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Lizards are key amniote models for studying organ regeneration. During tail regeneration in lizards, blastemas contain sparse granulocytes, macrophages, and lymphocytes among the prevalent mesenchymal cells. Using transmission electron microscopy to examine scarring blastemas after third and fourth sequential tail amputations, the number of granulocytes, macrophages, and lymphocytes increased at 3–4 weeks in comparison to the first regeneration. An increase in granulocytes and agranulocytes also occurred within a week after blastema cauterization during the process of scarring. Blood at the third and fourth regeneration also showed a significant increase in white blood cells compared with that under normal conditions and at the first regeneration. The extracellular matrix of the scarring blastema, especially after cauterization, was denser than that in the normal blastema and numerous white blood cells and fibroblasts were surrounded by electron-pale, fine fibrinoid material mixed with variable collagen fibrils. In addition to previous studies, the present observations support the hypothesis that an increase in inflammation and immune reactions determine scarring rather than regeneration. These new findings verify that an immune reaction against mesenchymal and epidermal cells of the regenerative blastema is one of the main causes for the failure of organ regeneration in amniotes.

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We studied the embryonic use of material and energy during incubation and hatchling traits in the lacertid lizards Eremias argus, which were collected from a mountain population in Langyashan, Chuzhou, eastern China in April, 2005. We randomly selected one egg from eleven clutches, opened and separated them into shell and contents, the other eggs were incubated at naturally fluctuating temperature (varying from 14.0 to 37.0℃) using wet vermiculite as the incubation substrate, of which the moisture was kept at -12 kPa water potential. The incubation length of first clutches and second clutches averaged 37.5 d and 33.0 d, respectively. The wet mass of eggs increased for absorbing moisture while incubating, but no significant difference of the final wet mass was founded between first clutches and second clutches. Fluctuating temperature significantly affected Fat body dry mass, but it did not affect hatching success, sex ratio, snout-vent length, tail length, body wet mass, body dry mass, carcass dry mass and residual yolk dry mass of hatchlings. Fat body dry mass from higher fluctuating temperature was greater than did that from lower fluctuating temperature. Incubation temperature affected some norphological traits of hatchlings, with hatchlings from higher temperature having larger hindleg length and tympanum length than did those from lower temperature. Embryo from higher temperature used much calcium than did that from lower temperature. During incubation, approximately 57.5% of dry material, 27.8% of non-polar lipids and 47.4% of energy in the yolk of freshly laid egg was transferred to the hatchling. There was not significant clutch variation of embryonic use of material and energy and hatchling traits in Eremias argus.

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The expansion of oil palm plantations in Indonesia is often blamed for triggering the destruction of natural resources and reducing tropical biodiversity. Herpetofauna is one of biodiversity in oil palm plantations, and information about its species diversity is lim-ited. This study aims to reveal the diversity of Herpetofauna diversity in the oil palm landscape in Central Kalimantan. Field inven-tories were conducted on seven types of land cover: young palm, mature palm oil, old palm oil, High Conservation Value areas, secondary forests, shrubs and smallholder plantations. We used the Visual Encounter Method to find Herpetofauna species in all land cover types. This study revealed that the diversity of Herpetofauna species in PT BLP varies based on the type of land cover. The HCV area and Secondary Forest have the largest number of species (12 species), while secondary Forest has the highest abundance among other types of land cover, followed by old oil palm plantations. The Oil palm plantation landscapes with land cover variations, water availability, and riparian areas can be part of the habitat of several Herpetofauna species and are man-aged for sustainable palm oil management schemes.

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Climatic conditions changing over time and space shape the evolution of organisms at multiple levels, including temperate lizards in the family Lacertidae. Here we reconstruct a dated phylogenetic tree of 262 lacertid species based on a supermatrix relying on novel phylogenomic datasets and fossil calibrations. Diversification of lacertids was accompanied by an increasing disparity among occupied bioclimatic niches, especially in the last 10 Ma, during a period of progressive global cooling. Temperate species also underwent a genome- wide slowdown in molecular substitution rates compared to tropical and desert-adapted lacertids. Evaporative water loss and preferred temperature are correlated with bioclimatic parameters, indicating physiological adaptations to climate. Tropical, but also some popu- lations of cool-adapted species experience maximum temperatures close to their preferred temperatures. We hypothesize these species-specific physiological preferences may con- stitute a handicap to prevail under rapid global warming, and contribute to explaining local lizard extinctions in cool and humid climates.

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In order to study the composition of the south Kabylie’s herpétofauna (Bouira’s and Bordj Bou Arreridj’s wilaya), we have chosen six different ecological areas. 19 species (1 Amphibian and 18 Reptiles) have been inventoried. They are mainly of mediterranean origin (12 species of 19) with 3 species typically North Africans (Timon pater, Chalcides chalcides and Mesalina olivieri). But in this herpétofauna we have found two saharian species (Psammophis schokari and Mesalina olivieri). The field analysis of the species distribution showed that the landscape composition played an important role. Some species such as P. algirus frequented various areas, others such as Natrix natrix and Natrix maura preferred humid areas, Acanthodactylus erythrurus localized in biotopes with sandy substratum, also Timon. pater who frequents forests, on the six community studied none presents q high diversity. The main important specific riches were observed in the low scrub (10 species). The intermediate situation that corresponds to the average of the diversity and the regularity was observed in the rocky open ground and the low scrub.

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Scientifique, Paris, France 2Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, UK 3Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia 4D.I.I.V. Ltd. for Marine, Freshwater and Subterranean Ecology, Sali, Croatia 5Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA Correspondence Maxime Taverne, UMR 7179, Département Adaptations du Vivant, Muséum National d`Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France. Email: maxime.taverne@mnhn.fr Funding information National Geographic Committee for Research and Exploration Abstract Access to resources is a dynamic and multicausal process that determines the suc- cess and survival of a population. It is therefore often challenging to disentangle the factors affecting ecological traits like diet. Insular habitats provide a good opportu- nity to study how variation in diet originates, in particular in populations of meso- predators such as lizards. Indeed, high levels of population density associated with low food abundance and low predation are selection pressures typically observed on islands. In the present study, the diet of eighteen insular populations of two closely related species of lacertid lizards (Podarcis sicula and Podarcis melisellensis) was as- sessed. Our results reveal that despite dietary variability among populations, diet taxonomic diversity is not impacted by island area. In contrast, however, diet dispar- ity metrics, based on the variability in the physical (hardness) and behavioral (eva- siveness) properties of ingested food items, are correlated with island size. These findings suggest that an increase in intraspecific competition for access to resources may induce shifts in functional components of the diet. Additionally, the two species differed in the relation between diet disparity and island area suggesting that differ- ent strategies exist to deal with low food abundance in these two species. Finally, sexual dimorphism in diet and head dimensions is not greater on smaller islands, in contrast to our predictions.

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Darevskia praticola was encountered for the second time in the Jiu Gorge National Park, Romania. The species was observed in August 2018, in a compact beech forest, at 562 m altitude. This record indicates that the forests in the Jiu Gorge National Park could shelter species whose distribution is, even nowadays, insufficiently known.

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Few reports on fire-induced reptile mortality in African savanna have been published. To quantify fire-induced reptile mortality surveys were conducted during a scheduled austral spring management fire in savanna habitat at Lapalala Wilderness, a private game reserve in Limpopo Province, South Africa to determine the density of fatalities and identify possible fire associated mechanisms of mortality. Several transects were conducted at sites within a single block burn. Surveys produced 15 fatalities from eight squamate species, most of which showed varying degrees of denuded respiratory cilia, suggestive of heated air inhalation, potentially proving fatal for some collected specimens.

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The thermal ecology of ectotherms has been studied for almost two centuries, but additional attention is currently being paid to the issue in order to understand how organisms deal with the environment in a climate change context. However, a consensus is still far away, due to the large number of factors involved and their complex interactions. In this context, three analyses in lacertid lizards were carried out: (1) a meta‐analysis, to test for differences between body and air temperatures from 71 populations, (2) a meta‐analysis concerning correlations between body and air temperatures from 60 populations, and (3) a multimodel inference using thermoregulation effectiveness indices from 45 populations. The importance of different factors, including body size, habitat, insuraliry, altitude, climate, and season, was evaluated in all analyses in order to model the response variables. A strong seasonality effect was observed, with a consistent pattern of less effective thermoregulation in summer compared to other seasons. Altitude was the second most important factor, with a consistent higher thermoregulation effort in populations occurring at high elevations (> 1000 m asl). Other factors, such as insularity or body size, can also be important, but did not exhibit a clear pattern. Finally, thermoregulation was less affected by climate and habitat type.

