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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.

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Steroid-protein interactions were studied in the lizard, Lacerta vivipara J. The detection of specific steroid-binding plasma proteins was determined by equilibrium dialysis, Sephadex filtration, sucrose gradient centrifugation, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two high-affinity binding systems are described: a transcortin-type protein and an SBP-type protein. A high concentration of progesterone-binding sites was found (N = 1.1 ): 1O-5 M), whereas binding activity for corticosterone was weak. The estradiol-17@-binding affinity to the lizard SBP (I& = 2 x lo9 M-l) is similar to that found in man and amphibians. Testosterone binds to both the above specific binding systems.

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The analysis of polymorphism of microsatellite loci of Darevskia raddei “Yerevan” population allowed us to establish that the population of D. raddei “Yerevan” belongs to the subspecies Darevskia raddei nairensis.

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Artificial burrows are widely used for the survey or conservation of reptile populations. Nevertheless, few ecological restoration programs include such management practices into the global project. Two sites in restoration, located into the Crau plain, were implemented with artificial burrows aiming recolonization of the ocellated Lizard. A first feedback of this experience is given regarding the distribution and design of burrows. As several authors showed, such restoration actions are favorable for lizards as they rapidly used artificial burrows. Distance to closest population and burrows distribution seems to be important. Temperatures collected in artificial burrows and original ones are not different. Advices are proposed in order to improve survey and quality of artificial burrows in restoration ecology experiments.

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Rock lizards of the genus Darevskia are interesting research models due to their asexual reproduction. Ectoparasitic mites and ticks of these lizards are poorly known, despite some of these chelicerates being vector pathogens of humans and wildlife. Here we document and curate previously known data on ectoparasitic Acari of rock lizards and, based on our extensive survey, provide an annotated list of these ectoparasitic arthropods (six tick species, one macronyssid species, and seven chigger species). We also provide new host records (Ixodes ricinus on Darevskia caucasica, D. dryada, D. mixta, and D. szczerbaki; Haemaphysalis sulcata on D. rudis; Odontacarus saxicolis on D. brauneri); and new geographical records (O. saxicolis in Russia and Georgia).

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Reptile sheltering behaviour, despite profound life history ramifications, remains poorly investigated. Whether or not individuals share a suitable shelter or, conversely, exclude conspecifics may depend on associated costs (resource partitioning, sexual harassment, disease or parasite contamination) and benefits (predation risk dilution, thermal resilience, information sharing). We performed two experiments on field caught wall lizards (Podarcis muralis), a highly territorial species, to investigate the relative roles of sex and body size in night sheltering. In the first experiment, random pairs of lizards were offered two identical shelters. Lizards either shared a shelter, or sheltered separately. In the second experiment, different random pairs of lizards were offered only one shelter so as to elicit a share or compete response. Body size and sex both appeared as significant drivers for sheltering patterns. Unexpectedly, wall lizards often chose to share shelters. When only one shelter (too small to accommodate two adult lizards) was available, many lizards rejected the sheltering option in preference for aggregation. Such aggregative behaviour was not sex dependant, and may reflect thermoregulatory or anti-predatory benefits. Our results nevertheless suggest that cooperative behaviour may exist in wall lizards

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Embryogenesis is the first step in the ontogenetic life journey of any individual, and is thus a starting point for natural selection to cause evolutionary change. There are slight variations in the timing of embryonic development, known as heterochrony, which may eventually lead to major differences in adult anatomy. To test this hypothesis, the embryonic development of three closely related lizard species, Darevskia armeniaca, Lacerta agilis, and L. viridis, which are adapted to different habitats, was compared by analyzing discrete timing characters. Both intra- and interspecific variation was detected. The latter may be interpreted as embryonic pre-adaptions to later adult lifestyles, demonstrating that developmental penetrance manifests within a few million years. Traits with large intraspecific temporal variation, such as limb-related features, were susceptible to natural selection. In particular, the mountain-dwelling, climbing species D. armeniaca showed embryonic preadaptions by an early developing limb anlagen. This observation demonstrated interspecific variation, which was elusive in a previous comparative study based on purely metric data of developing limb lengths, and highlighted the importance of multiple data sources to draw robust conclusions about evolutionary change. Timing differences indicated unexplored ecological adaptations of the poorly understood lifestyle of these lizards. Thus, embryonic research provides a platform to explore superficially hidden evolutionary adaptations of all organisms on Earth.

