climatic clusters are not protected at all. The results of the gap analysis indi- cate that most of the species are below the conservation target of 17% or even the less restrictive 12% of their total area within a protected area in order to be considered adequately protected. Therefore, an evaluation of the coverage of the current network of protected areas and the identification of priority protected areas for reptiles using reserve design algorithms are urgently needed. Our study also shows that more than half of the species are still pending of a definitive evaluation by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

×

Lacertids are the dominant group of lizards throughout the Mediterranean Basin. Their role in food web transfer of matter and energy from arthropods and other small invertebrates to birds and mammals constitutes a major function within Mediterranean ecosystems. For many years, prey consumption by lacertids was thought to be almost indiscriminate, not much more than a byproduct of habitat use. However, increasing evidence does not support this passive view. Analyses of prey availability have revealed active prey selection/avoidance in several species. Others show an internal tendency (i.e., historical constraints) to consume specific animal items (ants, clumped prey) or plant matter (seeds, nectar, pollen, leaves). Behavioural experiments showed that lacertids not only identify different prey types by both visual and chemical cues but also modify their feeding behaviour integrating past experiences. Furthermore, size, sex, reproductive state, body condition, tail loss and probably other lizard features are relevant for feeding ecology. However, less attention has been devoted to abiotic factors such as temperature and humidity. More experimental studies of the influences of competitors, predators and parasites on diet are needed. Even though it is controversial, optimal foraging theory provides a conceptual background for future studies. The evolutionary history of the various lacertid lineages, which constrains their morphology and physiology and eventually produces exaptative traits, is to be considered as well. Finally, methodology in field sampling, lab work and statistical analysis needs to be developed. Recommendations are given as to when and where to sample, which compartment should be analysed, which is the appropriate sample size, how to assess trophic availability, which statistical descriptors should be used and how they should be compared.

×

Reproductive timing is one of the most critical issues for lacertids inhabiting temperate regions where favourable conditions are restricted seasonally. Cycles of gonads and associated lipid reserves represents the manifestation of the discontinuous reproductive mode. Although lacertids seem tom use both temperature and photoperiod to adjust their reproductive clocks to the environmental conditions, these cues seem to act at different stages of the cycle. Within species, interindividual, interpopulational and interannual variation have been documented. Thermal seasonality, changing between sites and years, determines not only the length of the reproductive season but also the intensity of variation for several reproductive parameters. Except in those species/populations with extremely short reproductive activity, lacertids are rather asynchronus, large adults starting reproduction later than small ones. In contrast, the end of the breeding period is less variable and probably associated with photoperiod. Prior to all these factors, lipid storage of excess energy is necessary condition for beginning reproduction. Lipids peak in late summer or early autumn, are not depleted in winter and are consumed during the reproductive season. Males spend reserves earlier than females in the activities related with breeding and recover them soon after since mixed-type spermatogenesis distributes energy costs along a prolonged period. Only spermiogenesis is highly variable in time depending on the species/population although previous classifications based on it are simplistic. Females mainly behave as capital breeders investing lipids in developing a first (or unique) clutch but may act as income breeders for the subsequent clutches if any. The degree of iteroparity depends on the same factors but just within the species limits. Some of the patterns observed are, nevertheless, uncorrelated with abiotic environment and may reflect other pressures. Theoretically any influence able to provoke food storage would delay reproduction independently of climate conditions. In some cases, traits could be historical deriving from pressures acting in the past. Long egg retention and viviparity are strong constraints since they prolong single reproductive events preventing its repetition even when environmental conditions would allow it. Moreover, thermophile species evolved under mild conditions are unable to start reproduction when and where other more cold-adapted species do. On the other hand, insular lacertids enlarge the reproductive period in comparison with their continental equivalents living under similar climate regimes but with different demographic pressures. Finally a biogeographic scenario for the evolution of reproductive cycles in the whole family is proposed.

×

The phylogenetic affinities of Acanthodactylus beershebensis, a highly endangered lacertid lizard endemic to the Neguev (Israel), were assessed using mtDNA markers. Fragments of 12S and 16S rRNA were analysed and compared with already published sequences of Acanthodactylus. Results corroborate the taxonomic placement of A. beershebensis as a member of the A. pardalis group but place it within a polytomy at the same phylogenetic level as other (unnamed) African populations. This pattern of high but poorly structured genetic diversity, previously observed for other Acanthodactylus complexes, has been suggested to derive from the climatic instability of North Africa and the Middle East during the humid and dry periods of the Pleistocene as well as dune migrations. In conservation terms, if A. beershebensis is to be prioritised, then other populations of the A. pardalis group inhabiting North Africa would deserve a similar status, making their species definition urgent. These results highlight the need for considering phylogeny when establishing conservation priorities.

×

Variation in the reproductive cycle of two populations of Acanthodactylus erythrurus living in coastal sandy areas of the NE extreme of its range was analyzed. This species exhibits strong influence of historical factors in its reproductive traits: vernal spermatogenic cycle, short incubation, K-selection, and high egg size variation. The populations studied are more similar to others from the Mediterranean coast than to those from Central Spain. In comparison with the latter, reproductive season is longer, adult sizes are smaller and sexual dimorphism is reduced. A second clutch can be laid when the reproductive season is long enough. Nevertheless, phenology in this species is less variable than in other Mediterranean Lacertidae. Since no evidence of suboptimal conditions was found in any population, it is concluded that factors other than reproductive ones may have restricted the range of this species in NE Spain.

×

The basic morphometry of two Mediterranean lacertid lizards, Psammodromus algirus and Acanthodactylus erythrurus, is analyzed using 133 and 87 specimens respectively. In both species, femoralia and ventralia are useful characters to distinguish sexes even in juveniles. Moreover, adult males and females show shape variation whose origin is discussed. Interspecific differences in shape and size are also showed and related to ecological features.

×

Variation in the reproductive cycle of two populations of Acanthodactylus erythrurus living in coastal sandy areas of the NE extreme of its range was analyzed. This species exhibits strong influence of historical factors in its reproductive traits: vernal spermatogenic cycle, short incubation, K-selection, and high egg size variation. The populations studied are more similar to others from the Mediterranean coast than to those from Central Spain. In comparison with the latter, reproductive season is longer, adult sizes are smaller and sexual dimorphism is reduced. A second clutch can be laid when the reproductive season is long enough. Nevertheless, phenology in this species is less variable than in other Mediterranean Lacertidae. Since no evidence of suboptimal conditions was found in any population, it is concluded that factors other than reproductive ones may have restricted the range of this species in NE Spain.

×

Variation in the reproductive cycle of two populations of Acanthodactylus erythrurus living in coastal sandy areas of the NE extreme of its range was analyzed. This species exhibits strong influence of historical factors in its reproductive traits: vernal spermatogenic cycle, short incubation, K-selection, and high egg size variation. The populations studied are more similar to others from the Mediterranean coast than to those from Central Spain. In comparison with the latter, reproductive season is longer, adult sizes are smaller and sexual dimorphism is reduced. A second clutch can be laid when the reproductive season is long enough. Nevertheless, phenology in this species is less variable than in other Mediterranean Lacertidae. Since no evidence of suboptimal conditions was found in any population, it is concluded that factors other than reproductive ones may have restricted the range of this species in NE Spain.

×

Acanthodactylus erythrurus, Psammodromus algirus.

×

During a 2-year period we studied the reproductive and fat body cycles and reproductive characteristics (clutch size, egg size) of the oviparous lizard Acanthodactylus erythrurus in central Spain. Testes exhibited their maximal volume during April–June and decreased in size throughout the summer. Fat bodies of males were smallest during the spring mating period. Vitellogenesis started in May or June, with oviposition occurring during June–July. Female fat bodies declined in size during the period of yolk deposition. A delay in the timing of reproductive events in 1 year was associated with adverse weather conditions during early spring. During the `good` year, reproduction was initiated early enough to allow some females to produce a second clutch. Both clutch size and egg size increased with female body length, but did not vary between years. Environmental factors that induced temporal variation in the timing of reproduction and clutch frequency did not affect clutch characteristics.

×

We discuss three aspects of the thermal biology of lacertid lizards. First, we provide an overview of the available data on field body temperatures (Tb), the thermal sensitivity of various performance functions and selected body temperatures in different species of lacertid lizards. We also briefly summarise information on the mechanisms of thermoregulation. Second, we discuss recent developments to estimate the »precision« of thermoregulation, and the contribution of distinct behavioural mechanisms. Finally, we revise available evidence for the existence of evolutionary adjustments of thermal characteristics in lacertid lizards. Existing studies have mainly dealt with within- and among-species differences in thermoregulatory behaviour (selected temperatures) and thermal physiology of adults (optimal temperatures, heating rates). Available data provide only limited evidence for clear-cut evolutionary shifts in thermal physiology characteristics along climatic gradients.

