| Holotype: ZFMK 94109, adult male, 30 May 2010, F. Ahmadzadeh. Paratypes. 2 males, 6 females: same data as holotype (ZFMK 94105–94108, 94110–94112, 94161); 1 female: Iran, Mazandaran Province, Amol, Beliroon, 20 September 2012, O. Mozaffari (ZFMK 94113); 7 males, 3 females: Iran, Mazandaran Province, Joybar, 30 May 2010, F. Ahmadzadeh (ZFMK 94114–94116, 94165–94171); 1 male: Iran, Mazandaran Province, Kiasar, Langar, 20 September 2012, O. Mozaffari (ZFMK 94117); 4 males, 4 females: Iran, Mazandaran Province, Savasraeh, 30 May 2010, F. Ahmadzadeh (ZFMK 94153–94160); 5 males, 2 females: Iran, Mazandaran Province, Noshahr, Khyrod, 29 May 2010, F. Ahmadzadeh (ZFMK 94162–94164, 94214–94217). |
| Iran, Mazandaran Province, Amol, Beliroon, (36° 23’ 38’’ N, 52° 25’ 1.48’’ E, 130 m elevation. |
Ahmadzadeh, F. & Flecks, M. & Carretero, M.A. & Mozaffari, O. & Böhme, W. & Harris, D.J. & Freitas, S. & Rödder, D. (2013) - Cryptic speciation patterns in Iranian Rock Lizards uncovered by integrative taxonomy. - PLoS ONE 8 (12): e80563.   × While traditionally species recognition has been based solely on morphological differences either typological or quantitative, several newly developed methods can be used for a more objective and integrative approach on species delimitation. This may be especially relevant when dealing with cryptic species or species complexes, where high overallresemblance between species is coupled with comparatively high morphological variation within populations. Rock lizards, genus Darevskia, are such an example, as many of its members offer few diagnostic morphological features. Herein, we use a combination of genetic, morphological and ecological criteria to delimit cryptic species within two species complexes, D. chlorogaster and D. defilippii, both distributed in northern Iran. Our analyses are based on molecular information from two nuclear and two mitochondrial genes, morphological data (15 morphometric, 16 meristic and four categorical characters) and eleven newly calculated spatial environmental predictors. The phylogeny inferred for Darevskia confirmed monophyly of each species complex, with each of them comprising several highly divergent clades, especially when compared to other congeners. We identified seven candidate species within each complex, of which three and four species were supported by Bayesian species delimitation within D. chlorogaster and D. defilippii, respectively. Trained with genetically determined clades, Ecological Niche Modeling provided additional support for these cryptic species. Especially those within the D. defilippii-complex exhibit well-differentiated niches. Due to overall morphological resemblance, in a first approach PCA with mixed variables only showed the separation between the two complexes. However, MANCOVA and subsequent Discriminant Analysis performed separately for both complexes allowed for distinction of the species when sample size was large enough, namely within the D. chlorogaster-complex. In conclusion, the results support four new species, which are described herein.
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