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Metrics detailsLizards increasingly are recognized as suitable contaminant biomonitors in terrestrial ecosystems. Previously, we have shown that Bosk’s fringe-toed lizards (Acanthodactylus boskianus) living close to the Gabès-Ghannouche industrial complex for fertilizer and acid production in southern Tunisia were contaminated by heavy metals. However, the impact of this contamination on lizard health parameters has not been investigated. In this study, we used the phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) skin-swelling test to assess whether the proximity to the industrial complex was associated with notable changes in lizard cell-mediated immune response (CMI). Our results showed significantly lower CMI in lizards living close to the industrial complex compared to those occurring farther away in a similar coastal habitat. Overall, our findings are consistent with the idea of immunotoxic effects of metal contamination. They also stress the usefulness of the PHA approach as an efficient tool for the evaluation of contaminant-related immunosuppression in lizards.

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The spatial niches and habitat preferences of six sympatric lizard species were studied in two model ter-ritories in western Bulgaria. The highest level of species diversity (based on two indices, Simpson and Shannon) was reported in the ecotone between oak forests and meadows. The spatial niche breadth was wider in the wall lizard Podarcis muralis and the eastern green lizard Lacerta viridis, while other species showed more restricted preferences to a particular habitat type. To our knowledge, this is the first purpose-ful research on the habitat preferences of lizard species of the Balkans, based on quantitative data. The results in the present work could be used in further and more detailed analyses.

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In many animals, chemosensation acts as a first line of defence against snake predators. However, in spite of their obvious importance, the chemical nature of cues used by prey to detect snakes remains to be discovered. Here, we analyse which neutral lipids, extracted with n-hexane, are present in the skin of the European adder (Vipera berus) using Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry. The analyses revealed that the washes held a complex cocktail of chemical compounds, with a total of 165 different molecules, mostly steroids (82% of the total ion current) and alkanes (13%), and smaller amounts of carboxylic acids, wax esters, ketones, amides and alcohols. Using bio-assays in which we confronted individuals of a prey species (the European common lizard, Zootoca vivipara) with these washes, we were able to confirm that the kairomones can be extracted using n-hexane. In fact, lizards did not respond to chemical cues still present in adder skin after washing, indicating that the kairomones are indeed strongly n-hexane soluble. Consequently, we have set a next step in deciphering the chemical nature of the predator-prey interaction between the European adder and the European common lizard. We hope our results facilitate further investigation into the chemical ecology of snakes and their prey.

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Regulation of body temperature is crucial for optimizing physiological performance in ectotherms but imposes constraints in time and energy. Time and energy spent thermoregulating can be reduced through behavioral (e.g., basking adjustments) or biophysical (e.g., heating rate physiology) means. In a heterogeneous environment, we expect thermoregulation costs to vary according to local, climatic conditions and therefore to drive the evolution of both behavioral and biophysical thermoregulation. To date, there are limited data showing that thermal physiological adjustments have a direct relationship to climatic conditions. In this study, we explored the effect of environmental conditions on heating rates in the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara). We sampled lizards from 10 populations in the Massif Central Mountain range of France and measured whether differences in heating rates of individuals correlated with phenotypic traits (i.e., body condition and dorsal darkness) or abiotic factors (temperature and rainfall). Our results show that heat gain is faster for lizards with a higher body condition, but also for individuals from habitats with higher amount of precipitation. Altogether, they demonstrate that environmentally induced constraints can shape biophysical aspects of thermoregulation.

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In four isolated populations of parthenogenetic Caucasian rock lizard Lacerta unisexualis, variability of(TCC)(n) loci was examined using multilocus DNA fingerprinting. Unexpectedly high variability of(TCC)(n) microsatellites was found in all four populations. The mean similarity index was 0.825, which is higher than similarity estimates obtained for other mini- and microsatellite loci in L. unisexualis and parthenogenetic species L, dahli and L, armeniaca studied earlier. The high variation level of(TCC)(n) loci was shown to be at least partially associated with the presence of a diverged (TCC)(n) sequence fraction in the L. unisexualis genome. Mutations at some other genetically unstable (TCC)(n) loci may cause their structural diversity in populations of L, unisexualis.

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We review the enormous photographic material obtained from the 80`s of the 20th century to the present and the descriptions of body colouration of the many consulted collections of Podarcis pityusensisfrom the island of Formentera. The wide variety of colourations is evident, with a large intra-population and inter-population polymorphism existing on the island of Formentera. A north-south gradual change is observed, especially at the Punta des Trucadors, parallel to the changes in the substrate and the vegetation. It is also noted that not all the colors of Podarcis pityusensis formenteraeare present in all parts of the island, but that each region has its own colourations, and always with a high intra-population richness.Comparing the material obtained at different periods, it can be seen that the geographic differences in lizard body colouration persist over time.The offspring always have the same colouration throughout the island.

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Herpetofauna is of interest in protected areas because of the large number of protected species. We studied the herpetofauna of Cozia National Park (CNP) between 2016 and 2018. CNP is situated in the central part of the Southern Romanian Carpathians. We recorded 10 species of amphibian (Salamandra salamandra, Triturus cristatus, Lissotriton vulgaris, Bombina variegata, Hyla arborea, Bufo bufo, Bufotes viridis, Pelophylax ridibundus, Rana dalmatina and R. temporaria), and 11 reptile species (Lacerta agilis, L. viridis, Podarcis muralis, Darevskia praticola, Zootoca vivipara, Anguis colchica, Natrix natrix, N. tessellata, Coronella austriaca, Zamenis longissimus and Vipera ammodytes). Reptiles dominate in number of species, number of individuals and distribution records. CNP is situated at the northern limit of the distribution range of some of these reptiles, notably D. praticola and V. ammodytes. Mountain species associated with a colder, moist climate are very rare or even absent. Zootoca vivipara is restricted to the highest areas of Mount Cozia, above 1 350 m. Although mountain species are well represented in other Carpathian regions, the warmer, drier climate of CNP and its surroundings has limited their distribution in the area, pushing Z. vivipara to higher and higher altitudes. Lacerta agilis is syntopic with all the other lizard species. In some areas, as many as four lizard species cohabitate. The distribution of the herpetofauna in CNP has been negatively influenced by past human activity. The dams on the River Olt have favoured species related to large, stagnant bodies of water, in a region where such habitats were naturally missing. In addition, massive deforestation has decreased the abundance of herpetofauna in many areas of CNP.

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Eremias Fitzinger, 1834 is a speciose Eurasian genus of true lizards with approximately 40 species. Eremias species occurring in Pakistan have never been examined before using molecular genetics. In the present study, six out of seven morphologically defined taxa distributed in Pakistan (E. acutirostris, E. aporosceles, E. cholistanica, E. kakari, E. persica, and E. scripta) were studied using mitochondrial (16S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, cytochrome b) and nuclear (Rag1) genes. Data of 29 individuals were included in phylogenies using ENA/GenBank sequences. With a maximum of 20 species per analyzed data set, this study represents the most complete phylogeny of the genus to date. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses were run for concatenated (3,528 bp) and single-locus data sets and supported by uncorrected p distance calculations to evaluate the phylogenetic placement and divergence of Pakistani taxa. Among the Pakistani taxa, we detected six mostly well-supported and deeply divergent clades (A-F) differing by uncorrected p distances of up to 23.8% for mtDNA (cytb) and 3.3% for the nuclear Rag1 locus. Despite morphological differences between E. aporosceles and E. acutirostris (both clade A), no unambiguous genetic support was found for these two taxa. Therefore, we regard E. aporosceles as a synonym of E. acutirostris. On the other hand, E. persica was found to represent a species complex with deeply diverged clades (E and F) in Pakistan. Eremias cholistanica (clade D) and E. kakari (clade B), two morphologically defined endemic taxa of Pakistan, were revealed as phylogenetically clearly distinct. Eremias scripta (clade C) from Pakistan was found to be genetically deeply divergent compared to sequences of this taxon from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. Our study provides evidence that the current taxonomy of Eremias does neither reflect the genetic diversity nor the evolutionary history of the genus, necessitating a comprehensive integrative taxonomic revision of the whole genus.