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Camouflage is a fitness-relevant trait that supports survival and fosters evolutionary adaptation by which animals match their body pattern to a background setting. Lichens are among the most common of these backgrounds that several animal species use for camouflage. Lichens are omnipresent and grow in wide arrays of colorations and compositions. Their composition and phenotypic diversity might facilitate cryptic coloration and habitat matching by various animal species. Here, we describe the role of lichens in providing camouflage to various animal species in central Asian and Caucasus mountain ecoregions, which are categorized as global biodiversity hotspots. Despite multiple ecological studies, no information is available on the role of this regions‘ lichen diversity in providing animal camouflage. Casual field observations of lichen camouflage are reported for four (one mammal and three reptile) species: the Persian Leopard’s Panthera pardus saxicolor body coat seems to closely match the colors and patterns of saxicolous lichens (Acarospora sp. and Circinaria sp.) in their habitat. A similar background matching pattern was observed in both morphs of the Caucasian Rock Agama Paralaudakia caucasia upon crustose lichens: Caloplaca spp., Circinaria spp., and the Radde’s Rock Lizard Darevskia raddei to the crustose lichens Acarospora sp. and Caloplaca sp. Likewise, the Horny-scaled Agama’s Trapelus ruderatus grey matches with the color of multiple lichens (Lecanora spp., Circinaria spp., Protoparmeliopsis spp., Rinodina spp., and Anaptychia spp.). Our observations preliminarily suggest that lichens play an important role for species of different trophic levels, ensuring adaptation and survival through camouflage. We call for more field- based empirical and experimental studies in various terrestrial ecosystems in other parts of the world to test the role of lichens in local adaption and evolutionary plasticity of regional species.

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Background. Over 700 species of ticks are characterised by moderate to high host specificity, and a handful by very high host specificity, parasitizing upon a single host species. The rest are not host specific. One of them is the castor bean tick, which parasitizes all available terrestrial vertebrates including humans. Poland lacks tick species that are reptile-specific, since, as reported by K. Siuda (1993), these ectoparasites generally prefer endotherms, namely birds and mammals. However, the literature reports that the prevalence of castor bean tick infestation of local sand lizard populations is as high as 13.2 % – 40.4 %. Observations of different authors also indicate that outside the period of regular tick appearance on lizards, individual lizards can have very high tick loads, varying between several to over 100. Materials and Methods. The research was conducted in three separate study areas in western Poland: Żary, Zielona Góra and Nowa Sól. 606 specimens of sand lizards were captured, analysed and photographed. 222 (36.6 %) of them were infested with ticks. With each capture ticks were checked and removed. The lizards were caught by hand. Inter-group two-way and three-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated with the use of IBM SPSS Statistics 23 software. Threshold of statistical significance was set to α = 0.05. Results. In total 1339 ticks were obtained from lizards, all of which were castor bean ticks (Ixodes ricinus). 914 (68.2 %) were larvae, 424 (31.7 %) were nymphs and 1 (0.1 %) was an adult female. The highest number of ticks (778) was collected from lizards at Żary site. The most infested male from Żary was parasitized upon by 55 ticks, from Zielona Góra – by 46 and from Nowa Sól – by 15. In regard to females these numbers were 36, 34 and 15, respectively. The average infestation (defined as number of ticks) was higher for lizards from Żary than for those from Zielona Góra (p < 0.001) and Nowa Sól (p < 0.001), which also differed from each other in a statistically sig nificant way (p = 0.001). Main effect of sex/age group turned out to be statistically significant, F(2.796) = 67.75; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.15. Hence post-hoc analysis was carried out and showed that males carried higher number of ticks than females and juveniles (p < 0.001). Females, on the other hand, carried more ticks than juveniles (p < 0.001). Conclusion. The research confirmed a significant role of sand lizards in propagation of Ixodes ricinus. It was shown that lizards were affected mainly by early developmental stages of ticks. The prevalence of tick infestation was 36.6 % – 58.1 % for Żary, 28.1 % for Zielona Góra and 13.8 % for Nowa Sól. The average tick load on sand lizards was 2.5 individuals. The highest number of them was collected from 58.5 % of males, 36.4 % of females and 5.1 % of juveniles. High tick infestation of males can be explained by their higher mobility, especially during mating season.

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Cytosine arabinofuranoside, a potent inhibitor of D N A synthesis, administered into the egg of Lacerta viridis at different stages of its development induced various limb reductions, particularly digital reductions. At stages of 9 to 11 days of incubation, this agent inhibits the formation or arrests the growth of certain digital rays in the autopod of the limb. Similarities between the pattern of experimentally induced and that of the naturally realized digital reductions in serpentiform reptiles are brought to light, as well as the similarities between the early stages of the ontogenesis of the limb ithe two cases. This comparative study leads to the suggestion that after the retrogression of the apical ridge, a transitory arrest of the D N A synthesis in the mesoblastic cells of the limb bud, at definite stages of the embryonic development might play a role in the terminal stages of the evolutionary regression of the limb, in serpentiform reptiles.