×

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

×

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

×

From July to October 2013, nine out of 40 Acanthodactylus nilsoni collected from Western Iran, showed clinical signs of dermatitis in the dorsal and ventral surface of neck and fingers. Therefore, the aim of this survey was to identify the fungal flora colonizing the skin of A. nilsoni using morphological and molecular studies. Nine isolates of Fusarium were obtained from infected lizard samples and identified as Fusarium proliferatum through study of morphological characters. In the present study, selected F. proliferatum isolates (USMGFSC 230-112, USMGFSC 186-113, and USMGFSC 33-114) were examined and phylogenetically analysed on the basis of partial sequences of the tef1 and tub2 genes. Sequence analysis supported the morphological data, and all isolates were placed within F. proliferatum species. This is the first report on morphological and molecular identification of F. proliferatum isolated from lizards’ dermatitis in Iran.

×

Socioeconomic factors (e.g. rural abandonment, monoculture plantations) and global warming are changing fire regimes (fire intensity, extent, and frequency) in fire-prone regions such as the Mediterranean Basin. Understanding the factors that shape responses of animal communities to fire is a key objective for biodiversity conservation. Given the substitution of native forests to pine plantations in many regions of the world, we studied whether forest type influences the responses to fire of reptile communities, in the African rim of the Western Mediterranean. Reptiles were sampled and vegetation structure measured in 2015 and 2016. We used generalized linear mixed models to examine the influence of fire, forest type (cork oak and pine), habitat structure and climate factors on two reptile-community metrics (abundance, species richness). Given possible differences in reptile detectability between unburnt and burnt transects, we used distance sampling models to estimate the density of the five commonest reptile species. The response of reptiles to fire varied between the two forest types: reptile abundance did not change with fire in cork oak forest, and increased with fire in pine plantation. Species richness was higher in cork oak forests, and increased from unburnt to burnt areas. Two out of five commonest lizards in the region, Acanthodactylus erythrurus and Podarcis vaucheri, responded positively to fire in pine plantation and remained similar in cork oak forest. Reptile communities were more similar between burnt and unburnt cork oak forests than between burnt and unburnt pine plantations, due to the reduced effect of fire on the former tree (a resprouter species) than on the latter (a seeder species). This work is the first field-based study examining the effects of fire on animal communities from north-western Africa. Overall, our results show that the response of reptiles to fire is shaped by forest type, and this conclusion has to be considered in fire-prone regions.

×

Fire is one of the main disturbances to terrestrial environments, transforming habitat structure and affecting community composition. Coupled with fire, forest type and vegetation structure modulate the taxonomic response to fire by ectotherm organisms such as reptiles. The response of each reptile species to fire is based on their functional attributes, which make some species resilient to fire and others vulnerable to that disturbance and only adapted to long-unburnt landscapes. We studied the functional response of a reptile community at 13 burnt sites within the African rim of the Western Mediterranean, and in two contrasting forest types, i.e. native cork oak forests (five sites) and pine plantations (eight sites). We compiled seven functional traits for the reptile species in the study areas, and quantified reptile functional diversity at each sampled plot. Variation in this index was examined from burnt to nearby unburnt plots, both in cork oak and pine forests, with generalized linear mixed models. Redundancy analysis was used to identify which functional traits were associated with particular plot types. We found 2149 individual reptiles from 15 species. The functional response of reptiles to fire was forest-type dependent: functional richness did not change with fire in cork oak forest plots, but increased with fire in the pine plantation ones. High reptile functional richness in cork oak plots was due to high species richness in this forest type. The functional-redundancy analysis showed that cork oak forest hosts a reptile community functionally composed of small Mediterranean ground- and rock-dwelling lizards. In pine plantation plots, however, saxicolous geckos and phytophagous tortoises indicate the availability of other microhabitat and food resources to be exploited by reptile species with different functional traits.

×

Results of 12 days fielwork on reptiles in Pendjari National Park (Benin).

×

Data about West African non-avian reptiles still remain scarce and, in particular, bibliography provides little information about the herpetofauna in the WAP complex pro- tected areas (W Transfrontier Biosphere Reserve, Arly and Pendjari Parks). At the request of ECOPAS project and with CIRAD financing we undertook, from May 2006 to November 2007, an herpetologi- cal survey of the W Transfrontier Biosphere Reserve straddling three countries : Niger, Benin and Burkina Faso. This study allowed us to record 83 reptiles species, which represents a high biodiversity for an African savanna area ; moreover we discovered a new species of cobra of the Naja haje group during this study in the W Reserve. Biogeographic analysis shows that, besides five ubiquitous species, most of the reptile species of the area (70%) are typically Sudanese savanna ones ; however a 17 Sahe- lo-Saharan species group enters the northern part of the area, while three typically guinean species extend to the southern part of the reserve through forest galleries.

×

An analysis of geographic distribution areas of the 41 taxa of Reptiles sampled or observed in the Aures massif is provided at two levels. At the overall level, eight groups of biogeographic affinities have been set apart; the number of mediterranean species (49 %) about equals that of saharian ones (46 %). 95 % of the total number of Reptiles species are of palearctic origin. At the regional level, we have distinguished three distribution types: (1) insular areas, isolated from populations of the neighbouring regions, with a continuous or a fragmented pattern in the Aurcs massif ; (2) parapatric areas with juxtaposed or overlapped ecological habitat ranges; (3) sympatric areas of allotopic or syntopic species. Hypothesis about origin and settlement of the Aures herpetofauna are infered.

×

A large number of reptiles from the Central African Republic (CAR) were collected during recent surveys conducted over six years (October 1990 to June 1996) and deposited at the Paris Natural History Museum (MNHN). This large collection of 4873 specimens comprises 86 terrapins and tortois- es, five crocodiles, 1814 lizards, 38 amphisbaenids and 2930 snakes, totalling 183 species from 78 local- ities within the CAR. A total of 62 taxa were recorded for the first time in the CAR, the occurrence of numerous others was confirmed, and the known distribution of several taxa is greatly extended. Based on this material and an additional six species known to occur in, or immediately adjacent to, the coun- try from other sources, we present a biogeographical analysis of the 189 species of reptiles in the CAR.

×

We have updated the list of the lizard species present in Qatar and produced the first distribution maps based on two field surveys in 2012 and 2013. We used the QND95/Qatar National Grid with a grid of 10 × 10 km squares for mapping. Our results show the occurrence of 21 lizard species in Qatar, from the 15 species indicated in the last biodiversity report conducted in 2004. The most abundant family found in Qatar is Gekkonidae with nine species (Bunopus tuberculatus, Cyrtopodion scabrum, Hemidactylus robustus, H. flaviviridis, H. persicus, Stenodactylus arabicus, S. slevini, S. doriae, Pseudoceramodactylus khobarensis), followed by Lacertidae with four species (Acanthodactylus schmidti, A. opheodurus, Mesalina brevirostris, M. adramitana), Agamidae with three species (Trapelus flavimaculatus, Uromastyx aegyptia, Phrynocephalus arabicus), Scincidae with two species (Scincus mitranus, Trachylepis septemtaeniata), and Varanidae (Varanus griseus), Sphaerodactylidae (Pristurus rupestris) and Trogonophiidae (Diplometopon zarudnyi) with one species each. The species richness fluctuated largely across Qatar between one and eleven species per grid square. We believe that the lizard fauna records in Qatar are still incomplete and that additional studies are required. However, our study here fills a gap concerning lizard biodiversity knowledge in the Gulf Region.

×

Specimens of this day-active lizard species were shown to possess an endogenous circadian rhythm of activity and rest, which is synchronized both by light-dark cycles and by regularly fluctuating temperatures. In continuous light at a constant temperature (31°C), the rhythm free-runs somewhat imprecisely, with a period of about 22.5 h as is to be expected in a diurnal animal, according to the “circadian rule”;. The ecological significance of the mode of rhythm synchronization is discussed.

×

Studies on the herpetofauna of Tunisia’s numerous islands and islets began in 2000 thanks to targeted research programs. The data collected were compared and merged with others reported in the literature, thus obtaining an updated and detailed checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles present on the Tunisian islands.

