Bibron, M. & Bory de Saint-Vincent, J.B. (1833) - Description of Podarcis peloponnesiacus and Algyroides moreoticus. - In: Vertébrés a sang froid. Reptiles et poissons. Reptiles. Geoffroy & Geoffroy, Expédition Scientifique de Morée, Tome III. 1re partie, Zoologie: pp. 57-76.  Mayer, W. (1986) - Proteinelektrophoretische Untersuchungen zur subspezifischen Gliederung von Lacerta (Podarcis) peloponnesiaca. - Bonner zoologische Beiträge, Bonn, 37: 123-129.  Poulakakis, N. & Lymberakis, P. & Valakos, E. & Zouros, E. & Mylonas, M. (2005) - Phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of Podarcis species from the Balkan Peninsula, by bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences. - Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 37 (3): 845-857.  × Wall lizards of the genus Podarcis (Sauria, Lacertidae) comprise 17 currently recognized species in southern Europe, where they
are the predominant nonavian reptile group. The taxonomy of Podarcis is complex and unstable. Based on DNA sequence data, the
species of Podarcis falls into four main groups that have substantial geographic coherence (Western island group, southwestern
group, Italian group, and Balkan Peninsula group). The Balkan Peninsula species are divided into two subgroups: the subgroup of
P.taurica (P. taurica, P. milensis, P. gaigeae, and perhaps P. melisellensis), and the subgroup of P. erhardii (P. erhardii and P. pelo-
ponnesiaca). In the present study, the question of phylogenetic relationships among the species of Podarcis encountered in the Balkan
Peninsula was addressed using partial mtDNA sequences for cytochrome b (cyt b) and 16S rRNA (16S). The data support the mono-
phyly of Podarcis and suggest that there are three phylogenetic clades: the clade A (P. taurica, P. gaigeae, P. milensis, and P. melisell-
ensis); the clade B (P. erhardii and P. peloponnesiaca), and the clade C (P. muralis and P. sicula). By examining intraspeciWc
relationships it was found that extant populations of P. erhardii are paraphyletic. Furthermore, subspecies previously deWned on the
basis of morphological characteristics do not correspond to diVerent molecular phylogenetic clades, suggesting that their status
should be reconsidered. The distinct geographic distribution of the major clades of the phylogenetic tree and its topology suggest a
spatial and temporal sequence of phylogenetic separations that coincide with some major paleogeographic separations during the
geological history of the Aegean Sea. The results stress the need for a reconsideration of the evolutionary history of Balkan Podarcis
species and help overcome diYculties that classical taxonomy has encountered at both the species and subspecies level. Böhme, W. & Köhler, J. (2005) - Do Endings of Adjective Flectible Species Names Affect Stability? A Final Note on the Gender of Podarcis Wagler, 1830 (Reptilia, Lacertidae). - Bonner zoologische Beiträge, Bonn, 53: 291-293. × We here reply to the arguments put forward by ARNOLD (2000) and LANZA & BOSCHERIN (2000) concerning the gender of the genus Podarcis. ARNOLD`S argument that a change of endings ot adjective flectible species names threatens stability is rejected by clearly following the articles of the current edition of the Code (ICZN 1999). We finally conclude that the gender of Podarcis must be masculine for the following reasons: (1) WAGLER (1830) did not determine the gender by combination with any species name nor by statement, (2) the name Podarcis is of common variable gender, (3) the Principle of First Reviser does not apply to determination of gender of names, (4) the Code clearly states that a name of common variable gender is to be treated as masculine. Spilani, L. & Bougiouri, K. & Antoniou, A. Psonis, N. & Poursanidis, D. & Lymberakis, P. & Poulakakis, N. (2019) - Multigene phylogeny, phylogeography and population structure of Podarcis cretensis species group in south Balkans. - Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 138: 193-204. × The evolutionary history of taxa with limited overseas dispersal abilities is considered to be majorly infl;uenced by vicariant events constituting them as model organisms for the interpretation of evolutionary processes. An excellent candidate are the wall lizards of the genus Podarcis exhibiting an impressive level of genetic and morphological diversification and harboring several cases of recently discovered cryptic diversity. In this study, we investigated the effect of palaeogeographic events on the wall lizards’ biodiversity patterns in the Aegean (Greece) as well as the evolutionary processes that acted both in space and time. To accomplish that we studied a group of three endemic Podarcis species (i.e., P. cretensis, P. levendis, and P. peloponnesiacus) both at the intra and interspecific levels employing mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data as well as microsatellites. Furthermore, presence information coupled with bioclimatic data (i.e., species distribution modeling, and niche similarity analyses) shed light on the necessary ecological factors for the species’ occurrence. These approaches revealed yet another case of cryptic diversity for this group of lizards, with the existence of two slightly overlapping lineages within P. peloponnesiacus and highly structured populations within P. cretensis. Species diversification occurred during the Pliocene with P. peloponnesiacus divergence into the two lineages dating back to 1.86 Mya. Furthermore, temperature and precipitation related environmental parameters were the most important ones regarding the current distribution of the studied species. Based on the results, we propose a more detailed phylogeographic scenario where both the paleogeography of the area and several environmental parameters have shaped the genetic diversity and the current distribution pattern of this species group.
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