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Our work consists in the morphological study of a endemic lizard of North Africa named Psammodromus blanci, in two stations, the first, Loudha Tameqrant to the Akfadou forest massif, the second, the Chellata Pass to the massif mountainous area of Djurdjura. This study is based on the analysis of 44 morphological characters (biometric, scalameter and chromatic), taken from 49 P.blanci specimens, of which 24 are from Loudha Tameqrant and 25 from the Chellata Pass. The data obtained are analyzed by the ANOVA hypothesis test (analysis of the variance) with two factors (habitat * sex), the results are supplemented by the Newman and Keuls test and a PCA. The results do not show a difference between the two populations in terms of the characters studied, but a sexual dimorphism is marked at the level of the head, the limbs and the cloacal cleft.

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The present paper deals with the recovery growth experiment in Juvenile Grass Lizards, Takydromus septentrionalis, following short periods of fasting. Lizards were collected in April and May 2005 from a population in Chuzhou (Anhui, eastern China). The captured lizards were transported to our laboratory at Chuzhnu University, where they were maintained to in each 600 mm×450 mm×300 mm (length×width×height )glass terrarium, of which the bottom was filled with moist soil, grasses and debris. Lizards were kept starved at the nature temperature for 3d prior to feeding to insure post-absorptive conditions. 39 lizards were divided into 4 experimental groups, which were deprived of food for 0 (control), 3, 6 and 9 days, respectively. The experiment lasted for 24 days for each test group. Then each group was fed with larvae of Tenebrio molitor for the rest of the experimental period. During the recovery growth, wet mass in each test group increased with the lapsed time. Food intake in S3 and S9 were higher than in C. Apparent digestive coefficient (ADC) and assimilation efficiency (AE) in each group by starvation were similar than those in C. ADC and AE in S3 were higher than those in S6 and S9. It is suggested that: (1) T. septentrionalis starvation pretreatment for 3, 6, 9 days show significantly compensatory effect in the recovery growth; (2) the compensatory growth result from significant increase in feeding intensity in the recovery growth.

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A total of 80 specimens of three species of lacertid Podarcis muralis (39), Podarcis siculus (18) and Ophisops elegans (23) from Bursa were examined for helminths. One species of Digenea, Plagiorchis elegans, 1 species of Cestoda, Mesocestoides sp. (tetrathyridium); and 3 species of Nematoda, Skrjabinodon medinae, Spauligodon saxicolae and Skrjabinelazia hoffmanni were found. The helminths reported in this study are generalist helminths that infect a number of lizards.

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The herpetofauna of Wadi El Gemal National Park, Eastern Desert, Egypt currently includes 28 reptile species. Three large wadies, Wadi El Gemal, Wadi Abu Ghusoun and Wadi Sartout, were observed as a model of the spe- cies composition within the national park. Species assemblages, taxonomic and ecological diversity, and the biogeographical affinities of reptiles in the specific environment of the hyperarid desert are discussed.

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60 species of reptiles live in the Azerbaijan Republic. From them 17 species, or 28.3% are spread on Absheron Peninsula. These species belong to 3 orders, 13 families, 22 genera. Lizards are reptiles belonging to the order Squamata. On Absheron peninsula lizards inhabit a wide variety of biotopes, from garden habitats to sand dunes. Most species of Absheron are diurnal, but Caspian bent-toed geckos comprise a night time fauna in many habitats. Many species, can shed their tails in order to escape from predators. Lizards have many morphological adaptations that suit them to the substrates they inhabit, from specialized toe-pads in vertical rock-face dwellers to fringed-toes in loose-sand runners. Modern scientific study of lizards in Absheron began with the field natural history studies of E.P. Menetriem and E.E. Eichwald in the 19th century.

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The concept of National responsibility species (NRS) was developed to coordinate the conservation efforts of species occurring in multiple countries. Calculated as the fraction of the global species` distribution within a country, it measures the contribution of a local population to global survival of the species. However, there may be more co-occurring species in one region than another, making the conservation of a species more cost-efficient in the first than the latter. If cost-efficient resource allocation is the goal, then identifying NRS should also be based on spatial priorities. We propose that a species is considered NRS when a large part of its distribution falls within high priority areas in a country. We identify NRS from spatial conservation prioritization outputs to (1) maximize the overall cost-efficiency of allocation of conservation resources and (2) to provide information about which species the spatial priorities are based on. We analyzed data on vertebrates in the Birds and Habitats directives in the EU28 countries and compared the traditional NRS measure to three alternative strategies. While the majority of species maintained their NRS status in most countries regardless of the approach, differences occurred, with varying numbers and identities of responsibility species in a country, or responsibilities for species shifting between countries. The differences were largest in geographically marginal countries and for species that were distributed across a few countries. Other NRS approaches may also be useful, and the choice of approach should ultimately depend on the purpose and complement information on conservation status in decision-making.

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Widely distributed reptile species are characterized by reproductive plasticity, which may also appear as variations of the reproductive cycles. To understand the specificity of the male reproductive cycle of Zootoca vivipara in the Asian part of its range, males from the Tomsk population (the southeast of the Western Siberia) caught from April till July 2017 were studied (n = 27). The dynamics of gonadosomatic index (GSI), body fat index (BFI), germinal epithelium area (GEA), testosterone concentration (TC) in the serum, ratio of spermatogenic cell count, and the presence of spermatozoa in epididymis were analyzed. Also, the age of males was evaluated via skeletochronology. Many spermatocytes were found in males after their emerging from winter burrows (late April) in the testes. Since this time till early May, GSI, FBI, GEA, and TC increased. At this time, the greatest pull of spermatids occurred in the testes. During the breeding period (May – early June), GSI, FBI, GEA, and TC sharply decreased, and spermatozoa occurred in both testes and epididymis. In mid-June, a new spermatogenic cycle began (spermatogonial proliferation). Since this time till July, GSI, FBI, and GEA increased again along with the increased number of spermatocytes. The total spermatogenic cycle in the studied population was 12 months, but it was characterized by a short mating period and the related spermatogenic processes in comparison with the European populations

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This paper presents a herpetofaunal inventory of the urban city of Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh along with major threats existing in the study area, snake-human conflict and conservation steps taken. Herpetofaunal population in degraded while urban habitat is essential for their long term conservation measures. A total of 39 species of reptiles and amphibians representing 15 families were detected with special account of Argyrogena fasciolata, Wallophis brachyurus, Lycodon aulicus, Ptyas mucosa, Xenochrophis piscator, and Lygosoma lineatum. Snakes were the most collected reptilian species, while Amphibians comprised the little group of the sample. Reptile Conservation & Research Centre is established in the city by Sarpa Anusandhan Sangthan to minimize the snake-human conflict and to educate and familiarise people with them.

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Presented is a comprehensive overview of data on the herpetological species occurring in the Ararat region of Turkey. A total of 41 species, including their first records, published historical localities, and respective sources, are recorded in this assessment of surprisingly high regional species richness.

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In this research, it is intended to determine amphibian and reptile species distributed in Hatay province (East Mediterranean region, Turkey). For this aim, it is realized herpetological trip to al region of the province of Hatay in March, April, May, July, September and October in 2016 and in March and May in 2017. As a result of this study, it is recorded five anuran, two urodela species belong to five families, six chelonian belong to 5 families, and 17 lizard belong to seven families and 22 snake species belong to four families in the province Hatay (7 amphibians and 45 reptiles in total). As a result of this project; Trapelus lessonae (De filippi, 1865), and Eirenis barani Schmidtler, 1988 were recorded for in the province of Hatay in first. We report the most updated information regarding the herpetofauna of Hatay province.

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The Gulf of Kachchh is endowed with a variety of habitats and supports diverse groups of fauna, both invertebrates and vertebrates. The present study was carried out to study distribution of marine and coastal herpetofauna (Amphibians and Reptiles) from the Gulf of Kachchh (GoK). During the study a total of 28 species of herpetofauna were recorded from the GoK, of which, 3 were amphibians (only Anuran) and 25 were reptiles. Among the all recorded species, five species such as Green Sea Turtle, Olive Ridley, Yellow Sea Snake, Annulated Sea Snake and Gerard’s Mud Snake were obligatory marine reptiles. In addition, three other species viz., Saw-scaled Viper, Fringed-toed Lizard and Jerdon’s Snake eye were also r

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Jaffna peninsula is quite an unexplored area of Sri Lanka’s lowland dry zone. We constructed a species checklist for all herpetofauna of this area based on a short-term field survey, a comprehensive literature review, museum specimens, and observations made by field herpetologists. Based on 200 × 10 m belt transects, we surveyed herpetofauna both during day and night time, in 10 different types of habitats. The species checklist we compiled comprised 44 species of reptiles (including three nationally threatened, one globally threatened, and eight endemic species) and 15 species of amphibians (including one nationally threatened and three endemic species). Based on published literature, museum specimens, expert opinions, and current field survey, we documented 85 species of herpetofauna in this area. Of this entire list, we were unable to record the presence of 25 species through our field survey. Our field survey documented 18 species that were not previously reported from Jaffna Peninsula. Our study revealed that inland water bodies, cultivated lands, home gardens, and coastal beaches are of high impor- tance for native herpetofauna of Jaffna peninsula. Many human disturbances, such as habitat alterations, vengeful killing, consumption overexploitation, and road mortality are the key threats encountered by herpetofauna in Jaffna. Our intention of this study is to compile baseline information on diversity of amphibians and reptiles to support more detailed studies in future and assist conservation and management decisions within the region. We believe that our study will provide a basic foundation for conservation planning and future research.