×

Dans ce (ravail nous faisons une synthese de quelques données que nous avons obtenu sur la distribution et I`écologie de I`herpétofaune portugaise. Naus faisons aussi référence à la fréquence de capture de ces animaux pendan! les différents mois de I`année et à leur occurrence dans les principales montagnes du pays.

×

The taxonomy of the fringe-toed lizards of the Acanthodactylus scutellatus group has long been unstable and no consensus exists on the systematic status of its various forms. A multivariate analysis of morphological characters, performed on over 1000 specimens from most of the African range of this group, allowed us to clarify the specific allocation of most of the Saharan populations included in this species group. Based on comparisons of morphology between allopatric and sympatric populations of this complex, we propose the recognition of six biological species. Our results confirm the specific status of Acanthodactylus aureus , A. dumerili , A. scutellatus, A. longipes and the recently described A. taghitensis . In addition, we re-validate A. senegalensis (occurring from Mauritania and Mali south to Senegal), which has been treated as a synonym of A. dumerili by previous authors. Acanthodactylus longipes is reported for the first time from coastal Mauritania, and A. taghitensis (previously known only from a very small region in Algeria) is reported from continental Mauritania. The systematic section of this paper includes a full list of examined material, diagnosis and known distribution of each species, in addition to some information on geographical variation and ecology. A key for specific identification is provided as an appendix.

×

In spiny-footed lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus), adult females (but not males) show conspicuous red colouration in the tail and hind legs. To investigate the function of this red colouring and proximal causes of seasonal colour change, we captured adult females before the reproductive season and kept them in captivity in one of the three following situations: with a male and fertilization possible, with a male and fertilization impossible, or with another female (fertilization also impossible). Colour was quantified using spectrophotometry. Red colouration increased shortly before the onset of reproduction, but faded during the breeding season and became whitish (light buff-gray) in all cases. Both fertilized and unfertilized females laid eggs or were gravid after two months of the experiment, but while fertilized females laid mostly fertile eggs, unfertilized females only laid infertile eggs. Both egg formation and colour change might be triggered by abiotic factors, although female characteristics also play a role, since heavier females changed colour and laid eggs earlier. Females interacting freely with a male were darker at the end of the breeding season than females separated from the male, indicating that fertilization or physical contact might also have an effect on colouration. Colour change patterns found in this study suggest that female red colouration might have a mating-related function, but do not support a courtship rejection function for the red colour. However, whitish colouration resulting from red fading might signal gravidity in this species. Future experimental manipulation of female colouration will be needed to test these hypotheses.

×

When integumentary tissue pigments are contained in chromatophores, tissue color might not depend exclusively on the amount of pigment. Whether coloration does or does not reflect pigment concentration may be very significant for intraspecific communication, for example when pigment concentration provides fitness-related information. We studied the pigment responsible for the orange/red ventral tail coloring in a lacertid lizard species (Acanthodactylus erythrurus), and whether the color was related to skin pigment concentration. The pigment was identified as a pterin, a higher concentration of which resulted in darker, more red-saturated, redder (less orange) ventral tail skin color. The dorsal tail integument, even though it appears mostly gray to the naked eye, also contained pterins, and furthermore, the dorsal and ventral pterin concentrations were positively correlated. A possible explanation for these results is that pterins accumulate in the skin of the whole tail, even if only needed in the ventral part, but are concealed in the dorsal part. In this way, ventral orange/red coloration would accurately reflect pterin concentration, which provides the basis for a signaling function, while dorsal coloration would become less conspicuous as an anti-predatory mechanism.

×

Acanthodactylus opheodurus ARNOLD 1980 ist im Gebiet zwischen Al Ain und dem Jebel Hafit (Emirat Abu Dhabi, Vereinigte Arabische Emirate) lokal regelmäßig anzutreffen, In der heißen Jahreszeit ist die Art ausschließlich morgens (07.30 – 10.30) an der Oberfläche aktiv und erbeutet die Nahrung (vorwiegend Ameisen) sowohl aktiv jagend als auch als Lauerjäger. Zum Zweck der Trhermoregulation, Beutefang und Feindvermeidung wird am häufigsten das Requisitangebot buschförmiger Haloxylon salicornicum und Acacia tortilis genutzt.

×

La présente étude vient apporter les premières données faunistiques et écologiques sur les amphibiens et reptiles en Kabylie de la Soummam, région dont, à notre connaissance, aucune étude n’a été consacrée à ce sujet auparavant. Le travail de terrain s’est étalé du début avril à fin juin 2006, en suivant un protocole d’échantillonnage par stations au niveau des principales zones humides de la région (cours d’eau permanents et mares temporaires) ainsi que de quelques milieux terrestres. Un total de 6 espèces d’amphibiens et 17 espèces de reptiles a été identifié dans la région. Les données recueillies sur le peuplement herpétologique et le milieu ont fait l’objet d’une discussion autour des aspects faunistiques, biogéographiques et écologiques de l’herpétofaune de la zone étudiée et dégager quelques pistes de recherche à développer dans l’avenir.

×

During herpetological fieldwork from April 2013 to March 2014 on the herpetofauna of the counties of Saravan, Sib and Suran, Zaboli, Sarbaz, and Chabahar in south east of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Southeastern Iran a total of 97 specimens of lizards belonging to 19 species and five subspecies, 16 genera, and six families were collected and identified as follows: Calotes versicolor, Laudakia nupta nupta, L. n. fusca, Phrynocephalus scutellatus, Trapelus agilis agilis (Agamidae); Agamura persica, Bunopus tuberculatus, Cyrtopodion scabrum (Gekkonidae); Acanthodactylus blanfordii, A. micropholis, Eremias fasciata, E. persica , Mesalina watsonana, Ophisops elegans (Lacertidae); Ablepharus grayanus, Eumeces schneiderii zarudnyi, Ophiomorus brevipes, O. tridactylus (Scincidae); Uromastyx asmussi (Uromastycidae); and Varanus griseus caspius (Varanidae). The most diverse families of the present collection are the Lacertidae with six species, followed by Agamidae and Scincidae each with four species. Detailed information of each lizard species was also provided.

×

In the present study a combination of laboratory and field enclosure experiments were carried out to investigate the sources of variation in growth rates among two elevationally distinct populations of the sand lizards, Acanthodactylus boskianus. Two experiments were conducted to identify the factors that explain the pattern of geographic variation of growth rates in this species. The hatchlings from the two elevation sites reared under identical laboratory conditioned grew at the same rate irrespective of their origin. This finding suggests that the observed differences in growth rate between these two populations were driven by environmental factors. On the other hand, the effect of site where hatchlings were reared was investigated by raising the hatchlings from high elevation site in outdoor enclosures located at low and high elevation sites. Lizards located in the high elevation site grew faster than lizard located at low one. This finding is consistent with the observed differences in growth between the natural populations inhabiting the two localities and emphasize that environmental factors may play a major role in explaining geographic variation in growth as an important parameter in life history traits.

×

Environmental demands that require intensive search for mates, food and nest sites are correlated with efficient spatial memory in many mammalian and avian species. This convergence of evidence has led to the view that spatial memory, and the neurological structures associated with it, have been selected in niches that require memory for the location of goal objects. Whether such evolutionary demands are also correlated with nonspatial abilities that require flexible use of associations similar to those required for spatial memory has not been well studied. In addition, correlations between niche types and the use of spatial or nonspatial memory have not been investigated in nonmammalian, nonavian taxa. In this study, we investigated the relationship between foraging strategies and performance on two tasks, one spatial and the other nonspatial, in congeneric lizard species:Acanthodactylus boskianus, an active forager that collects clumped sedentary prey,Acanthodactylus scutellatus, a sit-and-wait predator that collects distributed mobile prey. The two species did not differ in their performance of a spatial memory task, butA. boskianus, the active forager, performed better on the reversal of a visual discrimination, a nonspatial task. These findings question the generality of the spatial adaptation model for vertebrates. We present the pliancy hypothesis, which we developed to account for these results.

×

Comparative analyses were carried out about the variability of the pileal shields of different species belonging to the family Lacertidae. The results of the comparisons have been evaluated in respect to the phylogenetical relationships existing between the different genera and species of the family.

