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The Italian lizard (Podarcis sicula) is the most diffused reptile in Italy, but it is also present in other European countries. This lizard belongs to the Lacertidae family, lives near walls, slants and along the borders of the paths; its diet includes bugs and aracnids. No data are so far available in literature about the three-dimensional morphology of the tongue of Podarcis sicula, therefore the aim of the present paper was to study by scanning electron and light microscopy the three-dimensional characteristics of the dorsal lingual surface and moreover the presence of chemosensory receptors like the taste buds in the oral cavity. Our results demonstrate that the Podarcis sicula tongue is a triangular muscular membranous organ, dorsoventrally flattened and that three different areas can be observed: a bifid apex, a body and a root. No papillae were observed in the apex, characterized by a flattened mucosa and by two deep median pouches. In the body cylindrical papillae with a flat surface are present, aborally gradually substituted by imbricated papillae. Foliate-like papillae were observed in the lateral parts of the tongue body. No sensory structures were showed on the lingual dorsal surface, while they were numerous in the oral cavity, particularly on the gingival epithelium. The light microscopy shows, on the dorsal surface, a stratified pavimentous not keratinized epithelium, conversely keratinized along the ventral surface. Many caliciform cells on the lateral parts of the papillae, deputed to the secretion of mucus, were also observed. Therefore, the results obtained in this paper could give a contribution to the knowledge of the tongue anatomy in a species widely diffused in different European countries and could be of help for clinical purposes in reptiles.

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The cranial musculature of species of ten families of lizards (Gekkonidae, Teiidae, Gymnophthalmidae, Anguidae, Scincidae, Lacertidae, Tropiduridae, Liolaemidae, Leiosauridae, and Polychrotidae) was analyzed. Using 93 myological cranial characters, a cladistic analysis was performed. To root the trees, data of Sphenodon were added to the matrix. The cladistic analysis yielded 129 equally parsimonious trees with a fit of 426.0 (39%) and 467 steps. In the consensus tree we observed only five nodes congruent with traditional phylogenetic hypothesis of the groups analyzed: teiids + gymnophthalmids (node 128); geckos (node 136); liolaemids (node 116); genus Liolaemus (node 115); and genus Phymaturus (node 92). Thus in these groups, phylogeny seems to be better predictor of muscle morphology than ecology or diet. They are many problematic groups whose monophyly requires further analysis (tropidurids, polychrotids, and scincids). In no case we were able to recognize differences that could be attributed to functional features.

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Invasive species have been recognised as an important hazard to native communities. Amongst the mitigation measures that have been proposed to confront biological invasions, eradication projects are certainly the most drastic. In this short communication, a successful eradication project against a recently established population of the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) in Athens, Greece, is reported. To this aim, the Hellenic Herpetological Society received unforeseen aid from stray cats and, possibly, from the Οcellated skink (Chalcides ocellatus) and vegetation growth. Within three years, the initial thriving P. siculus population has shrunk to very few individuals.

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Algyroides moreoticus, Lacerta agilis, Lacerta graeca, Lacerta oxycephala, Lacerta trilineata, Lacerta viridis, Podarcis melisellensis fiumana, Podarcis muralis albanica, Podarcis peloponnesiaca, Podarcis sicula campestris, Podarcis taurica ionica, Podarcis taurica taurica.

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In a translocation experiment in 1971, five pairs of Italian wall lizards (Podarcis siculus) were transferred from the islet of Pod Kopište to the islet of Pod Mrčaru. 36 years later, it was found that the native species of Dalmatian wall lizard Podarcis melisellensis on the islet of Pod Mrčaru was completely replaced through competition of the introduced P. siculus. Studies of the original and newly formed populations of P. siculus on the islets Pod Kopište and Pod Mrčaru revealed morphological, physiological and behavioral differences between the two populations. Previous studies of parental generation have shown higher aggressivity of adults from the islet Pod Kopište. The aim of this thesis was to determine whether there are differences in exploratory behavior, activity and neophobia between juvenile individuals of the F1 generation. Juvenile individuals are divided into four groups according to the origin of their parents. All individuals participated in three open field tests: habituation test, activity test and neophobia test towards a novel object. The habituation test examines the exploratory behavior of an individual in an unfamiliar environment. The activity test monitors the activity of individuals in a known environment. The neophobia test measured fear values towards a novel, unknown object. According to the obtained results, pure lines of juvenile individuals do not differ from each other in behavior. Hybrids are less prone to exploratory behavior and more neophobic.

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Starting from the knowledge that in the reproductive period the Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) is widely distributed in Podarcis sicula testis, we studied VIP expression and the localization of the neuropeptide and its receptors in the testis of the Italian wall lizard P. sicula in the other phases of its reproductive cycle (summer stasis, autumnal resumption, winter stasis, spring resumption). By Real Time-PCR, we demonstrated that testicular VIP mRNA levels change during the reproductive cycle, showing a cyclic trend with two peaks, one in mid-autumnal resumption and the other in the reproductive period. By in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated that both VIP mRNA and protein were widely distributed in the testis in almost all the phases of the cycle, except in the early autumnal resumption. As regards the receptors, the VPAC1R was localized mainly in Leydig cells, while the VPAC2R showed the same distribution of VIP. Our results demonstrate that, differently from mammals, where VIP is present only in nerve fibres innerving the testis, an endotesticular synthesis takes place in the lizard and the VIP synthesis changes throughout the reproductive cycle. Moreover, the VIP/VPAC receptor system distribution observed in germ and somatic cells in various phases of the cycle, and particularly in the autumnal resumption and the reproductive period, strongly suggests its involvement in both spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis. Finally, the wider distribution of VIP in lizards with respect to mammals leads us to hypothesize that during the evolution the synthesis sites have been transferred from the testis to other districts, such as the brain.

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Using molecular, biochemical, and cytological tools, we studied the nucleotide and the deduced amino acid sequence of PHI/VIP and the distribution of VIP/VPAC receptor system in the testis of the Italian wall lizard Podarcis sicula to evaluate the involvement of such a neuropeptide in the spermatogenesis control. We demonstrated that (1) Podarcis sicula VIP had a high identity with other vertebrate VIP sequences, (2) differently from mammals, VIP was synthesized directly in the testis, and (3) VIP and its receptor VPAC2 were widely distributed in germ and somatic cells, while the VPAC1R had a distribution limited to Leydig cells. Our results demonstrated that in Podarcis sicula the VIP sequence is highly preserved and that this neuropeptide is involved in lizard spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis.

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The aim of the present work was to study the possible role of adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) 38 in the testicular intracellular mechanism regulating steroidogenesis of crested newt, Triturus carnifex. Gonads were incubated in vitro with PACAP 38 and prostaglandin (PG) E(2) alone or with inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX), adenylate cyclase (AC), and phospholipase C (PLC) for 30 min and 60 min. PGE(2), PGF(2 alpha), testosterone, and estradiol-17 beta were measured in the culture medium; aromatase (AR) activity and cAMP were assessed in the tissue. PACAP 38 increased PGE(2) (30 min and 60 min), estradiol-17 beta (60 min), cAMP (60 min), and AR (60 min) but decreased testosterone (60 min). PGE(2) increased estradiol-17 beta, cAMP, and AR and decreased testosterone at 30 and 60 min.PLC inhibitor counteracted the effects of PACAP 38, while AC inhibitor counteracted these effects except for PGE(2) increase. AC inhibitor counteracted the effects of PGE(2), while PLC did not. COX inhibitor decreased PGF(2 alpha) (30 min and 60 min), PGE(2) (30 min and 60 min), estradiol-17 beta (60 min), cAMP (60 min), and AR (60 min), but increased testosterone (60 min). These in vitro results suggest that, in newt testis, PACAP 38 acts on PLC, inducing the increase of PGE(2) which, in turn, acting on AC, increases AR activity with the consequent estradiol-17 beta increase and testosterone decrease.

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Tail regeneration in lizards depends on the stimulation of growth factors, including Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs). Light and ultrastructural immunolocalization of FGFs was compared between the regenerating tail blastema and the limb where no regeneration occurs. A likely epithelial-mesenchymal transition occurs following amputation in both tail and limb and FGFs are present in the wound epidermis of both organs at 7-14 days post-amputation, and at lower intensity in mesenchymal cells of the blastema. Immunoreactivity for FGFs disappears in the limb wound epidermis after 14 days post-amputation and in the epithelium covering tails induced to form scars, whereas it remains in the apical tail epithelium. These observations suggest that scarring in the limb or the induced scarring in the tail correlate with the disappearance of FGFs. Basic FGF is concentrated in the incomplete basement membrane between the epidermis and the tail blastema where the essential signaling process that allows the continuous growth of the regenerative blastema may occur. The study suggests that the successful regeneration of lizard tail is dependent on the presence of FGFs in the wound epidermis, which are probably released into the blastema.

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Tissue regeneration in lizards represents a unique model of regeneration and scarring in amniotes. The tail and limb contain putative stem cells but also dedifferentiating cells contribute to regen- eration. Following tail amputation, inflammation is low and cell proliferation high, leading to regeneration while the intense inflammation in the limb leads to low proliferation and scarring. FGFs stimulate tail and limb regeneration and are present in the wound epidermis and blastema while they disappear in the limb wound epidermis 2–3 weeks postamputation in the scarring outgrowth. FGFs localize in the tail blastema and the apical epidermal peg (AEP), an epidermal microregion that allows tail growth but is absent in the limb. Inflammatory cells invade the limb blastema and wound epidermis, impeding the formation of an AEP. An embryonic program of growth is activated in the tail, dominated by Wnt-positive and -negative regulators of cell prolif- eration and noncoding RNAs, that represent the key regenerative genes. The balanced actions of these regulators likely impede the formation of a tumor in the tail tip. Genes for FACIT and fib- rillar collagens, protease inhibitors, and embryonic keratins are upregulated in the regenerating tail blastema. A strong downregulation of genes for both B and T-lymphocyte activation suggests the regenerating tail blastema is a temporal immune-tolerated organ, whereas a scarring pro- gram is activated in the limb. Wnt inhibitors, pro-inflammatory genes, negative regulators of cell proliferation, downregulation of myogenic genes, proteases, and oxidases favoring scarring are upregulated. The evolution of an efficient immune system may be the main limiting barrier for organ regeneration in amniotes, and the poor regeneration of mammals and birds is associated with the efficiency of their mature immune system. This does not tolerate embryonic antigens formed in reprogrammed embryonic cells (as for neoplastic cells) that are consequently elimi- natedimpedingtheregenerationoflostorgans.

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The distribution of three anti-cytokeratin (-keratin) antibodies (AE1, AE2, AE3) in the epidermis of a lizard has been studied by immunocytochemistry at light and electron microscope and by immunoblot analysis. This study shows the expression of different keratins in the resting stage epidermis of the lizard Podarcis sicula. In this stage the epidermis has an external -layer, an underlying -layer, some layers of living suprabasal cells and a basal stratum germinativum. The AE1 antibody is localized in the basal and suprabasal cells only in the outer scale surface, but is absent from the inner surface, the hinge region and from the keratinized - and -layers. The AE2 antibody is mainly localized at the level of the hinge region and of the -layer and gives a lower reaction in the -layer. The AE3 antibody is mainly localized in basal and suprabasal cells, lower in the -layer, and absent from the -layer. The electron microscope shows that all the three antibodies immunolabel cytoplasmic fibrillar structures in the deep -layers and that AE2 and AE3 antibodies label small electron-dense areas in the external dense -layer within the electron-lucid matrix. Immunoblot analysis of the keratins extracted and separated by gel electrophoresis demonstrates the presence of a band of high molecular weight (67-68 kDa) positive to all three antibodies. In addition AE1 antibody recognizes a 44-45 kDa band and a 57-58 kDa band, AE2 recognizes a 60-61 kDa band, and AE3 recognizes a 47 kDa and a 56-57 kDa band. The localization of the keratins identified by immunoblot analysis in the epithelial layers is discussed taking in account the immunolabeling at light and electron microscope. The present study suggests that also in the normal epidermis of this reptiles, in both the - and the -layer, the molecular masses of keratins increase from the basal to the keratinized layers, a phenomenon which is generalized to adult and embryonic amniotes epidermis.

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During the regeneration of lizard tail, nerves sprouting from ganglia and the spinal cord invade the blastema as far as the apical epidermis. Electron microscopical observations reveal axons storing dense granules (dg) and dense core vesicles (dcv) which are concentrated in nerve terminals or in axoplasmatic regions. In the regenerating spinal cord (SC) these terminals resemble aminergic-peptidergic endings and grow as far as the distal portion of the SC, which is made up of irregularly arranged ependymal cells. Some axons storing dcv contact blastematic cells and other nerve terminals show a plasma membrane incomplete or broken. Whether this latter aspect is due to fixation artifacts or physiological rupture is unknown. Nerves containing dcv and a few dg also originate from spinal ganglia innervating the regenerating tail. The accumulation of material into these endings is probably slow and a possible trophic influence on the regeneration of lizard tail is discussed.