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Alborz province, an area as big as almost 5833 km2, is located in the west of Tehran province. In a long term study of the lizards in this province which lasted 2 years (2015-2016), 13 species of lizards namely Paralaudakia caucasia, Trapelus agilis, Phrynocephalus persicus, Darevskia defilippi, Lacerta strigata, Eremias persica, Eremias fasciata, Eremias papenfussi, Ophisops elegans, Mesalina watsonana, Bunopus crassicaudus, Ablepharus bivittatus and Eumeces schneideri, belonging to four families, were collected, identified and reported from the area. Thirteen distribution maps for lizards of the Alborz province were also made. Two new distribution records for lizards of Iran in the area were reported. Also, an isolated population of Lacerta strigata in the north of the province was observed which extends altitudinal distribution of the species more than 900 m in Iran. An isolated population of Eremias faciata in the south of the province was observed which is the westernmost record for this species in Iran and extends the known distributional range of the species about 200 km westward.

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The vestibular system is crucial for movement control during locomotion. As the dimensions of the vestibular system determine the fluid dynamics of the endolymph and, as such, the system`s function, we investigate the interaction between vestibular system size, head size and microhabitat use in lizards. We grouped 24 lacertid species in three microhabitat types, we acquired three‐dimensional models of the bony vestibular systems using micro‐computer tomography scanning, and we performed linear and surface measurements. All vestibular measurements scale with a negative allometry with head size, suggesting that smaller heads house disproportionally large ears. As the sensitivity of the vestibular system is positively related to size, a sufficiently large vestibular system in small‐headed animals may meet the sensitivity demands during challenged locomotion. We also found that the microhabitat affects the locomotor dynamics: lizards inhabiting open microhabitats run at higher dimensionless speeds. On the other hand, no statistical relationship exists between dimensionless speed and the vestibular system dimensions. Hence, if the vestibular size would differ between microhabitats, this would be a direct effect (i.e. imposed, for instance, by requirements for manoeuvring, balance control, etc.), rather than depending on the lizards’ intrinsic running speed. However, we found no effect of the microhabitat on the allometric relationship between head and vestibular system size. The finding that microhabitat is not reflected in the vestibular system size (hence sensitivity) of the lacertids in this study is possibly due to spatial constraints of the skull.

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Herpetofaunal surveys were conducted in the Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in southern Tamil Nadu, India, over a period of two years, to assess species richness in this landscape. Sixty-four species of reptiles from 15 families and 31 species of amphibians from nine families were recorded. Eight species of reptiles and five species of amphibians are reported here for the first time, including the first record of a caecilian (Uraeotyphlus sp.) from this landscape. The rediscovery of a potentially divergent population of wood snake, bearing the now defunct nomen Xylophis indicus (presently in the synonymy of X. stenorhynchus), is reported c.140 years after its original description. A revised, collated checklist, accommodating taxonomic revisions from the recent past, is presented based on our surveys and prior literature. It constitutes 99 species of reptiles and 41 species of amphibians–a remarkable diversity that beseeches concerted conservation action in the region.

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Lizards, commonly found in the Umuttepe Campus of Kocaeli University, were caught and tissue samples were taken from their tail region for species identification through molecular analysis. After that, DNA isolation, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) by using universal primers for the mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA, and DNA sequence analysis were performed. Electropherograms were evaluated and the results obtained were compared with the species recorded in the NCBI databases. In this study using molecular phylogenetic analysis for species identification, the lizards distributed in the Umuttepe Campus of Kocaeli University were determined to belong to Podarcis siculus (Istanbul lizard).

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In this study, herpetofauna and avifauna of the Araplar Gorge where is located in Ezine/Çanakkale, and its vicinity were examined. The Araplar Gorge is an important area because of its location as one of the secondary migration pathway of birds in Çanakkale. In the study area; all data were evaluated from the field studies and researches between 2003 and 2016; as a result five amphibian, 24 reptile and 147 bird species were identified. According to IUCN Red List; all of the observed amphibian specimens were in DD and LC. Two of the reptile specimens were listed as VU [Testudo graeca, Malpolon insignitus] and one specimen was listed as NT (Emys orbicularis). All other reptile specimens were listed as LC. In avifauna; three specimens were listed as VU (Streptopelia turtur, Clanga clanga, Aquila heliaca), one specimen was listed as NT (Vanellus vanellus) and all other bird species were listed as LC. The biodiversity importance and necessity of the protection of the area were emphasized.

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The fossil record provides evidence of a long evolutionary history of European lizards. Since fossil lizards are regularly represented by bone remains, the knowledge of the origins of extant taxa and their distribution in time and space is hindered by the fact that their comparative osteology is not yet completely and adequately known. In spite of a rising interest in this topic since the end of the 20th century, a gap in our knowledge is still evident. We here report the first broad-scale comparative osteological analysis of the skulls of extant European lizards, highlighting significant differences that can be used in identification. This comparative study, including as many European species as possible, leads to the creation of a detailed diagnostic key for each single bone. Also, our data significantly improve the recognizability of extant European non-snake squamates, with 54% of the current diversity to be recognized based on the new results contra the previously estimated 31%. This recognizability is expected to further increase in the future, with new studies focusing on species that are either missing or poorly represented here, or applying promising advanced methodologies.

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The aim of the study is to predict the gender of Darevskia bithynica by using a feed-forward back-propagation artificial neural network (ANN). Nine morphological characters were used as an input parameters of the mo-del. The gender type male or female is the output parameter. The total number of data is 115. In order to train, validate and test the ANN model 70%, 15% and 15% of the total data are randomly selected, respectively. The regression coefficient (R) values are evaluated as prediction performance. The network’s layer with tangent sigmoid activation functions predicts the lizard gender with R values as 0.98, 0.97 and 0.96 for training, tes-ting and all data, respectively. The mean square error (MSE) values for training and testing data are calculated as 0.0145 and 0.0161, respectively. The obtained results satisfactorily confirm the high ability of the ANNs in predicting the gender of Darevskia bithynica.

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Aim Isolation is a key factor in island biology. It is usually defined as the distance to the geographically nearest mainland, but many other definitions exist. We explored how testing different isolation indices affects the inference of impacts of isolation on faunal characteristics. We focused on land bridge islands and compared the relationships of many spatial and temporal (i.e., through time) isolation indices with community‐, population‐ and individual‐level characteristics (species richness, population density and body size, respectively). Location Aegean Sea islands, Greece. Time period Current. Taxon Many animal taxa. Methods We estimated 21 isolation indices for 205 islands and recorded species richness data for 15 taxa (invertebrates and vertebrates). We obtained body size data for seven lizard species and population density data for three. We explored how well indices predict each characteristic, in each taxon, by conducting a series of ordinary least squares regressions (controlling for island area when needed) and a meta‐analysis. Results Isolation was significantly (and negatively) associated with species richness in 10 of 15 taxa. It was significantly (and positively) associated with body size in only one of seven species and was not associated with population density. The effect of isolation on species richness was much weaker than that of island area, regardless of the index tested. Spatial indices generally out‐performed temporal indices, and indices directly related to the mainland out‐performed those related mainly to neighbouring islands. No index was universally superior to others, including the distance to the geographically nearest mainland. Main conclusions The choice of index can alter our perception of the impacts of isolation on biological patterns. The nearly automatic, ubiquitous use of distance to the geographically nearest mainland misrepresents the complexity of the effects of isolation. We recommend the simultaneous testing of several indices that represent different aspects of isolation, in order to produce more constructive and thorough investigations and avoid imprecise inference.