×

It is well known that lizard species from thermally diverse areas differ in their use of thermoregulatory behaviors as a means of making short-term adjustments to differences in ambient conditions. In contrast, the extent of long-term adjustments in thermal physiology is poorly documented and still under debate. In this study we report a clear interspecific relationship between heating rates, measured under standardized laboratory conditions, and environmental temperatures within a small clade of lacertid lizards. Phylogenetically based ANCOVAs demonstrate that species with a northern or montane distribution warm at a faster mass-specific rate than do species from a southern (Mediterranean) climatic zone. Correlational analyses, using phylogenetically independent contrasts, confirm that continuous among-species variation in mass-specific heating rates is negatively related to clinal differences in environmental temperatures. A reduction of the time spent warming, associated with higher heating rates, should be especially advantageous for lizards from cool climates, which bask for large amounts of time. Thus, the observed relation between heating rates and climatic conditions could be a result of adaptive evolution. The behaviorally selected preferred temperatures were lower, but not significantly so, in the northern or montane species set; interspecific correlations with ambient temperatures were positive but not significant. However, the divergence of heating rates and the statistically nonsignificant difference in preferred temperatures have similar impacts on variation in the estimated amount of time spent heating. Thus, differences in both heating rate, a physiological trait, and preferred temperature, a behavioral characteristic, contribute equally to variation in heating times.

×

Zoogeographically, the Jordanian herpetofauna is heterogeneous, originating from four biogeographical regions (Oriental, Palearctic, Saharo-Sindian, and Afrotropical) and occupying four different ecozones. Ninetythree species and subspecies of amphibians and reptiles are recorded from Jordan, showing different distribution patterns. The Mediterranean ecozone harbours the highest number (35) of recorded species, followed by the Sudanian Tropical penetration zone (16), and the Badyiah ecozone (12), respectively. Jordan is not separated by natural boundaries from the surrounding countries, which prevents the operation of isolation mechanisms, and seems to result in the absence of endemism. There are, however, three areas of endemism within the Eastern Mediterranean region taken as one whole unit: the Badyiah shared by Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, the northern part of the Mediterranean ecozone shared by Lebanon, Israel, Syria and Jordan, and southwest Jordan, Israel and Sinai. Some Palearctic species such as Coluber schmidti and C. ravergieri are relicts of the postglacial period and continue to survive in refugal enclaves with delicate ecological patterns. The distribution of some species, such as Bufo viridis, Mauremys caspica rivulata, Natrix tessellata, Coluber ventromaculatus, C. jugularis asianus, Walterinnesia aegyptia, and Vipera palaestinae, has been greatly influenced by climatic as well as anthropogenic changes.

×

The lizard fauna of Jordan is very diverse and forms 55.5% of the terrestrial herpetofauna of the country. Lizard species of Arabian origin form the highest percentage (43%) of the lizards, followed by Saharo-Sindian (35%), Palaearctic (20%) and only 2% with Afrotropical affinities. 69.1% of the lizard species inhabit two ecozones: Badia (Eastern Desert); and Wadi Araba and Wadi Rum. The Badia may form the focal point for the evolution of certain Acanthodactylus species. Jordan forms the southernmost limit of the distribution of some Palaearctic species (i.e. Lacerta media, L. laevis, Pseudopus apodus) and they inhabit the Mediterranean ecozone. The presence of diverse habitats in Jordan allowed certain allopatric congeneric species of the genus Ptyodactylus to live in isolation from one another. Southern Jordan and Wadi Rum are part of the Levantine land bridge and act as a “biogeographical filter”. Most of the species found in Wadi Rum are of Arabian affinities and their distribution does not extend towards the west.

×

Zoogeographically, the Syrian herpetofauna is heterogeneous, originating from four biogeographical regions (Oriental, Palearctic, Saharo-Sindian and Afrotropical) and is characterized by the presence of five ecozones. 50% of the terrestrial herpetofaunal species are of palaearetic affinity while 32.3%, 14.6% and 3.1% are of Saharo-Sindian, Arabian and Afrotropical affinities, respectively. Five records of reptiles are new to the Syrian fauna: Emys orbicularis, Acanthodactylus opheodurus, Acanthodactylus schreiben syriacus, Pseudotrapelus sinaitus, Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis, and Lepto- typhlops macrorhynchus; Coluber rogersi is reported for the second time. An updated list of the herpetofauna of Syria is given.

×

Uncertainties on species taxonomy and distribution are major factors hampering efficient conservation planning in the current context of biodiversity erosion, even concerning widespread and abundant species in relatively well-studied regions. Species delimitation have long been based on phylogenetic analyses of a small number of standard markers, but accurate lineage identification through this approach can be hampered by incomplete lineage sorting, introgression or isolation by distance. In that context, analyses of introgression patterns at secondary contact zones offer an interesting alternative by allowing a direct estimation of reproductive isolation, especially when using genome-wide markers. Here, we investigated a contact zone between two genetic groups of the Spiny-footed Lizard Acanthodactylus erythrurus (Schinz, 1833) in Morocco, whose status as separate lineages remained disputed in previous multilocus studies. Based on thousands of genome-wide markers obtained through a RADseq approach, we confirmed that they represent distinct evolutionary lineages. Furthermore, the transition at their contact zone was very steep, with spatially restricted gene flow, highlighting levels of reproductive isolation consistent with species-level lineages. Our study further illustrates the power of RADseq-based studies of contact zones to understand cryptic diversity in non-model organisms.

×

We calculated growth rate for the spiny-footed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) inhabiting coastal eastern Spain from long-term mark-recapture data. Growth curves differ between sexes, with males growing faster than females and achieving larger size maximums. In this population each sex reaches maturity at about 300 days of age, approximately 34% faster than males, and 28% faster than females studied in a population further south and west in Iberia. Our logarithmic growth model has an accuracy of 96.8% and high statistical significance (r = 0.96 for males and r = 0.97 for females). Although both the exponential curve of “best fit” for growth estimated for males (r = 0.81), and the linear curve of “best fit” estimated for females (r = 0.77) in a population from Cádiz (Busack and Jaksic, 1982) are also significant. The overlap between growth curves and the general data cloud of the population showed that at the end of the year the proportion of individuals younger than one year was 80% and the proportion of individuals older than one year was 20%. Our data, in agreement with calculated maximum life spans for males (1.9 years) and females (2.1 years) in Cádiz, suggest a life span of approximately two years for both sexes. Females seem to reproduce only in a unique season in their lives, at this locality, as in Cádiz (Busack and Klosterman, 1987) they likely lay only one clutch, whereas females in Morocco (Bons, 1962) may produce two.

×

There are many factors affecting population dynamics, both abiotic and biotic. One of the most important biotic factors affecting different ecological aspects of a species is competition. But there is relatively little research focussing on the effect of competition on population dynamics. Thus, we studied population dynamics of three insectivorous lizard species (Acanthodactylus erythrurus, Psammodromus algirus and Psammodromus edwardsianus) which cohabit in our study area. We carried out periodic censuses and samplings during 2015 and 2017. Our results seem to confirm that a high level of competition can alter some aspects of population dynamics. Also body size seems to play a role, as most adjustments we detected were related to small size classes and the most affected species was P. edwardsianus. Some possible responses to competition we detected were an advance of the reproduction period, increased growth rates and biasing the sex ratio notably towards males (as higher testosterone levels lead to more aggression and this improves success rates in interspecific encounters). However, our study area is highly anthropized and further research is needed to discern if these adjustments are really exclusively related to competition or if human disturbance also plays a role.

×

We calculated growth rate for the spiny-footed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) inhabiting coastal eastern Spain from long-term mark-recapture data. Growth curves differ between sexes, with males growing faster than females and achieving larger size maximums. In this population each sex reaches maturity at about 300 days of age, approximately 34% faster than males, and 28% faster than females studied in a population further south and west in Iberia. Our logarithmic growth model has an accuracy of 96.8% and high statistical significance ( r = 0.96 for males and r = 0.97 for females). Although both the exponential curve of “best fit” for growth estimated for males (r = 0.81), and the linear curve of “best fit” estimated for females ( r = 0.77) in a population from Cadiz (Busack & Jaksic, 1982) are also significant. The overlap between growth curves and the general data cloud of the population showed that at the end of the year the proportion of individuals younger than one year was 80% and the proportion of individuals older than one year was 20%. Our data, in agreement with calculated maximum life spans for males (1.9 years) and females (2.1 years) in Cadiz, suggest a life span of approximately two years for both sexes. Females seem to reproduce only in a unique season in their lives, at this locality, as in Cadiz (Busack & Klosterman, 1987) they likely lay only one clutch, whereas females in Morocco (Bons, 1962) may produce two.