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Soricid mammals and lizards are small-sized, insectivorous vertebrates that are widespread and abundant in Mediterranean habitats. Because of their broad sympatry and their diet similarity, these taxa have been suspected to compete for food. Therefore, co-occurrence patterns between these taxa were studied at 72 sites in southern Italy by means of trapping methods. The assemblages were quite distinct depending on the site bioclimate: for the Lacertidae, Podarcis siculus dominated in the thermo-Mediterranean sites and P. muralisin the temperate sites, whereas, for the soricids, Suncus etruscusand two species of Crocidurawere dominant in thermo-Mediterranean sites and three Sorexspecies in the temperate sites. The mean number of captured soricids was statistically higher in the temperate sites, and was positively related to the first component of a Principal Component Analysis summarizing three collinear study site variables (elevation, mean annual temperature, annual rainfall), the reverse being true for lizards. Co-occurrence analysis revealed that a non-segregated structure was present in the dataset, whereas a randomization algorithm showed that the assemblage of small mammals and lizards was non-randomly structured, with the frequency distribution of shrews being non-independent by site from that of lizards. However, when we divided the sites by their bioclimatic regime (thermo-Mediterranean versus temperate), the non-randomness of the community structure disappeared, thus demonstrating that interspecific competition was not the main force driving these assemblages of species. The number of shrews captured in each sampling site was however significantly negatively related to the number of lizards, this pattern being linked to the bioclimate of the various sampling sites. Overall, our data indicated that the assemblage of shrews and lizards was likely regulated essentially by local climate and not by synecological (interspecific competition) dynamics.

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There are three types of cells in the vomero-nasal organ of Lacerta sicula and Natrix natrix: receptor cells, supporting cells and basal cells. The receptor cells bear microvilli and no cilia. In Lacerta centrioles are lacking, indicating that the ciliary apparatus can have no essential significance in the transducer process. In Natrix centrioles occur in the deeper dendritic region. The structural constituents of the dendrites are mitochondria, microtubules and characteristic vesicles the properties of which are described. The perikarya which have uniform structure send off axons of about 0.2 μ diameter. The supporting cells show signs of a very moderate secretory activity, which is different among the species investigated. The microvilli of the supporting cells are not distinguishable from those of the receptor cells. The dendrites of the latter are completely isolated by the apical parts of the supporting cells. The sheet-like processes of the supporting cells contain strands of tonofilaments and do not cover the perikarya of the receptor cells completely. Thus adjacent sensory cells or dendrites and sensory cells are separated among themselves only by the normal intercellular space. The ratio of sensory cells to supporting cells is about 7∶1. The basal cells resemble the supporting cells and replace these in the lower portion of the epithelium. The typical cellular junctions between sensory cells and supporting cells are described. There are no true tight junctions in the vomero-nasal sensory epithelium, and they are most probably absent from the nasal mucosa too. This absence would seem to indicate special conditions for cellular communication and the accessibility of the intercellular space for certain molecules. There is no sign of regeneration of sensory cells. Both immature blastema cells and degenerating receptor cells are not discernible.

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Progesterone (P), 17-OH-progesterone (17-OH-P), androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone (T), 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT), and 17β-estradiol (E2) were measured by RIA in plasma and testes of 114 males of the oviparous lizard Podarcis s. sicula raf, a species that displays annual hibernating cycles. Hormones were determined each month from January until December, except for August. Testosterone peaked at 174.8 ng/ml of plasma after emergence (March), while 5α-DHT and A peaked in April. Plasma DHEA increased during hibernation. During the refractory period there were progressive increases in P and E2 plasma levels. The testicular peak of T, in March, coincided with that observed in plasma. The striking increases in testicular T and A in early July occurred at a time when plasma androgen concentrations were low. 5α-DHT increased in April when spermatogenesis with spermiation occurred and then decreased alongside a second peak of T. There is an apparent separation of plasma and testicular androgen concentrations during the reproductive cycle.

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Progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone and oestradiol concentrations in the plasma were measured by simultaneous radioimmunoassay in males of the lizard Podarcis s. sicula. Hormonal determinations were performed at monthly intervals from January to December (except for August). Testosterone and androstenedione reached peak values of 174.8 ng/ml and 21.4 ng/ml in the mating season (spring) and then testosterone fell abruptly to 5.9 ng/ml in June remaining at this level during hibernation when dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) reached a maximal level of 28.5 +/- 9.3 ng/ml. Castration resulted in a marked decrease of testosterone, androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone and DHA values, with DHA being significantly lowered only during the winter season. In castrated animals, however, testosterone and androstenedione persisted conspicuously in the plasma during the breeding period, suggesting that adrenal sex steroid output may change during the annual reproductive cycle. In intact animals, progesterone and oestradiol exhibited peak values during the refractory period after the mating season. We suggest a probable role of oestradiol in the induction of the refractory period in this lizard.

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The present histochemical and cytochemical study using a lectin panel (WGA, GSI-A4, GSI-B4, PSA UEA-I, PNA, LCA, Con-A , DBA, MPA, BPA) has demonstrated that, in Podarcis sicula, the differentiation of small follicle cells into pyriform cells by means of intermediate cells is accompanied by the appearance of glycoproteins bearing a-GalNAc terminated O-linked side chains on the cell surface. The distribution of DBA- and MPAbinding sites over the follicular epithelium changed during the different stages of oocyte growth. DBA- and MPA-binding sites first appeared at the beginning of folliculogenesis within the zona pellucida (ZP) and on the surface of small cells, i.e., the stem cells of pyriform cells. Afterward, labeling was evident on the cell surfaces of intermediate cells and, later on, also of pyriform cells. On the other hand, no labeling was detected on the small cells located under the basal lamina, which, reportedly, do not differentiate into pyriform cells (Filosa et al. J. Embryol. Exp. Morphol., 1979; 15:297-316). Once pyriform cells were differentiated, the distribution of DBA- and MPA-binding sites over the follicular epithelium remained unchanged until intermediate and pyriform cells underwent apoptosis (Motta et al. J. Exp. Zool., 1996; 276:233-241) and the follicular epithelium transformed into a monolayer composed of small follicle cells only (Filosa Mon. Zool. Ital., 1973; 7:151–165). During this stage of oocyte growth, DBA and MPA labeling gradually decreased to completely disappear in the follicular epithelium of vitellogenic follicles. It is noteworthy that the observed changes in the distribution of DBA- and MPA-binding sites represent the f`rs ı t evidence recognized by lectins of a gradual modification of surface glycoprotein distribution over the follicular epithelium in the ovarian follicles of nonmammalian vertebrates so far studied. Finally, the zona pellucida (ZP), characterized by the presence of GalNAc, GluNAc, Man, and Gal, was demonstrated to be first synthetized by the oocyte and later on by the follicle cells.

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Intercellular bridges first appear during lizard oogenesis when follicles are rather small (150 /tm in diameter); at this stage they form connecting links between the oocyte and follicle cells, which have not yet differentiated into pyriform cells. Later on, when the follicles have become larger (1 mm) and the follicular epithelium appears constituted by 3 types of cells (small, intermediate and pyriform cells) they form connecting links between the oocyte and both intermediate and pyriform. cells. The establishment of intercellular bridges between pyriform cells and the oocyte precedes the complete differentiation of the former, which excludes the possibility that the fusion between pyriform cells and oocyte occurs only after these cells are completely differentiated. In still larger follicles (up to 2 mm in diameter), during the degeneration of the pyriform cells, the occurrence, inside the bridges, of mitochondria and other cytoplasmic material suggests that these cells at the end of their function transfer their contents into the oocyte.

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Ultrastructural studies suggest that, in the oocytes of the lizardPodarcis sicula, ribosomal bodies are structurally continuous with annulate lamellae during their organization and disaggregation. This observation may indicate the dynamic transformation of the cytomembranes of one structure into those of the other, and vice versa. Moreover, the presence of annulate lamellae has been detected for the first time in lizard oocytes. The hypothesis is advanced that ribosomal bodies and annulate lamellae, in spite of some different structural characteristics, may play a similar role during the oocyte growth.

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From the middle of the refractory period, adult males of Podarcis s. sicula Raf. (Reptilia Lacertidae) were treated with different photothermal regimes: 28 °C, combined with darkness, short or long photoperiods. The treatments were short (21-41 days) and long (exceeding 10 months). In both cases, in spring, recrudescence of testes occurred early after long photoperiods and was markedly delayed after darkness. In the latter case, moreover, the summer crisis is remarkably anticipated as compared to the controls. High temperatures, combined with short photoperiod, induce limited stimulatory effects on spermatogenesis with a poor development of the secondary sexual characteristics. A comparison between the results obtained from short and long term experiments clearly show that the autumnal refractory period is of fundamental importance in the regulation of the reproductive cycle of Podarcis s. sicula. In fact, during this period, the gonadal activity is « programmed » and pre-arranged for the next spring reproductive period.

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The evolution of sex steroids in the plasma and gonads of the lizard Podarcis s. sicula during the postreproductive period shows that these hormones could be involved in determining refractoriness. In the male, during this phase, the oestradiol could lower the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system through a negative feed-back. In the female a similar role could be assigned to progesterone.

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The effects of mammalian gonadotropins on spermatogenesis in Lacerta s. sicula Raf. was studied during the autumn thermic refractory period. During this period the mammalian gonadotropins induce a stimulation of spermatogenesis and of the epididymis. FSH acts preferentially on the spermatogonial multiplication and on the primary spermocytes; LH acts on all the stages of spermatogenesis, but in particular on spermiohistogenesis and spermiation; moreover it causes a marked development of the epididymis and of the SSC. The effects of gonadotrophins are temperature dependent: below 18°C stimulation concerns only the early stages of spermatogenesis and spermiation does not occur; at 27°C a complete spermatogenesis with maximum spermiation occurs. At 30°C gonadotrophins induce a strong stimulation of the gonad, but this stimulation is accompanied by frequent degenerative phenomena of the secondary spermatocytes and spermatids. LH is more capable than FSH of limiting this degeneration. Testosterone does not prevent the regression of spermatogenesis due to high temperatures, while it causes a clear development of the epididymis.

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Understanding patterns and modalities of species’ colonization in insular ecosystems is a major goal of biogeography and may be key to decision makers, in terms of e.g., management and conservation. In this paper, we assess source and patterns of colonization of an opportunistic reptile, Podarcis siculus, on the remote island of Pantelleria (Italy), following a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular phylogeography and dorsal pattern analyses. We analyzed the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b (cytb) from 13 lizards and we assessed the frequency of the dorsal pattern phenotypes observing 188 basking lizards from eight localities throughout the island. The parsimony network revealed that haplotypes from Pantelleria belong to a haplogroup characteristic of western Sicily with the most common haplotype from Pantelleria being also found in three Sicilian localities. Unlike other Italian island populations, the dorsal pattern is highly conserved on Pantelleria, as a high percent of the observed individuals show the pattern also found in the hypothesized source area in western Sicily. In conclusion, our results are compatible with an allochthonous origin of the P. siculus population of Pantelleria Island. Thus, the species would need no population monitoring programme for its conservation on the island.

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The present study is on the morphologies and sizes of peripheral blood cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes) on blood smears, stained with Wright`s stain, in some lacertid lizards species [Apathya cappadocica (Werner, 1902), Acanthodactylus boskianus (Daudin, 1802), Acanthodactylus harranensis Baran et al. 2005, Anatolacerta danfordi (Günther, 1876), Darevskia praticola (Eversmann, 1834), D. uzzelli (Darevsky and Danielyan, 1977), D. valentini (Boettger, 1892), Parvilacerta parva (Boulenger, 1887), Lacerta pamphylica Schmidtler, 1975, L. trilineata Bedriaga, 1886, L. viridis (Laurenti, 1768), Ophisops elegans Menetries, 1832, Mesalina brevirostris Blanford, 1876, Podarcis muralis (Laurenti, 1768), P. sicula (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810), Timon princeps (Blanford, 1874)] from Turkey. As a result of our survey, it was determined that the blood cells of the investigated species are shows significant variations in sizes and of leukocytes, agranulocytic leukocytes (lymphocytes and monocytes) are present as predominant cells. Moreover, of granulocytes, neutrophils were no observed in A. danfordi, D. praticola, D. uzzelli, and P. parva.