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

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In this work almost all the known presences of Amphibians and Reptiles of the Aegean island of Tilos are confirmed, while serious criticalities are highlighted for the species more related to the aquatic environments due to the strong aridity of the island. On the basis of new evidence, it also confirmed the membership of the Telescopus fallax population of Tilos to the subspecies rhodicusWettstein, 1952. Considerations on the range of this species to the southern Aegean islands are also expressed.

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The European distribution of Montivipera xanthina includes the coastline of the eastern central Greek Thrace (southeastern Rhodopes and southern Evros). While in south-eastern Evros, the easternmost part of its distribution, Montivipera xanthina seems to be a well-defined evolutionary line, in the central area of this wide territory, in south-western Evros, this viper seems to be very rare or absent; this means that the westernmost populations (those of the Rhodopes) have undergone some kind of isolation or semi-isolation that might have induced the formation of a new subspecies: Montivipera xanthina occidentalis ssp. nov. The new taxon differs from other known subspecies for the tendency to a reduced size and correspondingly for a lower number of intercanthals and of dorsal scales rows, both in the midbody (mostly 21-22) and in the posterior part of the body (often 15-16). A list of herpetological species found in the study area (south-western Evros, Greece NE) is also reported.

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1. Mechanistic models of terrestrial ectotherms predict that climate warming will induce activity restriction due to heat stress and loss of shade, leading to the extinction of numerous populations. Such models rely on the assumption that activity patterns are dictated by simple temperature thresholds independent of changes in water availability. However, changes in water availability may further influence thermoregulation behaviour of ectotherms through dehydration risk perception, changes in water balance or changes in microclimatic conditions. 2. Here, we experimentally assess the interactive effects of thermal conditions and water availability on activity patterns, shade selection and thermoregulation efficiency in a model ectothermic species. 3. Thermoregulation behaviour of adult common lizards Zootoca vivipara was monitored in outdoor mesocosms as we manipulated water availability, providing water as mist in the morning and free‐standing water during the daytime. We recorded operative temperatures and micro‐meteorological conditions to infer thermal constraints and dehydration risk. 4. Activity and shade selection were better predicted by continuous changes in thermal conditions and dehydration risk, respectively, than by threshold functions. In addition, water supplementation increased activity in males and reduced shade selection in both sexes, most probably as a behavioural response to the perception of a stronger dehydration risk. Water supplementation also influenced the thermal quality of the environment, which in turn altered daily activity patterns and thermoregulation statistics. 5. This demonstrates that dual effects of heat and water stress on activity patterns may lead to stronger activity restriction as a result of climate change than currently predicted.

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Population and family samples of two morphological forms (mutant and normal with respect to dor-sal color) of parthenogenetic lizard species Darevskia armeniaca were examined by means of DNA fingerprint-ing using M13 mini- and (GACA)n and (TCC)n microsatellite DNA markers. The morphological forms exam-ined were characterized by clonally inherited, species-specific patterns of the DNA markers, which were dif-ferent from the species-specific DNA fingerprints of the other parthenogenetic species of the genus Darevskia(D. dahli, D. unisexualis, and D. rostombekovi). The mean index of similarity (S) obtained for a sample of36 individuals from three isolated populations using three types of DNA markers was 0.966. This was similarto those observed in D. dahli (0.962) (P > 0.05), but higher than that in D. unisexualis (0.950) (P < 0.05) andD. rostombekovi (0.875) (P < 0.01). Inheritance of M13 minisatellite and (TCC)n microsatellite DNA markersin the F1 offspring of parthenogenetic lizards was examined. It was shown that variability and clonal diversityof the fingerprint phenotypes observed in the populations and families of D. armeniaca could be at least partlyexplained by RFLP mutations in microsatellite repeats.

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This article is about keeping and breeding the Caspian Green Lizard (Lacerta strigata). The author describes his experiences with various couples he kept, and the somewhat successful breeding of the third couple. In five clutches 29 eggs were laid, some of them infertile, some of them containing young animals hat never hatched. From these eggs a total of only nine healthy young were born, possibly due to the relatively young age of the female. There is also a short discussion about the aggressiveness of the species. One couple could not be housed together, due to the aggressive nature of the male, and five young from one clutch were so intolerant towards each other that three of them lost their tails. The animals seem to be more aggressive in indoor vivariums than outdoors, though the author concludes it’s too early to pinpoint an exact cause.

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Pre-copulatory female mate choice based on male ultraviolet (UV) coloration has been demonstrated in several vertebrate species; however, post-copulatory mechanisms have been largely overlooked. Here, we investigated female mate preference based on male UV coloration in the common lizard Zootoca vivipara, in which males display conspicuous UV coloration on their throat. During two successive years, we staged sequential mating trials between females and four different males with UV-reduced or control belly and throat coloration. We recorded pre-copulatory female behaviour, copulation behaviour and assigned paternity to all offspring. Females were more aggressive towards UV-reduced males and, during the second year, UV-reduced males had a lower probability of siring at least one egg (fertilization success) during the last mating trials. However, in the second year, copulation was shorter with control males. Altogether, our results suggest that females exert subtle pre-copulatory mate preference based on male UV ornaments and, conditional on the study year and female mating history, some degree of post-copulatory preference for UV-control males leading to differential male fertilization success. This study suggests that UV-based female mate choice may be more widespread than previously thought in vertebrates, and emphasizes the importance of using a study design well adapted to the species reproductive behaviour.

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The city of Toulouse is engaged in a policy of census, conservation and development of urban biodiversity. In this context, a survey of the fauna and flora has been ordered to the consulting firm Biotope. Nineteen sites, chosen by the City of Toulouse for their potential interest, have been surveyed in 2009. A supplementary site was surveyed in 2011. Also, data was gathered from other organisms involved in biodiversity monitoring. This article presents the results of the data collected in the course of this study, with addition of supplementary data from the authors. This study enabled to enhance the current knowledge on the herpetofauna of the county of Toulouse, with more than 600 field data collected, and the discovery of three new taxa. The number of amphibian and reptile species of Toulouse is respectively twelve and ten.

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Au 1er décembre 2009, la base de données herpétologiques de la Société des Sciences Naturelles de Tarn-et-Garonne comptait 2506 données géoréférencées. A partir de ces données, le présent article fait état de la répartition des Reptiles et Amphibiens dans le département de Tarn-et-Garonne et sur le secteur de la Forêt de Grésigne.

