Bedriaga, J. von (1878) - Herpetologische Studien. - Archiv für Naturgeschichte, Berlin, 44 (1): 259-320. Bosch, P. (1990) - Een morfologische bijzonderheid bij de Spaanse smaragdhagedis (Lacerta schreiberi). - Lacerta, 48 (3): 80-81. × Comparing the head scales of female and male L. schreiberi the following difference was obser- ved. Females have touching prefrontal scales (photo 1), males have one or two scales between ~he prefrontals (photo 2 and 3). Godinho, R. & Paulo, O. & Ferrand, N. & Luis, C. & Rosa, H.D. & Crespo, E.G. (2003) - Major patterns of population differentiation in the Iberian Schreiber`s green lizard (Lacerta schreiberi) inferred from protein polymorphism. - The Herpetological Journal, 13 (1): 35-42. × The genetic characteristics ofthe Iberian Schreiber`s green lizard (Lacerta schreiberi) remain largely unknown. We investigated the population structure of this species using conventional electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing to screen 24 protein loci from 11 representative populations of the Iberian Peninsula. Thirteen polymorphic loci displaying a total of 30 alleles revealed significant partitioning of genetic variation among populations (FST=0.448). Analysis of standard genetic variability measures and allelic distribution profiles indicated that the most variable populations are located in the main distribution area of the species: the north-western corner of the Iberian Peninsula and the Spanish Central System. In contrast, southern isolated populations showed depleted levels of genetic diversity, indicating that severe restrictions to gene flow together with small population sizes are promoting genetic uniformity. We suggest that present-day patterns of genetic diversity in L. schreiberi populations are concordant with the biogeographical hypothesis of a recent expansion to the south followed by a history of contraction and fragmentation resulting in today`s isolated southern populations. Godinho, R. & Crespo, E.G. & Ferrand, N. & Harris, D.J. (2005) - Phylogeny and evolution of the green lizards, Lacerta spp. (Squamata: Lacertidae) based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences - Amphibia-Reptilia, 26 (3): 271-285. × Partial DNA sequences from three mitochondrial (cytochrome b, 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA) and two nuclear (-fibrinogen intron 7 and C-mos) genes were used to estimate the phylogenetic relationships among all eight extant species of green lizards, Lacerta sensu stricto, and many currently recognized subspecies. All eight species form a monophyletic group. L. agilis, L. schreiberi and L. strigata are genetically well differentiated species. L. trilineata and L. pamphylica are not monophyletic units based on analyses of the -fibrinogen intron 7. Lacerta media is closely related to some Lacerta trilineata. L. bilineata and L. viridis are closely related, and recognition of L. bilineata as a distinct species makes L. viridis paraphyletic also. For both L. bilineata and L. viridis, some subspecies appear to remain in their southern glacial refugia, while a single genetic entity shows successfully postglacial expansion. The topology derived from C-mos variation is concordant with that derived from mtDNA, with substitutions occurring at a similar rate to that of transversions in the rRNA genes. Although C-mos is typically used at deeper taxonomic levels it is also phylogenetically informative within green lizards. -fibrinogen intron 7, typically used for assessing phylogenetic relationships among bird species, is a useful phylogenetic marker for reptiles also, showing considerable variation between species. There is not complete concordance between estimates of relationships derived from the mtDNA and nuclear markers, probably because rapid diversification led to incomplete lineage sorting in the green lizards. Introgression could also be occuring between some species.
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