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Algyroides fitzingeri, Algyroides marchi, Algyroides moreoticus, Algyroides nigropunctatus, Lacerta agilis, Lacerta lepida, Lacerta princeps, Lacerta schreiberi, Lacerta strigata, Lacerta trilineata, Lacerta viridis, Lacerta andreanszkyi, Lacerta armeniaca, Lacerta bedriagae, Lacerta brandtii, Lacerta cappadocica, Lacerta caucasica, Lacerta chlorogaster, Lacerta cyanura, Lacerta danfordi, Lacerta derjugini, Lacerta dugesii, Lacerta fraasii, Lacerta graeca, Lacerta horvathi, Lacerta jayakari, Lacerta laevis, Lacerta monticola, Lacerta mosorensis, Lacerta oxycephala, Lacerta parva, Lacerta perspicillata, Lacerta praticola, Lacerta rudis, Lacerta saxicola, Lacerta vivipara, Gallotia atlantica, Gallotia galloti, Gallotia simonyi, Podarcis erhardii, Podarcis filfolensis, Podarcis hispanica, Podarcis lilfordi, Podarcis melisellensis, Podarcis milensis, Podarcis muralis, Podarcis peloponnesiaca, Podarcis pityusensis, Podarcis sicula, Podarcis taurica, Podarcis tiliguerta, Podarcis wagleriana, Psammodromus algirus, Psammodromus blanci, Psammodromus hispanicus, Psammodromus microdactylus.

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Twenty-four species of lacertid lizards were examined at 31 sites in western Yogoslavia, Greece and Iberia. Comparative observations were made on over 4500 individual lizards, noting such features as times of activitiy, hunting methods, diet, micro- and macrohabitat, refuges used and body temperature. These data are used as a basis for assessing resource partition in related sympatric species, for find out whether different systematic groups have characteristic types of niche, and for comparing cumminity structures in the peninsulas of southern Europa. Acanthodactylus erythrurus, Algyroides marchi, Algyroides moreoticus, Algyroides nigropunctatus, Lacerta agilis, Lacerta graeca, Lacerta horvathi, Lacerta lepida, Lacerta monticola, Lacerta oxycephala, Lacerta mosorensis, Lacerta schreiberi, Lacerta trilineata, Lacerta viridis, Lacerta vivipara, Podarcis bocagei, Podarcis erhardii, Podarcis hispanica, Podarcis melisellensis, Podarcis milensis, Podarcis muralis, Podarcis peloponnesiaca, Podarcis sicula, Podarcis taurica, Psammodromus algirus, Psammodromus hispanicus.

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The present study investigated the role of D-aspartic acid (D-Asp) in ovarian steroidogenesis and its effect on aromatase activity in the lizard, Podarcis s. sicula. It was determined that D-Asp concentrations vary significantly during phases of the reproductive cycle: they vary inversely with testosterone concentrations and directly with oestradiol concentrations in the ovary and plasma. Experimental treatment showed that administration of D-Asp induces a decrease in testosterone and an increase in oestradiol, and that treatment with other amino acids (L-Asp, D-Glu and D-Ala) instead of D-Asp has no effects. Experiments in vitro confirmed these results. Furthermore, these experiments showed an increase in aromatase activity, as the addition of D-Asp either to fresh ovarian tissue homogenate or to acetonic powder of ovarian follicles induced a significant increase in the conversion of testosterone to oestradiol. Aromatase activity is four times greater in the presence of D-Asp than in its absence. However, almost equivalent values of the two K(m) values (both approximately 25 nmol l(-1)) indicate that aromatase has the same catalytic properties in both cases.

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There is little information available on the susceptibility of reptilian saccule hair cells to ototoxin-induced sensory damage. In this study, we report morphological evidence of hair cell recovery and regeneration after damage induced by gentamicin in the saccule of a lizard. We perform morphological analysis using scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy with actin and calbindin as markers for hair cells and tubulin as a marker for supporting cells. The data were consistent: gentamicin induced damage in the hair cells, and the damage increased with increasing duration of treatment. Initially, the saccule appeared unhealthy. Subsequently, the sensory hair cells became compromised, with fused stereovilli, followed by widespread loss of hair cell bundles from the hair cells. Finally, numerous hair cells were lost. Morphologically, the saccule appeared normal 28days after gentamicin treatment. Using a mitogenic marker, we tested whether or not there is hair cell regeneration following administration of gentamicin. We found evidence of bromodeoxyuridine incorporation first in supporting cell nuclei and subsequently in hair cell nuclei. This indicates that a process of sensory epithelium repair and hair cell regeneration occurred, in both extrastriolar and striolar regions, and that the recovery was due to both the proliferation of supporting cells and, as seems likely, self-repair of hair cell bundles.

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(1) Two sympatric lizard species, Podarcis (=Lacerta) muralis brueggemanni and P. sicula campestris, were studied in Tuscany. (2) The daily cycle of behaviour is strongly influenced by weather conditions. P. muralis is active for approximately 255 days per year. (3) The mean active body temperatures maintained by the two species in the laboratory did not differ significantly, but in the field in August they differed by 1.6 degrees C (P. muralis 33.6 degrees C; P. sicula 35.2 degrees C), although the maxima were identical (36.6 degrees C). It is suggested that the difference in mean body temperature is a consequence of differences in habitat and foraging behaviour between the species. (4) Daily food consumption was estimated by method (b) of Avery (1971), using pooled data for the two species. Consumption during hot weather in August was given by C=34.6W0.65 and during cooler weather in April by C=19.3W0.71 where C=food consumption in mg dry wt day-1 and W=live wt in grams. Estimated annual food consumption of P. muralis for 3 years ranged from 162.8-168.8 kJ g live wt-0.7yr-1. (5) Stomach volume (combined data for the two species) was given by V=0.092W0.79 where V=volume in ml and W=live wt in grams. (6) P. muralis differs from Lacerta vivipara in Britain in the following respects: (i) individuals are active on 83 (=48%) more days yr-1; (ii) active body temperature is 3.4 degrees C higher; (iii) daily weight-specific food consumption is 50-59% greater; (iv) annual weight-specific food consumption is 127-151% greater; (v) stomach volume is greater, by an amount which varies with body weight. The significance of these differences is discussed.

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Scan samples of locations and observations on distances moved by Podarcis sicula during July and August near Pisa in central Italy showed that there was hitherto unrecorded diel variation in the area within which movement took place and in the distances moved per unit time. This variation was studied intensively in a focal adult female lizard; the proportion of the home range utilised over a 10 day period showed maxima from 09:00-1:00 hr (71%: 80 m super(2)) and 16:00-17:00 h4 (39%: 44 m super(2)). The 14:00-15:00 hr areas of movement in six further lizards were affected by the amount of available shade, averaging 1/50 of the 09:00-10:00 hr movement area when shade was < 5% of total habitat (n = 5) and 1/7 when shade was > 15% (n = 2). Experimentally increasing the area of shade available to two lizards from 5 to 20% resulted in an increase in the area of movement.

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Islands are compelling natural laboratories for studying evolutionary processes. Nevertheless, the existence of general rules underlying morphological evolution on islands remains an unresolved issue. In this study, we investigated the insular phenotypic variability of the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) on a large geographical scale, in order to assess the putative existence of an island effect on three morphological head traits: shape, size and degree of sexual dimorphism. A geometric morphometric analysis was performed on 30 island and 24 mainland populations, involving a total of 992 specimens, and we analysed differences in both mean trait values and variances (disparity). We found increased shape disparity in insular lizards with respect to mainland ones. On the other hand, both size disparity and mean head dimensions of males decreased on islands, leading to a reduction in sexual dimorphism. Our results provide evidence for a multidirectional morphological diversification on islands concerning head shape of both sexes, while directional and canalizing selection likely occurred for head size, but only in males. Our findings improve our knowledge on the effect of insularity in Podarcis siculus, and highlight the need for an exstensive sampling scheme and a multi-trait methodological approach.

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Rapid evolution is a biological process in which phenotypic and genetic changes happen so fast that they are noticeable within generations. One of the intriguing examples of rapid phenotypic divergence is a result of a translocating experiment conducted in 1971. Five pairs of Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) were transferred from a small islet Pod Kopište onto Pod Mrčaru islet where the species was not present before. After only 36 years it was discovered that the new established, introduced population from Pod Mrčaru had developed diverse phenotypical changes compared to the native population. With the objective of determine the inheritance of those morphological traits we set a reciprocal cross-experiment with individuals from both islands. The crossbreeding was performed in common garden conditions to determine if the phenotypical differences between offspring have genetic background. We measured eight morphologic traits, emphasizing head measures, considering that the biggest observed differences between populations were in head shape. Those traits were measured every two months through the developmental period, from the moment of hatching until one year afterwards. In this work we present the results of the morphometric analysis of the the first generation of offspring. The results show that the sex has a big influence on the individual size. While observing the overall data pattern it seems that hybrids have different values than pure crosses which suggests that there is a genetic background for the differences. However, bigger sample size is needed to confirm it with certainty.

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Melanism is the occurrence of individuals that are darker in skin pigmentation than their conspecifics, which is a common colour polymorphism among vertebrates. Due to the pleotropic effects of the POMC gene that is responsible for melanin-based colouration, dark pigmentation often co-varies with a range of other phenotypic traits. Still, not much is known on the link between melanin-based colouration and immunity in lizards. In this study, we examined and compared the immunocompetence and degree of ectoparasite infestation of Podarcis siculus lizards from a fully melanistic population on an islet in the Tyrrhenian Sea, with conspecifics from a ‘normally’-coloured population on the mainland. Our findings show that both males and females from the melanistic population were less parasitized by ectoparasites and had a greater cellular immune response to a phytohemagglutinin injection than normally-coloured conspecifics. This outcome is in line with the “genetic link hypothesis”, which predicts that melanistic individuals will be more resistant to parasites than non-melanistic individuals due to the pleiotropic POMC gene. In addition, we found correlative evidence for a link between ectoparasite load and PHA immune response, but this was only true for males from the normally-coloured population. Immunological data on additional melanistic and non-melanistic populations of Podarcis siculus in the Mediterranean basin would provide us better insight into patterns of co-variation between immunity and melanism in lizards.

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1. The signals that animals use to communicate often differ considerably among species. Part of this variation in signal design may derive from differential natural selection on signal efficacy: the ability of the signal to travel efficiently through the environment and attract the receiver`s attention. For the visual and acoustic modalities, the effect of the physical environment on signal efficacy is a well-studied selective force. Still, very little is known on its impact on chemical signals. 2. Here, we took a broad, phylogenetic comparative approach to test for a relationship between animals` signal chemistry and properties of their natural environment. Our study focused on lizards from the Lacertidae family. 3. We sampled 64 species across three continents and determined the lipophilic composition of their glandular signalling secretions using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. For each species, an array of environmental variables of high temporal and spatial resolution was obtained from climate databases. 4. Species varied considerably in the overall richness (number of constituents) of their secretions, as well as in the relative contribution of the major chemical compound classes. Signal richness and the relative contribution of the respective compounds exhibited little evidence of phylogenetic relatedness, suggesting that chemical signals may change very rapidly. Neither insularity nor substrate use affected chemical signal composition, however, we found a strong statistical relationship between the chemistry of the lizards` secretions and aspects of the thermal and hydric environment they inhabit. 5. Species from `xeric` milieus contained high proportions of stable fatty acid esters and high molecular weight alcohols in their glandular secretions, which likely increase the persistence of secretion scent-marks. In contrast, species inhabiting `mesic` environments produced secretions of a high chemical richness comprising high levels of aldehydes and low molecular weight alcohols. This chemical mix probably creates a volatile-rich signal that can be used for long-distance airborne communication. 6. We argue that the observed variation in signal design results from differential natural selection, optimizing signal efficacy under contrasting environmental conditions.

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Homing abilities of lizards after experimental dislocations have been found to be well developed in several species. Following our preliminary findings in Podarcis siculus, the present paper reports a new series of experiments on homing performances and initial orientation behaviour upon release. For this purpose, three series of releases were performed at increasing distances from the home areas in which the lizards were captured (range 85–245 m). In each series, two groups of lizards were released: the route-based visual cues during displacement were denied to one of them (NVIS), but allowed for the other (YVIS). The results of initial orientation showed that both are significantly homeward oriented at all three distances tested. Male and female YVIS and female NVIS are similarly homeward oriented, while the male NVIS are not. All 74 lizards successfully returned to their respective home areas. Eleven lizards homed on the same day they were released, while most of them homed during the 1st day after release (n = 51) and the rest on the 2nd day (n = 12). The different transport treatments did not influence homing success at the different distances tested. These results seem to support the use of a geocentric pilotage strategy to re-enter home from the release spot. Alternatively, the possibility that P. siculus use a sun compass and a mosaic map to find their way home is also discussed.

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The authors give a description of the herpetofauna of some area´s in Yougoslavia they visited in june 1979. Some attention is given to the habitat of several species. The differences between certain island and mainland populations of some Lacerta- and Podarcis-species are discussed to some extend.

