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TERRA TYPICA. Desert Gobi, the road between Sume and river Tola, Mongolia. DISTRIBUTION. It inhabits montane and partly submontane regions of Tien Shan and Pamir-Altai in Kyrgyzstan, eastern and south-eastern Kazakhstan and neighbouring Uzbekistan. It is known in Tuva and widely distributed in Mongolia (Bayan Ulug, Kobdo, Ubsunur, Dzabkhan, Gobi-Altai, Bayan-Khongor, Uver- Khangai, South-Gobi, Eastern-Gobi and Middle-Gobi aimaks). It is also known from north-western China southwards to the mountain ranges of Nan Shan and north-eastern Tibet, in the desert Alashan and the southern part of Mongolia in the east. During recent years the taxonomic status of some subspecific forms was revised, they are considered as separate species. CONSERVATION STATUS. As a narrow-ranged and small in number species it is included into the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan (1996): category 4 – a rare species, known by single specimens.

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A new species of Eremias has been described from the Cholistan Desert of Pakistan. It constitutes the first record of the genus Eremias from the Oriental (Indian) region. The species has been named Eremias cholistanica, after the Cholistan Desert of Pakistan. This striped desert lacerta is not only different from all its congeners in several morphological characteristics but has been collected from an area distant from the previous known range of Eremias.

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Locomotor performance in lizards is strongly affected by structural habitat. Understanding this relationship allows us to predict species distributions across habitat types. However, little information is available about the ecological role of the locomotion of multiocellated racerunner (Eremias multiocellata) in the desert steppe ecosystem of Inner Mongolia, China. Herein, we studied the effects of habitat structure on the locomotor performance of this lizard species in the field. We found that the sprint speed of this lizard declined significantly with increasing vegetation coverage. Manipulative experiments were further conducted to examine the effects of branch barriers and surface substrates on the sprint speed of the lizard. We found that the sprint speed was significantly influenced by the surface substrates and branch barriers, and there were no interactions between them. Branch barriers impeded sprint speed, and E. multiocellata showed better locomotor performance on sandy rather than loamy substrates. Our results indicate that E. multiocellata tends to occupy open areas with sandy substrates, but its locomotor performance is not closely associated with habitat preference.

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The National University of Mongolia, the Mongolian State University of Education, the University of Nebraska, and the University of Kansas conducted four collaborative expeditions between 2010 and 2014, resulting in accounts for all species of lacertid and agamid, except Phrynocephalus kulagini. These expeditions resulted in a range extension for Eremias arguta and the collection of specimens and tissues across 134 unique localities. In this paper we summarize the species of the Agamidae (Paralaudakia stoliczkana, Ph. hispidus, Ph. helioscopus, and Ph. versicolor) and Lacertidae (E. argus, E. arguta, E. dzungarica, E. multiocellata, E. przewalskii, and E. vermiculata) that were collected during these four expeditions. Further, we provide a summary of all species within these two families in Mongolia. Finally, we discuss issues of Wallacean and Linnaean shortfalls for the herpetofauna of the Mongolian Gobi Desert, and provide future directions for studies of community assemblages and population genetics of reptile species in the region.

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From the perspectives of biodiversity conservation and management, there is an urgent need to have at hand current synopses of classification and distributions of species. In this paper, we review and summarize the classifications, Chinese and English names, type specimens, type localities and distributions of China’s lizard fauna to promote scientific exchange and species conservation among relevant people in China and internationally. As of December 31, 2020, a total of 230 species of lizard, belonging to 44 genera and 12 families, have been recorded from China, including 4 invasive species: 2 in the family Gekkonidae, 1 in Iguanidae and one in Dactyloidae. There are 115 endemic species, accounting for 50% of this group. The proportion of endemic species to China was the highest in the family Eublepharidae (84.62%), and the number of endemic species to China was the highest in the family Agamidae (42 species). The species distributions and classification in the “Fauna Sinica (Reptilia 2): Squamata (Lacertilia)” were updated. Among the provincial administrative units, there is a larger number of species in the southern provinces, such as Yunnan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Taiwan. Sichuan, Yunnan, and Taiwan harbour relatively more endemic species than others. A total of 154 species of lizards were first discovered in China, and the type localities of these species are concentrated in Yunnan, Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, and Sichuan.

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Eleven polymorphic microsatellite loci are described for the multi-ocellated racerunner Eremias multiocellata (Squamata: Lacertidae). Loci were screened in 33 individuals of E. multiocellata. The number of alleles ranged from 11 to 17. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.515 to 0.939, and the expected heterozygosity from 0.875 to 0.925. These microsatellite markers provide a valuable set of tools for population genetic studies of E. multiocellata.

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Based on the Giemsa-dyeing karyotypes and silver-staining bands of 15 populations from different localities in China belonging to 6 species of the genus Eremias , We found all species studied have 19 pairs of chromosomes, the size of chromosomes reduces gradually and there are no marked differences between the arranged pairs of macrochromosomes except the last pair of microchromosome. There are the same karyotype formula as 2n=38=36I+2m with NF=38 in E. argus, E. multiocellata, E. velox, E. arguta and E. grammica; but the karyotype formula of E. vermiculata is different as 2n=38=12V+2sI+22I+2m with NF=50. The NOR are all located on one small pair in female of E. velox, and E. arguta , in male of E. grammica and E. vermiculata ,and in both male and female of E. multiocellata. We have not found two or more than two pairs of NOR. Having one pair of NOR may be common in Genus Eremias and also the trait of Eremias. We speculate that the derivation of the karyotype of E. vermiculata had two possible way: one experienced the stage of triploid, and later the Robertsonian transposal of chromosomes; the other way was through the inversions between the arms on the chromosome and the phenomenon of inversions might occur during or subsequently after the upheaval of the Tibet and Qinghai plateau and the founding of the Tianshan . With regard to the trend of the evolution of chromosomes in the lizards ([1]), the karyotype of E. vermiculata is more advanced. Making specialties of E. vermiculata will help in building the phylogenic tree of Eremias. In both male and female of the species studied, the heteromorphic sex-chromosomes were not found.

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The variability of some Mongolian populations of three species from the genus Eremias (Eremias argus W. Peters, E. multiocella Günther and E. przewalskii (Strauch)) was studied. Not only the intraspecific variability of a number of morphological characters, especially that of the pholidose of the pileus, but the homologous variability between the different species, were also analysed. Some of these characters reveal a close relationships between the different species of the genus. Some new locality data are also published

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New finds of the lizards of Eremias multiocellata complex became known for extreme southeast of Kazakhstan. In 2006-2007 re recorded the lizards in the mountain valleys of Kegen and Tekes Rivers creossing an intermountain depression located between Ketmen’ and Terskey-Alatau at altitude 1850-1950 m a.s.l. Morphological analysis revealed the reliable differences of the specimens collected from other species of multiocellata complex inhabited the close areas – E. stummeri from Issyk-Kul’ Depression and E. kokshaaliensis from Sary-Dzhaz River Basin of Kyrgyzstan. Morphological peculiarity of the populations recorded may be caused by their isolative position in extreme southeast of Kazakhstan and needs future elucidation.