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Color polymorphism—two or more heritable color phenotypes maintained within a single breeding population— is an extreme type of intraspecific diversity widespread across the tree of life. Color polymorphism is hypothesized to be an engine for speciation, where morph loss or divergence between distinct color morphs within a species results in the rapid evolution of new lineages, and thus, color polymorphic lineages are expected to display elevated diversification rates. Multiple species in the lizard family Lacertidae are color polymorphic, making them an ideal group to investigate the evolutionary history of this trait and its influence on macroevolution. Here, we produce a comprehensive species-level phylogeny of the lizard family Lacertidae to reconstruct the evolutionary history of color polymorphism and test if color polymorphism has been a driver of diversification. Accounting for phylogenetic uncertainty with multiple phylogenies and simulation studies, we estimate an ancient origin of color polymorphism (111 Ma) within the Lacertini tribe (subfamily Lacertinae). Color polymorphism most likely evolved few times in the Lacertidae and has been lost at a much faster rate than gained. Evolutionary transitions to color polymorphism are associated with shifts in increased net diversification rate in this family of lizards. Taken together, our empirical results support long-standing theoretical expectations that color polymorphism is a driver of diversification.

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In 1988 and 1989 we investigated the ecology of a reptile community inhabiting a suburban area altered by human activity. Recent changes in and partial destruction of diversified habitats have been directly involved in the faunistic paucity of all the area, where only three lizard and three snake species have been found, but only four of which are really common. The known thermal preference of every species has been confirmed, and some differences among taxa have been observed in lizard sex-ratio and snake biometry. Available and suitable habitats are discontinuous in the area, which probably explains the different observed distribution of the reptile community.

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High-speed cinematography (100 framesls) was used to allow quantitative analysis of the kinematic profiles of tongue and jaw displacements during chemosensory activities in the scleroglossan lizard Lacerta viridis. The types of tongue flicking were simple downward extensions (SDE), single oscillations (SOC), and submultiple oscillations (SMOC) of the tongue out of the mouth. The SMOC type involves a downward or upward movement of the tongue performed before a typical oscillation and it is therefore suggested that this is an intermediate category of flick between the typical SOC and MOC of lizards. Closing and opening of the mouth in SDE, SOC, and SMOC cycles may or may not be separated by a stationary stage during which the jaws are held open at a constant gape. The duration of this stationary interval increases from SDE to SMOC. Gape cycles do not show any division into slow and fast stages. The gape is produced largely by depression of the lower jaw; the upper jaw is slightly elevated by protrusion of the tongue. Patterns of correlation of kinematic variables depicting jaw and tongue movements differed between SDE, SOC, and SMOC. A principal component analysis shows that the three flick types overlap in a multivariate space constructed from the kinematic variables depicting jaw and tongue displacements. Overlap between SOC and SMOC categories is greater than that between SOC, SMOC, and SDE categories. The kinematic patterns of tongue displacement during SMOC in Lacerta viridis show similarities with those of MOC in other lizards and in snakes. Kinematically, the pattern of jaw and tongue displacements of Lacerta viridis during chemosensory activities shows similarities with those that occur during drinking and prey capture.

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European green lizards, Lacerta viridis, produced relatively thermostable, dithiothreitol-sensitive, non-precipitating, agglutinins and complement-fixing antibodies (CFA) to Leishmania agamae administered subcutaneously (SC), intraperitoneally (IP) or orally (OR). Antibodies were also detected by the immobilization test (IMM) and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The most sensitive method for the detection of stimulated immunoglobulins was ELISA. Antibodies were detected as early as 3 days post-infection with ELISA and between 5 and 7 for CFA, direct agglutination (DA) and indirect haemagglutination (IHA). In the case of IMM, the times of first detection varied from 14 to 28 days. Maximum CFA (2-*), DA (2-9, IHA (2-`) and ELISA (2-16) titres were reached from 42 to 49 days with significantly higher values occurring in the OR and IP groups. With IMM, maxima occurred after 5 or 6 weeks. Following exposure, two- to five-fold significant increases in serum lysozyme levels were demonstrated but the concentrations in sera following SC, IP or OR routes of antigen administration were not significantly different when the groups were compared with each other. The highest lysozyme values (approximately 12.3-12.5 pgml-`) were found in the SC and OR groups when compared to the IP (7.40pgml-I).

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Field and intracellular potentials were recorded in the vestibular nuclei of the lizard following stimulation of the ipsi- and contralateral vestibular nerves. The field potentials induced by ipsilateral VIIIth nerve stimulation consisted of an early negative or positive-negative wave (presynaptic component) followed by a slow negativity (transsynaptic component). The spatial distribution of the field potential complex closely paralleled the extension of the vestibular nuclei. Mono- and polysynaptic EPSPs were recorded from vestibular neurons after ipsilateral u nerve stimulation. In some neurons early depolarizations preceded the EPSPs. These potentials may be elicited by electrical transmission. Often spike- like partial responses were superimposed on the EPSPs. I t is assumed that these potentials represent dendritic spikes. Contralateral VIIIth nerve stimulation generated disynaptic and polysynaptic IPSPs in some neurons and EPSPs in others. The possible role of commissural inhibition in phylogeny is discussed. In a group of vestibular neurons stimulation of the ipsilateral VIIIth nerve evoked full action potentials with latencies ranging from 0.25--1.1 msec. These potentials are caused by antidromie activation of neurons which send their axons to the labyrinth.