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Es gibt sicherlich verschiedene Möglichkeiten, im Terrarium gehaltene Eidechsen zu überwintern. Der eine schwört auf seinen Keller, der andere auf eine laubgefüllte Grube in seinem Garten. Nun, wem beides nicht zur Verfügung steht, dem kann auch ein Kühlschrank ganz ausgezeichnete Dienste leisten. Freilich ist nicht gemeint, die Eidechsen frei zwischen Wurst und Käse zu betten, vielmehr bedarf es einiger Vorbereitungen. Im wesentlichen stellen sich zur Überwinterung von Eidechsen 4 Fragen: 1. wen? 2. wann? 3. wie? Und 4. wie lange? Auf diese 4 Fragen soll im in diesem Bericht eine Antwort gegeben werden.

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The longevity of several lacertid lizard species in captivity is reported. The conditions of keeping, which have been successful throughout many years, are briefly presented.

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In connectivity conservation and ecological network planning, the selection of focal fragmentationsensitive species represents a priority step. Nevertheless, despite their strategic role, selection of focal species has traditionally been carried out using charismatic and/or non objective approaches. In this way, actions of planning and conservation could be ineffective. Using as a case study Italian reptiles, we apply an expert-based approach for the selection of focal species on the basis of sensitivity to components of habitat fragmentation (habitat area reduction, increase of habitat isolation, increase of edge effect and landscape matrix disturbance) and of intrinsic ecological traits of the species (trophic level, dispersal ability, body size, niche breadth, rarity). The threshold values for each component of fragmentation defined a set of 21 focal species that can be divided into the three macro-components of human-induced habitat fragmentation (HIHF) towards which they show a sensitivity, the suitable spatial scale of populations and relative suitable habitat categories. Among these species, seven can be sampled easily with standard, low-cost field protocols. The selected species largely coincide with the species known in literature as fragmentation-sensitive.

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Etwa 13 Kilometer vom italienischen Festland entfernt und 100 Kilometer nördlich von Rom liegt die Insel Giglio, ein über 21 Quadratkilometer großes Traumziel, das für Taucher und Schnorchler, aber auch für Liebhaber der terrestrischen Fauna und Flora interessant ist.

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The reproductive strategies of reptiles vary according to many factors. In lizards, intraspecific and interspecific competition, and environmental and seasonal factors affect their reproductive biology. This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of testis sizes in the sympatrically coexisting species, Podarcis muralis and Podarcis tauricus, located in Kofçaz, Kirklareli, Turkey, considering both intra-species and interspecies variations. Changes in body sizes and testis sizes according to months were monitored. As a result, it was determined that in both species, there was a positive correlation between body size and testis size, and that in P. tauricus, both body and testis sizes were higher compared to P. muralis, showing a significant difference. It was also observed that in the P. muralis species, the testis size reached its peak value in April (mean daily temperature 9.9°C), while in the P. tauricus species, it reached the highest value in May (mean daily temperature 15.5°C). It was found that the testis size in P. muralis reached its lowest value in August (mean daily temperature 23.8°C), while in P. tauricus, it was lowest in September (mean daily temperature 20.2°C). The fact that testis size is high in different months in these two sympatric species suggests that their active breeding periods differ.

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The list of amphibians and reptiles living in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur constitutes an inventory of up-to-date knowledge on herpetofauna. It contains 22 amphibian taxons and 41 reptile taxons. It also contains their regional distribution, a list of the relevant national, European, and international protection laws, as well as the conservation status of each species.

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The list of amphibians and reptiles living in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur constitutes an inventory of up-to-date knowledge on herpetofauna.

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My PhD research activity focused on the investigation of the role of polarized light in the directional orientation of the lacertid lizard Podarcis sicula. In particular, the aim of this work was to systematically analyze P. sicula orientation behaviour and to lay the foundation for future electrophysiological and molecular investigations of anatomical structures assigned to sky polarization perception. Another goal was to understand the evolutionary meaning of these structures and the mechanisms of polarization perception. For this purpose, the first experimental section (EXPERIMENT 1: Beltrami et al., 2010) examined whether ruin lizards P. sicula are able to orientate using the E-vector direction of polarized light. Lizard orientation was tested indoors, under an artificial light source: this device produced plane polarized light with a single E-vector, that provided an axial cue. These results showed that lizards can learn a training axis and that after 90° rotation of the E-vector direction of polarized light the lizards’ directional choices rotated correspondingly. The following step of the study aimed at elucidating whether the functioning of a sky polarization compass would be mediated by the lizard parietal eye. To test this, ruin lizards that met learning criteria were tested under polarized light after their parietal eyes were painted black. Lizards with black-painted parietal eyes were completely disoriented. These data showed for the first time that the parietal eye plays a central role in mediating the functioning of a putative sky polarization compass of lizards. Furthermore, the experimental apparatus used in this experiment emitted light that did not include wavelengths in the UV range. Thus, the UV range is not necessary for perceiving polarized light in ruin lizards, unlike other species as, for example, honey bees and desert ants that in the absence of UV are unable to use a sky polarization compass. That being so, the second experimental part (EXPERIMENT 2) was aimed at testing whether there is a preferential region of the light spectrum to perceive the E-vector direction of polarized light. The results showed that lizards can learn a training direction when trained under white light produced by an LCD and E-vector parallel to the training axis. Lizards that met the learning criteria were then tested under white light and E-vector perpendicular to the training axis, just to validate the new LCD equipment: as expected, lizards followed a 90° rotation of the Evector direction, confirming once again that they can use the polarized light for orientation. Thereafter, lizards were tested under coloured polarized light (blue, green, red and turquoise), initially with E-vector parallel to the training axis and then with E-vector perpendicular to the training axis, to examine whether P. sicula can perceive polarized light of a particular wavelength range and use it in orientation. Under both blue light and turquoise light lizards were able to orient in both E-vector’s conditions, otherwise under red light lizards were completely disoriented; under green light lizards were able to orient themselves only when the direction of the E-vector was the same as in training, whereas after a 90° rotation of the E-vector lizards were disoriented, in both spectral radiance level (high and low). Incorrect orientation after E-vector rotation under Green light was independent of (high or low) spectral radiance and one hypothesis to interpret these data is that the green stimuli could be barely discernible. These results, combined with the data under Green light previously discussed, demonstrate that the blue-turquoise part of the light spectrum is crucial for a correct functioning of sky polarization compass, whereas red wavelengths do not mediate perception of the E-vector. The third experimental section (EXPERIMENT 3) was performed outdoors. The first part of this experiment was aimed to validate the new set-up outdoors. Inside the experimental apparatus lizards had only the sky polarization pattern available for orientation. As expected, the results demonstrated that lizards can learn a training direction and the new set-up is well suited to investigate orientation mechanisms in lizards. The second part of this experiment was aimed at testing the time-compensated nature of the sky polarization compass. The results demonstrated that lizards can learn a training direction under blue sky with no sun’s disc, but surprisingly, they cannot retain the spatial information. Indeed, after 6 days without training, both control group and fast-shifted group, were disorientated. A possibility is that some aspects of the information necessary for the normal functioning of the sky polarization compass is not retained for a week with no training. Alternatively, it is possible that the sky polarization compass needs to be recalibrated almost daily by external cues, such as exposure of the lizards to the sun’s disc. Clearly, other explanations are possible, and further experiments outdoors are necessary to answer this important question. Results relating to my three year of PhD course show the way forward to new interesting questions and so to new possible experimental applications to finally clarify the evolutionary role of the sky polarization compass and its interactions with other orientation mechanisms (for example the sun compass or the magnetic compass). It should be very interesting to deepen the knowledge of the nature of the sky polarization pattern’s information, to elucidate the time-compensated mechanisms that set the information retention.

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The present study first examined whether ruin lizards Podarcis sicula are able to orientate using the e-vector direction of polarized light. Ruin lizards were trained and tested indoors, inside a hexagonal Morris water maze, positioned under an artificial light source producing plane polarized light with a single e-vector, which provided an axial cue. Lizards were subjected to axial training by positioning two identical goals in contact with the centre of two opposite side walls of the Morris water maze. Goals were invisible because they were placed just beneath the water surface, and water was rendered opaque. The results showed that the directional choices of lizards meeting learning criteria were bimodally distributed along the training axis, and that after 90 deg rotation of the e-vector direction of polarized light the lizards directional choices rotated correspondingly, producing a bimodal distribution which was perpendicular to the training axis. The present results confirm in ruin lizards results previously obtained in other lizard species showing that these reptiles can use the e-vector direction of polarized light in the form of a sky polarization compass. The second step of the study aimed at answering the still open question of whether functioning of a sky polarization compass would be mediated by the lizard parietal eye. To test this, ruin lizards meeting learning criteria were tested inside the Morris water maze under polarized light after their parietal eyes were painted black. Lizards with black-painted parietal eyes were completely disoriented. Thus, the present data show for the first time that the parietal eye plays a central role in mediating the functioning of a putative sky polarization compass of lizards.

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Previous experiments in our laboratory showed that ruin lizards Podarcis sicula can use the e-vector direction of polarized light in the form of a sky polarization compass, and that the parietal eye of these lizards plays a central role in mediating functioning of the putative sky polarization compass. The present study further examined whether ruin lizards are able to orientate using a preferential region of the light spectrum to perceive the e-vector direction of polarized light. Lizards were trained and tested indoors, inside an hexagonal Morris water maze, positioned under an LCD screen producing by itself plane polarized light with a single e-vector, which provided an axial cue. Lizards (N= 86) were subjected to axial training. Lizards meeting learning criteria (N= 43), were subjected to 90° rotation of the e-vector directions. Lizards directional choices rotated correspondingly, producing a bimodal distribution which was perpendicular to the training axis. Lizards were then tested under 3 different lights (blue: 435nm; red: 611nm; turquoise). Under both blue light and turquoise light lizards were able to orientate in both e-vector’s conditions, whereas under red light lizards resulted completely disorientated. Present data showed that both the blue wavelength and the turquoise wavelength are crucial for perceiving e-vector, whereas the red wavelength doesn’t mediate the perception of the e-vector. The role of green wavelength (544 nm) is at the moment under examination. The present experiment also confirmed that the UV is not necessary to perceive polarized light. At present, we are carrying out further investigation to establish whether the sky polarization compass is really a time-compensated compass.

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The present study first examined whether ruin lizards, Podarcis sicula, are able to orientate using plane-polarized light produced by an LCD screen. Ruin lizards were trained and tested indoors, inside a hexagonal Morris water maze positioned under an LCD screen producing white polarized light with a single E-vector, which provided an axial cue. White polarized light did not include wavelengths in the UV. Lizards orientated correctly either when tested with E-vector parallel to the training axis or after 90 deg rotation of the E-vector direction, thus validating the apparatus. Further experiments examined whether there is a preferential region of the light spectrum to perceive the E-vector direction of polarized light. For this purpose, lizards reaching learning criteria under white polarized light were subdivided into four experimental groups. Each group was tested for orientation under a different spectrum of plane-polarized light (red, green, cyan and blue) with equalized photon flux density. Lizards tested under blue polarized light orientated correctly, whereas lizards tested under red polarized light were completely disoriented. Green polarized light was barely discernible by lizards, and thus insufficient for a correct functioning of their compass. When exposed to cyan polarized light, lizard orientation performances were optimal, indistinguishable from lizards detecting blue polarized light. Overall, the present results demonstrate that perception of linear polarization in the blue is necessary – and sufficient – for a proper functioning of the sky polarization compass of ruin lizards. This may be adaptively important, as detection of polarized light in the blue improves functioning of the polarization compass under cloudy skies, i.e. when the alternative celestial compass based on detection of the sun disk is rendered useless because the sun is obscured by clouds.

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It is reported about the rediscovery of a population of the Balearic Lizard (Podarcis lilfordi) on the Illa de Ses Mones in the harbour of Port d´Addaia. This population has been considered to have become extinct during the 1990s due to the introduction of the Italian Wall Lizard (Podarcis siculus). Descriptions of the island and the lizards are given and for the first time it is reported about the sympatric occurrence of Podarcis lilfordi and P. siculus. Because in quite a lot of publications the nearby Illot d´en Carbó has been confused with the Illa de Ses Mones the taxonomic status of the rediscovered Podarcis lilfordi population from the Illa de Ses Mones is discussed in this paper.

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We report on our observations on Podarcis lilfordi (GÜNTHER, 1874) during our 8 day trip to the natural park of s’Albufera des Grau (Spain/Menorca) and give preliminary conclusions on the status of some populations.

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We report on our observations on Podarcis lilfordi (GÜNTHER, 1874) and other Menorcan herpetofauna during our 12 day trip to Menorca (Balearics, Spain). 13 populations of Podarcis lilfordi were surveyed, 101 specimens were measured and photographed in detail, from which 84 specimens were “buccal-swabbed” for DNA samples. The subspecific status of Hemidactylus turcicus spinalis from Addaia Gran is discussed and rejected.

