Species:

graeca  (BEDRIAGA, 1886)

Synonyms:

Lacerta graeca  BEDRIAGA, 1886

Hellenolacerta graeca  ARNOLD et al, 2007

Common names:

Greek Rock Lizard (English)
Griechische Spitzkopfeidechse (German)
Taygetos-Eidechse (German)

Types:

Type: BMNH 1940.9.3.46

Terra Typica:

Taygetos mountains near Kalamata

Relevant taxonomic literature:

• Bedriaga, J. von (1886) -  Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Lacertiden-Familie. (Lacerta, Algiroides, Tropidosaura, Zerzumia und Bettaia). -  Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft, 14: 17-443.    

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• Zontos, P. & Sagonas, K. & Lymberakis, P. & Poulakakis, N. (2016) -  Moleculatr phylogeny and phylogeography of Hellenolacerta graeca in South Continental Greece: Insights from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data. -  Abstracts of the 9th Symposium on the Lacertids of the Mediterranean Basin & 1st Symposium on Mediterranean Lizards, 20-23 June 2016 at Limassol. Nicosia, Cyprus: 64.    

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  The lizard family of Lacertidae is one of the most diverse and widespread families throughout Eurasia and Africa. The Greek rock lizard, Hellenolacerta graeca (Bedriaga, 1886) is the only species that belongs to the genus Hellenolacerta. The species is endemic to Peloponnisos (southern continental Greece). Due to its particular morphology, H. graeca was recently distinguished by taxonomists from the other species of the genus Lacerta. To date, there has been no systematic molecular research on this species. In this study, we examined the intraspecific phylogenetic relationships of H. graeca populations from Peloponnisos, using two mitochondrial (cytochrome b and 16S rRNA) and one nuclear (NKTR) gene fragments. We attempted to clarify the taxonomic status of this species and identify its geographical patterns, which might help in reconstructing the evolutionary history of H. graeca in southern Greece.