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Hybridization is a common evolutionary process with multiple possible outcomes. In vertebrates, interspecific hybridization has repeatedly generated parthenogenetic hybrid species. However, it is unknown whether the generation of parthenogenetic hybrids is a rare outcome of frequent hybridization between sexual species within a genus or the typical outcome of rare hybridization events. Darevskia is a genus of rock lizards with both hybrid parthenogenetic and sexual species. Using capture sequencing, we estimate phylogenetic relationships and gene flow among the sexual species, to determine how introgressive hybridization relates to the origins of parthenogenetic hybrids. We find evidence for widespread hybridization with gene flow, both between recently diverged species and deep branches. Surprisingly, we find no signal of gene flow between parental species of the parthenogenetic hybrids, suggesting that the parental pairs were either reproductively or geographically isolated early in their divergence. The generation of parthenogenetic hybrids in Darevskia is, then, a rare outcome of the total occurrence of hybridization within the genus, but the typical outcome when specific species pairs hybridize. Our results question the conventional view that parthenogenetic lineages are generated by hybridization in a window of divergence. Instead,

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The sensory fibers of the facial nerve in Lacerta viridis have been studied with a silver impregnation method to follow the course of axonal degeneration. Destruction of the geniculate ganglion demonstrated the degen- erated sensory component of the facial nerve adjacent to the anterior vestibular root. Within the lateral vestibular area the facial sensory fibers consist of numerous rootlets separated by vestibular fibers and cells. These rootlets may join to form a main or paired sensory tract that passes through the vestibular nuclei to enter the tractus solitarius and divide into a small ascending prefacial component and a major descending prevagal division. A few fibers continue into the postvagal part of tractus solitarius and extend caudally to terminate in the nucleus commissura infima. Prefacial fibers terminate along the periventricular gray while prevagal fibers terminate within the tractus solitarius on the dendrites of cells of nucleus tractus solitarius and near the periphery of the dorsal motor nucleus of X. There was no noticeable degeneration in the descendens tractus trigemini. Terminal degeneration to descendens nucleus trigemini and motor nucleus of VII followed the tractus solitarius course. Most facial sensory fibers are probably related to taste and other visceral information.

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A colony of Podarcis siculus has been confirmed in 2017 on the island of Trimelone, on the eastern coast of the Garda Lake. A transect performed on the whole length of the island revealed the good state of health of the colony, with a total of 48 censused individuals and the absence of other species of lizards. A subsequent transect on the stretch of the coast of the lake facing the isle suggested the absence of Podarcis siculus, the presence of Podarcis muralis and a high abundance of Natrix tessellata.

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Lacerta viridis received skin auto- and allografts. In laboratory conditions the allograft rejection response was very slow (220 - 320 days) or absent. In a more natural outdoor environment allograft rejection occurred in all lizards, grafts being rejected much faster (32 - 64 days).

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Anatolia has played an important role in the speciation of many species. Global climatic changes affect the distribution of many reptiles in different ways, including their range expansion or habitat loss. In this study, we focused on the genus Anatololacerta which inhabits Anatolia and some Greek islands. In total, 150 literature records and 20 items of observation data were analysed with the maximum entropy method (MaxEnt) for the last glacial maximum (LGM), as well as historical (1970-2000) and future (2081-2100; RCP 4.5) bioclimatic conditions. According to our model, the distribution ranges in the future conditions for A. danfordi, A. finikensis and A. ibrahimi were more extensive than for the historical conditions. However, A. anatolica and A. pelasgiana may experience a potential habitat loss in the future. Although physical barriers were obstacles in the LGM and historical records, these barriers may be overcome after the climatic changes taking place in the near future.

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New findings of Darevskia pontica at the northern border of its habitat, in the Kuban-Azov lowland within the administrative boundaries of the Krasnodar and Rostov regions, are presented and discussed. The species was found in the Rostov region for the first time. It is proposed to include D. pontica into the regional Red Data Book of the Rostov region.