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The common practice of using subspecies as conservation targets raises the question of whether efforts are focused on preserving conspicuous components of the species’ phenotypic variability rather than evolutionarily significant units. To address this question, in this study we performed a comprehensive morphological and genetic assessment on all the subspecies of wall lizard described for the Aeolian Archipelago (Italy) to determine whether they represent distinct evolutionary lineages and/or discrete phenotypic partitions. Further, we applied a monophyly test to 70 subspecies belonging to seven wall lizard species occurring in Italy, based on our results and on previous phylogeographic studies. We found that none of the Aeolian subspecies represents a distinct evolutionary lineage, despite some morphological differentiation of island populations across the archipelago, suggesting a very recent origin of island populations and of the observed phenotype variation. Across seven wall lizard species, tests revealed that lizard subspecies rarely (< 9% of cases) match evolutionary units. This study demonstrates that intraspecifictaxonomy of wall lizards is a poor predictor of phylogeographic partitions and evolutionary units, and therefore of limited use (if not dangerous) for defining conservation and management units. A better approach would be relying on the integration of genomic and phenotypic data to assess the evolutionary significance and conservation value of phenotypic and genetic units within species.

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Several individuals of the Italian lizard Podarcis siculus have been discovered in the southwest of France, in Gradignan, south of Bordeaux. The animals are installed in the heart of a large plant store, and have been probably introduced via the importation of olive trees. The presence of males and females, with reproduction behavior, suggests the possible establishment of a small population in the short to medium term if no measures of control are implemented.

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We examined melatonin profiles of ruin lizards in different seasons (spring, summer, and autumn) under light: dark (LD) and concomitant responses when transferred to continuous darkness (DD) to determine the degree to which previously reported seasonally dependent effects of pinealectomy on locomotor behavior are related to melatonin secretion. The amplitude of the melatonin rhythm and the amount of melatonin produced over 24 h varied with season. In spring, the amount of melatonin produced was greatest and the amplitude 4– 5 times that found in summer or autumn. The degree of self-sustainment of the melatonin rhythm when transferred to DD also varied with season. In DD, melatonin levels remained high but did not exhibit circadian variation in spring. In summer, the melatonin profile persisted virtually unchanged in DD, showing the existence of a circadian rhythm. Finally, in the fall there was no circadian variation in DD and levels remained low. These responses correspond closely to previously reported effects of pinealectomy on locomotor behavior where there is little or no effect of pinealectomy in spring or fall but a profound alteration of locomotor behavior in summer. These results suggest that the seasonally dependent effects of pinealectomy on locomotor behavior in ruin lizards are related to a seasonally mediated change in the degree of self-sustainment of some component of the circadian pace-making system of which melatonin plays some role.

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Among vertebrates, reptiles are one of the most interesting taxa to understand the evolution of the circadian system to different ecological niches. Here we summarize the current knowledge about the circadian system of reptiles. In detail, paragraph 3 analyzes studies concerning the existence of peripheral and central circadian oscillators in reptiles, with complementary data gathered using molecular, physiological, and behavioral approaches, particularly, the role of SCN and the reactions of both central and peripheral oscillators to drastic changes in ambient temperatures. In paragraph 4, as it is peculiar to other nonmammalian vertebrates, also lizards, behavioral and hormonal rhythms (particularly melatonin) can be entrained by extraretinal and deep brain photoreceptors, whose position in the brain seems to vary somewhat in different lizard species. In paragraph 5, the seasonal changes in circadian organization are analyzed in fine detail in the ruin lizard Podarcis sicula, a species in which most research on seasonality has be done. Paragraph 6 reports some data on the role of ambient light irradiance in the circadian organization. Paragraph 7 deals with problems of orientation in space, with particular interest in celestial compass mechanisms which need a functional circadian clock to work properly. In this context recent results are reported on the functioning of both sun and sky polarization compasses and the pivotal role played by the parietal eye in those mechanisms of orientation. Paragraph 8 reports conclusion and perspectives.

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The daily pattern of locomotor activity of Podarcis sicula in the field changes from unimodal in spring to bimodal in summer, becoming unimodal again in autumn. Short-term experiments in which P. sicula collected in different months were tested under constant conditions immediately after capture showed that the activity pattern typical of each season is retained in the lizard circadian locomotor rhythm. In constant conditions, the bimodal pattern is associated with a short free-running period (τ) of the circadian locomotor rhythm and a long circadian activity (α), while the unimodal pattern is associated with a long τ and short α. To test whether seasonal changes in circadian locomotor rhythms are driven by a circannual clock, we recorded locomotor activity of lizards over 12–15 months in constant temperature and darkness. The present results demonstrate, for the first time in a vertebrate, the existence of circannual changes in constant darkness of both τ and α. In most lizards, the longest τ along its circannual cycle is associated with a short α, and the shortest τ in the same cycle with a long α, so that the pattern of mutual association between τ and α is the same as in short-term experiments. Most lizards, however, stayed unimodal all the time. This shows that changes in activity pattern from unimodal to bimodal (and vice versa) are induced by seasonal changes in environmental factors, instead of being incorporated into a circannual rhythm. Circannual changes in τ and α of locomotor rhythms may adaptively predispose the circadian system of P. sicula to a change in activity pattern as soon as seasonal changes in the environment demand it.

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The pineal gland and its major output signal melatonin have been demonstrated to play a central role in the seasonal organization of the ruin lizard Podarcis sicula. Seasonal variations in the amplitude of the nocturnal melatonin signal, with high values in spring as compared to low values in summer and autumn, have been found in vivo. The authors examined whether the pineal gland of the ruin lizard contains autonomous circadian oscillators controlling melatonin synthesis and whether previously described seasonal variations of in vivo melatonin production can also be found in isolated cultured pineal glands obtained from ruin lizards in summer and winter. In vitro melatonin release from isolated pineal glands of the ruin lizard persisted for 4 days in constant conditions. Cultured explanted pineal glands obtained from animals in winter and summer showed similar circadian rhythms of melatonin release, characterized by damping of the amplitude of the melatonin rhythm. Although different photoperiodic conditions were imposed on ruin lizards before explantation of pineal glands, the authors did not find any indication for corresponding differences in the duration of elevated melatonin in vitro. Differences were found in the amplitude of in vitro melatonin production in light/dark conditions and, to a lesser degree, in constant conditions. The presence of a circadian melatonin rhythm in vitro in winter, although such a rhythm is absent in vivo in winter, suggests that pineal melatonin production is influenced by an extrapineal oscillator in the intact animal that may either positively or negatively modulate melatonin production in summer and winter, respectively.

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A certain habitat may be favourable for a species if inside it suitable conditions for growth, reproduction and survival of that species persist. For oviparous reptiles in particular, the egg-stage can play an important role in determining distribution patterns; however its influence, above all in human altered landscape is scarcely explored. This study, performed in Tuscany, central Italy, investigated the female reproductive success of the lacertid lizard Podarcis siculus campestris inside agricultural habitats. We surveyed vineyards and olive tree plantations showing different agricultural managements: intensive (use of chemicals and machineries) and traditional (no/little amounts of chemical compounds, maintenance of grass soil cover). In six sampling sites we collected a total of 50 females (a minimum of 7 individuals per site) from April to late July 2007, covering the whole annual reproductive period. Females were singly housed in terraria exposed to natural condition of light-dark, ventilation and air temperatures; individuals were daily weighted and terraria were checked at least twice a day for eggs. Soon after deposition eggs were measured and singly weighted on a digital balance to the nearest 0.001g; females were also weighted after oviposition and then released to the site of capture. Our first aim was to examine the mechanism of P. siculus campestris female reproductive investment in the surveyed populations; in a second step, we wanted to verify if such investment was influenced by factors such as land use, agricultural management, external parasite rate and predation pressure (as indicated by the occurrence of regenerated tails). We considered three main variables in the analyses: clutch size, clutch mass and average egg weight (all of them were adjusted for log-maternal SVL and the effects of oviposition period and of the time elapsed between capture and egg laying were controlled). We found that relative fertility (residuals of the regression between clutch size and maternal SVL) was correlated with average egg weight, thus revealing the presence of no trade off between clutch size and average egg weight. Moreover, relative reproductive investment (residuals of the regression between clutch mass and SVL) was positively correlated with both relative fertility and average egg weight. This result “suggests” that females that invest more do it laying both more and heavier eggs. ANCOVA analyses revealed that clutch size and clutch mass were not influenced by land use, land management, deposition period, external parasite rate and regenerated tail occurrence. On the contrary, average egg weight was correlated to the external parasite rate. The obtained results are in agreement with the well known adaptability of P. siculus. In the populations we surveyed the reproductive output was not influenced by very different habitats and levels of anthropic disturbance. Nor this lizard showed a trade- off between clutch size and egg weight, typical in the presence of food availability and habitat constraints.

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Cultivated areas in central Italy are very common habitats for the lacertid lizard Podarcis siculus campestris. Land uses, however, can show deeply different characteristics in their structure thus probably bringing important consequences for their inhabitants. In this study we analysed the rate of external parasites (ticks) and the occurrence of regenerated tail (as indicator of predation pressure) in populations of Podarcis siculus campestris living in two different land uses, highly characterizing the Tuscan agricultural landscape (central Italy): vineyards and olive tree plantations. For each land use, in particular, we surveyed two intensively cultivated areas (use of chemicals and machineries) and one “traditionally” managed area (no/little amounts of chemical compounds, maintenance of grass soil cover). A total of 120 lizards were collected from early Spring to Summer. All lizards were measured (SVL and head measures), the amount of ticks was counted and the presence of broken/regenerated or entire tail was recorded; individuals were then released in the same place of their capture. The comparison of SVL among different habitat categories (distinguishing land uses and different managements) did not revealed striking differences: however, both males and females living in the traditionally managed olive tree plantation resulted to be smaller (even if significant differences were found only in some comparisons). As for external parasite rate we found very clear results both in relation to the land use and to the sex of individuals. Lizards with the highest number of ticks were found in the olive tree plantations (both intensively and traditionally managed) while the individuals from vineyards were almost not parasitized by ticks. Males in particular seemed to suffer a higher external parasite pressure. These results seem to agree with other studies in which a preference of ticks for olive trees was highlighted and put in relation with both physical characteristics of the trees (e.g. crumbled bark) and their being visited by hosts (lizards). Regarding the sex ratio of parasitized individuals, other studies demonstrated that male lizards, are more exposed to parasites due to their higher activity rate. The regenerated tail occurrence pattern was much more homogeneous: a very weak difference was found just between sexes (more males than females showed broken/regenerated tail) while land use and management did not seem to influence the predation pressure, at least as revealed by the considered indicator.

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Human agricultural activities can deeply alter the environment thus provoking major impacts on a variety of organisms. Agricultural habitats however can be very different from one another in terms of habitat structure and management intensity, presenting varying pressures and/or benefits for different species. Agro-ecosystems can have opposing effects on reptiles and in some circumstances the presence of a species can even been enhanced by agricultural practices. We focused our study on Podarcis sicula, a relatively widespread lacertid lizard commonly present in agro-environments in Italy. We examined escape behaviour, caudal autotomy rates and ectoparasite load (tick infestation) in populations living in two different land uses, olive tree plantations and vineyards. All three aspects seemed to be deeply influenced by habitat structure. Predation pressure, as evaluated by tail break frequency, was lower in olive tree plantations, the most structurally complex habitats. In this type of habitat lizard escape behaviour was characterised by a clear preference for olive trees as refuges: individuals ran farther distances on average to reach the trees and hid inside them for a relatively long time. In vineyards, on the contrary, a less clear escape strategy was observed, showing a use of more temporary refuges. Also tick (Ixodes ricinus) infestation differed among land uses, being higher in olive tree plantations, probably in relation to vegetation cover features. Differences were found also between managements (with a higher tick load in traditional cultivations) and sexes, with males being more parasitized.

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New data on the distribution of the herpetofauna of the La Maddalena Archipelago are reported in the present work, together with the available literature. The study reports data on 78 islands, for 19 of these islands the data are unpublished.

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Reptile assemblages across agricultural landscapes: where does biodiversity hide?— The transition from traditional to intensive farming, aimed at large–scale production, has rapidly altered agricultural landscapes, leading to the reduction and fragmentation of natural habitats and to the consequent loss of biodiversity. Herpetofauna is seriously threatened by agriculture intensification worldwide, but less is known about its distribution in agro–ecosystems, especially at field scale. We analysed reptile abundance and diversity in eight agricultural and semi–natural land uses, and inside vegetated buffer strips interspersed among fields. Interestingly, most reptiles were recorded in the buffer strips while intensive crops and pastures hosted just one lizard species. Richness of individuals and species increased when strips were connected to semi–natural areas, independently of their width and vegetation structure. In view of our results, that highlight the role of minor landscape features for the presence of vertebrates in intensive agro–ecosystems, we recommend the implementation of buffer strips among the measures for vertebrate conservation in agricultural landscapes.