×

Trophic ecology is one of the most important aspects of a species’ ecology and it is crucial when trying to assess how different species interact in an ecosystem. Showing how the diet intraspecifically changes in different body sizes, sexes or habitats and how trophic resources are shared interspecifically allows to understand how the ecosystem functions. With this objective, we studied the diet and trophic ecology of Acanthodactylus erythrurus, Psammodromus algirus and Psammodromus edwardsianus, which are in syntropy in the Albufera de Valencia Natural Park. We collected a total of 485 faecal samples and could identify 18 different prey groups. The main prey groups in A. erythrurus were Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Hemiptera; in P. algirus, Lepidoptera, Arachnida, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera and Orthoptera; and in P. edwardsianus, Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Arachnida. Our results show that A. erythrurus seems to be the most specialized species, having the lowest values of trophic niche amplitude and the lowest intraspecific diet variation. Although this species is known to feed mainly on ants, our results indicate that mirmecophagy seems to be especially important in juveniles. Indeed we observed in all three species a niche separation between small and big individuals, indicating that diet changes with age. We could also evidence a resource partitioning between A. erythrurus and P. algirus, presenting a niche overlap of only 51.6%. In conclusion, there are various factors playing together shaping the diet of a species in a certain environment: behavioural, ecological, environmental and physiological factors.

×

Substrate variations are likely to constrain animal performance in natural environments, as running over complex terrains challenges the dynamic stability of the body differently in each step. Yet, being able to negotiate complex terrains at top speed is a strong advantage for animals that have to deal with predators and evasive prey. Little is known on how animals negotiate such terrain variability at high speed. We investigated this in fast-running Acanthodactylus boskianus lizards, by measuring their 3D kinematics using four synchronised high-speed video cameras (325 Hz) on an adaptable racetrack. This racetrack was covered with four different substrates, representing increasing levels of terrain complexity. We found that the lizards deal with this complexity gradient by gradually adopting more erect parasagittal leg postures. Legs in a more-erect position are more compliant and are therefore highly adjustable on complex terrains. Additionally, the lizards stabilise their head, which facilitates vestibular and visual perception. Together, compliant legs and head stabilisation enable the lizards to minimise movements of the body centre of mass, even when running on highly irregular terrains. This suggests that the head and the centre of mass are the priority targets for running on uneven terrains. As a result, running performance (mean forward speed) decreases only slightly, and only on the most challenging substrate under investigation.

×

While running, small animals frequently encounter large terrain variations relative to their body size, therefore, terrain variations impose important functional demands on small animals. Nonetheless, we have previously observed in lizards that running specialists can maintain a surprisingly good running performance on very uneven terrains. The relatively large terrain variations are offset by their capacity for leg adjustability that ensures a ‘smooth ride’ of the centre of mass (CoM). The question as to how the effect of an uneven terrain on running performance and locomotor costs differs between species exhibiting diverse body build and locomotor specializations remains. We hypothesise that specialized runners with long hind limbs can cross uneven terrain more efficiently than specialized climbers with a dorso-ventrally flattened body and equally short fore and hind limbs. This study reports 3D kinematics using high-speed videos (325 Hz) to investigate leg adjustability and CoM movements in two lacertid lizards (Acanthodactylus boskianus, running specialist; Podarcis muralis, climbing specialist). We investigated these parameters while the animals were running on a level surface and over a custom-made uneven terrain. We analysed the CoM dynamics, we evaluated the fluctuations of the positive and negative mechanical energy, and we estimated the overall cost of transport. Firstly, the results reveal that the climbers ran at lower speeds on flat level terrain but had the same cost of transport as the runners. Secondly, contrary to the running specialists, the speed was lower and the energy expenditure higher in the climbing specialists while running on uneven terrain. While leg movements adjust to the substrates’ variations and enhance the stability of the CoM in the running specialist, this is not the case in the climbing specialist. Although their legs are kept more extended, the amplitude of movement does not change, resulting in an increase of the movement of the CoM and a decrease in locomotor efficiency. These results are discussed in light of the respective (micro-)habitat of these species and suggest that energy economy can also be an important factor for small vertebrates.

×

A total of 45 lizards (Acanthodactylus harranensis [n = 15], Acanthodacthylus schreiberi [n = 9] and Mesalina brevirostris [n = 21]) were collected from South and Southeastern Regions of Turkey and examined for helminth fauna. Acanthodactylus harranensis harbored 1 species of Nematoda (Skrjabinodon sp.), 1 species of Cestoda (Oochoristica tuberculata) and 1 species of Acanthocephala (Centrorhynchus sp. [cystacanth]). Acanthodactylus schreiberi harbored unidentified cysticercoids. Mesalina brevirostris harbored 1 species of Nematoda (Spauligodon saxicolae). All lizards represents new host records for the helminths reported in this study.

×

Oxygen consumption (OC) and total evaporative water loss (EWL) were measured simultaneously in males of four species of fringed-toed lizards, Acanthodactylus (Lacertidae), at ambient temperatures of 25 C to 45 C during the summer. In Israel these four species occupy habitats of different aridity. Lizards of the genus Acanthodactylus are not exceptional in their low OC or EWL when compared to other xeric lizards discussed in the present paper. However, a correlation was found in the four species between the aridity of the habitat and the OC, EWL and the Q₁₀ values of OC and EWL at the lizards` range of activity temperatures. These findings support the concept that lowering of OC, EWL and their Q₁₀ values are important in the adaptation of a lizard for life in the desert, even within a single genus.

×

Mean body temperature (MBT) at activity in outdoor cages was measured in small lizards of four species of Acanthodactylus (Lacertidae). All species were found to be thermophilic; the MBT of A. schreiberi is 40.6 C, A. boskianus 39.2 C, A. scutellatus-39.3 C, and that of A. pardalis-37.8 C. No significant differences in MBT were found between A. boskianus and A. scutellatus. Statistically significant to highly significant differences were found comparing other pairs of species. Significant differences in MBT between A. schreiberi and A. scutellatus may allow sympatry in some places. Heat absorption by lizards in outdoor cages was mainly from the substratum. Cloacal temperatures adjust to changes in substratum temperature within 5 minutes even when the lizards are exposed to direct sunlight. These lizards can be regarded as primarily thigmothermic species that occasionally bask.

×

Cornea is the first optical element in the path of light entering the eye, playing a role in image formation and protection of the eye. The smooth optical surface of the cornea is maintained by a tear film, which adheres to a variety of microprojections. The present study aimed to examine and compare the main features of the corneal epithelial surface of a variety of vertebrate species (Rana ridibunda, Acanthodactylus boskianus, Falco tinnunculus and Gerbillus gerbillus) inhabiting different environments, by scanning electron microscopy. The mean epithelial cell densities of the present species were 3817±423, 5345±1247, 6234±2136 and 1789±216 cells/ mm², respectively. The corneal epithelium of all studied species showed similarity in that the apical cell surfaces possess regular polygonal cells and a variety of microprocesses as microholes, microplicae and microridges. Microvilli are also described. According to the densities of these microprocesses, three polymorphic cell types (light, medium and dark) appeared in R. ridibunda, A. boskianus and F. tinnunculus. However, in G. gerbillus, two cell types only were observed. In conclusion, variation in the structure of the corneal epithelial cells appears to be related to the living environment of each species, such as aerial, terrestrial and aquatic ones, in addition to some phylogenetic trends.

×

In the present work, the structure of the tongue has been described in the context of its functional phylogenetic significance in 7 species of lizards inhabiting Damietta; Acanthodactylus boskianus (Bosc`s lizard), Acanthodactylus scutellatus (Nidua lizard), Mabuya quinquetaeniata (Bean skink), Mabuya vittata (Banded skink), Chalcides ocellatus (Ocellated skink), Hemidactylus turcicus (Warty gecko) and Chamaeleo africanus (African chameleon). There is similarity in gross appearance of the tongue between species. The tongue is bifurcated. Based on regional differences in surface morphology, the dorsum of the tongue can be divided into 3 regions. Histological examination revealed that in Acanthodactylus boskianus and Acanthodactylus scutellatus the tongue structure is nearly the same. In addition, there is a great similarity in tongue structure between Mabuya quinquetaeniata and Mabuya vittata. On the other hand, tongue musculature is the same in all studied species in chameleon which belong to another sister group.

