| Lacerta algira LINNAEUS, 1758 Tropidosaura algira DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1839 Psammodromus algirus doriae BEDRIAGA, 1886 Psammodromus algirus BOULENGER, 1887 Troidosaurus algira var. nolli FISCHER, 1887 Psammodromus algirus ketamensis GALAN, 1931 Psammodromus jeanneae BUSACK, SALVADOR & LAWSON, 2006 Psammodromus manuelae BUSACK, SALVADOR & LAWSON, 2006 |
Linnaeus, C. (1758) - Description of Lacerta agilis and Lacerta algira (= Psammodromus algirus). - In: Systema naturae pr regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, 10th Edition. pp. 203.  Busack, S.D. & Lawson, R. (2006) - Historical biogeography, mitochondrial DNA, and allozymes of Psammodromus algirus (Lacertidae): a preliminary hypothesis. - Amphibia-Reptilia, 27 (2): 181-193.  × Pairwise sequence polymorphism in mitochondrial DNA and levels of differentiation among presumptive gene loci (expressed as Nei`s D^) tend to be greater between populations separated by the Strait of Gibraltar than between populations inhabiting either Morocco or Spain. Ancestral Psammodromus algirus inhabiting Iberia and North Africa while the Strait of Gibraltar was being formed and stabilized (Miocene-Pliocene) evolved in association with physiogeographic change brought about by this barrier to gene exchange. Considered in units of genetic change per kilometer, mtDNA differentiation is greater in Morocco than in Spain, and allozyme differentiation is slightly greater than, or equal to, that in Spain, suggesting that P. algirus has a longer and more complex history in Morocco than in Spain. Busack, S.D. & Salvador, A. & Lawson, R. (2006) - Two new species in the genus Psammodromus (Reptilia: Lacertidae) from the Iberian Peninsula. - Annals of Carnegie Museum, 75 (1): 1-10. × The lacertid lizard Psammodromus algirus has been considered a uniform species across its distribution area in North Africa and southwestern Europe. Coloration data and discriminant function analysis of morphological data corroborate mitochondrial DNA and allozyme data to indicate northern and southern Iberian populations represent unknown species that are described here. Additional work is needed to fully understand bio-geography and variation in this species complex. Carranza, S. & Harris, D.J. & Arnold, E.N. & Bastia, V. & Gonzales de la Vega, J.P. (2006) - Phylogeography of the lacertid lizard, Psammodromus algirus, in Iberia and across the Strait of Gibraltar. - Journal of Biogeography, 33 (7): 1279-1288. × Aim To determine genetic substructuring within the lacertid lizard Psammodromus algirus. To compare levels of variation across a geological barrier, the Strait of Gibraltar, and to compare this against the known age of the barrier using a molecular clock hypothesis. To compare the effect of the barrier within this species with previously published data from other organisms.
Location The Iberian Peninsula and North Africa.
Methods Partial sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome b, 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes were obtained from 101 specimens belonging to the subfamily Gallotiinae and used in this study. The data set was aligned using ClustalX and phylogenetic trees produced using both maximum-parsimony and maximum-likelihood methods. Maximum likelihood estimates of divergence times for the combined data set (12S + 16S + cytochrome b) were obtained after discovery of lineage rate constancy across the tree using a likelihood ratio test.
Results Psammodromus algirus contains divergent eastern and western mtDNA clades within the Iberian Peninsula. The western clade has northern and southern lineages in Iberia and one in North Africa. This phylogeographical pattern indicates that the lizard invaded North Africa after the opening of the Strait, presumably by natural rafting.
Main conclusions As in several other species, current patterns of genetic diversity within P. algirus are not directly related to the opening of the Strait of Gibraltar. Widespread sampling on both sides of the barrier is necessary to determine its effect on species in this area accurately. Mendes, J. & Harris, D.J. & Carranza, S. & Salvi, D. (2017) - Biogeographical crossroad across the Pillars of Hercules: Evolutionary history of Psammodromus lizards in space and time. - Journal of Biogeography, 44 (12): 2877-2890. × Aim
To infer the biogeographical and evolutionary history of the Western Mediterranean Psammodromus lizards with the aim of assessing the role of vicariance and dispersal on the cladogenetic events within the palaeogeological dynamics of the Strait of Gibraltar.
Location
North Africa and Western Europe.
Methods
We built a dataset including all six species of Psammodromus using mitochondrial (12S, cytb, nd4) and nuclear (acm4, mc1r, pomc) gene fragments. Species tree and concatenation methods were used to infer phylogenetic relationships and divergence times. Phylogenies were used for biogeographical inference using S-DIVA, DEC and BBM.
Results
Psammodromus probably originated in Iberia, with P. algirus diverging early. The ancestor of the African P. blanci and P. microdactylus dispersed to Africa through the Betic-Rif massif, c. 10 Ma. The cladogenetic events within Africa and Iberia were probably due to vicariance mediated by habitat and climatic changes at the end of the Miocene (P. blanci and P. microdactylus) and during the Pliocene (P. occidentalis, P. hispanicus and P. edwardsianus). Psammodromus algirus shows three lineages, two in Iberia and one in Africa, the latter originated following a transmarine dispersal during the Middle Pleistocene (1.5 Ma).
Main conclusions
Over-sea dispersal has played a major role in intercontinental exchange and divergence in Psammodromus, with two dispersal events towards Africa that occurred 10 and 1.5 Ma resulting in the African lineages. This study, combined with previous literature, provides compelling evidence that major biotic exchanges took place across the Strait of Gibraltar well before or long after the land connection during the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC, 5.9–5.33 Ma). These findings suggest caution in the application of the relatively short event of Atlantic flooding at the end of the MSC as cause for divergence in molecular clock calibrations, which is a popular approach in literature.
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