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Human activities cause increasingly deep alterations to natural environments. Yet, the effects on vertebrates with low dispersal capacity are still poorly investigated, especially at field scale. Life history variation represents one means by which species can adapt to a changing environment. Among vertebrates, lizards exhibit a high degree of variation in life-history traits, often associated with environmental variability. We examined the female breeding output of Podarcis siculus (Lacertidae) inside agricultural habitats, to test whether different cultivation and management influence the life-history traits of this species. Interestingly, we recorded variability of female breeding output at a very fine scale, namely among adjacent vineyards and olive orchards under different management levels. Lizards displayed the lowest breeding effort in the almost unmanaged sites, while clutch mass, relative fecundity and mean egg mass slightly increased in more intensively managed sites. However, in the most intensive cultivations we detected a life-history trade-off, where eggs from larger clutches tended to be relatively smaller than eggs from smaller clutches. This pattern suggests that agriculture can influence lizard reproductive output, partly favouring it in the presence of medium intensity cultivation but causing, in the most intensively managed sites, some environmental constraints that require a peculiar partitioning of the breeding resources. Even though further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms driving the observed pattern, our results can be considered a starting point for evaluating the analysis of lizard breeding features as a tool to assess the impact of human activities, at least in agricultural environments.

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Agriculture intensification is among one of the major threats affecting terrestrial reptiles worldwide. There is however a lack of information available on the ecology of these vertebrates in agricultural landscapes. Basic information like the pattern of occurrence in cultivated fields is key to assess the probability of an animal being affected by threats driven by agricultural managing. Focussing on the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus), we performed a field study to assess in detail its distribution and abundance in two cultivations, vineyards and cereal fields. Lizard distribution and abundance significantly varied among land uses, regardless of the arthropod fauna composition and diversity (analysed in the same fields), and the management activities. In the cereal fields, lizards were present exclusively along the field margins while in the vineyards they also occurred in the inner portions of the cultivated areas, even if they were more abundant next to the borders. The widespread presence of lizards in the vineyards suggest that P. siculus can likely adapt to such cultivated areas. This partly lowers the effect of habitat loss due to vineyard planting but exposes animals to the risks related to management activities, including mechanical practices and chemical application. In contrast, the presence of sowed lands, as extremely simplified habitats, results primarily in a definitive loss of habitat for lizards that are unable to settle within them, while the exposure to threats driven by management is less direct than in vineyards.

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In the year 1971., five pairs of italian wall lizard Podarcis siculus were translocated from Pod Kopište island to Pod Mrčaru island. After 36 years, scientists discovered that the P. siculus population competitively excluded the dalmatian wall lizard P. melisellensis on Pod Mrčaru island. Further comparative studies of P. siculus populations on two islands, Pod Kopište and Pod Mrčaru, have shown noticeable variations between two populations on the physiological, morphological and behavioural level. Evidence on higher sociability on Pod Mrčaru island, demonstrated a need for further studies, including behavioral comparisons and heritability testing. This work is focused on one behavioral trait, sociability. This work is part of HRZZ project Genraliz, which aims at answering questions regarding rapid adaptive evolution. Four groups of juvenile individuals are tested. The first group consists of juveniles whose parents originated from Pod Kopište island, while the second group consists of juveniles whose parents originated from Pod Mrčaru island. The third and fourth group include hybrids whose parents from both islands were reciprocally crossed. Preceding tests done on the parental generation showed that males from Pod Mrčaru island exhibit higher sociability behavior than females from both islands, and males from Pod Kopište island. The results of this study haven`t shown any significant differences in sociability between the four tested groups. Future studies should include juvenile and adult comparisons, as well as genom-wide sequencing and transcriptome studies.

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Das Vermögen, sich kompaBgerecht nach dem Stand der Sonne zu orientieren und ihre tageszeitliche Wanderung einzurechnen, ist seit den grundlegenden Entdeckungen von K. v. Frisch (1950, 1951) an der Biene auch bei zahlreichen anderen Vertretern der Arthropoden und Wirbeltiere nachgewiesen worden. Soweit wir heute wissen, setzt das Richtungsfinden mittels eines Himmelsgestirnes mindestens zwei Grundleistungen des tierischen Organismus voraus: erstens die Fähigkeit, „Zeit zu messen“ (physiologische oder innere Uhr; vgl. Bünning, 1958; Aschoff, 1960); zweitens den zeitgerechten Gebrauch eines Orientierungsmechanismus, der die tageszeitlichen Azimutänderungen des Gestirnes „rechnerisch“ mit Hilfe der inneren Uhr kompensiert. Während das erste Grundvermögen wohl eine sehr allgemeine Eigenschaft von Lebewesen ist, wie es der tagesrhythmische, annähernd mit der Erdumdrehung synchronisierte Ablauf zahlreicher Lebensprozesse bei Tieren und Pflanzen zeigt, sichert das zweite Vermögen speziellere Lebensbedürfnisse des tierischen Organismus; die Fähigkeit, Zeit zu messen, wird dabei in den Dienst der Orientierungsfunktion gestellt.

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Besides representing an important model for studies in the fields of conservation biology, ecophysiology and evolution, lizards may be interesting as a model in translational research for the elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of behavior and its adaptive value. The Italian wall lizard (Podarcis sicula) is a highly adaptable species that occupies a variety of habitats (the main area of distribution is Italy and the eastern Adriatic coast with surrounding islands) and undergoes population specific adaptations in morphology, physiology and behavior. In this study, we explored the potential of P. sicula as a model for exploratory behavior by comparing its behavioral and neurochemical parameters to those of the Wistar rat, a behavioral model well established in our Laboratory. Exploratory behavior of 28 lizards was analyzed in open field as time spent in movement, total distance travelled, percent of time spent in the central area, and number of rearings. The levels of dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) were determined in brain tissue homogenates of 20 lizards using the standard ELISA kit for human catecholamines. P. sicula displayed the whole spectrum of behavior in open field with comparable average number of rearings and % time in open space to those of rats. They spent more time in movement, with lower speed, travelling therefore less total distance than rats in a 10 min experiment. We were able to reliably measure catecholamine levels in 50x diluted whole-brain homogenates, and they amounted to 417 ± 116 pg/mg DA and 917 ± 170 pg/mg NA, which is about one order of magnitude higher than in rat brain cortex. Our results speak in favor of the use of P. sicula as a potential model for studying the neurochemical basis of behavioral adaptation in laboratory conditions.

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The Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus and the Dalmatian wall lizard, Podarcis melisellensis are two lizards from the family of Lacertidae. When this two species share same habitat, P. siculus outcompetes P. melisellensis as a dominant competitor, usually leading to extinction of P. melisellensis. We investigated the behavior of these two species of lizards, Podarcis siculus and Podarcis melisellensis in a new environment. In order to do so, we observed habituation period in the open field test and 8-arm radial maze. Habituation is an extremely simple form of learning, in which an animal, after a period of exposure to a stimulus, stops responding. We had 28 specimens of each species, 14 females and 14 males. Each experiment lasted between 15 and 23 minutes. Parameters of interest were: latency time, time spent in the central vs. marginal area and returning into hiding place. We tested for the behavioral differences between the species and sexes. After behavioral testing, the animals we sacrificed and levels of monoamines (5ht, DA, NA) in the brain was analyzed with HPLC. P. melisellensis showed bolder behavior, spending more time in open spaces, while P. siculus was more agile and found food quicker and in general learned faster than P. melisellensis. Consistent with literature, females were bolder than males. Specific traits correlated with neurotransmitter levels. Each species adapted in a different way to the same environment. We propose these two species of lizards as a good model for understanding the neurobiological basis of adaptive behavior, warranting further research.

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Adaptive behavior is shaped by the type and intensity of selection pressures coming from the environment, such as predation risk and resource availability, and can be modulated by individual`s neuroendocrine profile involving steroid hormones and the brain-stem monoaminergic circuits projecting to forebrain structures. Boldness when faced with a predator and exploration/activity when confronted with a new environment reflect the degree of cautiousness and/or “risk-taking” of an individual. In this study we have explored to which extent two populations of Podarcis siculus occupying different ecological niches: mainland (ML) and an islet (ISL) differ in the level of cautiousness and whether these differences are paralleled by differences in their monoaminergic profiles. Boldness was tested in the field as antipredator behavior, while novel space and object explorations were tested in a laboratory setting in an open field apparatus. Finally, serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (ADR) concentrations were measured in whole brain samples by ELISA. Lizards from ML population spent significantly more time hiding after a predator encounter in the field, displayed lower intensity of novel space exploration in a laboratory setting, and contained significantly higher whole-brain concentrations of NA and ADR than their ISL counterparts. Parallelism between the level of risk-taking behavior and concentrations of neurotransmitters mediating alertness and reaction to stress suggests that the differing environmental factors on ML and ISL may have shaped the degree of cautiousness in the residing lizard populations by affecting the activity of NA/ADR neural circuits.

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In the herpetological collection of ZFMK 528 scientific species group names are represented by type materi- al. Of these, 304 names are documented by primary type specimens (onomatophores) while for 224 further names sec- ondary type specimens (typoids) are available, ranging chronologically from 1801 to 2010. The list is a shortened pred- ecessor of a comprehensive type catalogue in progress. It lists name bearing types with their catalogue numbers includ- ing information on further type series members also in other institutions, while secondary types are listed only by pres- ence, both in ZFMK and other collections including holotype repositories. Geographic origin and currently valid names are also provided.

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Mit dem Verbreitungsatlas der Amphibien und Reptilien Roms legt das vielköpfige Autorenteam ein Werk vor, das -soweit dem Rezensenten bekannt - erstmalig detailliert Auskunft über die urbane Herpetofauna einer mediterranen, international bedeutsamen Großstadt liefert. Allein schon die Abgrenzung des Untersuchungsraumes ist bemerkenswert, die sich nämlich nicht an der Stadtgrenze orientiert, sondern an der ringförmig das Stadtzentrum umgebenden Autobahn (Grande Raccordo Annulare) und damit statt eines administrativen einen funktionalen Charakter besitzt. Die Vielfalt der römischen Stadtlandschaften innerhalb des 360 km² großen Untersuchungsraumes wird anhand zahlreicher Photos belegt, die von der historischen Altstadt und den hochgradig versiegelten Innenstadtbereichen zur Peripherie hin über zunehmend aufgelockerte Stadtteile bis hin zu agrarisch genutzten Randzonen reichen. Gleichzeitig liefern die Photos einen ersten Hinweis auf das Angebot herpetologisch relevanter Lebensraumtypen. Exemplarisch seien hier die archäologischen Fundstätten und historische Parkanlagen aber auch weitere naturnahe Flächen genannt, denen als innerstädtischen Refugialbiotopen eine besondere Bedeutung zukommt. Die Genese des 1996 gestarteten Kartierungsprojektes, die von über hundert Mitarbeitern stammende Datenbasis sowie der verwendete Erfassungsbogen werden kurz vorgestellt. Grundlage der Verbreitungskarten ist ein UTM-km²-Raster. Den eigentlichen Artkapiteln wird ein mit Zeichnungen unterstützer Bestimmungsschlüssel vorangestellt. Die doppelseitigen Artkapitel sind jeweils nach folgendem Schema aufgebaut: Photo, Gesamtverbreitung, Vorkommen in Rom, Verbreitungskarte, tab. Angabe der Präsenzwerte für die Zeitintervalle 1980-1995, 1996-2002, 1980-2002, Biologie und ökologie. Das aktuelle, seit 1996 dokumentierte Artenspektrum setzt sich aus 10 Amhibien- und 16 Reptilienarten zusammen, darunter mit T. scripta eine allochthone Art. Die meisten Amphibienarten sind nur noch relikthaft im Stadtgebiet nachweisbar. So liegen die aktuellen Präsenzwerte von S. terdigitata, R. dalmatina, R. italica, T. carnifex und H. intermedia zwischen 0,3 und 2,2% und selbst T. vulgaris wurde nur in 3% der Untersuchungsraster nachgewiesen. Höhere Präsenzwerte werden für B. viridis (8%) angegeben, aber lediglich der Wasserfroschkomplex R. bergeri / R. kl. hispanica (16,7%) und B. bufo (17,2%) sind im Stadtgebiet von Rom noch relativ verbreitet. Ein deutlich anderes Bild ergibt sich für die Reptilienfauna: Während auch hier neun Arten nur Präsenzwerte zwischen 0,8 und 5% erreichen (in aufsteigender Reihenfolge: N. tesselata, T. hermanni, E. orbicularis, E. quattuorlineata, V. aspis, A. fragilis, T. scripta, E. longissima, N. natrix), sind die übrigen 7 Taxa noch relativ verbreitet und z.T. sogar bemerkenswert häufig. So liegen die Präsenzwerte von Ch. chalcides, H. turcicus und L. bilineata zwischen 15,5 und 17,2 und C. viridiflavus ist mit 19,4 die mit Abstand am weitesten verbreitete Schlangenart in der Großstadt Rom. Noch deutlich höhere Werte werden von T. mauritanica (28%), P. muralis (45,5%) und schließlich P. sicula (62,2) erreicht, die selbst in der Innenstadt regelmäßig auftreten und die die urbanen Raumstrukturen offensichtlich erfolgreich zu nutzen wissen. Ein Vergleich mit älteren Daten belegt, dass vier Arten ausgestorben sind (S. salamandra, B. variegata, C. austriaca, C. girondica) und dass die Bestände mehrerer weiterer Taxa in den letzten Jahren einen dramatischen Rückgang aufweisen (S. terdigitata, B. viridis, R. dalmatina, R. italica, E. orbicularis, L. bilineata, E. quattuorlineata, E. longissima). Abschließend kann dem kompetenten Autorenteam sowie dem Umwelt- und Kulturamt der Stadt Rom, die als Herausgeber des Verbreitungsatlas fungieren, ein großes Lob ausgesprochen werden. Italienische Sprachkenntnisse sind für das Verständnis der Arbeit nicht zwingend notwendig, da die wichtigsten Aussagen des klar gegliederten und sehr ansprechend gestalteten Heftes selbsterklärend sind. Vor diesem Hintergrund ist dieser Herpetofauna von Rom eine weite Verbreitung – und Folgeprojekte aus weiteren Großstädten! - zu wünschen.