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The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), as a family of highly polymorphic genes associated with immunity in the genome of the vertebrate, has become an important indicator for assessing the evolutionary potential of wildlife. In order to better protect Zootoca vivipara in the Greater Khingan Range and Lesser Khingan Range, to understand the genetic structure of Z. vivipara, and to explore the mechanism and phylogenetic relationship of the gene polymorphisms, the MHC molecular marker method was used to analyze Z. vivipara population. Forty-seven alleles were obtained from four populations. The four populations were highly polymorphic, rich in genetic information, and had significant genetic diversity. There were certain inbreeding phenomena. There was a high degree of genetic differentiation among populations, which was caused by genetic drift and natural selection. The sequence undergoes genetic duplication and recombination. The existence of trans-species polymorphism was found in the constructed phylogenetic tree. The present study provides a theoretical basis for species protection of Z. vivipara.

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Background: The majority of parthenogenetic vertebrates derive from hybridization between sexually reproducing species, but the exact number of hybridization events ancestral to currently extant clonal lineages is difficult to determine. Usually, we do not know whether the parental species are able to contribute their genes to the parthenogenetic vertebrate lineages after the initial hybridization. In this paper, we address the hypothesis, whether some genotypes of seven phenotypically distinct parthenogenetic rock lizards (genus Darevskia) could have resulted from back-crosses of parthenogens with their presumed parental species. We also tried to identify, as precise as possible, the ancestral populations of all seven parthenogens. Results: We analysed partial mtDNA sequences and microsatellite genotypes of all seven parthenogens and their presumed ansectral species, sampled across the entire geographic range of parthenogenesis in this group. Our results confirm the previous designation of the parental species, but further specify the maternal populations that are likely ancestral to different parthenogenetic lineages. Contrary to the expectation of independent hybrid origins of the unisexual taxa, we found that genotypes at multiple loci were shared frequently between different parthenogenetic species. The highest proportions of shared genotypes were detected between (i) D. sapphirina and D. bendimahiensis and (ii) D. dahli and D. armeniaca, and less often between other parthenogens. In case (ii), genotypes at the remaining loci were notably distinct. Conclusions: We suggest that both observations (i-ii) can be explained by two parthenogenetic forms tracing their origin to a single initial hybridization event. In case (ii), however, occasional gene exchange between the unisexual and the parental bisexual species could have taken place after the onset of parthenogenetic reproduction. Indeed, backcrossed polyploid hybrids are relatively frequent in Darevskia, although no direct evidence of recent gene flow has been previously documented. Our results further suggest that parthenogens are losing heterozygosity as a result of allelic conversion, hence their fitness is expected to decline over time as genetic diversity declines. Backcrosses with the parental species could be a rescue mechanism which might prevent this decline, and therefore increase the persistance of unisexual forms.

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Caucasian rock lizards of the genus is a unique taxa, including both bisexual and parthenogenetic species. The parthenogenetic species have originated as a result of natural hybridisation between females and males of different bisexual species. The species involved in interspecific hybridisation are called parental. However, sympatric zones (SZ) of unisexual and bisexual rock lizards of the Caucasus are still poorly studied, although they are very important for understanding the role of hybrid individuals of different origin in reticulate evolution. This paper presents the location of the SZs of parthenogenetic and their parental bisexual rock lizards of the genus Darevskia in Armenia and adjacent territories of Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh. We summarised the locations of the SZs identified from 1957 to the present, based on our field survey data gathered in 2018-2019.

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The two species of rock lizards, Darevsia raddei and Darevskia portschinskii, belong to two different phylogenetic clades of the same genus. They are supposed ancestors for the hybrid parthenogenetic, Darevskia rostombekowi. The present study aims to identify morphological features of these two species and the potential gene introgression between them in the area of sympatry. External morphological features provided the evidence of specific morphology in D. raddei and D. portschinskii: the species differed in scalation and ventral coloration pattern, however, they had some proportional similarities within both sexes of the two species. Males of both species had relatively larger heads and shorter bodies than females. Males of D. raddei were slightly larger than males of D. portschinskii and had longer hindlimbs. Microsatellite genotyping revealed no traces of hybridization or gene flow among these species. We suggest that the absence of individuals with combined morphological and genetic features of the studied species reflects existing reproductive barriers. The hybridization between two bisexual rock lizard species from distant clades is rare and only takes place under very specific environmental conditions.

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Animals use a variety of strategies to avoid acute dehydration and death. Yet,how chronic exposure to sub-lethal dehydration may entail physiological andfitness costs remains elusive. In this study, we experimentally tested if waterrestriction causesincreasedoxidativestress (OS)andtelomerelength(TL)short-ening, two well-described mediators of environment–fitness relationships. Weexposed 100 yearling female and male common lizards (Zootoca vivipara)eitherto a 51-day period of water restriction or to water ad libitum, followed by 45days in common garden outdoor conditions. We measured the kinetic changesin OS and TL and found that water-restricted males had enhanced antioxidantdefences and decreased oxidative damage at day 36, whereas females did notimmediately respond. A month and a half after water restriction, both sexesexperienced a drop in antioxidant capacity but only males exhibited significantTL shortening. In the following 3 years, we found that lizards with longer initialTL and those who maintained stronger antioxidant defences experiencedhigherlongevity, irrespective ofsex and water restriction.Together,theseresultsunravelled sex-specific responses to water restriction, with potential appli-cations in better understanding the physiological costs of increasing summerdroughts as a result of global climate change.

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Während eines dreitägigen Aufenthaltes wurde die Herpetofauna von Skiathos (Nördliche Sporaden, Griechenland) untersucht. Insgesamt konnten drei Schlangen- und drei bzw. vier Echsenarten (Coluber najadum, Elaphe situla, Malpolon monspessulanus, Ophisaurus apodus, Podarcis erhardii, Lacerta triliniata und vermutlich Lacerta viridis) beobachtet werden. Eine Schlangenart (Elaphe situla) und zwei Echsenarten (Ophisaurus apodus und Podaras erhardii) sind Erstnachweise für Skiathos.

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Extensive fight wounds are common in co-habiting reptiles. This case study describes the management of a large fight wound in a 1-year-old entire female Tunisian eyed lizard. Primary closure was initially attempted but subsequent postoperative infection and wound breakdown led to successful management by secondary intention healing. This case demonstrates the amazing capacity for healing of large integument defects in lizards that receive appropriate medical support.

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Die Autoren fanden in Jütland eine juvenile Waldeidechse (Gesamtlänge 70 mm) in einem Spinnennetz der Kreuzspinne Araneus diadematus. Die noch lebende Eidechse hing kopfunter in einem Wacholderbusch etwa 20 cm über dem Boden. Die Beine waren eng an den Körper geschnürt, so dass die Eidechse wehrlos war. Die Spinne (13 mm Cephalothorax bis Hinterleibsspitze0) saß auf dem Bauch der Eidechse und injizierte ihr Venom. Einige Minuten später war die Eidechse tot. Die Beobachtung erfolgte an einem kühlen Morgen. Die Autorten vermuten, dass die Eidechse zum Sonnen auf den Busch kletterte und sich bei einer Fluchtreaktion im Netz verfing. Bei der Untersuchung im Labor zeigten sich mehrere Marken, die auf das Injizieren des Venoms zurück zu führen waren. Es wird auf eine deutsche Beobachtung der Prädation einer jungen Zauneidechse durch eine Spinne hingewiesen.