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From the publisher: Before you a unique atlas-determinant. For the first time in one edition descriptions of all species of amphibians and reptiles living on the territory of Russia are presented, illustrated with beautiful color photographs. The book is written by E.A. Dunaev and V.F. Orlova, the famous Russian herpetologists, researchers of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University named after MV Lomonosov. Lomonosov. A simple and accessible form of presentation, detailed descriptions of the external appearance, lifestyle and behavior, photographs reflecting all variants of the variability of these animals, will help the curious reader to become more familiar with turtles, snakes, lizards, frogs and other representatives of the herpetofauna. And special keys will allow you to determine who you met on a country walk, in a city park, at a dacha or while traveling to different corners of our country. The book is of great interest not only for nature lovers, but also for specialists in herpetology and students of biological faculties of universities. It lists the amphibians and reptiles of the native fauna, reflects the latest changes in the taxonomy of these groups, lists species included in the Red Book of Russia and regional Red Books, lists reference and scientific publications on reptiles and amphibians of Russian fauna.

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Residual yolk is assumed to be an important source of energy and nutrients during early life in nonmammalian amniotes. Available data show that the mean size of residual yolk is far smaller in lizards than in turtles, snakes, crocodiles, and birds, raising a question of whether residual yolk is of functional significance in lizards. Here, we compared data from 26 lizard species with those from other nonmammalian amniotes to test the hypothesis that residual yolk is functionally less significant in species producing more fully developed offspring. In our sample, species mean offspring water contents ranged from 73% to 84% of body wet mass; species mean proportions of carcass dry mass, fat-body dry mass, and residual yolk dry mass to offspring dry mass ranged from 84% to 99%, 0% to 5.0%, and 0% to 14.4%, respectively. Lizards are, on average, more fully developed at hatching or birth than snakes, as revealed by the fact that the mean proportion of carcass dry mass to body dry mass and offspring water contents were both higher in lizards than in snakes. We conclude that the functional significance of residual yolk during early life is generally less evident in lizards. Even in the lizards where residual yolk is of potential functional significance, this portion of yolk contributes little, if any, to postembryonic growth. Future work could usefully collect data across a wider spectrum of reptile taxa to establish a precocial–altricial continuum and test the hypothesis that species with a smaller amount of residual yolk are closer to the precocial end of the continuum.

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Eremias, or racerunners, is a widespread lacertid genus occurring in China, Mongolia, Korea, Central Asia, Southwest Asia and Southeast Europe. It has been through a series of taxonomic revisions, but the phylogenetic relationships among the species and subgenera remain unclear. In this study, a frequently studied region of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA was used to (i) reassess the phylogenetic relationships of some Eremias species, (ii) test if the viviparous species form a monophyletic group, and (iii) estimate divergence time among lineages using a Bayesian relaxed molecular-clock approach. The resulting phylogeny supports monophyly of Eremias sensu Szczerbak and a clade comprising Eremias, Acanthodactylus and Latastia. An earlier finding demonstrating monophyly of the subgenus Pareremias is corroborated, with Eremias argus being the sister taxon to Eremias brenchleyi. We present the first evidence that viviparous species form a monophyletic group. In addition, Eremias przewalskii is nested within Eremias multiocellata, suggesting that the latter is likely a paraphyletic species or a species complex. Eremias acutirostris and Eremias persica form a clade that is closely related to the subgenus Pareremias. However, the subgenera Aspidorhinus, Scapteira, and Rhabderemias seem not to be monophyletic, respectively. The Bayesian divergence-time estimation suggests that Eremias originated at about 9.9 million years ago (with the 95% confidence interval ranging from 7.6 to 12 Ma), and diversified from Late Miocene to Pleistocene. Specifically, the divergence time of the subgenus Pareremias was dated to about 6.3 million years ago (with the 95% confidence interval ranging from 5.3 to 8.5 Ma), which suggests that the diversification of this subgenus might be correlated with the evolution of an East Asian monsoon climate triggered by the rapid uplift of the Tibetan Plateau approximately 8 Ma.

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The lacertid genus Eremias Fitzinger in Wiegmann,1834,consists of approximately 36 species of racerunners,distributed throughout the desert and semi-desert regions from northern China,Mongolia,Korea,central and southwest Asia to southeastern Europe.This short review represents the history of taxonomic studies in the genus Eremias,including affirmation of the genus and its species,distribution characteristics,phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography.Traditional taxonomic methods,as well as new approaches(mtDNA analysis) are discussed.Future potential research projects on Eremias are outlined,such as phylogeny,phylogeography and speciation process.

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Reptiles are especially vulnerable to climate warming because their behavior, physiology, and life history are highly dependent on environmental temperature. In this study, we envisaged new probable mechanisms underlying the high vulnerability of lizards, wherein heat exposure induces oxidative stress and leads to immunosuppression. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a warming experiment on a lizard (Eremias multiocellata) from a desert steppe in Inner Mongolia from May to September using open-top chambers set up in their natural habitat and compared the components of oxidative stress (antioxidant ability [Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity], extent of oxidative damage [malondialdehyde (MDA) content]), and immunocompetence (white blood cells [WBC] counts and immunoglobulin M [IgM] expression) between the warming and control groups. At the end of the experiment, the warming treatment did not affect the survival rate of the lizards. However, MDA content, but not SOD activity, was significantly higher in the warming group than in the control group. The WBC counts and IgM expression were significantly lower in the warming group than in the control group. Our results verified our hypothesis and provided novel cues and methods for the investigation of the mechanisms behind the high probability of extinction of other ectotherms under warming conditions.

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1.As postulated by life‐history theory, not all life‐history traits can be maximized simultaneously. In ectothermic animals, climate warming is predicted to increase growth rates, but at a cost to overall life span. Maternal effects are expected to mediate this life‐history trade‐off, but such effects have not yet been explicitly elucidated. 2. To understand maternal effects on the life‐history responses to climate warming in lizard offspring, we conducted a manipulative field experiment on a desert‐dwelling viviparous lacertid lizard Eremias multiocellata, using open‐top chambers in a factorial design (maternal warm climate and maternal present climate treatments × offspring warm climate and offspring present climate treatments). 3. We found that the maternal warm climate treatment had little impact on the physiological and life‐history traits of adult females (i.e. metabolic rate, reproductive output, growth and survival). However, the offspring warm climate treatment significantly affected offspring growth, and both maternal and offspring warm climate treatments interacted to affect offspring survival. 4. Offspring from the warm climate treatment grew faster than those from the present climate treatment. However, the offspring warm climate treatment significantly decreased the survival rate of offspring from maternal present climate treatment, but not for those from the maternal warm climate treatment. 5. Our study demonstrates that maternal effects mediate the trade‐off between growth and survival of offspring lizards, allowing them to grow fast without a concurrent cost of low survival rate (short life span). These findings stress the importance of adaptive maternal effects in buffering the impact of climate warming on organisms, which may help us to accurately predict the vulnerability of populations and species to future warming climates.

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We sequenced the mitochondrial genome of the Western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) using Illumina technology and additional Sanger sequencing. The assembled 17 086 bp mitogenome had a GC content of 40.32% and consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and one control region (CR), with a gene order identical to the chordate consensus. In addition, we re-sequenced the mitogenome of the closely related Eastern green lizard L. viridis using the same techniques as for L. bilineata. The mitogenomes of L. bilineata and L. viridis showed a sequence identity of 94.4% and 99.9%, respectively, relative to the previously published L. viridis mitogenome. The phylogenetic reconstruction based on 17 Lacertinae mitogenomes using Anolis carolinensis as the outgroup supported L. bilineata and its sister species L. viridis as distinct lineages.