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Gegenstand des A4-formatigen und 160 Seiten umfassenden Buches ist eine erstmalige, detaillierte Zusammenstellung der Amphibien- und Reptilienfauna der Region Lazio in Mittelitalien. Das über 17.000 km² große Untersuchungsgebiet umfasst die drei küstennahen Provinzen Viterbo, Rom und Latina sowie die beiden „inländischen“ Provinzen Rieti und Frosinone, deren Hügel- und Berglandschaften lokal bis in alpine Höhenstufen von 2.000 bis 2.300 mNN hinaufreichen. Entsprechend artenreich ist die Herpetofauna (14 Amphibien / 19 Reptilien). Das einleitende Kapitel gilt einem Rückblick in die herpetologische Erforschung der Region seit Beginn des 18. Jahrhunderts. Anschließend wird die Datenbasis erläutert, die auf den mittels Erfassungsbögen dokumentierten Fundmeldungen von über 200 namentlich aufgeführten Personen beruht. Das folgende Kapitel enthält einen ausführlichen und von Zeichnungen unterstützten Bestimmungs- und Larvenschlüssel. Das eigentliche Kernstück des Buches sind die Artkapitel, in denen jede Art auf einer Doppelseite nach folgendem Schema vorgestellt wird: Wissenschaftlicher Name: Synonyme, italienischer, englischer und französischer Name, Lokalnamen – Gesamtverbreitung, Italien, Unterarten, Lazio - ökologische Daten aus Lazio, Phänologie und Fortpflanzung - Status und Schutzaspekte – Literatur.

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The trophic niche of two sympatric species of wall lizards (Podarcis muralis and P. sicula) was studied by the analysis of both stomach contents and faecal pellets, and differences in trophic spectra, food niche breadth, and niche overlap were compared. The analysis based on stomach contents provided more complete and detailed data. Podarcis sicula appeared to be a more generalist predator than P. muralis, and the niche overlap between the two species was very Jow. Differences from literature data showing a higher overlap can be due to local food preferences and different methods of analysis.

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For planning practical measures aimed at biodiversity protection, conservation priorities must be identified at a local scale. Unfortunately, identifying local conservation priorities requires high-resolution data on species distribution, and these are often unavailable. Atlases of species distribution provide data for several groups of organisms in many different areas but are often too coarse in resolution to provide valuable information. We explored the possibility of cross-scale modelling species distributions and we clarified, for the first time, its effect on prioritization exercises. We used different modelling techniques for scaling down atlas data for Sardinian reptiles, validated the outcomes with detailed, field-sampled data, and compared conservation priorities deriving from atlas maps and downscaled models. Doing this, we obtained as a further result the identification of priority species and areas for future conservation strategies. Our results encourage us to experiment further with this approach. Through the downscaling procedure, we obtain high-resolution models with strong variations in predictive performances, although most of the models show satisfactory/excellent scores. This testifies that low-resolution data can be downscaled maintaining low rates of omission and commission errors. Increasing the resolution of distribution maps used for prioritization influences the spatial patterns of priority but does not modify the evaluation of species representation. Overall, we show that atlases can meet the large demand for distribution data by decision makers if appropriate downscaling procedures are adopted. In addition, we provide practical instruments for the conservation of reptiles in Sardinia by identifying priority species and areas that require strict management.

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A colony of Podarcis siculus has been confirmed in 2017 on the island of Trimelone, on the eastern coast of the Garda Lake. A transect performed on the whole length of the island revealed the good state of health of the colony, with a total of 48 censused individuals and the absence of other species of lizards. A subsequent transect on the stretch of the coast of the lake facing the isle suggested the absence of Podarcis siculus, the presence of Podarcis muralis and a high abundance of Natrix tessellata.

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Food preferences and the effects of prey chemical repellents in the dietary behaviour of Podarcis sicula were tested using four species of Carabid beetles as prey models. The goal of the study was to assess (i) the ability of P. sicula to recognize insect preys provided with chemical repellents and aposematic colorations under laboratory conditions, and (ii) the importance of chemical signals used by the prey model as antipredatory strategy. Preys used in this study were Brachinus sclopeta and Anchomenus dorsalis (aposematic species) and Amara anthobia and A. aenea (non-aposematic species). Aposematic species are characterized by warning color pattern and by production of chemical repellents, while non-aposematic ones do not. Amara anthobia and A. aenea were attacked with high frequency by P. sicula, Brachinus sclopeta and Anchomenus dorsalis with low frequency. Non-aposematic species were preyed more often than the aposematic ones. Brachinus sclopeta was preyed after low latency, while Amara anthobia and A. aenea after long latency. Non-aposematic species were captured and eaten without difficulty, while when B. sclopeta or A. dorsalis were captured, lizards always tossed their head and then rub the snout on the soil, probably because of the unpalatability of aposematic preys.

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Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy 3Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine, University Grenoble Alpes, University Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Grenoble, France 4Kosmos – Museo di Storia Naturale dell’Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy 5Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy 6I.P.L.A., Istituto per le Piante da Legno e l`Ambiente, Torino, Italy Correspondence Gentile Francesco Ficetola, Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20126 Milano, Italy. Email: francesco.ficetola@gmail.com Funding information Italian Ministry for Research, Grant/Award Number: 2017KLZ3MA Editor: Ana Margarida Coelho dos Santos Abstract Aim: Analyses of biogeographical patterns and macroecology of islands require large datasets reporting the occurrence of species. The Mediterranean region is a biodiver- sity hotspot, which hosts a large number of reptile species and has been the focus of many studies. Nevertheless, comprehensive inventories describing the features and biodiversity of these environments are lacking. We gathered a dataset summarizing data on reptile distribution on islands of the Mediterranean basin and Macaronesia, also including detailed information on the geographical features. Location: Islands from the Mediterranean Basin, the Atlantic Ocean within the Mediterranean biogeographical region, and Macaronesia (Canary and Savage Islands, Azores, Madeira and Cape Verde). Time period: Present. Taxon: Reptiles (squamates and turtles). Methods: Initially, we developed a geographical database describing islands of the study region, then gathered information on reptile occurrences from 757 bibliograph- ical sources, including atlases, published papers and the grey literature. Through a critical review of these sources, we also obtained information on the status of popula- tions (native, island endemic or non-native) and on the reliability of occurrence data. Results: We obtained basic geographical information from 1875 islands covering the whole study region and with a very broad range of geographical features. We gath- ered >4150 records of reptile occurrence on islands, referring to 198 taxonomic units (species or species complexes); information on population status was available for 84.9% of records. Data are provided as comma-delimited text files. Main conclusions: The database provides a key resource for biogeographical analyses and can also serve as a backbone for conservation studies. The availability of a large database on island features can also be useful for biogeographers working on other taxonomic groups. Nevertheless, more data are required for some geographical areas, in order to ascertain the status (e.g., native vs. non-native) of many populations and to understand the interplay between natural and human-driven processes.

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Reptiles and amphibians from temperate zones can be kept in outdoor terrariums. Outside there is often more room for larger dwellings than inside the house. Measures have ro be taken to prevent mice, moles, cars and so on ro gain access to rhe interior. At some spot the animals have to find refuge during high temperatures and during hibernation. The author prefers glass covered terrariums, for instance glass-houses, for sunlight can create high tempera- tures even in early spring and late autumn. During rhe summer, part of the glass is removed to prevent excessive hearing. In winter a thick layer of dry lea- ves is applied when it starts freezing. Good results are obtained with Podarcis sicula, Podarcis lilfordi and Lacerta viridis in this way. On several spots the weekly highest and lowest tem- peratures are registered, for instance in a sunny spot, in the shadow and in rhe place of hibernation. Diagrams are shown representing rhe yearly varia- tion in these temperatures. Keeping animals this way gives an extra dimension to our hobby.

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The author describes a herpetological vacation on Corsica. It is an island with lots ofdifferent habitats, where reptiles and amphibians are abundant. Several (sub)species are endemic to Corsica or to both Corsica and Sardinia, for instance Archaeolacerta bedriagae, Podarcis tiliguerta, Algyroides fitzingeri, Discoglossus montalemii, D. sardus, Hyla sarda, Euproctus montanus, Salamandra salamandra corsica and Natrix natrix corsa. Several others are probably introduced by men, for instance Podarcis sicula cam- pestris (in Ajaccio, Porro-Vecchio and Basria), P. s. cettii (in Bonifacio), Tarentola mauritanica, Rana esculenta, Bufo viridis and Testudo hermanni. Corsica and Sardinia are part of the natural distribution o f Phyllodactylus europaeus, Hemidactylus turcicus, Coluber viridif/avus, Emys orbicularis, Caretta caretta and Dermochelys coriacea, that inhabit other parts of Europe as well. Several species of lizards are in a more or less fierce competition with each other. A. bedriagae for instance is pushed to high altitude, bare rock and granite boulders in little streams, by P. tiliguerta. P. sicula campestris is successful in flat terrain, leaving only walls ofstacked stones toP. tiliguerta. P. s. cettii doesn`t even leave this habitat toP. tiliguerta. As for now P. sicula is restricted mainly to coastal areas, lea- ving the better part of Corsica to P. tiliguerta. D. sardus and D. montalentii are only recently recog- nised as different species. D. montalentii is endemic to Corsica, whereas D. sardus is known too from Sardinia. D. montalentii is living in high altitudes, especially in clear mountain-streams, D. sardus in lower altitudes and has a less specialised preference for its habitat. Corsica is a very interesting island from a herpetolo- gical point ofview.

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The study of environmental factors affecting vertebrate reproduction has long interested both developmental and evolutionary biologists. Although photoperiod has been considered to be an important environmental parameter for vertebrates such as birds, temperature is probably a primary external factor responsible for reproductive cyclicity in reptiles. In spite of the progress made in the understanding of reptilian reproductive strategies and adaptations, much remains to be learned about the interplay between endocrine physiological factors, such as hormones, and environmental parameters. In this report, we have examined the effects of in vivo administered FSH on oocyte recruitment during the most significant periods of the reproductive cycle of the lizard, Podarcis sicula. The results show that when FSH is administered in proximity to the reproductive period, it stimulates oocyte growth and ovulation; when the hormone is administered at the beginning of the winter stasis it affects ovarian activity without inducing ovulation. Ovarian adenylate cyclase activity is moderately sensitive to in vitro FSH stimulation during the pre- and post-reproductive periods. The sensitivity to hormone stimulation increases significantly during the reproductive period and winter stasis. We have also tested the hypothesis that environmental temperature affects the responsiveness of ovarian adenylate cyclase to FSH stimulation. For such a purpose, we exposed animals to 28° C or 4° C in different periods of the ovarian cycle. The results show that, whenever the temperature applied mimics the thermal regime of the coming season, adenylate cyclase sensitivity to FSH shifts towards levels that anticipate the natural responsiveness.

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The present paper reports the full nucleotide sequence of a cloned cDNA prepared from RNA of lizard ovaries. The open reading frame consists of 2019 nucleotides, which encodes a protein of 673 amino acids belonging to the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily with a large extracellular N-terminal domain involved in hormone recognition. The transmembrane domain ends with a short intracytoplasmic COOH-terminal domain involved in effector activation. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the lizard receptor belongs to the family of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptors. The hydrophobicity profile is similar to that observed for mammalian and avian FSH receptors. Northern blot analysis of total RNA revealed that the FSH receptor is expressed at high levels in the ovary. In situ hybridization experiments demonstrate that FSH receptor mRNA is specifically localized within the small cells of the follicular epithelium surrounding the oocyte.