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The data available on the herpetofauna of the Archipelago della Maddalena are mainly based on investigations carried out during the 1980’s by the Sezione di Zoologia “La Specola” of the Museo di Storia Naturale dell’Università di Firenze. Such records have not been specifically updated successively. Here field data on the composition and distribution of the herpetofauna of the Archipelago are presented, with particular attention to the micro-insular areas for which no bibliographic data were available. Between 2011 and 2012 a total of 51 islands and islets have been visited: new records have been gained for 15 islands and islets already studied in past while on 4 the herpetofauna has been recorded for the first time. The lack of herpetofauna on 9 islets and rocks seemingly never previously studied has been reported too.

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Although it was obvious to us that it would be useful to include a list of the herpetofauna found on the Italian islands, it immediately became clear that this would be no easy task: the information in the literature is often incomplete, inaccurate and difficult to check, and precise data are available only for the circum-Sardinian islands (POGGESI et al., 1996), the circum-Sicilian islands (L ANZA, 1973; CORTI et al., 1998) and the Tuscan Archipelago (HOTZ, 1973; COR- TI et al., 1991; VANNI & NISTRI, 1999, 2000). In order to form as complete a picture as possible, we also consulted numerous works on single islands or groups of islands, e.g. the Handbuch der Rep- tilien und Amphibien Europas. Finally, we had access to a large vol- ume of as yet unpublished data from the Progetto Atlante, including reports for the Ligurian and Apulian islands, gathered by the region- al chapters of the Societas Herpetologica Italica. For the sake of brevity, lacustrian and riverine populations and those of delta bars, beaches and island lakes have been omitted. Apart from the fact that few data are available, these populations are not actually separate from those of adjoining coasts. We do make an important exception to this rule in mentioning the taxon Lacerta muralis borromeica Mertens, 1932, described for the Isola Madre on Lago Maggiore and later declared invalid by the author. The subspecies status of many island populations of lacertids of the Podarcis genus remains open to debate, and is discussed in more detail in the chapter “Checklist of the Italian herpetofauna with tax- onomic remarks”. These populations can present far greater variabil- ity in patterning than continental populations [e.g. Podarcis sicula caporiaccoi (Taddei, 1949) see HOTZ (1973)] or unusual colouring (e.g. melanotic) which, although they make island and archipelago populations easier to identify, are considered by modern taxono- mists to be of doubtful systematic validity. It was decided to include the description of a species or sub- species for an island as a note, with the type locality in square brack- ets, and with the name supplied by the author without commenting on its validity.

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The present paper provides the results of the herpetological investigations carried out on thesatellite islets of Djerba and the Kneiss Archipelago, and an updated list of their herpetofauna.On the whole, the faunal assemblage of the eleven visited islets includes seven species of reptiles, whose richness seems to be related to the islet size. Stenodactylus sthenodactylus (Lichtenstein, 1823) and Malpolon insignitus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1827) are new records, respectively, for the Djerba satellites and the Kneiss Archipelago, while new localities we rerecorded for the previously known species.

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The results of some investigations on the Podarcis wagleriana population of La Scuola Islet (Stagnone Lagoon Archipelago, W Sicily) are here presented. Adult mean SVL was 69.5 mm and 61.6 mm for males and females respectively. The analysis of faecal pellets showed that the most important prey types were Formicidae (32%), Coleoptera (15%), and other Hymenoptera (13%). The proportion of vegetal matter (occurring in 35% of the examined pellets) was higher than in Sicilian populations, suggesting that plant consumption in this micro-insular environment may play a more significant role in the diet of the species.

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The present paper provides the results of the herpetological investigations carried out on the Kuriat Archipelago, in the Khnis Bay, and the islet of Jbel, off the harbor of Echebba. Six reptile species on the whole have been found on the studied islets. Tarentola fascicularis (Daudin, 1802), familia Phyllodactylidae, occurring on Great Kuriat, and Trachylepis vittata (Olivier, 1804), familia Scincidae, detected on all the three islets, are recorded for the first time for the islands of Tunisia.

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Bestandserhebungen zum Vorkommen der Smaragdeidechse in der Steiermark wurden im Zeitraum 1. Mai bis 1. September 2009 durchgeführt. Ein Nachweis der Art konnte an 150 Fundpunkten getätigt werden. Gesonderter Augenmerk wurde auf Erhaltungszustand, potentielle Gefährdungsursachen und nötige Schutzmaßnahmen gelegt. Der typische Lebensraum der Smaragdeidechse liegt auf sonnenbeschienenen Hängen, an denen Deckung bietende Vegetationsstrukturen (Waldränder, Hecken) mit sonnenexponierten Lebensräumen (Wiesen, Halbtrockenrasen, Ruderalfluren) zusammentreffen. Dabei spielt ihre hohe Affinität zu steinig-felsigen Strukturen und Totholz eine bedeutende Rolle. Derartige Strukturelemente kommen ihrer Vorliebe für Klettermöglichkeiten zu Gute. Das Auftreten in Gärten und Weinanbaugebieten demonstriert die Rolle der Art als Kulturfolger des Menschen. Vorkommen des als erloschen geltenden Teilareals im Großraum Graz konnten keine bestätigt werden, ebenso nicht im Großraum Eibiswald. Eine größere Verbreitung der Art ließ sich nur im Bereich der „Windischen Bühel“ (Südsteiermark) feststellen. Diese Hügellandschaft zwischen den Gemeinden Heimschuh, Großklein, Arnfels, Leutschach und Gamlitz weist noch einen hohen Anteil an extensiv bewirtschafteten Wiesenbereichen und eine mäßig hohe Dichte an Weinanbaugebieten auf. Der Verbreitungsschwerpunkt der Smaragdeidechse in der Südsteiermark liegt demnach im Raum Eichberg-Trautenburg und Oberfahrenbach. Dieses Vorkommen setzt sich südlich des Karnerberges in den Bereichen Fötschach, Pößnitz und Sernau fort. Im Bereich der Südsteirischen Weinstraße existieren Vorkommen nur mehr in kleinräumigen und hochgradig isolierten Vorkommen (Spielfeld, Ratsch an der Weinstraße, Glanz an der Weinstraße, Schloßberg). Bislang nicht wissenschaftlich dokumentiert konnten Vorkommen im Sausal nördlich der Sulm festgestellt werden. Hier existieren zwei Teilareale im Bereich Tillmitsch / Heimschuh (Silberberg – Kogelberg – Kittenberg) sowie in Einöd (Gem. Kitzeck i. S.), auch ein Einzelfund bei Altenberg (Kitzeck i. S.) konnte dokumentiert werden. Hochgradig isoliert und kleinräumig erwiesen sich sämtliche Vorkommen in der Oststeiermark. Eines der Vorkommen liegt im Natura 2000-Gebiet ESG 1 „Feistritzklamm / Herberstein“. Großflächigere Vorkommen (Durchmesser des potentiellen Vorkommens über 2 km) konnten nur im Raum Bad Gleichenberg (Gleichenberger Kogel – Bschaidkogel – Gossendorf - Trautmannsdorf) sowie in Kapfenstein – Gutenberg festgestellt werden. Weitere kleinräumige Isolate existieren noch am Stradner Kogel, am Zinsberg bei Fehring sowie in Aigen. Auch zu angrenzenden, ebenfalls hochgradig isolierten Vorkommen im Süd-Burgenland existiert keine direkte Verbindung der Lebensräume. Hauptgefährdungsursache in der Oststeiermark liegen in der Isolation der Gebiete und einer zunehmenden Verwaldung an aktuellen Standorten. Die Fundorte liegen zumeist auf südwest- bis südostexponierter Hanglagen. Eine Analyse der 150 Fundpunkte zeigt eine deutliche Präferenz der Smaragdeidechse zu Waldrandsituationen und dem Vorhandensein von Hecken und Gebüschgruppen, häufig angrenzend an Halbtrockenrasen und Ruderalflächen. Vor allem in der Südsteiermark spielen für den Weinanbau genutzte, sonnenexponierte Hänge eine bedeutsame Rolle. Eine hohe Bedeutung besitzen auch Strukturen, die für Verstecke und Sonnenplätze genutzt werden können, wie Feldgehölz, Felsen, Gemäuer, Totholz oder Holzstöße. Die potentielle Verbreitung der Art umfasst in der Oststeiermark ca. 6 km², in der Südsteiermark etwa 80 km². Allerdings können derzeit nur ca. 10 % dieser Flächen von Lacerta viridis als Lebensraum genutzt werden. Schutzmaßnahmen sollten vor allem eine extensive Wiesenbewirtschaftung, Aufbau stufiger Waldsäume und –binnensäume, Heckenanlagen, Reduktion des Herbizideinsatzes im Weinbau sowie eine gezielte Öffentlichkeitsarbeit umfassen.