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In this study we observed the embryonic development processes and compared the weight of eggs with neonates to identify the form of nutritional provisioning in Eremias multiocellata. We also used light microscopy to determine the features of chorioallontoic placenta during late stages of gestation. Neonatal dry weight was approximately 10.3% smaller than egg dry weight. Chorioallantoic membrane and uterine epithelium exhibited an indirect apposition without any fusion. No specialized region, placentome, has been found for nutrition transfer between these membranes. The chorioallontoic placenta of E. multiocellata is consistent with the simplest and most common type, Weekes type I. We infer that E. multiocellata is predominately lecithotrophic, meaning that nourishment for embryonic development is primarily supplied by the yolk. This kind of embryonic nutrition confirms the pattern found in most squamates with a simple placenta. This simple placenta adds anatomical evidence to understand the weak immune interaction between matrix and fetus in E. multiocellata. Finally, we discussed the implications for interpreting the evolution of viviparity and placentation.

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Reproductive success and morphological traits are intimately linked in lizards. We collected adult multi-ocellated racerunners Eremias multiocellata from a population in Inner Mongolia (northern China) to quantify sexual dimorphism and female reproductive characteristics of this poorly studied viviparous, lacertid lizard, testing for the prediction that the evolution of sexual dimorphism is promoted by between-sex differences in reproductive success relating to adult morphological traits. Adults are sexually dimorphic in head size but not in body size, with males having longer and wider heads than do females of the same body length. Females ovulate from May to June and, under laboratory conditions, they give birth to young from late June to late July. Litter size ranges from two to four young. Litter mass is positively correlated with female SVL, but female SVL only explains a small portion (approximately 19%) of variation in litter mass. Both litter size and neonate mass are not correlated with female SVL. Neonate mass is negatively correlated with relative fecundity (litter size relative to female SVL), suggesting a trade-off between size and number of offspring in E. multiocellata. Overall, selective pressures towards large male and large females are both relatively weak in E. multiocellata, and the evolution of sexual dimorphism in head size results mainly from between-sex differences in reproductive success relating to adult head size

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We compared adult size, female reproductive traits, and offspring phenotypes between multiocellated racerunners (Eremias multiocellata) from two thermally different sites (populations) in Inner Mongolia (North China): the colder one in Wulatehouqi (WQ) and the warmer one in Dalateqi (DQ). Both adults and neonates were smaller in the colder site. Females from the two sites both produced a single litter of 2–5 young per season, and did not differ in allocation of energy to reproduction after accounting for differences in body size. Female neonates had more ventral scales than did males, and the WQ neonates had fewer ventral scales than did the DQ neonates. The WQ neonates were slower than the DQ neonates. When body length was normalized across populations, we found that (1) hindlimb length correlated positively with sprint speed in both WQ and DQ neonates, (2) forelimb length correlated positively with sprint speed only in the DQ neonates, and (3) tail length correlated positively with sprint speed only in the WQ neonates. Hindlimb length played a more important role in locomotion than did tail length or forelimb length. Though differing in size and morphology, neonates from the two sites did not differ in early growth and survival under identical laboratory conditions. Our data are consistent with many studies that have shown countergradient variation in physiological traits (growth rate and reproductive output) and cogradient variation in morphological traits.

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We acclimated adult males of three Eremias lizards from different latitudes to 28 °C, 33 °C or 38 °C to examine whether temperature acclimation affects their thermal preference and tolerance and whether thermal preference and tolerance of these lizards correspond with their latitudinal distributions. Overall, selected body temperature (Tsel) and viable temperature range (VTR) were both highest in E. brenchleyi and lowest in E. multiocellata, with E. argus in between; critical thermal minimum (CTMin) was highest in E. multiocellata and lowest in E. brenchleyi, with E. argus in between; critical thermal maximum (CTMax) was lower in E. multiocellata than in other two species. Lizards acclimated to 28 °C and 38 °C overall selected lower body temperatures than those acclimated to 33 °C; lizards acclimated to high temperatures were less tolerant of low temperatures, and vice versa; lizards acclimated to 28 °C were less tolerant of high temperatures but had a wider VTR range than those acclimated to 33 °C and 38 °C. Lizards of three species acclimated to the three temperatures always differed from each other in CTMin, but not in Tsel, CTMax and VTR. Our results show that: temperature acclimation plays an important role in influencing thermal preference and tolerance in the three Eremias lizards, although the degrees to which acclimation temperature affects thermal preference and tolerance differ among species; thermal preference rather than tolerance of the three Eremias lizards corresponds with their latitudinal distributions

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Sex-determining systems show a striking diversity not only among species, but also among populations. In reptiles, sex-determination is a continuum, from temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) to genetic sex determination (GSD). The multi-ocellated racerunner (Eremias multiocellata) is reported to be a cryptic ZZ/ZW chromosomal TSD species, with male-biased sex ratios at high temperatures in two Gansu populations. However, the generality of the sex-determining pattern in different populations of this species remains unclear. To investigate the mode of sex determination in a population of E. multiocellata from the desert steppe of Inner Mongolia, we first identified sex chromosomes via comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). We then conducted a thermal manipulation experiment to determine the effect of gestation temperature on offspring sex ratios. From the CGH studies we found that lizards from the Inner Mongolia population possessed ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes. However, our thermal manipulation experiment showed that gestation temperature did not affect the sex ratio of neonates in this population. In combination, these results rule out TSD in the Inner Mongolia population of E. multiocellata, and suggest that there is widespread geographic variation in the sexdetermining system of this species.

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Electrocardiograms (ECG) of Eremias multiocellata were studied at 5-35 ℃ in body temperature.Electrocardiogram wave intervals (R-R,P-R,QRS,T-P,and R-T) shortened while heart rate increased with the increasing of body temperature.The average heart rate was 14.6/min at 5 ℃,whereas it was 201/min at 35 ℃.The duration of wave intervals of ECG and the heart rate were related significantly to the body temperature (P<0.001).Among the components of a cardiac cycle the cardiac rest period (TP intervals) and the atria-ventricular conduction time (PR interval) were affected mostly by body temperature.In the other hand the ventricular depolarization and repolarization (QRS and R-T intervals) were relatively less affected by the body temperature.The increasing of heart rate with body temperature was mainly caused by the shortening of ECG wave intervals,and the T-P interval (the cardiac rest period) was shortened more noticeably than other intervals.