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Die Verbreitung der Amphibien und Reptilien Südost-Portugals — östlich der Linie Albufeira-Ourique und südlich des Rio Terges — sind Gegenstand dieser Veröffentlichung. Nach Darstellung der geologischen und klimatischen Bedingungen erfolgt eine Habitatcharakterisierung auf der Basis von Vegetationseinheiten. Ein kurzer Abriß zur Geschichte der Herpetofaunistik des Untersuchungsgebietes zeigt, daß die ersten Fundortmeldungen bis 1879 zurückzuverfolgen sind. Es wurden 12 Amphibienund 22 Reptilienarten (einschließlich 2 mariner Schildkröten) registriert - 62 % der Herpetofauna Festland-Portugals. Die Verbreitungsdarstellung der einzelnen Arten erfolgt in Form einer Punktkartierung. Habitatstruktur, geologische, hydrologische und klimatische Voraussetzungen sind in den einzelnen Landschaftsgroßräumen teilweise sehr unterschiedlich mit einer entsprechend unterschiedlichen Artenzusammensetzung der sie besiedelnden Herpetozönosen und zum Teil scharfen Verbreitungsgrenzen einzelner Arten. Die größte Artendiversität (12 Amphibien, 20 Reptilien) beherbergen die requisitenreichen zum Teil mit Eichenhainen durchsetzten Macchien, während Pinus- und Ewcs/i/pfus-Aufforstungen und Extremstandorte (Dünen, Marschwiesen) weniger als 5 Arten aufweisen. Großflächige anthropogene Eingriffe (forstliche Monokulturen, touristische Erschließung und Zersiedlung der Küstenzone, starke Verschmutzung der Fließgewässer) der letzten zehn Jahre führten regional besonders unter den Amphibienbeständen zu starken Rückgängen.

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We have surveyed sympatric reptiles in a diverse and preserved montane environment in the Northern Dinaric region (Southern Slovenia) to determine the assemblage structure and assess the patterns of habitat segregation. Altitude and habitat type contributed the most to segregations between the most abundant species. The most similar were species pairs of L. viridis/bilineata and P. muralis, and I. horvathi and V. ammodytes. In snakes, significant segregation patterns have been observed between all species. Among lizards, we have found strong altitudinal segregation between two morphologically and ecologically most similar species; P. muralis was most abundant at low and I. horvathi at higher elevations. This result indicated a potential competitive interaction between these species

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Podarcis siculus (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810) or Italian wall lizard is one of the most invasive reptile-species. Recently, this lacertid lizard has been introduced to Mediterranean areas of southern Europe, South-West Asia (Turkey) and North America (USA). An abundant population of P. siculus was discovered on one of the sites of the Natural Ornithological Park in the Imeretinskaya Lowland, on an area of over 0.22 km2 (Sochi, Russia). The data were collected in the May of 2020. in a strip survey method in the Imeretinskaya Lowland. To identify the colonization area of the invader, we examined all 8 sections of the Natural Ornithological Park in the Imeretinskaya Lowland and adjacent urbanized areas. More than 150 animals were observed. These Italian wall lizards, undoubtedly, belong to the northern-central Italian morphotype (presumably P. s. campestris). This is the first record of this species in the former USSR area and, also, this is the species’ north-easternmost locality. The population inhabits secondary natural biotopes and urban area. Among them are the banks of artificial water bodies, areas with cultivated trees and shrubs, as well as parks, and house lawns in the urban area. Population density was estimated from eight to 40 specimens per 100 m of the transect. A moderate proportion of young specimens (more than a 40%) would indicate a healthy and continued growth of the emerging population. To determine the possible period of the species introduction, space images of the Imeretinskaya Lowland were analyzed beginning from the transformation of its landscape for the Winter Olympic Games of Sochi 2014 until the May of 2020. The introduction of the species presumably occurred with the delivery of large-sized ornamental trees and shrubs from Italy in 2012–2013. Podarcis siculus should be included in the list of herpetofauna of Russia and particularly of the Caucasus. This is an alien species with a proven ability to become an invasive species, what will lead to a greater undesirable and unavoidable contact with native small lizards of the genus Darevskia Arribas, 1997. On the other hand, as it is often observed with new invaders, a sudden rise in population abundance could be followed by a sharp decline. A continuous monitoring of the area in question and of the number of local Italian wall lizards is necessary to confirm or refute the assumed scenarios of further invasion of P. siculus on the Black Sea Coast of the Caucasus. Further action plans for this population should be developed depending on supposed future trends.

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The unusual mode of space utilization by two parthenogenetic lizard species under conditions of their symbiotopy is described. There are neither constant individual rages nor even any individual distances maintained by individuals. Regular daily movements between roosting and feeding stations take place.

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The results of studies on the amphibians and reptiles of the “Nordul Gorjului de Est” site of community interest on the south-facing slope of the Parâng massif and associated foothills (Gorj county, Romania), are presented. 11 amphibian and 8 reptile species were identified in the field. Their distribution within and around the site is discussed, together with ecological data, correlating these with the local climate influences. A new altitude record for Romania is given for Hyla arborea.

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Information on the first discovery of the Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus campestris (De Betta 1857), in 2019 is provided for Turkan settlement, Baku City, Azerbaijan. The lizards are assumed to have unintention- ally been delivered to the Caucasus from Tuscany Province, Italy in 2016 or 2017 with garden plant seedlings. In the future the identified P. siculus micropopulation may become a source for the colonization of the Ab- sheron Peninsula by this non-indigenous reptile species. We do not expect a negative impact of P. siculus on the aboriginal saurofauna.

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Thermal biology traits reflect thermal adaptations to an environment and can be used to infer responses to climate warming in animal species. Within a widespread genus or species, assessing the latitudinal or altitudinal gradient of thermal physiological tra its is essential to reveal thermal adaptations and determine future vulnerability to climate warming geographically. We determined the thermal biology traits of a cold-climate distributed lizard, Takydromus amurensis, and integrated published thermal biology traits within the genus Takydromus to reveal a preliminary geographical pattern in thermal adaptation. The mean selected body temperature (cloaca temperature; Tsel), critical thermal maximum (CTmax), critical thermal minimum (CTmin), and optimal temperature for locomotion (i.e., sprint speed; Topt) of T. amurensis were 32.6, 45.1, 3.1, and 33.4 °C, respectively. The resting metabolic rates of T. amurensis were positively related to temperature from 18 °C to 38 °C. We compared the traits of tropical T. sexlineatus, subtropical T. septentrionalis, and T. wolteri with T. amurensis and found that the CTmax and thermal tolerance range (the difference between CTmax and CTmin; TTR) increased toward high latitudes, whereas CTmin increased toward low latitudes in these four Takydromus lizards. According to this preliminary pattern, we speculate the species at medium and low latitudes would be more vulnerable to extreme heat events caused by ongoing climate warming. We highlight the importance of integrating thermal biology traits along geographical clues, and ist potential contribution to evaluate the vulnerabilities of species in the context of climate warming.

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In the southern side of the Lipova Hills we found 11 amphibian species, 9 reptile species and 2 types of hybrid between amphibian species. The herpetofauna of the region contains lowland, hill and mountain related species. Also, in the area are present southern species in the vicinity of the northern limit of their distribution range, and related species in the mountainous areas, found at lower altitudes than usually. The mixture of mountain and lowland species is a consequence of the current aspect of the region, with wide valleys located between hill ridges, valleys that allow the advancement of these lowland species in the hill areas. The second aspect is a consequence of the history of the region. Currently the herpetofauna of the Lipova Hills is greatly advantaged by the relatively large forest covered areas.