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High concentrations of free D-aspartate (D-Asp), an amino acid well known for its neuroexcitatory activity, are endogeneously present in the Harderian gland (HG) of the lizard Podarcis s. sicula. This orbital gland consists of two different parts: the medial part, which is prevalently a mucous acinar gland, and the lateral part, which is a serous tubulo-acinar gland. To determine the physiological effect of D-Asp on exocrine secretion in HG, D-Asp (2.0 micromol/g b.w.) was injected intraperitoneally into lizards. We found that highest accumulations of exogenous D-Asp in HGs occurred 15 hr after the injection. Specifically, exogenous D-Asp prevalently stimulated serous secretion from the lateral portion of the gland, where immunohistochemical analysis revealed a major accumulation. Similarly, in the medial part of the gland, highly sulfated mucosubstances were observed after D-Asp injection. Further, in both parts of the HG, the electron microscope revealed euchromatic nuclei, a prominent rough endoplasmic reticulum, as well as numerous secretory granules within the acinar cells. Thus, following D-Asp injection, a 60% increase in HG total protein was detected. In addition, exogenous D-Asp induced changes in the electrophoretic pattern of HG. In conclusion, although further investigations are still needed to clarify the molecular pathway induced by D-Asp in exocrine secretion, this study does indicate that free D-Asp plays a significant role in the secretory activity of this gland.

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The sand lizard Lacerta agilis is Britain’s rarest lizard and has been successfully reintroduced to Wales following regional extinction. It occurs on sand dune sites in Wales, and such habitats are increasingly subject to over-stabilisation. Re-mobilisation works are often recommended to remedy this situation, with documented benefits to dune system dynamics and dune specialist species. Newborough Warren and Ynys Llanddwyn National Nature Reserve on Anglesey is a protected site supporting a large sand dune system. Through over-stabilisation, the extent of bare sand at Newborough Warren has declined by 94% since the 1940s, and its protected site status led to substantial re-mobilisation in winter 2014-15. The works were done using heavy machinery and involved the cutting of notches in the frontal dunes, combined with stripping of grassland to the rear. A population of sand lizards occurs at Newborough Warren, thought to result from unauthorised releases (unlike most Welsh populations, which originate from a planned reintroduction programme). Despite its likely unauthorised origin and the implication that this could obviate Habitats Directive protection, the population is apparently considered by NRW legally equivalent to a native or formally reintroduced population. This appears to be a pragmatic decision in the light of reintroduction options for the species. Concerns were raised that the re-mobilisation works directly impacted on the sand lizard population. The key issues were the risk of lizard mortality via groundworks, and the reduction in habitat extent and connectivity due to the creation of large areas of bare sand. We collected information from a range of informed sources to assess the likely impacts of the re-mobilisation works on the sand lizard population at Newborough Warren. Habitat assessments and surveys for sand lizards were conducted in September 2015. Information was collated and analysed using GIS. We found that the sand lizard population is likely to have been affected by the re-mobilisation works in several distinct respects, with both positive and negative outcomes. Firstly, it is almost certain that some animals were killed by the works themselves. Secondly, the immediate outcome of the works has resulted in a small net loss of high quality habitat and a reduction in within-site connectivity. We assessed the loss of habitat extent at approximately 17%, with much of this being the highest quality habitat on the site. High quality habitat now occurs in three small and one larger patch, as opposed to a single large patch before the works. Thirdly, there has been an increase in the long-term prospects for maintaining frontal dune habitats via aeolian dynamics, which should benefit the sand lizard population in the long term following any short-term impacts. Surveys in 2015 demonstrated that the sand lizard population persists, and suggested it has a reasonable demographic profile. Sand lizards were found very close to areas subject to re-mobilisation, as well as in areas not directly affected. However, due to circumstances beyond our control these surveys were undertaken with constrained effort and sub-optimal timing and were therefore insufficient to thoroughly assess the current status and future prospects of the population. On the basis of current information, we tentatively conclude that the Newborough Warren sand lizard population will persist in the long term despite the short-term negative effects of re-mobilisation works. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend further surveys to assess the situation more thoroughly. As a precautionary measure, we recommend options for enhancing habitat as a way to offset short-term reductions in habitat connectivity. The large area of forestry at Newborough Warren is a particular constraint to restoring natural dune dynamics. We found some short-comings in the regulatory processes relating the potential impacts of the re-mobilisation works on sand lizards. The licence that NRW issued for conservation purposes was not consistent with the licensable operations likely to have been involved in the works. There does not appear to have been a method statement to ensure management was implemented with suitable risk reduction measures, i.e. mitigation measures to avoid and reduce killing, injuring, disturbance and damage to key elements of sand lizard habitat. Moreover, there appears to have been inadequate consideration in aligning species objectives (i.e. NRW’s aspirations for sand lizards in this area) with protected site objectives (i.e. the desired outcomes of the NNR). Had all of these processes been better implemented and integrated, the re-mobilisation works could have been undertaken in a way that substantially reduced the risk of harm to sand lizards, maximised the benefits to sand lizards, and ensured a higher level of legal compliance. Future sand dune re-mobilisation works should proactively assess the short-term and long-term risks and benefits to sand lizards. Re-mobilisation can be consistent with the extremely positive work that NRW and partners have achieved in recovering the sand lizard in Wales. Further progression towards achieving Favourable Conservation Status for this species should be considered when planning re-mobilisation, yet we do not envisage unresolvable conflicts. The emerging discussions among European practitioners about the relative merits of large-scale versus mosaic restoration approaches should be considered for future re-mobilisation where sand lizards occur (and indeed other species with similar vulnerabilities). We suggest a process for assessing the potential risks of management works, along with options for managing both short-term and long-term negative effects. The dynamics of sand dune systems and the likely impacts of climate change need to be incorporated into planning for managing sand lizard populations on sand dunes. We also provide guidance on broader sand dune habitat management issues for reptiles, along with notes on the value of sand dunes to herpetofauna more generally.

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In recent years, great attention has been paid to many Podarcis species for which the observed intra-specific variability often revealed species complexes still characterized by an unresolved relationship. When compared to other species, P. siculus underwent fewer revisions and the number of species hidden within this taxon may have been, therefore, underestimated. However, recent studies based on genetic and morphological data highlighted a marked differentiation of the populations inhabiting the western Pontine Archipelago. In the present work we used published genetic data (three mitochondrial and three nuclear gene fragments) from 25 Podarcis species to provide a multilocus phylogeny of the genus in order to understand the degree of differentiation of the western Pontine populations. In addition, we analyzed new morphometric traits (scale counts) of 151 specimens from the main islands of the Pontine Archipelago. The phylogenetic analysis revealed five principal Podarcis groups with biogeographic consistency. The genetic distinctiveness of the Podarcis populations of the western Pontine Islands is similar or even more ancient than those observed in numerous other pairs of Podarcis sister species. In the light of these evidences we raise the western Pontine lizards to specific rank; thus they should be referred to as Podarcis latastei.

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The timing of organisms’ senescence is developmentally programmed but also shaped by the interaction between environmental inputs and life-history traits. In ectotherms, ageing dynamics are still poorly understood despite their particularities concerning thermoregulation, regeneration capacity, or growth trajectory. Here, we investigate the role of life-history traits such as age, sex, body size, body condition, and tail autotomy (i.e self-amputation) in shaping telomere length of six populations of the Algerian sand lizard (Psammodromus algirus) distributed across an elevational gradient from 300 to 2500 meters above the sea level. Additionally, we show in a review table the available information on reptiles’ telomere length. We found that telomeres elongated with lizards’ age. We also observed that body size and age class showed a positive relationship, suggesting that cell replication did not shorten lizards’ telomeres by itself. Elevation affected telomere length in a non-linear way, a pattern that mirrored the variation in age structure across elevation. Telomere length was unaffected by tail autotomy, and was sex-independent, but positively correlated with body condition. Our results show that telomeres elongate throughout the first four years of lizards’ lifetime, a process that stress the role of telomerase in maintaining ectothermic telomeres, and, likely, in extending lifespan in organisms with indeterminate growth. Regarding the non-linear impact that elevation had on telomere length of lizards, our results suggest that habitat (mainly temperature) and organisms’ condition might play a key role in regulation ageing rate. Our findings emphasize the relevance of understanding species’ life histories (e.g. age and body condition) and habitat characteristics for fully disentangling the causes and consequences of lifespan trajector

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The paper discusses the spread of the medium lizard, Lacerta media, in the Talysh Mountains on the terri- tory of Republic of Azerbaijan. Earlier, findings of this species were known in the North-Western part of the Talysh only. A new record of the medium lizard from the Sym village in the Astara District of Azerbaijan is presented.