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The paper deals with the relationship between the body temperatures of Phrynocephalus przewalskii (Sthauch) and Eremias multiocellata (Guenther) and the environmental temperatures,their selections of environmental temperatures and their resistance against low and high temperatures.The body temperatures of przewalskii and Multiocellata were negatively interrelated to environmental temperatures (P<0.001).Under the same temperatures.The body temperatures of przewalskii were 3 ℃ higher than that of multiocellata.The environmental temperatures selected by the former were 38-40 ℃,whereas the latter required only 35-37 ℃.The hot and dead temperatures of przewalskii were higher than those of multiocellata.The threshhold of the hot and dead temperatures in przewalskii varied from 44 ℃ to 48 ℃ and its highest dead temperature (TL[50]) was up to 48℃,and that in multiocellata was 42-46 ℃ and its highest hot temperature (TL[50]) was 46 ℃.The ability that two species can resist against low temperatures was equal.The cold and dead temperatures varied from 0 ℃ to -3 ℃.The cold and dead temperatures (TL[50]) of przewalskii were -2.3 ℃,but those of multiocellata were -2.5 ℃.These significant differences between the two species are concerned with the characteristics of each,habitats and sizes of the bodies.

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How ectotherms exploit thermal resources has important implications for their habitat utilization and thermal vulnerability to climate warming. To address this issue, we investigated thermal relations of three sympatric lizard species (Eremias argus, Eremias multiocellata, and Phrynocephalus przewalskii) in the desert steppe of Inner Mongolia, China. We determined the thermoregulatory behavior, body temperature (Tb), operative temperature (Te), selected body temperature (Tsel), and critical thermal maximum (CTmax) of adult lizards. Based on these physiological parameters, we quantified the accuracy and effectiveness of thermoregulation as well as thermal-safety margin for these species. The three species were accurate and effective thermoregulators. The P. przewalskii preferred open habitats, and had a higher Tb than the two Eremias lizards, which preferred shade habitats and shuttled more frequently between the shade and sun. This indicated that the three sympatric lizards have different thermoregulatory behavior and thermal physiology, which might facilitate their coexistence in the desert steppe ecosystem. In addition, the P. przewalskii had higher Tsel and CTmax, and a wider thermal-safety margin than the two Eremias lizards, suggesting that the two Eremias lizards would be more vulnerable to climate warming than P. przewalskii.

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As the only viviparous reptile in China that has both temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) and genetic-dependent sex determination (GSD) mechanisms, Eremias multiocellata is considered as an ideal species for studying sex determination mechanism in viviparous lizards. However, studies on embryonic stage of viviparous lizards and morphological characteristics of each stage were limited. In the present study, the embryonic development process of E. multiocellata is divided into 15 stages (Stage 28-42) according to the morphology of embryos. Embryo`s sizes are measured and continuous dynamic variation of some key features, including limbs, genitals, eyes, pigments, and brain scales are color imaged by a stereoscopic microscope. Furthermore, based on these morphological characteristics, we compare the similarities and differences in the embryonic development of E. multiocellata with other squamates species. Our results not only identified the staging table of E. multiocellata with continuous changes of external morphological characteristics but also developed a staging scheme for an important model species that provide a necessary foundation for study of sex determination in viviparous lizard.

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Food composition in stomaches of 209 adults and 43 juveniles of Eremiqs multiocellata in Minqin area of Gansu Province is analyzed. The results show that Eremias multiocellata is a kind of omnivorous animal which mainly feeds on beetles and Nitraria fruits. After its dormancy, this animal begins to strongly ingest, its ingesting rate being more than 83%.It has an obvious seasonal variation of feeding habit, i.e. only animals are ingested inspring, half of animal and plant in summer, and third of plant in autumn. The diversityof food and the breadth of trophic niche are increased with its increasing size growth.

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Temperature variability is predicted to increase in the coming century due to climate change. However, the biological impact of increased temperature variability on animals remains largely unexplored. Here, we experimentally exposed gravid viviparous lizards (Eremias multiocellata) to two thermal environments [constant daily maximum (CDM) versus variable daily maximum (VDM) treatment with the same average temperature] to address maternal and offspring responses to increased variability in ambient temperature. Females from the VDM treatment delayed parturition, but produced similar litter sizes and litter masses as did CDM females. Offspring from the VDM treatment selected higher body temperatures, had higher metabolic rates and higher growth rates, and grew to a similar size as those from the CDM treatment despite having a shorter growth period prior to hibernation. Therefore, phenotypic plasticity may be critical for lizards to respond effectively to climate change, and its role in responding to increasingly variable temperatures warrants further attention.

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Aim Body size is instrumental in influencing animal physiology, morphology, ecology and evolution, as well as extinction risk. I examine several hypotheses regarding the influence of body size on lizard evolution and extinction risk, assessing whether body size influences, or is influenced by, species richness, herbivory, island dwelling and extinction risk. Location World-wide. Methods I used literature data and measurements of museum and live specimens to estimate lizard body size distributions. Results I obtained body size data for 99% of the world`s lizard species. The body size–frequency distribution is highly modal and right skewed and similar distributions characterize most lizard families and lizard assemblages across biogeographical realms. There is a strong negative correlation between mean body size within families and species richness. Herbivorous lizards are larger than omnivorous and carnivorous ones, and aquatic lizards are larger than non-aquatic species. Diurnal activity is associated with small body size. Insular lizards tend towards both extremes of the size spectrum. Extinction risk increases with body size of species for which risk has been assessed. Main conclusions Small size seems to promote fast diversification of disparate body plans. The absence of mammalian predators allows insular lizards to attain larger body sizes by means of release from predation and allows them to evolve into the top predator niche. Island living also promotes a high frequency of herbivory, which is also associated with large size. Aquatic and nocturnal lizards probably evolve large size because of thermal constraints. The association between large size and high extinction risk, however, probably reflects a bias in the species in which risk has been studied.

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A new subspecies of the multi-ocellated racerunner, Eremias multiocellata tsaganbogdensis Munkhbayar et Borkin, 2010, subsp. nov. (Lacertidae) is described. Holotype: ZISP.19956.1, Department of Herpetology, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg. Type territory: Tsagaan Bogd Uul Mountain, Bayanhongor Aymak, southern Mongolia.

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A new subspecies of the multi-ocellated racerunner, Eremias multiocellata tsaganbogdensis Munkhbayar et Borkin, 2010, subsp. nov. (Lacertidae) is described. Holotype: ZISP.19956.1, Department of Herpetology, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg. Type territory: Tsagaan Bogd Uul Mountain, Bayanhongor Aymak, southern Mongolia.

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From the viewpoint of evolution, the classes of amphibians and reptiles could be considered as relicts, and because they are poikilothermic animals, it’s very difficult for these species to live under the dry and cold climatic conditions in Mongolia. Even species diversity is poor, Mongolian herpetological composition is unique, highly adopted to the country’s harsh climate and originated a long time ago. In Mongolia, 6 species of amphibians belong to four genera, four families and two orders and the recorded 21 species of reptiles belong to 13 genera in 6 families of 2 suborders.

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Four species from the E. multiocellata-complex occur in Kyrgyzstan and southeastern Kazakhstan. e taxonomic state of the populations from Kazakhstan is ambiguous. e results of comparative morpho- logical analysis (habitus, color pattern on the dorsal side of the body, metric and meristic characters) in the E.stummeri from two localities in Kyrgyzstan (including type locality) and south-eastern Kazakh- stan are presented. Signi cant di erences were revealed in Sq., G. and L. /L. cd features. As a result, the racerunners from the southeastern Kazakhstan are morphologically identi ed as E. stummeri. Our ob- servations and the analysis of the museum collections con rm independent speci c states of three allo- patric species of E. multiocellata-complex in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakh Tien Shan.