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Population density of reptiles in four desert areas of southwestern Tajikistan was es- timated in spring 2018–2019. The structure of reptile communities in seven typical landscapes was described. The highest species diversity and population density were observed in sandy landscapes. Seven species of psammobionts formed the basis of these reptile communities. Among them Phrynocephalus interscapularis (56.4), Crossobamon eversmanni (27.8), Eremias lineolata (15.6), Eremias scripta (13.0) had the highest distribution and high population density (individuals/hectare). The relationship of cohabitating species was considered. The highest total population density of reptiles (89.0 ind./ha) was discovered on sandy ridges along the Amu Darya. On the loamy plain the population density of four species was 8.4 ind./ha, and on the foothill plain 2.4 ind./ha. Eremias nigrocellata (2.0 ind./ha) dominated in reptile communities on solid ground. In total, 25 species of reptiles inhabit the desert plains of Southwestern Tajiki- stan. 17 out of 25 (68%) species are included in the national Red Data Book. The level of en- demism and similarity of reptile fauna in desert areas were high. Fauna similarity indices calcu- lated according to Sørensen were 0.9–0.8. These values indicate close contact and connection between desert communities. The formation of the reptile fauna in southwestern Tajikistan oc- curred as a result of dispersal of Turanian species across the left bank of the Amu Darya River from Turkmenistan. They moved to the right bank due to the changes in the riverbed at the Pleistocene Epoch. The absence of some reptile species (Teratoscincus scincus, C. eversmanni, Phrynocephalus mystaceus, E. lineolata, Eremias grammica, E. scripta, etc.) in Northern Af- ghanistan along the border with Tajikistan is explained by the lack of herpetological study of this territory. Their habitat in the area is highly probable. Isolation and autonomy of desert are- as in the Amu Darya valley create the opportunity for formation of new taxonomic forms. Ex- amples are lizards E. scripta ladzinni and P. interscapularis sogdianus. The desert plains of Southwest Tajikistan have a small area and are subjected to significant anthropogenic pressure. Protection of small species, including lizards (Phrynocephalus raddei, P. mystaceus, Varanus griseus) and snakes (Eryx tataricus, Spalerosophis diadema, Boiga trigonatum, Naja oxiana, Echis carinatus) is needed. For widespread and numerous psammobiont species (P. interscapu- laris, E. lineolata, E. grammica, E. scripta, C. eversmanni) there is no threat of extermination at the moment.

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Two Acanthodactylus boskianus and three Mesalina guttulata were recorded on the surface at day time, 12 January 2022 in the South Eastern Desert, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt. The weather was clear full day, in the middle of the day the air temperature reached +240C. Lizards not only actively moved, but also demonstrated foraging behavior. This is the first doc- umented record of winter activity of lacertids in Egypt.

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In this study, it was aimed to determine the amphibian and reptile species distributed in Kahramanmaraş province. Between the years 2016-2018, a total of 52 species (6 amphibians, 4 turtles, 21 lizards and 21 snakes species) belonging to 20 families were determined in Kahramanmaraş province during field surveys conducted at 451 localities. The records and their locations are presented in a map and a table. However, Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758), Darevskia valentini (Boettger, 1892), Ablepharus chernovi Darevsky, 1953, Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Linnaeus, 1758), Parvilacerta parva (Boulenger, 1887), Anatololacerta pelasgiana (Mertens, 1959), Elaphe sauromates (Pallas, 1811) and Rhynchocalamus satunini (Nikolsky, 1899) were recorded for the first time from Kahramanmaraş.

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We analysed the effects of body mass on the monthly activity patterns of six Mediterranean lacertid lizard taxa, four relatively small species, the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus), the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis), the blue-throated keeled lizard (Algyroides nigropunctatus), and the Ionian wall lizard (Podarcis ionicus), and two larger species, the western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) and the Balkan green lizard (Lacerta trilineata). The highest number of observations for all six species occurred in April and May and the lowest in July and August, the latter being the hottest and driest months of the year. The two larger species were mainly active from March to July, whereas the four smaller species had an additional period of high activity from September to November. As all six species reproduce during spring, the increase in activity of the smaller species in autumn was consequently unrelated to reproductive behaviour. There was no difference in seasonal activity of the two smaller Italian species at sites with or without the larger green lizards. It is therefore unlikely that interference competition/predation by green lizards caused the increased autumnal activity of the smaller lizards. We suggest that due to their lower mass-specific metabolic rates, larger species can obtain sufficient lipid stores over a shorter annual activity to ensure successful reproduction the subsequent spring. By contrast, smaller species have greater need to replenish their lipid reserves after summer fasting and therefore resume much higher activity levels in September to November to attain this goal.

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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.

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Background. The purpose of the work is to clarify the species of turtles, lizards and snakes that P. S. Pallas noted in the Volga river basin and the Volga-Ural inter fluve. Pallas’s data on the reptile fauna of the region are compared with current data Materials an methods. The basis of the study was the analysis of Pallas’s publications. The names of reptiles used by Pallas with their modern names are identified. Results. From the Volga region, Pallas described two species of reptiles that are new to science: “Coluber melanis” (black forest-steppe form of the Vipera berus) and “Lacerta pipiens” (Alsophylax pipiens). From the interfluve of the Volga and the Ural Pallas described two species yet: “Lacerta apoda” (Pseudopus apodus) and “Lacerta mystacea” (Phrynocephalus mystaceus). The great naturalist noted in the Volga region also reptiles, whose modern names are: Emys orbicularis, Phrynocephalus helioscopus, Phrynocephalus guttatus, Phrynocephalus mystaceus, Eremias velox, Lacerta agilis, Natrix natrix, Natrix tessellata, Hierophis caspius, Gloydius halys, Vipera berus, Vipera renardi. At the beginning of the XXI century, one species of turtles, 11 species of lizards and 10 species of snakes reliably inhabit the region. Conclusions. The species of reptiles noted by Pallas, except for the Pseudopus apodus and the Gloydius halys, reliably inhabit the region at present. The data of the Pallas serve as a basis for studying the dynamics of species composition, distribution, abundance and phenology of reptiles in the Volga basin.