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This work summarizes information on the distribution and status of the populations of amphibians and reptiles of the city of Sevastopol. Data obtained over a quarter of a century were refined by a targeted herpetological examination of the entire territory of Sevastopol (over 1000 km2) in 2018 and early 2019. Most species of am- phibians and reptiles known in Crimea are recorded from the Sevastopol Region, with the exception of some taxa that inhabit only or mainly plains environments (Pelobates vespertinus, Eremias arguta, and Lacerta agilis exigua). Most taxa included in the Red Book of Sevastopol, to date, retain stable populations. Apparently, Vi- pera renardi has disappeared from the region. Analysis of the taxon chorotypes indicates a dominance of spe- cies of Mediterranean (sensu lato) origin. The mild climate of the southwestern part of the Crimean Peninsula determines the unique spatial distribution of the most thermophilic reptile species (Mediodactylus danilewskii, Pseudopus apodus, and Zamenis situla) and, in particular, their wide distribution on the northern macroslope of the Crimean Mountains and (or) the highest elevations in Crimea. The zoning of the territory of Sevastopol, according to herpetological data, made it possible to identify eight districts that differ clearly in species compo- sition and population density of background and rare species. On a national scale, the territory of Sevastopol is important for the conservation of the genetic diversity of species such as Triturus karelinii, M. danilewskii, Ps. apodus, Z. situla, Dolichophis caspius, and Elaphe sauromates. Currently, the state of the populations of T. karelinii, Emys orbicularis, and El. sauromates is most alarming. Scientifically important natural and some synanthropic (in the Khersonesos of Taurida) populations of M. danilewskii, as well as relic populations of the Crimean endemic Lacerta agilis tauridica, require close attention. The “Baydarskyi”, “Cape Aya” and “Laspi” state regional wildlife sanctuaries play the most significant role in preserving the herpetofauna of the region, covering the upper part of the Chernaya River basin (Main Range) and the extreme southwestern part of the Southern Coast of Crimea, as well as the Mekenzievskoe Forestry in the foothills.

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A new endemic Sandveld Lizard, genus Nucras, is described from south-western Angola. Morphologically it resembles members of the Nucras tessellata group, but it is genetically separated and is sister to the larger tessellata + lalandii group. Although the genus is generally very conservative morphologically, the new species differs from other congeners in a combination of scalation, overall dorsal color pattern, and geographic separation. The new species is known from fewer than 12 specimens collected over a period spanning 120 years from arid south-western Angola. This brings the total number of species in the genus to 12 and adds another species to the growing list of endemic species of the Namib region of Angola. This new finding further reinforces the idea that this Kaokoveld Desert region is a key biodiversity area worthy of conservation and long-term protection.

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The Canary Islands are an Atlantic archipelago known for its high number of endemic species. Among the most known endemic vertebrate species are the giant lizards of the genus Gallotia. We describe the cranial osteology of the first almost complete and articulated fossil skull of the taxon Gallotia auaritae, recovered from the lower-middle Pleistocene of the La Palma island. In this work, X-ray computed microtomography images were used to perform an exhaustive phylogenetic analysis where most of the extant and fossil species of the genus Gallotia were included for first time. This analysis recovered a monophyletic Gallotia clade with similar topology to that of molecular analyses. The newly described specimen shares some characters with the group formed by G. bravoana, G. intermedia and G. simonyi, G. auaritae, and its position is compatible with a referral to the latter. Our study adds new important data to the poorly known cranial morphology of G. auaritae, and the phylogenetic analysis reveals an unexpected power of resolution to obtain a morphology-based phylogeny for the genus Gallotia, for inferring the phylogenetic position of extinct species and for helping in the identification of fossil specimens.

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To determine whether the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia lusitaniae is associated with lizards, we compared the prevalence and genospecies of spirochetes present in rodent- and lizard-associated ticks at a site where this spirochete frequently infects questing ticks. Whereas questing nymphal Ixodes ricinus ticks were infected mainly by Borrelia afzelii, one-half of the infected adult ticks harbored B. lusitaniae at our study site. Lyme disease spirochetes were more prevalent in sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) and common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis) than in small rodents. Although subadult ticks feeding on rodents acquired mainly B. afzelii, subadult ticks feeding on lizards became infected by B. lusitaniae. Genetic analysis confirmed that the spirochetes isolated from ticks feeding on lizards are members of the B. lusitaniae genospecies and resemble type strain PotiB2. At our central European study site, lizards, which were previously considered zooprophylactic for the agent of Lyme disease, appear to perpetuate B. lusitaniae.

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A population of common lizard, Lacerta (Zootoca) vivipara, at the species area edge in Northern Mongolia was surveyed in the summer of 2008. A set of harmless methods was employed. Materials on the ecology and external characters are given.

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Chemical communication plays an essential role in several social and reproductive behaviors of many animals. In lizards, the main sources of semiochemicals are femoral or pre‐anal gland secretions and feces. In male lizards Psammodromus algirus, there are age‐related differences in the chemical composition of femoral gland secretions and in the reproductive strategies, with older males defending territories and females, while younger males adopting sneak‐mating strategies. Females flee more often from mating advances of young males than from those of old males, which are more successful in obtaining matings. This suggests that age discrimination of males may be important for females. We tested here whether females showed differential chemosensory responses to chemical cues (femoral gland secretion and feces) of males of two age classes, and whether females use information from substrate scent marks of males of different ages to select where to stay. We found that females elicited more tongue‐flicks to the secretion and feces of old males than to control or secretion and feces of young males. Also, the time spent by females on a scented paper depended on the treatment, suggesting that females tended to spend more time on scent marks made with femoral secretions of old males. Adult females seemed capable to discriminate between young and old males based on chemical cues alone and showed more interest in scents of old males. However, substrate scent marks did not seem to entirely determine site selection by females, suggesting that females might need additional cues to perform the choice. These results can be explained by the different age‐dependent reproductive strategies of males, which can affect differentially to females.

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The paper presents data on the histology and ultrastructure of the liver of two lizard species, Lacerta agilis and Eremias arguta, inhabiting the territory of the former Semipalatinsk Test Site (Eastern Kazakhstan). An LM study has shown the presence of pathological changes expressed in irregular vascular filling of the liver and venous, local discomplexation of hepatocyte, vacuole and adipose dystrophies and an increase of the local micronecroses where the lymphocyte, resident macrophage and Kupffer cell infiltrations have been registered. An EM investigation has revealed the features of glycogenolysis and decreasing of the lipid embeddings, the phenomenon of hydropical dystrophy and intracellular swelling in the certain part of the hepatocytes, significant hemosiderin accumulations in the liver cells appeared because of intensified catabolism of the phagocyted erythrocytes. The high level of metabolism processes was provided by utilization of the lipid embeddings, the high level of nucleoprotein synthesis and intensification of phosphorylating function of the mitochondria. The functional activity of Kupfer’s hyperplastic cells was directed to the synthesis of pigment granules, the mostimportant role among which belongs to melanin as a strong antioxidant protecting the body against free radicals.

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Reptiles are good objects for studying the evolution of sex determination, since they have different sex determination systems in different lineages. Lacertid lizards have been long-known for possessing ZZ/ ZW type sex chromosomes. However, due to morphological uniformity of lacertid chromosomes, the Z chromosome has been only putatively cytologically identified. We used lampbrush chromosome (LBC) analysis and FISH with a W-specific probe in Eremias velox (Pallas, 1771) to unequivocally identify the ZW bivalent and investigate its meiotic behavior. The heterochromatic W chromosome is decondensed at the lampbrush stage, indicating active transcription, contrast with the highly condensed condition of the lampbrush W chromosomes in birds. We identified the Z chromosome by its chiasmatic association with the W chromosome as chromosome XIII of the 19 chromosomes in the LBC karyotype. Our findings agree with previous genetic and genomic studies, which suggested that the lacertid Z chromosome should be one of the smaller macrochromosomes.

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We studied 60 samples of Lacerta agilis from four localities of Romania (20 samples from Borca – Bacau County, 19 samples from Ocloş – Bacau County, 5 samples from Greci – Tulcea County and 16 samples from Bordei Verde – Galati County). We analyzed characteristics of the pholydosys and biometric characteristics. After that, we calculated the ratio of each investigated character and the variation quotient. Besides the existences of a special inter-population variability, we noticed the existence of large intra-population variability. Almost all the investigated characters in the analyzed populations of Lacerta agilis are heterogeneous or little heterogeneous.