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Here we present the main results of our 2008 field research held in the south-western Mongolia by a herpetological team of the Russian – Mongolian biological expedition. 13 reptile species belonging to five families and eight genera have been recorded. Phrynocephalus versicolor was the most widespread and abundant lizard species. Eremias przewalskii and E. multiocellata were also common in semi-fixed sands subjected to considerable over-grazing (Dundgov’, Umnegov’). Several new localities for Ph.versicolor hispida and E. m. multiocellata and E. m. reticulata are reported. Cyrtopodion elongatum was found in the Nogondov (=Nogon-Dovon) valley located in 300 km northwards from the previously known occurrence of this species. This valley inhabited by Teratoscincus przewalskii, Eremias vermiculata, and Eryx tataricus can be considered as the most western part of the Trans-Altai Gobi Desert adjacent to the Mongolian Dzungaria. The actual status of the C. elongatum populations seems to be out of concern because, according to our night observations, the population density exceeds 20 ind per 500 m². The taxonomical status of Ph. v. hispida and E. m. reticulata is discussed, and the specific status of racerunners collected in the area of their sympatry in the Hovd aimag was confirmed. Some coloration features of living adults and juveniles individuals of the lizards (especially, Eremias and Phrynocephalus species) are reported.

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Here we present the main results of our 2008 field research held in the south-western Mongolia by a herpetological team of the Russian – Mongolian biological expedition. 13 reptile species belonging to five families and eight genera have been recorded. Phrynocephalus versicolor was the most widespread and abundant lizard species. Eremias przewalskii and E. multiocellata were also common in semi-fixed sands subjected to considerable over-grazing (Dundgov’, Umnegov’). Several new localities for Ph.versicolor hispida and E. m. multiocellata and E. m. reticulata are reported. Cyrtopodion elongatum was found in the Nogondov (=Nogon-Dovon) valley located in 300 km northwards from the previously known occurrence of this species. This valley inhabited by Teratoscincus przewalskii, Eremias vermiculata, and Eryx tataricus can be considered as the most western part of the Trans-Altai Gobi Desert adjacent to the Mongolian Dzungaria. The actual status of the C. elongatum populations seems to be out of concern because, according to our night observations, the population density exceeds 20 ind per 500 m². The taxonomical status of Ph. v. hispida and E. m. reticulata is discussed, and the specific status of racerunners collected in the area of their sympatry in the Hovd aimag was confirmed. Some coloration features of living adults and juveniles individuals of the lizards (especially, Eremias and Phrynocephalus species) are reported. Key words: herpetofauna, geographic distribution, population density, habitats, body coloration, southwestern Mongolia.

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We provide an integrative analysis of the diversity of the E. multiocellata—E. przewalskii species complex in Central and Middle Asia using morphological and molecular (COI DNA-barcoding) data. We report preliminary data on mtDNA variation within this group and clarify the taxonomic status and distribution of the members of the species complex. We also provide a description of a new Eremias species from Eastern Kazakhstan and western Mongolia, where it occurs in sympatry with E. multiocellata sensu stricto, from which it can be clearly differentiated using both morphological and molecular characters. The new species, described as Eremias dzungarica sp. nov., is assigned to the subgenus Pareremias on the basis of the following features: subocular not reaching mouth edge; one frontonasal; two supraoculars; the row of small granular scales between supraoculars and frontal with frontoparietals absent; distance between the femoral pore rows being wide; femoral pore rows not reaching knee-joint; coloration pattern with light colored ocelli with black edging. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners on the basis of the following morphological attributes: a mediumsized lacertid lizard, maximum snout-vent length (SVL) = 64.5 mm, tail being ca. 1.5 times longer than body length (SVL), hindlimbs relatively long (hindlimb length to SVL ratio 0.46); subocular scale not reaching mouth edge, in touch with 6–8 supralabials; males with bright coloration consisting of 2–3 dorsolateral rows of light-colored ocelli with thick black edging; the ventral row of ocelli in life is greenish to bluish; dorsal pattern consisting of black irregular blotches along the middorsal line. We also report on the high genetic and morphological diversity of E. multiocellata in Mongolia and China, synonymize E. m. bannikowi with the nominative form E. m. multiocellata, discuss variation within E. przewalskii, synonymize E. p. tuvensis with the nominative form E. przewalskii, provide new data on E. cf. reticulata and E. m. tsaganbogdensis, confirm validity and clarify distribution ranges of E. stummeri, E. szczerbaki and E. yarkandensis and discuss further progress on taxonomic studies of the E. multiocellata—E. przewalskii species complex.

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The Kokshaal racerunner, Eremias kokshaaliensis Eremchenko et Panfilov, 1999, together with other central Asian racerunner species, is included in the Eremias multiocellata complex. In the present work, for the first time, the results of the analysis of historical mitochondrial DNA (barcode) are presented and the taxonomic status and preliminary phylogenetic relationships within the complex are specified. We present, for the first time, the results of the molecular analysis using historical DNA recovered from specimens of several species of this complex (paratypes of the Kokshaal racerunner and historical collections of the Kashgar racerunner E. buechneri from Kashgaria) using DNA barcoding.

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Many animals display complex colour patterns that comprise several adjacent, often contrasting colour patches. Combining patches of complementary colours increases the overall conspicuousness of the complex pattern, enhancing signal detection. Therefore, selection for conspicuousness may act not only on the design of single colour patches, but also on their combination. Contrasting long- and short-wavelength colour patches are located on the ventral and lateral surfaces of many lacertid lizards. As the combination of long- and short-wavelength-based colours generates local chromatic contrast, we hypothesized that selection may favour the co-occurrence of lateral and ventral contrasting patches, resulting in complex colour patterns that maximize the overall conspicuousness of the signal. To test this hypothesis we performed a comparative phylogenetic study using a categorical colour classification based on spectral data and descriptive information on lacertid coloration collected from the literature. Our results demonstrate that conspicuous ventral (long wavelength-based) and lateral (short wavelength-based) colour patches co-occur throughout the lacertid phylogeny more often than expected by chance, especially in the subfamily Lacertini. These results suggest that selection promotes the evolution of the complex pattern rather than the acquisition of a single conspicuous colour patch, possibly due to the increased conspicuousness caused by the combination of colours with contrasting spectral properties.

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Taxonomy dependent, four amphibian (three toads and a frog) and 57 reptile species (a tortoise, 36 lizards and 20 snakes) appear confirmed as occurring within the Republic of Uzbekistan. One of these species, Szczerbak’s even-fingered gecko Alsophylax szczerbaki, has perhaps been extirpated. The presence of a further two taxa, i.e., long-legged bent-toed gecko Tenuidactylus longipes and multi-ocellated racerunner Eremias multiocellata is unclear (but both probably absent), whilst the standing of Turkestan salamander Hynobius turkestanicus remains an enigma. Species distributions in Uzbekistan are summarised based on a literature review supplemented by recent field observations.