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Animals in captivity undergo a range of environmental changes from wild animals. An increasing number of studies show that captivity significantly affects the abundance and community structure of gut microbiota. The northern grass lizard (Takydromus septentrionalis) is an extensively studied lacertid lizard and has a distributional range covering the central and southeastern parts of China. Nonetheless, little is known about the gut microbiota of this species, which may play a certain role in nutrient and energy metabolism as well as immune homeostasis. Here, we examined the differences in the gut microbiota between two groups (wild and captive) of lizards through 16S rRNA sequencing using the Illumina HiSeq platform. The results demonstrated that the dominant microbial components in both groups consisted of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Tenericutes. The two groups did not differ in the abundance of these three phyla. Citrobacter was the most dominant genus in wild lizards, while Morganella was the most dominant genus in captive lizards. Moreover, gene function predictions showed that genes at the KEGG pathway levels2 were more abundant in wild lizards than in captive lizards but, at the KEGG pathway levels1, the differences in gene abundances between wild and captive lizards were not significant. In summary, captivity exerted a significant impact on the gut microbial community structure and diversity in T. septentrionalis, and future work could usefully investigate the causes of these changes using a comparative approach.

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In the heart of the French countryside, recipes developed around the biggest snakes, ways to prepare Lizards identical to other countries are still in the minds of ourelders. We also report here a testimony of consumption of the ocellated lizard and of an unexpected use of its skin.

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Sexually transmitted diseases have often been suggested as a potential cost of multiple mating and as playing a major role in the evolution of mating systems. Yet there is little empirical data relating mating strategies to sexually transmitted microorganisms in wild populations. We investigated whether mating behaviour influences the diversity and composition of cloacal assemblages by comparing bacterial communities in the cloaca of monandrous and polyandrous female common lizards Zootoca vivipara sampled after the mating period. We found that polyandrous females harboured more diverse communities and differed more in community composition than did monandrous females. Furthermore, cloacal diversity and variability were found to decrease with age in polyandrous females. Our results suggest that the higher bacterial diversity found in polyandrous females is due to the sexual transmission of bacteria by multiple mates. The impact of mating behaviour on the cloacal microbiota may have fitness consequences for females and may comprise a selective pressure shaping the evolution of mating systems.

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Sexual signals can be evolutionarily stable if they are condition dependent or costly to the signaler. One of these costs may be the trade-off between maintaining the immune system and the elaboration of ornaments. Experimental immune challenges in captivity show a reduction in the expression of sexual signals, but it is not clear whether these detrimental effects are important in nature and, more importantly, whether they have reproductive consequences. We designed a field experiment to challenge the immune system of wild male Carpetan rock lizards, Iberolacerta cyreni, with a bacterial antigen (lipopolysaccharide). The immune challenge decreased relative reflectance of ultraviolet structural and melanin-dependent sexual coloration in the throat and the lateral ocelli, whereas the carotenoid-dependent dorsal green coloration was not affected. Immune activation also decreased proportions of ergosterol and cholesta-5,7-dien-3-ol in femoral secretions. These results support a trade-off between the immune system and both visual and chemical sexual ornaments. Moreover, the reproductive success of males, estimated with DNA microsatellites, depended on the expression of some color and chemical traits. However, the immune challenge did not cause overall differences in reproductive success, although it increased with body size/age in control but not in challenged males. This suggests the use of alternative reproductive strategies (e.g., forced matings) in challenged males, particularly in smaller ones. These males might consider that their survival probabilities are low and increase reproductive effort as a form of terminal investment in spite of their “low-quality” sexual signals and potential survival costs.

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My PhD research activity focused on the investigation of the role of polarized light in the directional orientation of the lacertid lizard Podarcis sicula. In particular, the aim of this work was to systematically analyze P. sicula orientation behaviour and to lay the foundation for future electrophysiological and molecular investigations of anatomical structures assigned to sky polarization perception. Another goal was to understand the evolutionary meaning of these structures and the mechanisms of polarization perception. For this purpose, the first experimental section (EXPERIMENT 1: Beltrami et al., 2010) examined whether ruin lizards P. sicula are able to orientate using the E-vector direction of polarized light. Lizard orientation was tested indoors, under an artificial light source: this device produced plane polarized light with a single E-vector, that provided an axial cue. These results showed that lizards can learn a training axis and that after 90° rotation of the E-vector direction of polarized light the lizards’ directional choices rotated correspondingly. The following step of the study aimed at elucidating whether the functioning of a sky polarization compass would be mediated by the lizard parietal eye. To test this, ruin lizards that met learning criteria were tested under polarized light after their parietal eyes were painted black. Lizards with black-painted parietal eyes were completely disoriented. These data showed for the first time that the parietal eye plays a central role in mediating the functioning of a putative sky polarization compass of lizards. Furthermore, the experimental apparatus used in this experiment emitted light that did not include wavelengths in the UV range. Thus, the UV range is not necessary for perceiving polarized light in ruin lizards, unlike other species as, for example, honey bees and desert ants that in the absence of UV are unable to use a sky polarization compass. That being so, the second experimental part (EXPERIMENT 2) was aimed at testing whether there is a preferential region of the light spectrum to perceive the E-vector direction of polarized light. The results showed that lizards can learn a training direction when trained under white light produced by an LCD and E-vector parallel to the training axis. Lizards that met the learning criteria were then tested under white light and E-vector perpendicular to the training axis, just to validate the new LCD equipment: as expected, lizards followed a 90° rotation of the Evector direction, confirming once again that they can use the polarized light for orientation. Thereafter, lizards were tested under coloured polarized light (blue, green, red and turquoise), initially with E-vector parallel to the training axis and then with E-vector perpendicular to the training axis, to examine whether P. sicula can perceive polarized light of a particular wavelength range and use it in orientation. Under both blue light and turquoise light lizards were able to orient in both E-vector’s conditions, otherwise under red light lizards were completely disoriented; under green light lizards were able to orient themselves only when the direction of the E-vector was the same as in training, whereas after a 90° rotation of the E-vector lizards were disoriented, in both spectral radiance level (high and low). Incorrect orientation after E-vector rotation under Green light was independent of (high or low) spectral radiance and one hypothesis to interpret these data is that the green stimuli could be barely discernible. These results, combined with the data under Green light previously discussed, demonstrate that the blue-turquoise part of the light spectrum is crucial for a correct functioning of sky polarization compass, whereas red wavelengths do not mediate perception of the E-vector. The third experimental section (EXPERIMENT 3) was performed outdoors. The first part of this experiment was aimed to validate the new set-up outdoors. Inside the experimental apparatus lizards had only the sky polarization pattern available for orientation. As expected, the results demonstrated that lizards can learn a training direction and the new set-up is well suited to investigate orientation mechanisms in lizards. The second part of this experiment was aimed at testing the time-compensated nature of the sky polarization compass. The results demonstrated that lizards can learn a training direction under blue sky with no sun’s disc, but surprisingly, they cannot retain the spatial information. Indeed, after 6 days without training, both control group and fast-shifted group, were disorientated. A possibility is that some aspects of the information necessary for the normal functioning of the sky polarization compass is not retained for a week with no training. Alternatively, it is possible that the sky polarization compass needs to be recalibrated almost daily by external cues, such as exposure of the lizards to the sun’s disc. Clearly, other explanations are possible, and further experiments outdoors are necessary to answer this important question. Results relating to my three year of PhD course show the way forward to new interesting questions and so to new possible experimental applications to finally clarify the evolutionary role of the sky polarization compass and its interactions with other orientation mechanisms (for example the sun compass or the magnetic compass). It should be very interesting to deepen the knowledge of the nature of the sky polarization pattern’s information, to elucidate the time-compensated mechanisms that set the information retention.