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We examined lines of arrested growth (LAG) in femurs from 20 individuals of the sand lizard Psammodromus algirus sampled from the north of Tunisia (North Africa). The number of the LAGs reached a maximum of three. The instant speed of linear growth in the first year was 6.6×10–2 mm/day and 3.76×10–2 mm/day the second year. The diameter of the marrow cavity was significantly larger in female (334.52 μm±115.68 μm) than in male (324.42 μm±114.2 μm). The growth rate observed in P. algirus followed the known growth pattern in lacertid lizards and the difference in the diameter of the marrow cavity between males and females may be related to a sexual dimorphism.

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Isolation owing to anthropogenic habitat fragmentation is expected to increase the homozygosity of individuals, which might reduce their fitness as a result of inbreeding depression. Using samples from a fragmented population of the lizard Psammodromus algirus, for which we had data about two correlates of fitness, we genotyped individuals for six microsatellite loci that correctly capture genome-wide individual homozygosity of these lizards (as validated with an independent sample of lizards genotyped for both these microsatellites and > 70 000 single nucleotide polymorphisms). Our data revealed genetic structure at a very small geographical scale, which was compatible with restricted gene flow among populations disconnected in a matrix of inhospitable habitat. Lizards from the same fragment were genetically more related to one another than expected by chance, and individual homozygosity was greater in small than in large fragments. Within fragments, individual homozygosity was negatively associated with adult body size and clutch mass, revealing a link among reduced gene flow, increased homozygosity and lowered fitness that might reduce population viability deterministically. Our results contribute to mounting evidence of the impact of the loss of genetic diversity on fragmented wild populations.

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It has been proposed that Lacerta viridis magnifica Sobolevssky, 1930 represents an extinct species or subspecies of green lizard endemic to the southern Crimea. Using NGS protocols optimized for heavily degraded DNA, we sequenced the complete mi- togenome of one of the originally formalin-preserved specimens collected in the late 19th century. A comparison with sequence data of other green lizards revealed that L. v. magnifica is a junior synonym of the northern subspecies of the western green lizard (L. b. bilineata Daudin, 1802), which occurs at least 1,500 km away, beyond the distribution ranges of other green lizards. In medieval times, a Genoese colony existed in the Crimean region where the extinct green lizards occurred. Until the early 20th century, close ties to Italy persisted, and locals of Genoese descent sent their children for education to Italy, where L. b. bilineata occurs. This suggests that the extinct Crimean green lizards have been introduced accidentally or intentionally from Italy. Our study exemplifies the value of historical formalin-preserved museum specimens for clarifying the status of questionable rare or extinct taxa.

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Description of Lacerta viridis magnifica.

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Sexual signals serve as an honest indicator of individual quality, reflecting either developmental and/or maintenance costs. A possible underlying physiological mechanism is oxidative stress, which could mediate energy trade-offs between sexual signals and other quality traits. In ectotherms, thermal performance acts as a key indicator of individual quality and influence signal intensity. We investigated how oxidative state is reflected in visual signals of lizards from different thermal habitats. According to our hypothesis, efficient thermoregulation requires different strategies in different thermal environments. In a habitat with predictable temperature changes, animals are less exposed to suboptimal temperature ranges and selection will, therefore, be stronger on the maximum oxidative damage at optimal body temperature. Contrarily, in a habitat with rather stochastic thermal shifts, individuals are often constricted by suboptimal thermal conditions, and oxidative damage can be limiting on a wide temperature range. We used Iberolacerta cyreni and Psammodromus algirus inhabiting stochastic and predictable thermal environments respectively. We examined two aspects of oxidative stress: the level of reactive oxygen metabolites at the preferred temperature (maximal ROM) and the temperature range in which animals produce at least 80% of the maximum level of reactive oxygen metabolites (effective ROM range). In I. cyreni, we found that duller coloration was related to a wider effective ROM range, while expression of coloration in P. algirus was negatively correlated with the maximal ROM. Our results suggest that different thermal constraints affect different aspects of oxidative damage which can indicate individual quality and are, therefore, represented in sexual ornaments.

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In spite of the importance of chemoreception in social organization of lizards, only a few studies have examined chemical composition of secretions of lizards. The secretion of the femoral glands of male lizards Psammodromus algirus contains 59 lipophilic compounds, mainly carboxylic acids between n-C9 and n-C20, and steroids (mainly campesterol, ergosterol and cholesterol), and minor components such as five alcohols, six aldehydes, squalene, α-tocopherol, ketones, and a furanone. These compounds were identified on the basis of mass spectra, obtained by GC–MS. Secretions of adult males of different age were different. Older lizards had secretions with relatively lower proportions of octadecadienoic, oleic and eicosatetraenoic acids, and higher proportions of campesterol, ergosterol, ergostenol, 4,4-dimethy-cholest-7-en-3-ol, and ergosta-5,22-dien-3-ol. These differences might allow conspecifics to get information on the age of the sender based on chemicals alone, which may have an important role in social behavior of this lizard.

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Recent genetic works have suggested that the Iberian wall lizard Podarcis hispanicus (STEINDACHNER, 1870) sensu lato is a species complex. Several forms have already been elevated to species rank and linked to available nomina, but at least three still have to be formally named, including the western Iberian forms currently designated as Podarcis hispanicus“type 1A”, “type 1B” and “type 2”. The aim of the present work is to assign a valid nomen to these taxa. Using multivariate analyses, we first checked that the morphological differences reported in Portugal between type 1 and type 2 are main-tained over their distribution range. We then investigated phenotypic differentiation between type 1A and type 1B, which were found to be so similar that identification based on phenotype is currently not advisable. We propose to treat type 1 and type 2 as distinct species because of their level of genetic and phenotypic divergence, large area of distribution and ample evidence for reduced or absent introgression in contact zones. We maintain type 1A and 1B as subspecies for the time being, pending further analyses of their contact zone. The valid nomen for “Podarcis hispanica type 1 (sensu lato)” is Lacerta muralis guadarramae BOSCÁ, 1916 which becomes Podarcis guadarramae (BOSCÁ, 1916). Lineage type 1A is here described as a new taxon: P. guadarramae lusitanicus ssp. nov., inhabiting northern Portugal and northwestern Spain. The type 1B lineage corresponds to the nominotypical subspecies that inhabits Spain, mostly the Central Iberian Mountains. We were unable to locate an available nomen for “Podarcis hispanica type 2”, which is here described as Podarcis virescens sp. nov. This species is widely distributed in the plains and plateaus of central and parts of south-western Spain as well as central and southern Portugal.

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Distribution and status of the Ocellated lizard Timon lepidus (Daudin, 1802) (Squamata, Sauria, Lacertidae) in western “Occitanie” (ancient “Midi-Pyrénées” region in the Southwest of France). The current knowledge of the Ocellated lizard Timon lepidus’s distribution and status in the former “Midi-Pyrénées” region is exposed. This lizard is at present known of six French departments (“Tarn-et-Garonne”, “Lot”, “Aveyron”, “Tarn”, “Ariège” and “Haute-Garonne”) where it is very unevenly distributed, the “Lot” and the “Aveyron” being the most widely occupied. The low detectability of the species is discussed too.

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Both environmental temperatures and spatial heterogeneity can profoundly affect the biology of ectotherms. In lizards, thermoregulation may show high plasticity and may respond to environmental shifts. In the context of global climate change, lizards showing plastic thermoregulatory responses may be favored. In this study, we designed an experiment to evaluate the extent to which lizard thermoregulation responds to introduction to a new environment in a snapshot of time. In 2014, we captured individuals of the Aegean Wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii) from Naxos Island (429.8 km2) and released them onto two small, lizard-free islets, Galiatsos (0.0073 km2) and Kampana (0.004 km2) (Aegean Sea, Greece). In 2017, we returned to the islets and estimated the effectiveness (E), accuracy and precision of thermoregulation measuring operative, preferred (Tpref) and body temperatures. We hypothesized that the three habitats would differ in thermal quality and investigated the extent to which lizards from Naxos demonstrate plasticity when introduced to the novel, islet habitats. Thermal parameters did not differ between Galiatsos and Naxos and this was reflected in the similar E and Tpref. However, lizards from Kampana deviated in all focal traits from Naxos, resulting in higher E and a preference for higher Tpref. In sum, Naxos lizards shifted their thermoregulatory profile due to the idiosyncratic features of their new islet habitat. Our results advocate a high plasticity in lizard thermoregulation and suggest that there is room for effective responses to environmental changes, at least for Podarcis lizards in insular habitats.