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This book shows a comprehensive picture of the reptiles, excluding snakes, living in Europe, North Africa, Middle and Near East and Central Asia. The bulk of the book is an annotated checklist and a distributional atlas of approx 500 species of lizards, crocodiles, turtles and terrapins, and amphisbaenians, living in the Western Palearctic. Information on distribution, subspecies, chorotype and main references are provided for each species, as well as 226 colour maps showing the global distribution of the species on a grid of one degree. For each species map the bibliographic and original sources (more than 850 sources are listed) are indicated. A further 83 maps show the distribution of all genera and main species groups of Palearctic reptiles. Beside the checklist and the atlas, in some additional chapters the following arguments are treated: Materials and methods; status of knowledge on the Palearctic fauna; composition of the Western Palearctic reptile fauna (including a statement on biodiversity and species richness); descriptive biogeography (including a discussion on the Palearctic region boundaries based on reptile distribution and the herpeto-geographic sectors of the Western Palearctic); conservation status. A list of more than 730 references quoted in the text and high quality colour plates including photos of the most of the supraspecific taxa living in the study area completes the book.

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The viviparous Multiocellated Racerunner, Eremias multiocellata, is widespread in North China, Mongolia, and the Tuva Republic of Russia. A nearly complete mitochondrial genome of one individual from the suburb of Jingyuan County in Northwest China was determined by next-generation sequencing. The mitogenome is 17,333 bp in size, comprising 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and one control region. The gene arrangement and composition is similar to the typical mitochondrial DNA of vertebrates. With exception to the control region, all of the 37 genes were completely recovered. The concatenated PCGs were used to conduct Bayesian phylogenetic analyses together with several related lizards with mitogenome data in GenBank. The resulting phylogenetic tree confirmed the monophyly of both genus Eremias and its viviparous group. The mitogenome sequence will provide fundamental data for resolving phylogenetic and genetic problems related to Eremias viviparity.

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

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A viviparous lizard, Eremias multiocellata, was used to investigate the possible sexual and ontogeneticeffects on selected body temperature, thermal tolerance range and the thermal dependence of locomotorperformance. We show that adults are sexually dimorphic and males have larger bodies and heads thanfemales. Adults selected higher body temperatures (34.5 vs. 32.4◦C) and could tolerate a broader rangeof body temperatures (8.1–46.8 vs. 9.1–43.1◦C) than juveniles. The sprint speed and maximum sprintdistance increased with temperature from 21◦C to 33◦C, but decreased at 36◦C and 39◦C in both juvenilesand adults. Adults ran faster and longer than juveniles at each tested temperature. Adult locomotor performance was not correlated with snout–vent length (SVL) or sex, and sprint speed was positivelycorrelated with hindlimb length. Juvenile locomotor performance was positively correlated with bothSVL and hindlimb length. The ontogenetic variation in selected body temperature, thermal toleranceand locomotor performance in E. multiocellata suggests that the effects of morphology on temperatureselection and locomotor performance vary at different ontogenetic stages.

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Temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) is well studied in many species of reptiles, but little is known on how geographic distribution and altitude affect the sex ratio. In the present study, we focused on a population of a viviparous lizard with TSD (Eremias multiocellata) that lives at high altitudes (≈2900 m) in Tianzhu, Gansu province, China. Gestation temperature had a notable effect on the offspring sex ratio, gestation period, and the mother`s body mass. The mothers produced female biased offspring at 25 °C but male biased offspring at 35 °C. All female lizards lost weight during pregnancy, and the least loss of the body mass was observed at 31 °C. The gestation period increased in a non-linear fashion as ambient temperature was reduced. Average litter size was elevated with an increase of gestation temperatures, reached a maximum at 31 °C, and then declined at 35 °C. Compared with a previous study on a Minqin population which lives at a lower altitude (≈1400 m) and warmer climate, the present study obtained a less skewed sex ratio of offspring in the Tianzhu population. Geographic variations also affected offspring morphology between the two populations; females collected from Tianzhu produced larger litters but with a smaller body weight of offspring. These differences may be caused by the adaptive response to the cool climatic and high-altitude environmental conditions.

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In this paper, the complete mitochondrial genome of Eremias multiocellata (Squamata: Lacertidae) is reported, which is a circular molecule of 19,385 bp in size. The nucleotides composition are 31.2% A, 28.9% T, 27.1% C and 13.4% G. The genome consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 1 putative control region.

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By the PAAG electrophoretic spectra of Coomassi-stained 61-73 bands from 4 “tissues” (heart, skeletal muscle, kidney, liver proteins) for each of 17 specimens representing at least 3 or 4 species, (Eremias vermiculata Blanf., E. przewalskii Str., E. sp. and E. multiocellata Gunther) were compared.Most of the specimens were collected in Mongolia. Their tree, based on several measures of genetic distances, showed the order of the species listed above, with E. sp., the closest to the point of divergency, and situated between E. przewalskii and the specimen of E. multiocellata from several localities and biotypes. The genetic similarity of the biotypes of the last species is discussed in regard with other data on the body size and proportion, pholidosis, coloration.

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An analysis of literature, reports, collections and the authors` data on the distri- bution of amphibians and reptiles in the Western Tian Shan (Uzbekistan) has been made. The list consists of nineteen reptile and two amphibian species. Distribution maps of the records are presented. Inhabiting in this territory of some more species is expected.

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The karyotype of Eremias przewalskii from Minqin county,Gansu province was examined using medulla cells and the colchicines-hypotonic air dry technique.Result showed that the karyotype formula of E.przewalskii is 2n=38=36I+2m with NF=38,belonging to type of Eremias argus,consistent with the karyotypes of genus Eremias and family Lacertidae. On the basis of reviewing the reported karyological data of Eremias, the evolution of karyotypes in this genus is discussed.

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In the present study, relationships among all Chinese species of lacertids in the genus Eremias, E. velox, E. grammica, E. vermiculata, E. przewalskii, E. multiocellata, E. arguta, E. brenchleyi, and E. argus, were assessed using 574 aligned base positions of 16S rRNA mitochondrial DNA sequences from 103 individuals collected from 28 populations. Three kinds of phylogenetic tree (MP, ME, and NJ) were reconstructed and were found to be concordant. All eight species well form a monophyletic group. The resulting genetic distance between E. przewalskii and E. multiocellata is surprisingly low, only 0.008. The result could be due to introgression of the mtDNA molecule. All Eastern-Asia lacertids except E. vermiculata grouped together and formed a monophyletic clade. E. vermiculata are closely related to E. arguta, a Central-Asia species. E. brenchleyi and E. argus formed a monophyletic clade as the sister group of E. multiocellata. The Central-Asia species (E. arguta, E. grammica and E. velox) originated from Central-Asia and Eastern-Asia species (the rest) from China. The phylogenetic relationships among E. grammica, E. velox, E. arguta-vermiculata, E. argus-brenchleyi, and E. multiocellata-przewalskii are unclear in the study, which needs more comprehensive taxonomic sampling from Western Asia and Europe, and additional genetic evidence to resolve it.

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Eremias multiocellata is a viviparous lizard that is known to exhibit temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). Conventional Giemsa staining under light microscope examination has iden-tified the karyotype of this species to be 2 n = 36 I + 2 m, with no detectable heteromorphic sex chromosomes. However, a highly differentiated female-specific chromosome, W, which is homo-morphic with the Z chromosome, is found in the present study by the high-resolution cytogenetic method of comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). The results show that E. multiocellata is a viviparous lizard with both TSD and ZW heterogametic sex chromosomes. Despite the fact that a different sex ratio of male offspring was found in two populations (separated by an altitude of 1400 m) in previous incubation experiments, we demonstrate, using genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), that there is no significant chromosomal loss or acquisition between the two populations. This suggests that temperature may play a more important role in lowland populations. These results most likely indicate that E. multiocellata is transitioning between the evolutionary processes of TSD and genotypic sex determination (GSD) systems, and also give clues to the effect of TSD versus GSD in this process.