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

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Smaragdhagedissen hebben een wijde verspreiding in Zuid- en Centraal-Europa en Klein-Azië. De meest noordelijke populaties bevinden zich in het oosten en westen van Duitsland. Dit zijn geïsoleerde relictpopulaties van respectievelijk de oostelijke smaragdhagedis (Lacerta viridis) en de westelijke smaragdhagedis (L. bilineata). Enkele losse waarnemingen uit Nederland zijn bekend, maar de aanwezigheid van een populatie westelijke smaragdhagedissen zal menigeen waarschijnlijk niet voor mogelijk houden.

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Acanthodactylus Wiegmann, 1834 is one of the widespread lizard genus in North Africa, southern Europe, Asia Minor to the Iberian Peninsula and east through the Arabian Peninsula and western India. We recently discovered Acanthodactylus ilgazi from Eastern Anatolia Turkey. However, a nomenclatural clause for electronic publishing of species names according to the Code of International Nomenclature caused the new name has been unavailable up to now. Therefore, here we formally describe A. ilgazi. In addition to that, the description of the male specimen is given for the first time for this species.

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This paper presents an updated checklist of Amphibians and Reptiles of Montenegro. The checklist contains 52 species (including two species complexes), compiled from published literature and personal field surveys. Species complexes are the Anguis fragilis complex and the Lacerta viridis complex. Trachemys scripta is introduced, while Podarcis siculus is potentially introduced species. Migratory species include three sea turtles (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas and Dermochelys coriacea). Additionally, there are four potentially present species (Proteus anguinus, Mediodactylus kotschyi, Tarentola mauritanica and Podarcis tauricus), which presence is doubtful or still not confirmed with certainty in Montenegro. National and international protection as well as conservation status of Amphibians and Reptiles is given.

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To plan efficient conservation actions it is fundamental to have as many detailed and complete information as possible on the distribution of the target species. That is particularly true for amphibians and reptiles, taxa with generally little vagility and with relevant percentages of species included in one of the threatened IUCN categories. Fragmentation, modification an loss of habitats, together with the recent emergence of infectious fungal diseases in amphibians, represent the main causesof their decline. In order to efficiently direct conservation efforts, in particular towards species that are already or potentially threatened, it is important to create, and periodically update, atlases of their distribution. This work points out the updates to the ‘Atlas of th Amphibians and Reptiles of Trentino’, which is aimed at a throughout update that will be concluded by 2020, after about 20 years from the first publication. For this Atlas, the Trentino territory has been divide in cartographic map units represented by 309 UTM cells of 5x5 km. To date (June 1st 2018), 168 cells out of 309 contain at least one new observation since the last update, and 135 out of 309 contain species that were never recorded before. The data collection (which includes data from iNaturalist and Ornitho.it since 2017) has already gathered 1573 new observations (759amphibians and 814 reptiles), bringing the total at 7685 records for the provincial territory.

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The previous knowledge on the distribution of the herpetofauna of the Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Natural Park dates back to the early 90s. After just over a decade the Park has reproposed a herpetofaunistic study in order to update the checklist and the distribution framework of the amphibians and reptiles of the Park and neighboring territory. The study area is located eastern of the Trento province, includes the territory of the Park and a large pre-park area involving a total of 11 municipalities in the province of Trento and 2 in Belluno. The study was carried out in the period 2015-2017 using standard methods for census: Visual Encounter Survey (VES), active research under potential shelters, dip netting, call survey, egg survey, search for dead individuals and exuvie of reptiles. The project also included the collection of signallings from occasional surveyors and herpetological data collected from the open source faunistic platform iNaturalist. A total of 582 data were collected (63.7% on amphibians, 36.3% on reptiles), 40.4% within the Park with a clear prevalence for amphibians (27.7% vs 12.8% reptiles). The updated checklist of the Herpetofauna of the Park and surrounding areas includes Salamandra atra, Salamandra salamandra, Ichthyosaura alpestris, Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, Anguis veronensis/ A. fragilis, Lacerta bilineata, Podarcis muralis, Zootoca vivipara, Coronella austriaca, Natrix natrix, N. tessellata, Vipera aspis, V. berus. Compared to previous research, in addition to reconfirming historical data, the distribution framework of different species has been enriched with new locations of presence and addition of N. tessellata. For S. atra the exclusive presence in the eastern sectors of the Park was confirmed, with a significant increase in the number of 1x1 km cells. Moreover, the lithological structure of ist habitats was almost exclusively of the carbonatic type. By comparing the distributions of S. atra and S. salamandra in the study area it was also evident how the two species are parapatric. Similarly, Podarcis muralis is limited to the southernmost part of the study area, in out-of-park areas and mainly in the valley bottom or in well-exposed slopes and shows a clear distribution differentiation with Z. vivipara with the two species vicarious even in the common altitudinal zone. Generally, no significant decline situations were found for the most widespread species. While for the rarer ones there were three different situations: probable disappearance of the species (eg Bombina variegata), scarcity of data likely due to research defect (eg Lacerta bilineata) or elusiveness of some species (eg Coronella austriaca), actual rarity in the study area (Natrix tessellata).