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The gonads are specific organs since the testes and ovaries, as organs with totally different structure, develop from common, undifferentiated anlages termed genital ridges. Cells sharing the same origin commit various fate, and form different structures, depending on sex determination. The testes and ovaries are therefore a valuable object of research on cell differentiation and mechanisms of organ structure patterning. The development of gonads in reptiles has been studied in few species and many aspects of gonadogenesis in this group of vertebrates have remained unclear. Comparative descriptions showing similarities and differences in gonad development between lizard species have been scarce. The aim of the study was to investigate changes in the structure of developing gonads occurring at the early stages of development in selected species of lizards. The study was carried out on six species of lizards: Correlophus ciliatus, Lepidodactylus lugubris, Eublepharis macularius, Takydromus sexlineatus, Anolis carolinensis and Chamaeleo calyptratus. Gonads were subjected to trichromatic staining specifically revealing connective tissue and basement membranes, which enabled to image the internal structure of the organ. In differentiating testes, the cortex reduces to a thin epithelium, and the germ cells disappear in the reducing cortex, while in the medulla the epithalial cells differentiate and testis cords, containing the germ cells, form. In differentiating ovaries, the cortex grows, which is accompanied by an increase in the number of germ cells in this part of the gonad; the ovarian cortex surrounds the entire medulla or forms only a cluster of cells at the distal gonad pole as in geckos; in the ovarian medulla, cells can eventually differentiate in epithelial structures, and in the leopard gecko even form well-organized cords. The main interspecific differences in the structure of developing gonads concerned a shape of the gonads, their cortex and medulla, and the tendency of ovarian medulla cells to form epithelial structures and cords. The veiled chameleon turned out to be a unique species, in which gonadal development rate is accelerated in relation to soma development. Despite describing significant diversity in the structure of developing lizard gonads, this study reveals the existence of a common model of sexual differentiation of gonads independent of the genetic or temperature sex determination.

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Auf 8 Reisen (1999 - 2006) in 5 alpinen Gebirgsstöcken (Lechtaler Alpen, Karwendel, Rofan, Dachstein, Schladminger Tauern) wurden Daten zur Verbreitung und Biologie von Amphibien, Reptilien und Libellen gesammelt.

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Biological invasions are a contemporary global threat because invasive species can have substantial negative economic and ecological impacts. Invasive species can outcompete native species through two main mechanisms: interference competition (direct, negative interactions like aggression) and/or exploitative competition (indirect, negative interactions resulting from species using the same, limited resources like food). The invasive Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) was introduced into Lisbon, Portugal, 20 years ago, and is believed to be locally displacing the native green Iberian wall lizard (Podarcis virescens). We experimentally tested for competition between these two lizard species by establishing heterospecific (one pair of each species) and conspecific (two pairs of the same species; control) treatments in enclosures containing a high- and a low-quality refuge. Lizards were fed from food dishes every other day. We tested if species showed interference (aggressive behaviour, stealing food and shelter exclusion) or exploitative competition (tolerance between species but differences in food consumption efficiency). We found evidence for exploitative competition: the invasive species arrived first at food stations, consumed more food and gained more weight than the native species. We suggest that exploitative competition may, in part, explain the observed displacement of P. virescens from contact areas with the invasive P. siculus. Deciphering the competitive mechanisms between invasive and native species is vital for understanding the invasion process.

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While the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) is not native to the Austrian province of Salzburg, an allochthonous population became known in 2008 at a railway station in the northern lowlands of the province. Two further populations were discovered in 2014 and 2015 along the railway network in the city of Salzburg as well as at a railway station in the alpine valley area near Schwarzach. This study addresses questions on the overall distribution of the species in the province of Salzburg, the origin of intro-duced populations, habitat suitability and potential future dispersal of the species. Since all hitherto known populations of the common wall lizard have been located along the railroad network and transportation of cargo is one of the main dispersal vec-tors of this species, 38 locations along the railroad network of Salzburg have been sur-veyed. Seven of those 38 locations were occupied by wall lizards. In addition, buccal swabs were taken and sequenced from 48 individuals at seven sites. DNA-Barcoding using mitochondrial DNA was used to determine the genetic clades. With regards to potentially suitable habitat structures for wall lizards, all locations were examined in detail, while those currently unoccupied were also classified in potentially favourable and unfavourable habitats with the help of a habitat suitability scheme to predict future potential dispersal of the species. Individuals originating from four different genetic clades could be identified, suggesting introduction from several European locations. The sampled wall lizards from Schwöll, Steindorf, Elsbethen and Schwarzach refer to the Southern Alps clade (Podarcis m. maculiventris-West), while populations in the city of Salzburg additionally comprise individuals with haplotypes from the western and eastern France clades (both Podarcis m. brogniardii), as well as the central Balkans clade (Podarcis m. muralis). While some introduction pathways seem clear because of trans-portation of cargo from the geographical source regions, for the city of Salzburg the idea of a singular, secondary introduction of individuals of all four genetic clades ap-pears more likely, because this area was populated only recently. Therefore, the wall lizards, which were introduced to the province of Salzburg, might be hybrids of differ-ent genetic lineages from all over Europe. The fact that since the end of the study three further areas in the province of Salzburg have been populated by Podarcis muralis, shows how dynamic the system is at the moment.

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Die auf vier Reisen zwischen 1996 und 2000 in vier alpinen Gebirgsstöcken (Totes Gebirge, Rottenmaner Taueren, Kreuzeckgruppe, Rätikon) gesammelten Daten zur Verbreitung der Amphibien, Reptilien und Libellen werden zusammengestellt.

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Background: Identifying the factors that contribute to divergence among populations in mate preferencesis important for understanding of the manner in which premating reproductive isolation might arise andhow this isolation may in turn contribute to the evolutionary process of population divergence. Here, weoffered female northern grass lizards (Takydromus septentrionalis) a choice of males between their ownpopulation and another four populations to test whether the preferences that females display in themating trials correlate with phenotypic adaptation to local environments, or to the neutral geneticdistance measured by divergence of mitochondrial DNA sequence loci. Results: Females showed a strong preference for native over foreign males. Females that mated withnative versus foreign males did not differ from each other in mating latency, or copulation duration. Fromresults of the structural equation modelling we knew that: 1) geographical distance directly contributed togenetic differentiation and environmental dissimilarity; 2) genetic differentiation and environmentaldissimilarity indirectly contributed to female mate preference, largely through their effects onmorphological divergence; and 3) females judged mates by body shape (appearance) and discriminatedmore strongly against morphologically less familiar allopatric males. Conclusions: Local adaptation rather than neutral genetic distance influences female mate preference in T. septentrionalis. The tendency to avoid mating with foreign males may indicate that, in T.septentrionalis, local adaptations are more valuable than genetic novelties. Our results highlight theimportance of comprehensive studies integrating ecological, molecular and behavioral approaches tounderstand population divergence in female mate preferences as the consequence of local adaptations.