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Sympatric reptiles are the ideal system for investigating temperature-driven coexistence. Understanding thermally physiological responses of sympatric lizards is necessary to reveal the physiological mechanisms that underpin the sympatric occurrence of reptiles. In this study, we used three lizard species, Eremias argus, E. multiocellata, and Phrynocephalus przewalskii, which are sympatric in the Inner Mongolia desert steppe, as a study system. By comparing their resting metabolic rates (RMR) and locomotion at different body temperatures, we aimed to better understand their physiological responses to thermal environments, which may explain the sympatric occurrence of these lizards. Our results showed that E. argus had significantly higher RMR and sprint speed than E. multiocellata, and higher RMR than P. przewalskii. In addition, the optimal temperature that maximized metabolic rates and locomotion for E. argus and E. multiocellata was 36°C, whereas for P. przewalskii it was 39°C. Our study revealed the physiological responses to temperatures that justify the sympatric occurrence of these lizards with different thermal and microhabitat preferences and active body temperatures. Eremias argus and E. multiocellata, which have lower body temperatures than P. przewalskii, depend on higher RMR and locomotion to compensate for their lower body temperatures in field conditions. Our study also highlights the importance of using an integrative approach, combining behavior and physiology, to explore the basis of sympatric occurrence in ectothermic species.

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1. Whether maternal effects are adaptive or not has been a long-standing topic of discussion in evolutionary ecology. The effects of maternal diet on offspring have been addressed by several studies on diverse organisms, but results are typically conflicting or inconclusive. 2. In this study, we conducted food manipulation experiments with a factorial design (high and low maternal food conditions × high and low offspring food conditions) in a viviparous lacertid lizard (Eremias multiocellata) to test four competing hypotheses on the evolutionary significance of maternal effects: environmental matching hypothesis, low-food compensation hypothesis, low-food pathology hypothesis and no-compensation hypothesis. 3. We found that offspring under the maternal low-food treatment had higher growth and survival rates than those under the maternal high-food treatment, supporting the low-food compensation hypothesis rather than the environmental matching hypothesis, which has been widely accepted as an explanation for the adaptive significance of maternal effects. 4. Our study highlights the importance of testing multiple competing hypotheses that involve both adaptive and non-adaptive explanations when studying the evolutionary significance of phenotypic plasticity.

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Extreme high temperatures are occurring more frequently with ongoing anthropogenic climate warming, but the experimental tests of the effects of high temperatures on terrestrial vertebrates in natural conditions are rare. In this study, we investigated the effects of extreme high temperatures on female reproduction and offspring traits of multi-ocellated racerunners (Eremias multiocellata) kept in field enclosures in the desert steppe of Inner Mongolia. Our studies indicate that high temperatures significantly affect the gestation period and reproductive output of females and the offspring sex ratio, but have little impact on offspring body size and mass. More interestingly, we found that the effect of extreme high temperatures on female reproductive output was not consistent between two consecutive years that differed in precipitation. Low precipitation may aggravate the impact of climate warming on lizards and negatively affect the survival of lizards in the desert steppe. Our results provide evidence that temperature interacts with precipitation to determine the life history of lizards, and they suggest that a drier and hotter environment, such as the future climate in arid mid-latitude areas, will likely impose severe pressure on lizard populations, which are an important component of the food web in desert areas around the world.

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The Sox (SRY-related high-mobility-group box) family of genes shares a conserved HMG box and is involved in a diverse range of developmental processes and sex determination in vertebrates. Twenty Sox genes are present in the genomes of humans and mice, but far less is known about the Sox gene family in reptiles. Using two pairs of highly degenerate primers designed from a multiple alignment of Sox amino acid sequences in several species, different positive clones were obtained from male and female Eremias multiocellata, a viviparous lizard which is subject to TSD (temperature-dependent sex determination). These clones were sequenced and identified. They are members of the SoxB (Sox2, Sox14), SoxC (Sox11, Sox12) and SoxE (Sox9a, Sox9b, Sox10) groups. No sex-specific differences were observed. Based on the amino acid sequence similarities, the phylogenetic analysis was carried out and these genes clustered with their orthologues. In addition, we found the gene duplication in E. multiocellata, it may be a mechanism to produce new functional genes.

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To assess the potential gestational effects on post-hatching morphology, locomotor performance, and early growth rate, we maintained gravid Eremias multiocellata under four constant treatment temperatures (25, 29, 31, and 35 °C). Ambient temperature had significant effects on some morphometric traits of offspring, including tail length, head size, forelimb length and hindlimb length, but not on body mass or snout-vent length. The data of females` body temperature indirectly support the maternal manipulation hypothesis. Juvenile E. multiocellata had better locomotor performance and faster early growth rate at 29 °C than at the other three treatment temperatures (25, 31, and 35 °C). Our results suggest that gestation temperature may be optimized at 29 °C for E. multiocellata from Tianzhu, Gansu Province, China.

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The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes have been well characterized in mammals, birds, amphibians and fishes, but little is known about their organization in reptiles, despite the fact that reptiles occupy an important phylogenetic position for understanding the evolutionary history of vertebrates MHC genes. In this study we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to amplify the genomic exon 3 and exon 4 fragments of MHC class I genes in three racerunner lizards, including viviparous Multiocellated Racerunner (Eremias multiocellata), viviparous Gobi Racerunner (Eremias przewalskii), and oviparous Ordos Racerunner (Eremias brenchleyi). We also presented the molecular characterization of class I sequences for racerunner lacertids. Gene duplication was detected in the three Eremias species, at least four MHC class I loci in Multiocellated Racerunners and Ordos Racerunners, and at least five in Gobi Racerunners. A putative class I pseudogene was inferred in Ordos Racerunner for a premature stop codon in a segment of so-called exon 3. The peptide binding region, β2-microglobulin interaction sites and a conserved cysteine residue were recognized in α2 domain encoded by exon 3. The β2-microglobulin interaction sites, CD8 molecule interaction sites and a conserved cysteine residue were recognized in α3 domain encoded by exon 4. Putative classical class I genes were expressed in the uterus of both oviparous and viviparous racerunners during pregnancy, along with some alleles unexpressed in uterine. In addition, phylogenetic reconstruction suggested the existence of trans-species polymorphism in MHC class I genes in Eremias. These findings provide clues for further investigations of co-evolution of viviparity and maternal immune system, as well as evolution of squamate MHC.

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The body temperature (Tb) and standard metabolic rate (SMR) of female Eremias multiocellata Günther, 1872, a viviparous lizard, were measured at 25, 30, and 35 C during pregnancy and after parturition to assess energy requirement of reproduction. The results showed that the Tbs of female lizards were slightly higher than actual ambient temperature in the 25 and 30 C groups, while they were slightly lower than ambient temperature in the 35 C group. Ambient temperature significantly affected SMR and gestation period of females. Energy requirement was constant in nonpregnant females, whereas it was increased in pregnant females. The maximal estimates of maintenance costs of pregnancy (MCP) were 4.219, 4.220, and 4.448 mg CO2•min–1, which accounted for 19.40%, 14.15%, and 12.32% of the total metabolic rate in the 25, 30, and 35 C group, respectively. The results indicated the MCP was an important component of total energy cost for the lizard E. multiocellata and the MCP in this lizard incurs a relative fixed energetic cost irrespective of ambient temperature.