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Lizards, commonly found in the Umuttepe Campus of Kocaeli University, were caught and tissue samples were taken from their tail region for species identification through molecular analysis. After that, DNA isolation, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) by using universal primers for the mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA, and DNA sequence analysis were performed. Electropherograms were evaluated and the results obtained were compared with the species recorded in the NCBI databases. In this study using molecular phylogenetic analysis for species identification, the lizards distributed in the Umuttepe Campus of Kocaeli University were determined to belong to Podarcis siculus (Istanbul lizard).

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Many animals use their excrements to communicate with others. In order to increase signal efficacy, animals often behaviourally select for specific defecation sites that maximize the detectability of their faecal deposits, such as the tip of rocks by some lizard species. However, the field conditions in which these observations are made make it difficult to reject alternative explanations of defecation site preference; rock tips may also provide better opportunities for thermoregulation, foraging, or escaping predators, and not solely for increasing the detectability of excrements. In addition, we still know little on whether lizard defecation behaviour varies within-species. In this laboratory study, we take an experimental approach to test defecation site preference of Podarcis melisellensis lizards in a standardized setting, and assess whether preferences differ between sexes, and among populations. Our findings show that in an environment where all stones provide equal thermoregulatory advantage, prey availability, and predator pressure, lizards still select for the largest stone in their territory as preferred defecation site. Moreover, we demonstrate that lizards’ defecation preference is a strong conservative behaviour, showing no significant intraspecific variation. Together, these findings corroborate the idea that lizards may defecate on prominent rocky substrates in order to increase (visual) detectability of the deposited faecal pellets.

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Skrjabinelazia Sypliaxov, 1930 comprises 10 species distinguished by several characters typical of the genus including, among the most important, the presence/absence of spicules, cuticle ornamentation and vesicles, head-shape, the presence/absence of a leaflet crown in the buccal cavity, female tail-shape and male cone-shape. The three samples studied are new species: S. boomkeri n. sp., a parasite of Pachydactylus turneri, Gekkonidae, from South Africa (Klaserie Reserve); S. vozae n. sp., a parasite of Lacerta vivipara, Lacertidae, from France (Cévennes), which is close to two lacertid parasites, S. taurica Sypliaxov, 1930 and L. hoffmanni Li, 1934, respectively from the Crimea and North China (Peking); and S. mawsangelae n. sp. (male unknown), a parasite of Christinus marmoratus, Gekkonidae, from Australia (Pearson Island), which is, surprisingly, distinct from Skrjabinelazia sp. of Angel & Mawson (1968) from the same host in another region (North of Adelaide) of South Australia. Two main groups are distinguished in Skrjabinelazia: the species with spicules which are parasitic in the Lacertidae, and the species with a gubernaculum only which are parasitic in the Gekkonidae. The unique species described from the Iguanidae, S. intermedia (Freitas, 1940) from Brazil (Para), also without spicules, seems to be derived from gekkonid parasites, as it also has an evolved oesophagus with a glandular region, unlike the simple oesophagus seen in the larval stages of Skrjabinelazia.

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Animals modulate intraspecific signal shape and intensity, notably during reproductive periods. Signal variability typically follows a seasonal scheme, traceable through the expression of visual, acoustic, chemical and behavioral patterns. The chemical channel is particularly important in lizards, as demonstrated by well-developed epidermal glands in the cloacal region that secrete lipids and proteins recognized by conspecifics. In males, the seasonal pattern of gland activity is underpinned by variation of circulating androgens. Changes in the composition of lipid secretions convey information about the signaler’s quality (e.g., size, immunity). Presumably, individual identity is associated with a protein signature present in the femoral secretions, but this has been poorly investigated. For the first time, we assessed the seasonal variability of the protein signal in relation to plasma testosterone level (T), glandular activity and the concentration of provitamin D3 in the lipid fraction. We sampled 174 male common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis) over the entire activity season. An elevation of T was observed one to two months before the secretion peak of lipids during the mating season; such expected delay between hormonal fluctuation and maximal physiological response fits well with the assumption that provitamin D3 indicates individual quality. One-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of proteins showed that gel bands were preserved over the season with an invariant region; a result in agreement with the hypothesis that proteins are stable identity signals. However, the relative intensity of bands varied markedly, synchronously with that of lipid secretion pattern. These variations of protein secretion suggest additional roles of proteins, an issue that requires further studies.

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The study of animal communities is mainly concerned with how the groupings of species are distributed in nature and the ways in which the members of these communities assemble and interact with each other. Pianka suggested that animals partition environmental resources in three basic ways: temporally, spatially, and trophically. Such differences in activities separate the niches, reduce competition, and presumably allow the coexistence of a variety of species in the communities. The present work compares the spatial, trophic and temporal niches of four reptile species, two geckos (Tarentola mauritanica and Hemidactylus turcicus) and two lizards (Podarcis muralis and Podarcis siculus) living in a same roman-age archeological park situated area inside Rome metropolitan area (central Italy), and sharing the same two-dimensional habitat (the roman aqueduct walls). The results showed an overall overlap among species higher than expected by chance for all considered ecological dimensions except for the spatial resource related to the vertical position on the wall. Surprisingly, despite living in a two-dimension habitat would expect an increase of interspecific interaction rate, no partition was observed between species with the most convergent ecological requirements. Although our hypotheses about lizard communities structuring and interactions in the urban habitat require further investigation, we think that our lizard community is based more on the ecological needs of each species rather than on species’ interactions. The observed spatial segregation between diurnal geckos and lizards would not support alone the interaction hypothesis. We speculated that the coexistence of ecologically overlapping species at the study area is allowed by a non-limiting availability of resources (above all food) that would result in the reduction of heterospecific competitive interactions and an overall wide overlap of resource use.

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To investigate the reservoir role of the lizard Psammodromus algirus for the Lyme disease spirochete, 199 lizards were trapped from April to October 2003 in El Jouza, northwestern Tunisia. In this site, the infection rate of free-living Ixodes ricinus (L.) by Borrelia was evaluated by immunofluorescence as 34.6% for adult ticks and 12.5% for nymphs. Eighty percent of P. algirus (117/146) captured during this study were infested by I. ricinus, the predominant tick species collected from lizards. The intensity of tick infestation of this host by larvae and nymphs ranged from 0.14 to 7.07 and from 1.5 to 6.58, respectively. These immature stages of I. ricinus were found on lizards in spring and the beginning of summer, with a peak of intensity during June (10.16 immature ticks by lizard). Tissue cultures from lizards and xenodiagnosis with larval I. ricinus were used to assess the infection and the ability, respectively, of infected lizards to transmit Borrelia to naive ticks. Seventeen percent of xenodiagnostic ticks (40/229) acquired B. lusitaniae while feeding on P. algirus. Therefore, we demonstrated the ability of the lizards to sustain Borrelia infection and to infect attached ticks, and we proved that P. algirus is a reservoir host competent to transmit B. lusitaniae.

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Remarks on some reptiles from Apulia (SE Italy), especially on Coluber viridi­flavus, and description of two new microinsular subspecies: Coluber viridiflavus antoniimanueli from S. Andrea Island, near Gallipoli, and Podarcis sicula aemiliani from the Apani Rocks, near Brindisi.

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Preliminary description of a new microinsular Italian wall lizard from Dino Island (Thyrrhenian Sea; Calabria): Podarcis sicula amparoae n. subsp.

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Auctor scrutatur- 1273 lacertas e paeninsula et insulis Italiciis (praetermissis insulis Etruscis, de quarum lacertis iam antea disseruerat), in quibus undecim subspecies ante ignotas invenit; de nonnullarum distributione disputat; et singulas species et subspecies accurate describit, rationem quamdam dicotomicam etiam tradens, qua facilius recognosci possint.

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Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) among species from the Lacertidae family is expressed mainly in body and head size, with males being larger than females, having larger heads but shorter trunks in relation to body size. Most lacertid species display male-biased SSD, but in few species, such as Lacerta agilis, females display larger size. The sand lizard Lacerta agilis is one of the most widespread lizard species in Eurasia and inhabits an area from central Greece and south Armenia to south Sweden in the North, and from Great Britain to the lake Baikal in the East. At least nine subspecies are currently recognized and two of them occur in Bulgaria. In the present study we analysed SSD in the poorly known subspecies Lacerta agilis bosnica, which inhabits the mountain areas on the Balkan Peninsula. We examined 9 somatometric traits, which were transformed into 10 indices, describing body proportions. All of the measurements were taken in live animals captured in mountains in Western Bulgaria (the mountains of Vitosha, Osogovo, Stara Planina, and Plana). We established statistically significant differences between the sexes in 9 of the indices. The differences could be described as follows: males have longer tails, longer legs (fore and hind legs), and larger heads (both in length and width). The similarities and differences in regards to SSD in other taxa from the genus Lacerta (for which similar research was done in Bulgaria) are further discussed.