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Apart from analyses for elemental contaminants in field collected specimens, very little is known about the assimilation, accumulation and toxic effects of inorganic contaminants in reptiles. This study examined the chronic accumulation of Cd in a European lacertid lizard (Podarcis carbonelli) following dietary provision of an environmentally realistic concentration of Cd for 21 weeks. Lizards were provided with Cd that had either been biologically incorporated into crickets, or as Cd(NO3)2 added superficially to crickets just prior to feeding. Among both treatment groups Cd accumulated in tissues in the following order of concentration: gut > liver > kidney > carcass. The majority of the Cd was retained within the gut, and transfer to internal organs was low. Morphological indices, brain and plasma cholinesterase activities, gut and liver metallothionein content, and standard metabolic rate were measured as biomarkers of exposure and effect; however, no differences between control lizards and Cd-treated lizards were observed.

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Data on the reproduction of the rock lizard (Darevskia saxicola (Eversmann 1834)) in the gorges of Bolshaya Laba (Karachay-Cherkessia) and Malaya Laba (Krasnodar Territory) rivers are presented. Gravid females of this species were captured in nature and transported to the laboratory. The animals were kept in captivity until oviposition. All eggs were obtained between July 20th and August 20th. Breeding females had a body length of 42.5–60.1 mm. Hatches comprised 1–4 eggs sized 11.2–18.0 × 5.8–8.5 mm and weighting 0.185–0.535 g. Incubation in the laboratory lasted 38–47 days. Young lizards after hatching had a body length of 21.6– 30.8 mm, tail 39.9–60.4 mm long, and weight 0.375–0.635 g. A comparison of the reproductive characteris- tics of D. saxicola and the syntopic species (D. derjugini (Nikolsky 1898) and D. pontica (Lantz et Cyren 1919)) was carried out. The late oviposition and relatively low fertility in the rock lizards are compensated for by the large size of eggs and newborn lizards.

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Lacertid lizards use chemical cues emitted by saurophagous snakes to evade predation. Whether these lizards can detect and respond to the chemical cues of predatory mammals has not been studied. As many mammals carry distinct body odours and/or use chemical cues for intraspecific communication, lizards can be expected to use these chemicals as early warning cues. To test this idea, we observed the behaviour of Asian grass lizards (Takydromus sexlineatus) that had been transferred to an unfamiliar test arena containing one of four scent treatments. No particular scent was applied to the arena in the control situation. Diluted aftershave served as a pungency control. In the snake treatment, scent of the Oriental whip snake (Ahaetulla prasina) was applied. We included this treatment to learn how Asian grass lizards react to predator chemical cues. Finally, in the mongoose treatment, the lizards were confronted with scent cues of several small Indian mongooses (Herpestes auropunctatus). Snake scent elicited foot shakes, startles and tail vibrations. These are behaviours that in lacertid lizards are associated with stressful situations such as predatory encounters. Surprisingly, lizards confronted with mongoose scent exhibited none of these stress‐indicating behaviours. In fact, their behaviour did not differ from that of lizards subjected to an odourless control treatment. These results raise concern. Mongooses are rapidly invading ecosystems worldwide. If lizards that have co‐evolved with mongooses are unable to detect these predators’ presence through chemical cues, it seems highly unlikely that evolutionary naïve lizards will develop this ability rapidly.

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Bite force is a key performance trait in lizards because biting is involved in many ecologically relevant tasks, including foraging, fighting and mating. Several factors have been suggested to impact bite force in lizards, such as head morphology (proximate factors), or diet, intraspecific competition and habitat characteristics (ultimate factors). However, these have been generally investigated separately and mostly at the interspecific level. Here we tested which factors drive variation in bite force at the population level and to what extent. Our study includes 20 populations of two closely related lacertid species, Podarcis melisellensis and Podarcis sicula, which inhabit islands in the Adriatic. We found that lizards with more forceful bites have relatively wider and taller heads, and consume more hard prey and plant material. Island isolation correlates with bite force, probably by driving resource availability. Bite force is only poorly explained by proxies of intraspecific competition. The linear distance from a large island and the proportion of difficult-to-reduce food items consumed are the ultimate factors that explain most of the variation in bite force. Our findings suggest that the way in which morphological variation affects bite force is species-specific, probably reflecting the different selective pressures operating on the two species.

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Based on 20,000 records representing c. 11,000 individuals from an 8-year capture-mark-recapture (CMR) study, we tested and confirmed a new case of invariant clutch size (ICS) in a sexually dichromatic lacertid lizard, Takydromus viridipunctatus. In the grassland habitat of the early succession stage, females showed strictly low and invariant clutch size, multiple clutches in a breeding season, high reproductive potential, and annual breeding cycles that correspond to the emergence of male courtship coloration. The hatchlings mature quickly, and join the adult cohort for breeding within a few months, whereas adults show low survival rates and a short lifespan, such that most die within one year. Mortality increased in both sexes during the breeding season, especially in females, indicating an unequal cost of reproduction in survival. These life history characters may be explained by two nonexclusive hypotheses of ICS—arboreal hypothesis and predation hypothesis—within the ecological context of their habitat. Our study highlights a confirmed case of ICS, which adapts well to this r-selected grassland habitat that experiences seasonal fluctuation and frequent disturbance.

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Anthropization of insular ecosystems may have negative impacts on native populations of lizards, which provide core ecosystem services on islands. We aimed to identify environmental factors to explain the interlocal variation in faecal glucocorticoids, parasite intensity, and body condition in populations of insular lizards. A cross-sectional design during the summer of 2017 and 2018 was used to sample 611 adult lizards, Gallotia galloti. Interlocal variation of three stress indicators was analysed in response to environmental variables across a wide environmental gradient in Tenerife (Canary Islands): (i) concentration of faecal glucocorticoids, (ii) intensities of infection by hematic parasites, and (iii) body condition. The data, with low spatial autocorrelation, were analysed using multimodel inference and model cross-validation. Bioclimatic variables associated with the extreme hot and dry climate of summer were the most informative predictors. Interlocal variation in faecal corticosterone in males was best fitted to a model that included the maximum temperature of the warmest month, although the best predictor was habitat anthropization. The thermal annual range, associated with extreme thermal events, was positively related to faecal corticosterone in females. Extreme hot temperatures were positively related to the median parasite intensities in both sexes, while the highest mean intensities of infection were found in females from the most xeric coastal localities. None of the predictors tested, including faecal glucocorticoids, explained individual or interlocal variation in body condition. Effects of human pressure and climate change on insular populations of lizards can be additive. However, the uncoupled relationship found between body condition and the faecal glucocorticoid content suggests that current negative effects may be aggravated during drought periods in summer. Given the impact of climate change on islands, our results may be of application to other archipelagos, where lizards also play key ecological roles.