×

Field and laboratory studies of thermal relations, metabolism and winter dormancy were conducted on the sand lizard, Acanthodactylus boskianus. During daily activity times the lizards were slightly, but significantly warmer than their environment. The standard metabolic rate was exponentially related to temperature. The maximum Q10 (3.86) occurred between 25 and 30°C and minimum one (1.56) between 35 and 40°C. There was no evidence of dormancy or reduced metabolism due to reduced temperature (to 15°C) in summer. Oxygen consumption was essentially the same in the field lizards and in captive ones held either in outdoor cages or at 15°C in summer, when measured at 15°C or 35°C, but consumption was significantly higher in both groups than in field animals when measured at 25deg;C. Lizards become dormant when exposed continuously to short photoperiods in winter. This lizard could not be maintained in an active condition through winter under laboratory conditions used successfully to keep other local lizards active. Despite the length of photoperiods used (8 h/day or 16 h/day), both groups showed a significantly reduced metabolic rate at 15°C comparable to those measured at 25°C or above. Therefore, dormancy and metabolic rate are controlled independently. The winter dormancy is controlled by reduced photoperiod, but lower metabolic rate is controlled by reduced temperature.

×

Morocco has a great diversity of reptiles; more than 26% of the herpetofauna species are considered to be endemic. Nevertheless, there is little information available on helminth parasites of Moroccan lizards. The purpose of this article is to establish a helminth list using non-invasive methods for natural populations of seven lizard species: Acanthodactylus maculatus, Chalcides mionecton, Chalcides montanus, Chalcides polylepis, Quedenfeldtia moerens, Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus, and Tarentola mauritanica. For each species, prevalence and intensity of infection were given as well as their relationship to some determinant parameters (sex, age class, size, altitude, and seasons). Four species of nematodes, Parapharyngodon micipsae, Pharyngodon mamillatus, Spauligodon auziensis, Thelandros alatus, and unassigned Spauligodon were found. Mean helminth intensity for the seven lizard species was 7.3 ± 16.2 SD (range = 1–92 in infected lizards), with total infection prevalence of 5.6%. Mixed infections were observed in Chalcides montanus and Chalcides polylepis co-infected by Pharyngodon mamillatus and Spauligodon sp. Furthermore, the intensity of infection by nematodes were significantly different among the seven studied species. The nematode infection in Chalcides mionecton were related to sex, host size, and altitude; in Chalcides polylepis to the host age; in Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus to elevation, age, and host size; and in Tarentola Mauritanica to age, body size, seasons, and altitude. In conclusion, our study provides data about nine new host and locality records and the effect of some determinant factors on host parasitism.

×

Despite global efforts to halt biodiversity loss, it continues to decline due to a combination of unsustainable actions, increasing the urgency for measures to reverse this trend. A major constraint regarding efficient biodiversity management is the lack of knowledge on most species` population size and abundance patterns. Reptiles are used in ecological research as model organisms due to their ease in handling, and their diversity in behaviour and ecology. Reptile diversity of Cyprus is high and includes several endemic species. The aim of this study was to compare lizard diversity patterns along riverbanks within and around designated protected areas. Riparian habitats have received less attention in conservation-oriented studies in Mediterranean regions, despite their ecological significance and the distinct communities they host, or their vulnerability to climate change. The role of environmental factors, seasonality, and habitat heterogeneity for lizard assemblages in riparian areas was evaluated along three rivers that flow inside and outside protected areas. The abundances of the four more common species (Ophisops elegans, Phoenicolacerta troodica, Laudakia cypriaca, and Acanthodactylus schreiberi) were evaluated separately. We recorded most of Cyprus’ lizard species in riparian habitats, but diversity and richness were not associated with any of the explanatory variables. The abundances of the four species exhibited different relationships each with elevation, season, and protection status, but not with habitat heterogeneity. The latter could be related to the fact that riparian habitat heterogeneity patterns are very similar throughout the study sites. Our results suggest that Cyprus’ lizard diversity and riparian habitats have not been considered much in the design of protected areas.

×

Reptiles are a successful group in subtropical arid regions. However, little is known about the drivers that influence the diversity of arid reptile communities. One approach is to investigate the variation in phylogenetic structure of the communities along a broad environmental gradient. In this study, I investigated these patterns in the communities of lacertids at the periphery of the Sahara Desert in Tunisia. The effect of the environment was assessed based on a set of variables describing the climate, topography, substrate and cover of perennial vegetation. The phylogenetic alpha diversity was described using the mean pairwise distance (MPD) and the mean nearest taxon distance (NTD) metrics. The analyses showed that the lacertid species could be clustered into three main ecological groups: mesic (Podarcis vaucheri, Psammodromus algirus, Psammodromus blanci, Timon pater), xeric (Acanthodactylus blanci, Acanthodactylus boskianus, Acanthodactylus maculatus, Mesalina olivieri, Ophisops occidentalis), and hyperxeric (Acanthodactylus dumerilii, Acanthodactylus longipes, Acanthodactylus scutellatus, Mesalina guttulata). The analyses also indicated that environment had a weak influence on species richness (15.7% of explained variance), but a strong effect on the phylogenetic (76.5% NTD, 89.5% MPD) structure. The lacertid communities tended to be phylogenetically clustered on sandy substrates under arid climate conditions, and overdispersed under more humid climatic conditions.

×

Fezzan province (Libya) is a segment of true Sahara, is characterized by diverse habitats that are utilized as shelters and feeding ground for many desert wildlife species. Oases with water table near the surface are the most prominent feature in the Libyan desert. The diversity in habitats resulted in diversity in wildlife, as well as the plant cover (trees and bushes) is the most effective factor for the existence and the abundance of wild animals, in particular bird species. This study observed many species of reptiles, birds and mammals. In the study is also reported the rock hyrax Procavia capensis Pallas, 1766 (Hyracoidea Procaviidae) a rare and endemic species at the area.

×

Hyalomma franchinii is a three-host tick with one life cycle per year under natural conditions. The immature stages of Hy. franchinii parasitize lizards and, less commonly, rodents. Adult hosts are camels, cattle, sheep and donkeys. Immature stages are found on lizards all year around, having been recorded on Acanthodactylus boskianus, Acanthodactylus schreiberi, Acanthodactylus scutellatus and Agama mutabilis according to data summarised by Apanaskevich et al. (2008). Adults appear to be most common during the cooler months of the year. Observations in Egypt (July and August) mentioned a duration of egg development of about 25 days, and a duration of larval moult of about 14–16 days (recorded in September–October)

×

Western Iran in general and Ilam province in particular, has unique geographical and climatic conditions that support a rich flora and fauna. In view of the lack of in-depth studies of lizards of the region, an investigation was initiated in most areas of Ilam Province for an inventory of lizard species and their habitats. A total of 189 specimens were collected and identified from May 2005 to August 2009. Twenty one species belonging to 18 genera and 8 families were represented, including Agamidae: Laudakia nupta, Trapelus lessonae (formerly T. ruderatus), Trapelus ruderatus (formerly T. persicus); Eublepharidae: Eublepharis angramainyu; Gekkonidae: Bunopus tuberculatus, Cyrtopodion scabrum, Cyrtopodion heterocercum, Hemidactylus persicus, Stenodactylus affinis, Tropiocolotes helenae; Lacertidae: Acanthodactylus boskianus, Apathya cappadocica, Mesalina brevirostris, Ophisops elegans; Phyllodactylidae: Asaccus elisae; Scincidae: Ablepharus pannonicus, Eumeces schneiderii, Trachylepis aurata, Trachylepis vittata; Uromastycidae: Uromastyx loricatus; Varanidae: Varanus griseus griseus, Varanus griseus caspius. Comparing this list to the data provided by Anderson (1999), several lizards are reported for the first time in this region. With six species represented, gekkonids have the highest species diversity in the area.

×

Monfragüe National Park (Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain) is a protected area in central‐western Iberia, including some of the best preserved primary Mediterranean vegetation. Legal protection dates back to 1979 (first as a Natural Park and then as a National Park), but knowledge about its reptile communities is so far limited to sparse records. In this paper we present an updated species list based on 521 records covering 163 1x1 km UTM grids in the study area, compiled in the period 2000‐2019. We detected 20 native species, representing 71.4% of the reptile fauna in Extremadura and 35% of the ibero‐balearic reptile fauna. Additionally, based on molecular analyses populations of the amphisbaenid genus Blanus in the study area are assigned to the oriental Iberian taxon, B. cinereus. The new records extend the known distribution of the different reptile species in the study area in 56 10x10 km UTM grids. Species presenting more restricted distributions in Monfragüe are Lacerta schreiberi (one 1x1 grid), Emys orbicularis, and Acanthodactylus erythrurus (four 10x10 grids each).

×

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

×

In Tunesia during the second half of the month October six species of amphibians and reptiles were seen: Rana ridibunda perezi (Sousse), Bufo v. viridis (Sousse, Enfida), Tarentola mauritanica (Sousse), Psammodromus algirus (Sousse, El Djem, Hammamet). Arab names for amphibian (Hammamet), Acanthodactylus sp. (Hammamet) and Lacerta lepida pater (El Fahs), and reptile species, given by boys from Enfida, differ on many points from the names given by Doumergue (1901) for the region of Oran.

