| Podarcis siculus siculus (RAFINESQUE-SCHMALTZ, 1810) Podarcis siculus aemiliani CAPOLONGO, 1984 Podarcis siculus amparoae CAPOLONGO, 1979 Podarcis siculus calabresiae (TADDEI, 1949) Podarcis siculus campestris (DE BETTA, 1857) Podarcis siculus caporiaccoi (TADDEI, 1949) Podarcis siculus ciclopicus (TADDEI, 1949) Podarcis siculus coeruleus (EIMER, 1872) Podarcis siculus gallensis (EIMER, 1881) Podarcis siculus klemmeri (LANZA & CAPOLONGO 1972) Podarcis siculus massinei (MERTENS, 1961) Podarcis siculus monaconensis (EIMER, 1881) Podarcis siculus paulae (LANZA & ADRIANI & ROMITI, 1971) Podarcis siculus salfii (LANZA, 1954) Podarcis siculus sanctinicolai (TADDEI, 1949) Podarcis siculus tyrrhenicus (MERTENS, 1932) |
Rafinesque-Schmaltz, C.S. (1810) - Description of Lacerta bilineata chloronota and Podarcis siculus siculus. - In: Caratteri di alcuni nuovi generi e nuove specie di animali e plante della Sicilia. Sanfilippo, Palermo, 105 pp.  Podnar, M. & Mayer, W. & Tvrtkovic, N. (2005) - Phylogeography of the Italian wall lizard, Podarcis sicula, as revealed by mitochondrial DNA sequences. - Molecular Ecology, 14: 575-588.  × In a phylogeographical survey of the Italian wall lizard,
Podarcis sicula
, DNA sequence
variation along an 887-bp segment of the cytochrome
b
gene was examined in 96 specimens
from 86 localities covering the distribution range of the species. In addition, parts of the
12S
rRNA
and
16S rRNA
genes from 12 selected specimens as representatives of more divergent
cytochrome
b
haploclades were sequenced (together about 950 bp). Six phylogeographical
main groups were found, three representing samples of the nominate subspecies
Podarcis sicula
sicula
and closely related subspecies and the other three comprising
Podarcis sicula
campestris
as well as all subspecies described from northern and eastern Adriatic islands.
In southern Italy a population group with morphological characters of
P. s. sicula
but with
the mitochondrial DNA features of
P. s. campestris
was detected indicating a probably
recent hybridization zone. The present distribution patterns were interpreted as the consequence
of natural events like retreats to glacial refuges and postglacial area expansions, but
also as the results of multiple introductions by man. Senczuk, G. Ripa, C. & Colangelo, P. & Castiglia, R. (2026) - Genetic Population Structure of the Italian Wall Lizards Podarcis siculus (Squamata: Lacertidae): Insight From Nuclear DNA Markers. - Ecology and Evolution, 16 (1): e72655. doi: 10.1002/ece3.72655. × Since the Quaternary, recurrent climatic oscillations have profoundly shaped species distributions across the Mediterranean basin, generating complex phylogeographic patterns through repeated cycles of range contraction and expansion. The Italian Peninsula, characterized by a highly heterogeneous topography and a mosaic of glacial refugia, has emerged as a hotspot of intraspecific genetic diversity. The Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus), a widespread species across the Italian Peninsula and adjacent islands, represents an excellent model for exploring these dynamics. Previous phylogeographic studies based on mitochondrial (mtDNA) and nuclear (nuDNA) markers have revealed a highly structured matrilineal organization, with several parapatric lineages and subclades, but have also highlighted weak differentiation in nuDNA, suggesting possible mito‐nuclear discordance. In this study, we used multilocus nuclear microsatellite data to (i) evaluate whether the complex mtDNA phylogeographic structure is reflected in nuclear markers, or whether evidence of mito‐nuclear discordance is present, and (ii) quantify admixture and gene flow among mitochondrial lineages. Our results reveal partial congruence between mtDNA and nuclear patterns, with evidence of both historical isolation and secondary contact among major clades. However, several populations exhibit substantial mito‐nuclear mismatches, suggesting a history of asymmetric introgression and differential lineage sorting. These findings indicate that P. siculus experienced multiple phases of demographic expansion and secondary contact, consistent with Pleistocene‐driven range dynamics, and that mito‐nuclear discordance has played a significant role in shaping its current genetic landscape. This study underscores the importance of integrating multilocus nuclear data with mitochondrial evidence to disentangle the evolutionary processes driving complex phylogeographic patterns in Mediterranean taxa.
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