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Understanding community assembly is a fundamental goal of ecology and evolutionary biology, because it provides insight into how a given landscape changes in a synergistic fashion. With the current background of global environmental change, studies of how habitat alteration affects local communities often focus on species` responses to community-level changes instead of responses to specific ecological factors that elucidate the roles each factor plays in the final synergistic response. Here, we focus on the specific ecological mechanisms that drive changes in community structure. We investigated compositional patterns of lizard communities among natural and altered habitats (vegetatively sparse, natural, and dense) in the desert steppe ecosystem of Inner Mongolia, China. Habitat alteration induced significant changes in community composition of lizards and was associated with significant changes in both biotic and abiotic niches. Our preference (soil, thermal, and prey) and performance (locomotor, antipredator, and competitive) experiments identified many of the biotic and abiotic factors shaping lizard community responses to habitat change. In the natural habitat, where Phrynocephalus frontalis and Eremias multiocellata codominate, P. frontalis experienced low overlap (across lizard species) in preferred prey. Eremias multiocellata preferred the thermal environment of the natural habitat (and dense habitat), but this one factor did not fully explain its codominance. Phrynocephalus frontalis dominated in the sparse habitat, where this lizard species experienced its preferred tight soil and warm thermal environment and experienced low overlap of preferred prey. In the dense habitat, where E. argus dominates, P. frontalis and E. multiocellata exhibited impeded locomotor performance, whereas E. argus was not impeded by vegetation density. Eremias argus also preferred the thermal environment of the dense habitat (and natural habitat). Our results suggest, furthermore, that adult predation risk was not a major determinant of community divergence among habitats and that competition likely plays a more important role. Interspecific competition for microhabitat use may explain the low abundance of E. argus in the natural habitat and the low abundance of P. frontalis in the dense habitat. Overall, our assessment of lizard preferences and performances explained community composition across habitats. Our focus on ecological mechanisms associated with habitat alteration highlights the importance of vegetation conservation in lizard community management.

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It has been documented in some reptiles that thermal environment can induce variation in sex ratio and morphological phenotypes of offspring. Here, the viviparous lizards (Eremias multiocellata) were maintained under different temperatures during pregnancy to test the effects of this treatment on sexual and morphological phenotypes of offspring, and to investigate whether this lizard is subject to temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). The warmer temperatures resulted in shorter gestation periods and a higher ratio of male: female births; however, gestation temperature did not affect the neonates’ body mass or snout–vent length (SVL). The gestation temperatures also had significant effects on the mean litter size. Therefore, our results show that the viviparous lizard E. multiocellata might be a TSD species, providing the mothers the opportunity to manipulate the sex ratio of their offspring.

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Although sodium and water reabsorption by the kidney plays a major role in maintaining body fluid homeostasis, the seasonal response of renal morphology and the factors involved in water and salt regulation are not well known, especially in reptiles. Eremias multiocellata is a typical desert-dwelling lizard. Here, we compared water and salt regulation of E. multiocellata in winter (hibernation), spring (emerging from hibernation), and summer (active) according to histomorphometry and the expression of genes such as those encoding aquaporins (AQP1, AQP2, AQP3), the Na+-Cl− cotransporter (NCC), the Na+-K+-2Cl− cotransporter (NKCC2), renin (Ren), angiotensin II receptor type 2 (AT2R), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the kidneys. The results showed that the area of Bowman`s capsule and the glomerular density were lower in winter compared to summer and spring, and the lumen size of the DCT, PCT, and IS was greater in spring than in summer. Compared to summer and spring, the expression of AQP1, AQP3, NCC, NKCC2, Ren, and eNOS was significantly decreased in winter, whereas the expression of AQP2 and AT2R remained high. These results indicate that E. multiocellata balances its water budget via morpho-functional changes in different seasons. Although renal function was temporarily attenuated during winter, the regulation of aquaporins genes was not synchronous, indicating the complexity and particularity of water and salt regulation in desert lizards when facing the constraints of harsh environmental conditions, seasonal variations, and hibernation. These results will enrich the understanding of water and salt regulation mechanisms in desert reptiles.

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Although gut seasonal plasticity has been extensively reported, studies on physiological flexibility, such as water-salt transportation and motility in reptiles, are limited. Therefore, this study investigated the intestinal histology and gene expression involved in water-salt transport (AQP1, AQP3, NCC, and NKCC2) and motility regulation (nNOS, CHRM2, and ADRB2) in desert-dwelling Eremias multiocellata during winter (hibernating period) and summer (active period). The results showed that mucosal thickness, the villus width and height, the enterocyte height of the small intestine, and the mucosal and submucosal thicknesses of the large intestine were greater in winter than in summer. However, submucosal thickness of the small intestine and muscularis thickness of the large intestine were lower in winter than in summer. Furthermore, AQP1, AQP3, NCC, nNOS, CHRM2, and ADRB2 expressions in the small intestine were higher in winter than in summer; AQP1, AQP3, and nNOS expressions in the large intestine were lower in winter than in summer, with the upregulation of NCC and CHRM2 expressions; no significant seasonal differences were found in intestinal NKCC2 expression. These results suggest that (i) intestinal water-salt transport activity is flexible during seasonal changes where AQP1, AQP3 and NCC play a vital role, (ii) the intestinal motilities are attenuated through the concerted regulation of nNOS, CHRM2, and ADRB2, and (iii) the physiological flexibility of the small and large intestine may be discrepant due to their functional differences. This study reveals the intestinal regulation and adaptation mechanisms in E. multiocellata in response to the hibernation season.

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Background: To better simulate and predict zoonotic disease outbreaks, data on arthropods acting aspathogen carriers and information on host-arthropod associations should be collected. Ticks are obligatehaematophagous ectoparasites of vertebrate animals, including humans, with a wide global distribution.To date, the species discrimination and phylogenetic relationships among the ticks on lizards in Chinaremain unclear. Methods: In this study, 31 ticks, collected from Eremias multiocellata lizards in four arid desert regions ofthe Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China, were identified by morphological observation and molecular techniques. The 12S rDNA, 16S rDNA, and COI fragments of ticks were sequenced. As reference samples, 47 Chinese ticks from hedgehogs and one tick from brushwood were also included in this study. To infer the phylogenetic relationships among them, 32 12S rDNA, 77 16S rDNA, and 66 COI sequences of ticks retrieved from GenBank were also included. All samples were identified by phylogenetic analyses. Results: The Bayesian and network analysis results revealed that the 31 ticks from the lizards belong to three genera and three species: 11 were identified as Hyalomma asiaticum, three as Rhipicephalus turanicus, and 17 as Haemaphysalis sulcata. Conclusions: Our study is the first attempt to investigate ticks on lizards in the arid desert regions of Xinjiang, China. Notably, two species of ticks have been identi