×

We have used mitochondrial 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and nuclear β-fibrinogen (intron 7) sequences to investigate the phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships between Acanthodactylus erythrurus group species (except for A. boueti). The phylogenetic analyses of the Acanthodactylus genus did not cluster A. guineensis and A. savignyi with the remaining species of the group (A. blanci, A. lineomaculatus and A. erythrurus). Within the A. erythrurus group, the results of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nDNA) showed a complex phylogeny with geographic structure, but it was not congruent with the present taxonomy. Some taxonomic units, such as A. blanci, A. lineomaculatus, A. e. atlanticus and A. e. belli did not form monophyletic genetic units. The application of a molecular clock suggested that the uplift of the Atlas Mountains in the mid-late Miocene and the reopening of the Strait of Gibraltar could be major biogeographic events responsible for the genetic differentiation in the group. Additionally, diverse micro-evolutionary patterns due to the recent contraction/expansion phases of the habitats in North Africa associated with the high dispersal capabilities of these lizards could be related to the complex phylogenetic patterns observed.

×

he systematics of the genus Acanthodactylus was classically based on external morphological traits, osteological characters and morphology of the hemipenes. Although the identification of sepcies complexes is relatively easy, the destinction within some groups is difficult due to a high variability of the external morphology. Partial mitochondrial (12S and 16S rRNA) sequences (371 and 499 base pairs, respectively) were analysed from 32 specimens of the A. pardalis group from northern Africa including the described species A. busacki, A. maculatus, A. mechriguensis and A. pardalis. Several highly distinct genetic units were resolved, but with little support for relationships between them. These units did not coincide with current taxonomic units, but showed geographic structuring. Although the A. pardalis group displays significant variation, the present taxonomy of the group must be considered unsatisfactory since it is not supported by genetic evidence. For some forms, such as A. mechriguensis there is no support and it is suggested that it should by synonymized with A. maculatus. More data are clearly needed for other forms. Complex microevolutionary patterns due to the recent contraction/expansion phases of the Sahara Desert probably are related with the phylogenetiv patterns observed.

×

Herpetological observations in Portugal and southern Spain (Cota Doñana and Sierra del Norte in Andalusia) In the first week of March 2008 a group of sixteen herpetologists visi- ted the Cota Doñana in the south of Portugal and the Sierra del Norte in Andalusia in Spain to look for reptiles and amphibians. The Cota Doñana is a wetland area close to the Mediterranean, with three types of landscapes (dunes, wetlands and shrub lands). The Sierra del Norte is a mountainous area and one of the warmest parts of southern Spain with shrub lands (maquis), low trees and Mediterranean herbs. A lot of species have been found (see table 2), though in relatively low quan- tities.

×

Herpetological trip to Israel in 2016 A combination of a long lasting wish to visit the Middle East and motivated by a book of Bar & Haimovitch (2012) we undertook a trip to Israel in the period April 11- 21 2016. The field guide mentions 92 reptile and amphibian species occurring in Israel. Besides that you can find a lot of other animals in Israel, amongst which specific birds, mammals and eighteen species of scorpions (Stockmann & Ythier, 2010). We had five accommodations (two days each) from the most northern part (the Golan Heights to the most southern part of Israel (Eilat). In the table you can see what kind of reptiles and scorpions we discovered in specific regions of Israel. We thank Aviad, Aviv and Ilian for their enthusiastic support and hospitality and Gert-Jan for his support to organize this trip.

×

Observations on Acanthodactylus erythrurus in the area of Matalascañas south spain, are reported.

×

in Vorkommen von Acanthodactylus schreiberi schreiberi BOULENGER, 1879, der bislang als Endemit Zyperns galt, wird erstmals aus der Türkei gemeldet. Morphologisch stimmen die vier gesammelten Exemplare aus der Umgebung der Siedlungen Botaş und Yukari Burnaz, Provinz Antakya (Hatay), vollkommen mit Vergleichsmaterial aus Zypern überein; ebenso zweifelsfrei ist der Mangel an Übereinstimmung mit A. schreiberi syriacus BOETTGER, 1878 aus dem Libanon und Israel. Das möglicherweise allochthone türkische Vorkommen der Art scheint auf nur einen spärlich bewachsenen, größeren Dünengürtel beschränkt zu sein, da A. schreiberi in strukturell identischen, benachbarten Gebieten der osttürkischen Mittelmeerküste nicht nachgewiesen werden konnte. An den Fundstellen war die Art mit Aktivitätsdichten von bis zu 4-5 Exemplaren auf 100 m² häufig.

×

The 84 lizards of the Franchini Collection in the Museum of Natural History and Scientific Instrumentation of Moderni has been re-evaluated. A deal of incorrectly determined and unidentified material has now been identified, and the nomenclature of correctly identified specimens has been updated to conform to modern usage. The collection now includes- 34 species, almost all from Somalia or Libia.

×

In many animal taxa, conspicuous colouration is a visual signal used for communication purposes among conspecifics or heterospecifics. This kind of colouration may have different functions depending on the body part where it is present and also depending on the age or reproductive status of the individual showing it. Conspicuous colouration is common in lizards, and spiny-footed lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) are particularly good subjects to test different hypotheses explaining the functions of conspicuous colouration and possible changes in these functions during ontogeny, as hatchlings develop conspicuous red colouration on the ventrolateral part of their tails that spreads towards the hind limbs in juveniles. This colouration is lost when males achieve sexual maturity, but is retained, and even enhanced, in adult females while they are sexually receptive, although it is lost when they become gravid. In this PhD thesis we addressed several possible functions of the red colouration in spiny-footed lizards. One hypotheses is the possible function of red colouration as an antipredatory mechanism. We tested whether red colouration in individuals of all age classes was related to their risky behaviours, so we recorded lizard behaviour in the field and calculated several indices of lizard activity, the use of open areas far from refuges and stereotyped movements of limbs and tail. We found that redder (less orange) individuals spent more time further from refuges, a result consistent with the antipredatory function of red colouration. We also tested whether red colouration in the tail of hatchlings was a decoy for avian predators. Using plasticine and plaster lizard models with red or striped dark and light tails, both in the field and with a common lizard predator (Falco tinnunculus) in captivity, we found that red tails increased model conspicuousness in the field, but also that they were an effective decoy for avian predators, diverting attacks from vulnerable body parts towards the tail, thus supporting the antidepredatory function. Another hypothesis about the function of conspicuous colouration in juveniles (the aggression-avoidance hypothesis) states that it reduces aggression from adult conspecifics. Therefore, we tested the influence of juvenile red colouration on the aggression received from adults by conducting videotaped encounters in captivity between adults of both sexes and juveniles that showed either their natural red colouration, or a painted red or white colouration covering their natural red parts. Our results supported the hypothesis, as redder juveniles received less adult aggression. When conspicuous colouration is present in adults, it is commonly associated with sexual selection. Therefore, we tested whether red colouration in adult females, that has already been suggested to have a mating-related function, is used by males in mate selection. We presented adult males with pairs of females differing in their age/size/sexual maturity (adult or juvenile) and/or their colour (red or white) and recorded the time the male spent near or in contact with each female. We found that males spent more time near adult females regardless of their colour, and within adult females, they preferred the red ones, suggesting that female red colouration is a sexual ornament. Red colouration might be providing information about the female reproductive status, and to test this hypothesis we studied the possible link between colouration and female sex steroid hormones that regulate their reproductive cycle, specifically β-estradiol and progesterone. We explored natural variation of colouration and hormone levels along the reproductive cycle, determined the relationships between colouration and hormones and, finally, experimentally manipulated plasma β-estradiol and progesterone concentrations to check the effects on colouration. Our results suggest that red colour in adult females signals the reproductive status, i.e., fertility, as redder females were closer to ovulation. Moreover, high concentrations of either β-estradiol alone or β-estradiol together with progesterone trigger the loss of red colouration immediately following ovulation. In conclusion, red colouration in spiny-footed lizards is a multifunctional signal that is used for different purposes at different age classes. Signals are costly to produce, so using the same signal for different functions or reutilizing the same signal at different age classes should have advantages. In spiny-footed lizards, the retraction of the red colouration to more ventral parts along the ontogenetic process suggests that predation pressures might be modulating the expression of the signal, and points out that individuals of different age classes may be suffering very different selective pressures. This study is also a good example of how signals can change during the evolutionary process, and provides evidences about the conservation of a multifunctional signal during the ontogeny of a species, something poorly studied.