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The geographic variability of the dorsal pattern (DP) of the Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus, across its native range was studied with the aim to understand whether the distributions of this phenotypic trait were more shaped by allopatric differentiation rather than adaptive processes. A total of 1298 georeferenced observations scattered across the Italian peninsula and the main islands (Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia) were obtained from citizen science databases and five DPs were characterized by different shapes of the dark pattern (“reticulated”, “campestris”, “reticulated/campestris” and “striped”) or by absence of it (“concolor”). Frequencies of different DP phenotypes differ between the two main mtDNA lineages settled in central-northern and in southern Italy respectively. This pattern may be indicative of a role of long-term allopatric historical processes in determining the observed pattern. The analysis also identified a putative wide area of secondary contact, in central southern Italy, characterized by high diversity of the DP. Generalized Linear Models (GLMs), used to estimate a possible association between bioclimatic variables and the observed phenotypic variation, showed that each of the five DPs is correlated to different environmental factors and show different distribution of areas with high probability of occurrence. However, for all but one of the DPs, the area with the greatest probability does not correspond exactly to the real distribution of the DP. Conversely, the “concolor” phenotype does not seem related to any particular mtDNA lineage and it shows a preference for areas with high temperature and low rainfall. This is in agreement with the expectation of low amount of melanin of the dorsal pattern that, in the study areas, is characterized by a light uniform coloration which could confer a better thermoregulation ability in high temperatures environments avoiding overheating.

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The Madeiran wall lizard Teira dugesii is a relatively new species to the Azores Archipelago, where it was accidentally introduced about 150 to 200 years ago. This lacertid quickly became naturalised and now occurs in all the nine main islands of the Azores. At Praia Islet, off Graciosa Island, the Madeiran wall lizard was recently observed preying on chicks of the threatened Monteiro’s storm-petrel Hydrobates monteiroi. To characterise the lizards’ trophic niche, we conducted a study of the diet of the Madeiran wall lizard at Praia using stable isotope analysis and next-generation sequencing. Our results indicate that the Madeiran wall lizard has a varied diet, consisting of at least 23 invertebrate taxa, 17 plant species, and occasionally, birds (two species detected, including storm-petrels). Marine derived food items were present in few samples, and it is vital to monitor the trophic interactions at Praia Islet to ensure the conservation of this threatened storm-petrel.

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As an indicator of physiological state of lizards, thermoregulatory behavior has been proposed as an assessment tool of environmental contamination, particularly in desert ecosystems where lizards represent a major biological component. Although pesticide contamination has been shown to induce behavioral fever in lizards, the possible pyrogenic effect of heavy metals has received less attention. The objective of this study was to provide data on this issue by using Bosk’s fringe-toed lizards (Acanthodactylus boskianus) living in a metal-contaminated industrial area in south-eastern Tunisia as a study model. Combining field observations of behavior with measures of thermoregulatory performance under laboratory conditions, we found that proximity to the industrial zone was associated to a different thermoregulatory behavior of lizards. There was a tendency of lizards living close to the contamination source to display behavioral fever, as they spent more time in the sun, preferred higher body temperatures, and warmed up faster, compared to lizards living far away. This heat-seeking behavior is likely a reaction to improve the functioning of physiological systems involved in the defense against toxic effects of heavy metals, possibly through the increase of metabolic rate, stimulation of enzymes involved in the detoxification process, and enhancement of immune defense systems. Our findings stress the need for further detailed studies into the physiological mechanisms linking metal contamination to behavioral fever. They also underline the usefulness of thermoregulatory behavior as a reliable, non-destructive, and inexpensive, individual-level biomarker in lizard ecotoxicology and biomonitoring of contaminated desert environments.

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We report the results of 78 field surveys, from October 2016 to May 2018, on the herpetofauna of the PRAN (Regional Archaeological Natural Park) Inviolata (Guidonia Montecelio, Roma). The protected area herpetological checklist shows 18 species, six amphibians and 12 reptiles (one of which is an invasive alien). The article briefly describes phenology and distribution of each species together with some ecoethological notes.