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Trace elements can be toxic when they cannot be easily removed after entering an ecosystem, so a long-term assessment is fundamental to guide ecosystem restoration after catastrophic pollution. In 1998, a pyrite mining accident in Aznalcóllar (south-western Spain) spilled toxic waste over a large area of the Guadiamar river basin, where, after restoration tasks, the Guadiamar Green Corridor was established. Eight years after the mine accident (2005–2006), the ground-dwelling insectivorous lizard Psammodromus algirus registered high trace-element levels within the study area compared to specimens from a nearby unpolluted control site. In 2017, 20 years after the accident, we repeated the sampling for this lizard species and also quantified trace elements in vegetation as well as in arthropod samples in order to identify remnant trace-element accumulation with the aim of assessing the transfer of these elements through the trophic web. We found remnant trace-element contamination in organisms of the polluted site compared to those from the unpolluted site. All trace-element concentrations were higher in arthropods than in plants, suggesting these compounds bioaccumulate through the trophic web. Lizards from the polluted areas had higher As, Cd, and Hg concentrations than did individuals from the unpolluted area. Lizard abundance between sampling periods (2005–06 and 2017) did not vary in unpolluted transects but strongly declined at polluted ones. By contrast, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index indicated that in the study period, the vegetation was similar at the two sampling sites. These results suggest that, 20 years after the accident, the trace-element pollution could be the cause of a severe demographic decline of the lizard in the polluted area.

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Cadmium teratogenic effects and metallothionein expression were studied in tissues of lizard embryos at different stages of development. Incubation of eggs in cadmium contaminated soil had no effect on embryo survival, but strongly affected cranial morphogenesis. Cytological analyses demonstrated abnormalities in the development of proencephalic vesicles, mesencephalon and eyes. No defects were observed in somite or limb development. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that MT expression was much stronger in embryos developed in cadmium contaminated soil. In situ hybridization showed an early induction of MT gene expression in developing liver and gut, whereas in brain and eyes the spatial and temporal localization of MT transcripts did not change. A possible correlation between inability to induce MT expression and abnormalities observed in the head region of lizard developing embryos is suggested.

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Bahnstadt: 1.500 Zaun- und Mauereidechsen vor Beginn der Bauarbeiten umgesiedelt.

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Individual recognition (IR) plays an important role in modulating social interactions of several animal species. IR may work at two fundamental levels: at class-level (CIR), if it allows group membership identification (e.g. familiar/unfamiliar), or at individual-level (true IR; TIR), if it allows uniquely recognizing conspecifics. Direct and indirect evidences suggest that many lizards are able to recognize conspecifics, notably using the secretions from femoral glands, specialized epidermal structures located in the cloacal region. Such secretions are made of a mix of lipids and proteins, the latter having been poorly studied but hypothesised to convey identity-related information. Using male Iberian Rock lizards, we set up bioassays to test the role of the protein fraction in IR, and specifically whether lizards: (1) can detect proteins from femoral glands, (2) can recognize their own proteins from those of an unfamiliar male (CIR) and (3) can distinguish between two unfamiliar protein signals (TIR). We found that femoral proteins can be actually detected, and the protein signal was enough to allow self-recognition, but not to distinguish between two unfamiliar males. These outcomes support the hypothesis that proteins from lizard femoral glands are used in intraspecific communication, at least at CIR level. The lack of TIR detection has three possible explanations: (1) finer IR abilities are actually absent in this species; (2) TIR requires a more complex and complete chemical signal or (3) a more prolonged and complete set of previous interactions among individuals is needed to lead to familiarity and TIR.

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The taxonomic status, distribution and ecology of the herpetofauna of the Orange Free State are discussed, based on the examination of 10 096 specimens housed in various southern African museums. The majority of specimens were collected during the years 1972 - 1978 and 1983 - 1992, and are housed at the National Museum, Bloemfontein. A total of 25 amphibian and 95 reptilian (one translocated species) forms have been determined as occurring in the Orange Free State, 12 (three amphibians, nine reptiles) of which are new (or recently published) records for the province. An additional 10 amphibian and 28 reptilian forms have been determined as occurring nearby but extralimitally to the O.F.S., and several of these forms are expected to occur in the province. New distributional records have resulted in the amendment of the ranges of several species. Detailed taxonomic data on new material, including rare species, have been given. Some problem areas in the taxonomy of O.F.S. taxa have been higlighted. An analysis of habit utilization indicated that 84,0% of amphibians and 61,1% of reptiles are terricolous, whereas up to 21,5% of reptiles are rupicolous. The majority of snakes (72,2%) are terrestrial in habits, but 13,9% are fossorial. More than half of all lizards (52,8%) are terrestrial, although 34,6% are rupicolous. A total of six amphibian and 27 reptile forms utilize inactive termitaria as a microhabitat, including several basically terrestrial forms. Snake forms were particularly well represented in termitaria, 60,6% of all forms known from the O.F.S. having been recorded from inactive termitaria. General features of the ecology of O.F.S. amphibians and reptiles have also been discussed. The biogeographical analysis indicated that O.F.S. amphibian forms can be classified into one of nine range clusters (common patterns of distribution), and reptiles into 13 such cluster groups. By testing these classifications by means of a transect through the northern O.F.S. (from eastern to western borders), it was determined that a fairly distinct east-west subtraction of amphibian and reptilian species and subspecies occurs in the O.F.S. Clustering of range boundaries and high species and subspecies diversity at the western and eastern ends of the transect zone suggest dynamic biogeographical situations occurring in those areas - the western group being associated with the transition from grassland to bushveld, and the eastern group associated with the transition from Highveld Grassland to Drakensberg Mountains. The general eastern and western groupings of taxa appear to be associated with the cooler, wetter and mountainous east vs the warmer, drier and lowerlying west, respectively. Despite a great deal of collecting having been conducted in the O.F.S. from 1972 to 1992, an analysis of the number of taxa collected in each quarter-degree unit in `the O.F.S. indicated that additional collecting would be required in order to conduct effectively a mathematically-based biogeographical analysis.

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Cadmium is a persistent contaminant accumulated in the environment from both anthropogenic and natural sources. Every year, large quantities of this metal are released in the different environmental compartments and may pose a significant threat to the biota exposed. Intracellular damage caused by cadmium exposure includes protein denaturation, lipid peroxidation, generation of reactive oxygen species and DNA strand breaks. Many studies have also demonstrated that this ion has a teratogenic or lethal effect on embryos, related to the dose and exposure time. In spite of the wide number of studies carried out in laboratory mammals, data on cadmium effects on fertility, reproduction and embryonic development of wild terrestrial vertebrates are still limited. In particular, information on the consequences of environmental cadmium exposure on reptiles survival and biodiversity are particularly scanty. Reptiles are presently considered highly susceptible to a number of environmental pollutants and this has contributed to the global decline of several wild populations of turtles, crocodilians and lizards. As regarding cadmium effects on offspring survival, reptiles eggs for a long time have been considered well protect from the external environment and the presence of environmental contaminants in eggs or developing embryos has been attributed to a maternal transference during vitellogenesis and oviductal egg retention. More recently, it has been demonstrate that metal ions and organic contaminants present in soil may cross the flexible parchment-like shell of reptilian eggs. In consideration of the few data currently available we decided to investigate cadmium effects on biological processes such as reproduction and development in the reptile Podarcis sicula, a lizard species inhabiting both pristine and urbanized areas. The results summarized in this chapter clearly demonstrate that cadmium can interfere with the welfare and the reproductive fitness of adults, and with the development and survival of embryos. In turn, these detrimental effects on offspring production may dramatically modify the survival of wild populations inhabiting contaminated areas significantly endangering the local biodiversity and the ecological equilibrium.