Subalpine meadows in the Great Caucasus Range of Georgia and Russia. 

Species:

Darevskia alpina  (DAREVSKY, 1967)

Synonyms:

Lacerta caucasica  MEHELY, 1909

Lacerta saxicola caucasica  NIKOLSKY, 1915

Lacerta caucasica alpina  DAREVSKY, 1967

Lacerta (Zootoca) caucasica alpina  BISCHOFF, 1978

Darevskia alpina  ARRIBAS, 1997

Common names:

Alpine lizard (English)
Альпийская ящерица (Russian)

Types:

Holotype: ZISP = ZIN 17942, male 15.08.1965. Coll.: I.S. Darevsky.

Terra Typica:

Vicinity of Terskol Village, kabardino-Balkaria, 2200 m above sea level” [vicinity of Terskol Village, Elbrussky District, kabardino-Balkaria, Russia, 43°15 ́N 42°30 ́E].


Taxonomic notes:

Etymology: Named after the Latin adjuective “alpinus” for “high elevation”, “highland” in reference to the species high altitude distribution.


Relevant taxonomic literature:

  • Darevsky, I.S. (1967) -  Description Darevskia alpina. -  In: “Rock lizards of the Caucasus: Systematics, ecology and phylogenesis of the polymorphic groups of Caucasian rock lizards of the the subgenus Archaeolacerta”: Indian Natural Sciences Documentation Center, New Delhi. 276 pp.   

  • Bischoff, W. (2003) -  Die Eidechsenfauna Georgiens. Teil II. Die Gattung Darevskia. -  Die Eidechse, Bonn, 14 (3): 65-93.    

  • Ciobanu, D.G. & Grechko, V.V. & Darevsky, I.S. (2003) -  Molecular Evolution of Satellite DNA CLsat in Lizards from the Genus Darevskia (Sauria: Lacertidae): Correlation with Species Diversity. -  Russian Journal of Genetics, Moscow, 39 (11): 1292-1305.    

    Чобану Д.Г., Гречко В.В., Даревский И.С. (2003) -  Молекулярная эволюция сателлитной ДНК CLSAT ящериц рода Darevskia (Sauria: Laeertidae): корреляция с видовым разнообразием. -  Генетика, 39 (11): 1527-1541.