×

In many animal taxa, coloration is a visual signal used for communication among conspecifics, for example between age classes. Juvenile coloration has been hypothesized to reduce aggression from adults in some species, in what is called the aggression avoidance hypothesis. Spiny-footed lizards are good subjects for testing this hypothesis, as juveniles develop conspicuous red coloration on their hind limbs and tails that fades in adulthood. To test the influence of juvenile coloration on adult aggressiveness, we conducted videotaped encounters in captivity between adults of both sexes and juveniles with their natural red coloration, or experimentally painted either red or white on their natural red parts. Then we recorded the number of times juveniles were bitten and attacked. In unpainted juveniles, no significant relationship was found between juvenile coloration (brightness, red chroma or hue) and adult aggressiveness. However, juveniles painted red were bitten less than those painted white when number of times bitten was controlled for number of times attacked. This result supports the aggression avoidance hypothesis, as an escalation from low-intensity (attacking) to high-intensity aggression (biting) was less probable towards red juveniles. The presence of red coloration in juveniles caused the reduction in adult aggression, while small natural variations in this red colour did not seem to have any further effect. Juvenile red coloration in this species might indicate age or sexual immaturity to adults.

×

The decoy or deflection hypothesis, which states that conspicuous colouration is present in non-vital parts of the body to divert attacks from head and trunk, thus increasing survival probability, is a possible explanation for the presence of such colouration in juveniles of non-aposematic species. To test this hypothesis we made plasticine and plaster lizard models of two colour morphs, red or dark-and-light striped tails, based on the colouration of spiny-footed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) hatchlings, which naturally show a dark-and-light striped dorsal pattern and red tail. Lizard models were placed in the field and also presented to captive common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), a common avian lizard predator. The number of attacks and the body part attacked (tail or rest-of-body) were recorded, as well as the latency to attack. Our results suggest that models of both colour morphs were recognized as prey and attacked at a similar rate, but in the field, red-tailed models were detected, and thus attacked, sooner than striped-tailed. Despite this increase in detection rate by predators, red-tailed models effectively diverted attacks to the tail from the more vulnerable body parts, thus supporting the decoy hypothesis. Greater fitness benefits of attack diversion to the tail compared to the costs of increased detection rate by predators would explain the evolution and maintenance of red tail colouration in lizards.

×

Ontogenetic colour changes in animals generally involve cryptic juveniles developing conspicuous coloration when they achieve sexual maturity. However, there are several species in which juveniles develop conspicuously coloured tails that become cryptic in adults. In lizards, colourful tails may act as an antipredator mechanism, either by diverting predator attacks from vital body parts to the expendable tail (decoy hypothesis) or, when associated with tail movements, by signalling to the potential predator that it has been spotted and an attack will probably not succeed (pursuit deterrent hypothesis). In both cases, the antipredator function would allow lizards with colourful tails to show more risk-taking behaviours. The aim of this study was to test whether conspicuous coloration was related to risk behaviours in spiny-footed lizards, Acanthodactylus erythrurus, a species with red-tailed juveniles. Behaviour was recorded in free-ranging lizards and several risk-related behavioural indices were calculated. As predicted, risk behaviour and tail coloration were found to be related, as redder (less orange) lizards stayed further from refuge, maybe because redder coloration was associated with a perception of lower predation risk. Coloration was not related to any other behavioural index, including tail displays, but the level of activity was negatively related to lizard size, suggesting a change towards less active behaviour associated with growth, probably because energy and thermoregulatory requirements depend on body size. In conclusion, the link between red coloration and risk-taking behaviour in spiny-footed lizards supports the antipredator function of this coloration that enables more colourful lizards to take more risks when necessary. Moreover, the nonsignificant association between coloration and tail displays is not consistent with the pursuit deterrent hypothesis, thus making the decoy hypothesis more probable.

×

Breeding coloration of females often signals aspects of their reproductive status, suggesting a link between color and sex steroid hormones. In this study, we examined the relationships between 2 sex steroid hormones (progesterone and β-estradiol) and reproductive coloration in female spiny-footed lizards Acanthodactylus erythrurus. We first explored natural variation in female plasma hormone levels and coloration during their reproductive cycle. β-estradiol was negatively related to brightness and positively related to red saturation, whereas progesterone was not significantly related to coloration. After identifying key relationships, plasma hormone concentrations were manipulated by creating 3 experimental female groups (β-estradiol-treated, progesterone-treated, and control), and the effects on coloration were monitored. β-estradiol-treated females, in which there was a rise in both β-estradiol and progesterone levels, lost their red coloration earlier than females in the other 2 experimental groups, whereas progesterone treatment had no significant effect on female coloration. Our results suggest that high levels of either β-estradiol alone or β-estradiol together with progesterone trigger the loss of red coloration in female spiny-footed lizards, and that progesterone alone does not affect coloration. We hypothesize that changes in female breeding color might be regulated by β-estradiol in species in which conspicuous coloration is displayed before ovulation, and by progesterone in species in which this color is displayed during gravidity.

×

Aim of the work: the present study aimed to illustrate the osteological characters of the appendicular skeleton of two Egyptian lizard species, Acanthodactylus boskianus and Ptyodactylus guttatus and clarify the relationship between characteristics of the appendicular skeleton and mode of their locomotion of the two species. A. boskianus is diurnal insectivorous lizard forage in open area and it is a generalized ground-dwelling species and P. guttatus is a diurno-nocturnal omnivorous gecko which is a highly specialized climbing on vertical substrates. Material and methods: in the present study we used Alizarin red and Alcian blue as double skeletal staining to investigate the the bony and cartilaginous pattern of limbs and girdles of A. boskianus and P. guttatus. Results: in P. guttatus, the pectoral girdle was characterized by the presence of the interclavicles was dagger in shape and partially fused with clavicles, while it was cruciform and completely fused with the clavicles in A. boskianus. In P. guttatus, the epicoraoid was well developed, broad bony plates and fused with the interclavicles, while in A. boskianus it was narrow cartilaginous, plates and overlap in the mid-line. Moreover, in P. gutattus two fenestrae were appeared within coracoid and scapula with un-fenestrated cartilaginous sternum, while one fenestra appeared in both coracoid and sternum of A. boskianus. On other hand, the pelvic girdle of P. guttatus had complete fusions between the pubis, ischium and ilium, while in A. boskianus the pubis articulated poster-omedially with the ischium. In both P. gutattus and A. boskianus, the forelimbs posture was in horizontal plane, while the hind limbs were in vertical plane. In P. gutattus both the fore and hind limbs were relatively equal in length, while the fore limb in A. boskianus was greatly shorter than the hind limb. Conclusion: the P. gutattus is considered as a one of climbers species which have stout appendicular skeleton to support the climbing process on the vertical surface with relatively short limbs, while A. Boskianus is ground-dwellers and also good climbers and use their claws to walk and climbing on rocky areas and these abilities of locomotion depend on the flexibility of skeletal elements of its appendicular skeleton.

×

Mammals that build extensive open burrow systems are often classified as ecosystem engineers, since they have the potential to modulate the availability of resources for themselves and other organisms. Lizards may benefit from the heterogeneity created by these structures, especially if coupled with an increased offer of sites for refuge and thermoregulation. However, information about these engineering effects by burrowing animals is scarce. We investigated the influence of European rabbit burrows on several parameters of a Mediterranean lizard community (abundance, density, diversity and body condition) in three different habitats (open pastures, holm oak and scrub patches). We found that lizards were positively associated with burrows, and that burrows determined lizard presence at otherwise unfavourable habitats. Moreover, community parameters such as density and species richness were higher in sites with burrows. Burrows influenced lizard species in different ways, and were also relevant for other Mediterranean vertebrates, as revealed by questionnaires to experts. We also explored the possible resources provided by burrows for lizards. Warrens offer relatively abundant prey and appropriate retreat sites for refuge and thermoregulation. Warrens may have further implications within the ecosystem, acting as stepping stones, allowing lizards to reach otherwise inaccessible habitat patches. This study shows that European rabbit warrens have a positive influence on lizard density and diversity, and confirms the role of rabbits as ecosystem engineers. This reinforces the need for appropriate conservation measures for rabbits, especially given their threatened status in the Iberian Peninsula. Furthermore, our study highlights that taking into account the influence of engineering activities increases our awareness of species interactions, and may translate into more adequate conservation measures for the preservation of biodiversity.

×

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.