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The basin of Lake Skadar with its drainage area represents one of the Balkan Peninsula’s hotspots regarding amphibian and reptile fauna. The value of the batracho- and herpetofauna of the Lake Skadar region is reflected in a rich and diverse composition of species. This is undoubtedly the result of the basin’s specific geographic position and complex geological history. Recent studies revealed that Lake Skadar’s watershed is inhabited by 15 amphibian and 36 reptile species. Among these, one amphibian (Pelophylax shqipericus – EN) and two reptile species (Dinarolacerta mosorensis and Vipera ursinii, both VU) are considered to be globally threatened according to IUCN criteria. An additional three reptile species (Emys orbicularis, Testudo hermanni, and Elaphe quatuorlineata) could become threatened in the future. As an attractive tourist area, a significant part of the Lake Skadar region could be impacted by fast and intense anthropogenic changes. Therefore, preserving the network of suitable habitats, maintaining continuous monitoring, and investing in additional research are essential for maintaining this rich local amphibian and reptile diversity.

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The already rich inventory of herpetofaunal records in Bacãu County is increased with 405 new records of 23 amphibian and reptile species from 54 localities, including a species now firstly found in the county. Some data regarding the habitat preferences of the recorded species are also given, especially if local populations show peculiar characteristics in this respect. Podarcis muralis is firstly recorded in Bacãu county. When available from long-term observations, tentative data on the multiyear dynamics of some species are given, showing decline in some of these.

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Die Ergebnisse verschiedener Untersuchungen zu Ruineneidechsen (Podarcis sicula) aus der Familie der Echten Eidechsen (Lacertidae) werden diskutiert. Bei dieser Eidechsenart sollen erhebliche mikroevolutive* und sogar makroevolutive* Veränderungen in einem Zeitraum von nur 36 Jahren entstanden sein. Während die Veränderungen im Bau der Gliedmaßen und des Schädels (und der daraus resultierenden Beißkraft) lediglich rapid ablaufende Mikroevolutionsprozesse (Variation) belegen, soll auch eine innerhalb von nur etwa 30 Generationen angeblich neu entstandene Struktur im Verdauungstrakt der Eidechsen ebenfalls auf Anpassung zurückgeführt werden und durch ungerichtete Prozesse hervorgebracht worden sein. Dabei handelt es sich um sogenannte „Cecal Valves“ – Blinddarmklappen, die den Verdauungsvorgang verlangsamen und bei schwerverdaulicher pflanzlicher Nahrung von Vorteil sind. Diese Struktur wird von den Autoren als makroevolutive Neuerung (Konstruktion) ausgegeben, in den Medien als solche gefeiert und in mehreren Kommentaren von Biologen auch als Argument gegen das Schöpfungsparadigma vorgebracht. Die Einordnung als makroevolutive Neuerung ist jedoch bei weitem nicht so schlüssig, wie es auf den ersten Blick scheinen mag. So ist durchaus denkbar, dass die Klappen-Struktur lediglich eine mikroevolutive (mutative) Veränderung bereits bestehender Strukturen darstellt, selbst wenn ihre genetische Grundlage in der besagten Population de novo entstanden sein sollte. Falls die Forscher Recht behalten sollten und die erstmalige Entstehung der notwendigen genetischen Information tatsächlich Makroevolution wäre, kann dennoch eine alternative Deutung der Daten vertreten werden: Die betreffende Struktur könnte eine mikroevolutive Ausprägung eines von Anfang an bestehenden Potentials einer polyvalenten* Stammform der untersuchten Population von P. sicula sein.

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Cells considered to be migratory in the cerebral cortex of adult lizards are ultrastructurally of two types. Nuclei in the first type have highly dispersed chromatin, creating a spongy appearance, whereas in the second type the chromatin is irregularly clumped. Both types of cells are closely associated with processes of radial ependymal glia cells, which perhaps orient their migratory pathways. Cells with spongy chromatin show an increase in cytoplasmic organelles and progressive chromatin condensation as they travel from the ependymal layer to the granular layer. Possibly these cells account for the neuronal increase that takes place in the granular layer during postnatal life. Cells with chromatin clumps are very scarce; ultrastructurally they resemble immature reptilian astroglia cells.

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The viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara) is a species of the Squamata order from the family of lizards (Lacertidae) covering the wide range – from Western Europe, including British islands and Ireland to the far reaches of Asia with limit of occurrence on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The population of the viviparous lizard is not regularly monitored and does not have specific monitoring rules. Currently, numerous publications in the press and media inform about the progressive intensification of agriculture, intensity of tourist traffic or the increasingly progressive urbanization of the environment, which contributes to the migration of viviparous lizards from these areas. It has been suggested that because of human interference with the environment, viviparous lizards retreat to intact natural habitats. This is related to decrease in the area of occurrence of these reptiles and less frequent observations than before. The work presents a proposed methodology of viviparous lizard monitoring based on the evaluation of population status indicator – relative abundance and habitat condition indicators such as availability of breeding places and availability of hiding places. The aim of the article is to present indicators of the population status and habitat condition indicators, additionally to establish terms and frequency of surveys within the framework of the possibility to conduct monitoring studies of viviparous lizard populations.