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The interspecific relationships among female size, clutch size, egg size, and hatchling size were examined for 64 European lacertids. The eggs of all species increased linearly in both linear dimensions and mass during incubation. Across species initial egg mass was positively correlated with juvenile mass, with an allometric relationship exponent of 0.87. Initial egg mass across species increased proportionally with female mass to the power of 0.57. Moreover, an increase in maternal mass was also accompanied by an increase in clutch size. The number of eggs per clutch across species scaled with female mass to the power of 0.39. Removing the effect of female mass resulted in a negative correlation between egg mass and clutch size. Species for which the average egg size was lower than expected on the basis of female mass, tended to have larger relative clutch size. The total egg mass per clutch was about one third of female mass (exponent 0.94).

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The Herpetological Collection of the Trieste Natural History Museum has almost 700 specimens of European Sauria belonging to about 33 taxa, including all the lacertids of northern Adriatic re- gions. The origin of the collection dates back to the foundation of the Museum of Trieste in 1846, but it was increased mainly between 1871 and 1939. The Herpetological Collection of the Trieste Natural History Museum has a great scientific and historical importance; it documents the varia- tion of the composition and distribution of northern Adriatic Sauria fauna during this century, in- cluding endemic varieties typical of little islands.

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A little herpetology during the summer holidays in Tuscany -- Scattered herpetological observations in Tuscany, Italy, from the period 25 July through 4 August 2002 are reported. Emphasis is put on a one week stay at the chåteau Castello di Modanella (locality no. 1, Fig. 1). The following species were observed around the chåteau and in an open forest: Green frogs Rana sp.), Bufo bufo, Anguis fragilis, Lacerta bilineata, Podarcis muralis, P. sicula and Coluber viridiflavus (frontcover, Figs. 2-7). A remarkable posture was observed in A. fragilis as a specimen was held in two closed hands (forming a «hollow«) for about 1 minute. Held in one open hand afterwards, it remained in a hall-like position for 3-4 minutes (Fig. 3). It is interpreted as merely an extreme degree of inactivity. This habit was not recorded by Blosat (1997). Another hitherto unpublished case where A. fragilis in Denmark exhibited the same posture, is also mentioned. Only one L. bilineata was captured, a young of SVL 30.5 mm on 31 July. But since 6.0 mm of the tail length was regenerated (Fig. 4), the specimen was not newly hatched, but it may have had a SVL of some 28 mm at hatching. P. muralis and P. sicula proved abundant in the area, however, P. muralis lived in relatively shaded and cool habitats whereas P. sicula occurred in more open habitats. One C. viridiflavus was found climhing in low branches of a tree along a small dirt road in the forest (see frontcover). Chalcides chalcides was recorded in San Baronto, approx. 15 km south of Pistóia (locality 2). One C. viridiflavus was captured 20 km north of Pistóia (locality 3). At the castle Castello cli Brolio (locality 5) P. sicula was photographed while catching and eating a big moth, Macroglossum stellatarum (Fig. 11). One acdult Rana italica was observed in a forest at least 500 m away from any stream (Figs. 12-13), near Chiusi della Verna on Alpe di Catenhia (locality 6). The new book «The Lizards of Italy and Adjacent Areas» by Corti & Lo Cascio (2002) is also re viewed. In general ii is considered useful for all herpetobogists going to Italy or working with Italian lizards. Eventually, six brief hints for herpetobogists traveling in the Mediterranean are provided.

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On February 29, 2016, the authors departed to one of the best herpetofauna hotspots in Europe, Sardinia. The aim of this 4-day journey was to find as many species as possible, with a focus on the endemic specialties of the island. Although the intent was non-scientific, we did some interesting observations that contradict, confirm or complement other surveys. We spent the first three days of our trip at the east coast of the island, near the mountainous Parco Nazionale del Golfo di Orosei e del Gennargentu. Here we found our target species, the European leaf-toed Gecko (Euleptes europaea) and the Supramonte Cave Salamander (Speleomantes supramontis), as well as two other gecko species (Tarentola mauritanica and Hemidactylus turcicus), two endemic lizards (Podarcis tiliguerta and Algyroides fitzingeri), a skink (Chalcides occellatus) and two species of anurans (Hyla sarda and Bufotes viridis balearicus). The Moorish Gecko was not recorded yet for this region. The amount of observed cave salamanders was striking, as well as the relatively dry habitat in which they were found. This is probably due to the rainy conditions just before our arrival. At least four out of the seventeen observed salamanders were parasitized by the leech Batracobdella algira, significantly more than nine out of 1380 in a recent study. The last day, we tried to find some new species in the vicinity of Lago Baratz, the only natural freshwater lake of the island, at the west coast. Here, we observed six species, including Discoglossus sardus, Chalcides chalcides and Podarcis siculus, which were new species of the trip. In total, we found an estimated 114 individuals of twelve different species. Some species we missed out were Archaeolacerta bedriagae, Euproctus platycephalus, Testudo hermanni and all Sardinian snake species, giving us enough reasons to return to Sardinia!

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A phylogenetic-comparative approach was used to assess and refine existing secondary structure models for a frequently studied region of the mitochondrial encoded large subunit (16S) rRNA in two large lizard lineages within the Scincomorpha, namely the Scincidae and the Lacertidae. Potential pairings and mutual information were analyzed to identify site interactions present within each lineage and provide consensus secondary structures. Many of the interactions proposed by previous models were supported, but several refinements were possible. The consensus structures allowed a detailed analysis of rRNA sequence evolution. Phylogenetic trees were inferred from Bayesian analyses of all sites, and the topologies used for maximum likelihood estimation of sequence evolution parameters. Assigning gamma-distributed relative rate categories to all interacting sites that were homologous between lineages revealed substantial differences between helices. In both lineages, sites within helix G2 were mostly conserved, while those within helix E18 evolved rapidly. Clear evidence of substantial site-specific rate variation (covarion-like evolution) was also detected, although this was not strongly associated with specific helices. This study, in conjunction with comparable findings on different, higher-level taxa, supports the ubiquitous nature of site-specific rate variation in this gene and justifies the incorporation of covarion models in phylogenetic inference.

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Data on the distribution of Teira perspicillata on Menorca, on its habitat and syntopic occurrence with Podarcis siculus cetti and Tarentola mauritanica are reported.

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A new locality for the Italian Wall Lizard (Podarcis sicula sicula) in France (Hymnes, Côte d`Azur) The ltalian wall lizard (Podarcis sicula) originates from Italy and the coastal regions of the Adriatic Sea. In addition, it has known introduced populations in Tunisia, Spain, the USA and two localities in France. The author reports evidence for a third introduction in France, in a plant nursery (`Jardinerie du gros pin`) in Hyeres on the Côte d`Azur. Whilst visiting this plant nursery, the author observed a green-coloured lizard on the trunk of an imported, large olive tree, on display for the purpose of sale. On closer inspection, four additional specimes (all adults, three males and two females in total) were found in the immediate vicinity. Common, brown, wall lizards (P. muralis merremia) were also encountered. The author identified the green specimens as P. sicula sicula and suspects the animals were inadvertently introduced, being stowaways on imported old trees, originating from a.o. southern Italy.

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The surroundings of Lake Garda have a rather mild climate for northern Italy. The most often found reptile species in this region are the Wall lizard (Podarcis muralis maculiventris) and the Western Green lizard (Lacerta bilineata bilineata). In 2004 the author unexpectedly found in this region the Italian Wall lizard (Podarcis sicula) and the Moorish gecko (Tarentola mauritanica). In Italy this last gecko species is generally found in the coastal areas. It is presumed that these uncommon observations are a result of unintended introductions by men through the imports of large Olive-trees from southern Italy (Foggia), this makes it most likely that these Italian Wall lizards belongs to the subspecies P. s. sicula. All observed P. sicula (juveniles included), geckos and an egg, possibly of the Moorish gecko, were found in a large garden centre (near Padenghe). One Tarentola was found on the wall of a toilet building on a camping site. The author speculates that the mild climate makes it possible for the animals to reproduce in this region.

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In 2004 several Podarcis sicula were discovered for the first time at a nursery near Padenghe sul Garda (Italy). Some of them were juveniles. It was believed that these lizards could start a viable population (Bruekers, 2006). In 2009 the site was checked again. Podarcis muralis maculiventris was abundant. It was obvious that Podarcis muralis used every suitable niche. After a while only one adult female Podarcis sicula could be found. This one and only specimen was difficult to photograph. The author speculates that competition between these lizards species is the main reason that P. sicula failed to establish a viable population. Maybe there were not enough P. sicula to start a new population? In addition the less favourable climate conditions could be another disadvantage for these introduced P. sicula which probably originate from the southern parts of Italy (Bruekers, 2006). This small population of Podarcis s. sicula near Padenghe is presumed to be extinct, only five years after its first discovery in 2004.

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The geometry of the cephalic scales in lizards is easily represented by using landmark based approaches. The cephalic scales may prove useful structures in the investigation of the evolution and morphogenesis of lizards because of their biomechanical relationships with the underlying bones and muscular anatomy. In the present paper the head morphology in Podarcis muralis and Podarcis sicula is compared by using geometric morphometrics and Euclidean distance matrix analysis. The head shape in these two species is largely influenced by a shared allometric pattern, with P. sicula displaying a reduced range of variation. This pattern is probably influenced by the cranial morphogenesis at the fronto-parietal suture, and by the parieto-occipital musculature involved in diet and social behaviours. Minor species-specific differences are evidenced, and should be further investigated.

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The morphology of cephalic scales in Lacertids is organised in well defined geometrical structures. The variation of these elements is related to the underlying bone growth and morphogenesis, but it is also associated with the muscular system and the sutural dynamics. In this paper, the patterns of variation of the cephalic scales have been compared between three common Mediterranean species: Podarcis muralis, Podarcis sicula and Lacerta bilineata. The morphospace generated by the morphological relationships within the cephalic system in these three species is investigated in order to consider their degree of variation and their anatomical peculiarities. Generally, Lacerta is 64% larger than Podarcis, shows a relative reduction of the frontal scale, enlarged fronto-parietal structures, and stretched occipital area. L. bilineata shows the smaller degree of variation within the shape space, while P. muralis shows the highest values. The morphology of the two genera is definitely different mostly because of allometric variation. Non-allometric distinctions between the three species are subtle but detectable. The degree and pattern of variation are interpreted in terms of possible environmental pressures and of functional cranial dynamics associated with the fronto-parietal suture, respectively. In this sense, the structural relationships between bones and scales are of particular interest to further investigate ontogeny and phylogeny in reptiles.

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Almost all species of Amphibians and Reptiles of Central Italy occur in the Tolfa mountains (Civitavecchia, Latium). This is one of the most interesting areas in the whole of Italy as far as the herpetofauna is concerned. It lies not far from Rome and its conservation state is satisfactory; both these facts have favoured and enabled some experimental studies of eco-ethology on such mountains since 1964. The A. describes the species and subspecies of Amphibians and Reptiles recorded in this area, adding some information on their chorology, biology, taxonomy, history and zoogeograph.

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The herpetologic fauna of the Torricchio Mountain Nature Reserve includes the following species: Salamandra s. gigliolii, Salamandrina terdigitata, Triturus vulgaris meridionalis, Hydromantes i. italicus, Bufo bufo, Bufo v. viridis, Bombina variegata pachypus, Hyla a. arborea, Rana graeca, Rana cfr. esculenta, Podarcis muralis, Podarcis sicula campestris, Lacerta v. viridis, Chalcides c. chalcides, Anguis f. fragilis, Coluber viridiflavus, Coronella austriaca, Elaphe l. longissima, Elaphe q. quatuorlineata, Natrix natrix cfr. lanzai and Vipera aspis francisciredi. This Reserve (about 300 ha.) is owned by the University of Camerino and it lies on the county of Macerata, in Marche Region. It extends from 750 m to 1440 m asl, on the Umbria-Marche Apennines, west of the Sibillini mountains. The climax zone of Quercus pubescens characterises the vegetation of the hill level, whereas the climax zone of Fagus silvatica characterises that of the mountain level. The grass vegetation belongs to the phytosociologic Cynosurion and Xenobromion alliance; shrubs and trees belong to Orno-Ostryon and Eu-Fagion. The following herpetologic species are the most representative of the area: Salamandrina terdigitata, Hydromantes italicus and Elaphe quatuorlineata.

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Podarcis sicula is widespread in Italy; it is mainly distributed in the peninsula and in Sicily where the species is eurytopic. A huge number of subspecies have been described. One of the most famous and the first that has been described is P. s. coerulea of the Faraglioni di Capri, just off the Gulf of Naples. In the present paper the morphology of these populations has been studied and the data have been analysed using multivariate statistical analysis. The analysis showed a clear differentiation between the two Faraglioni rocks and the other islets, while the two Faraglioni rocks’ populations resulted almost identical to each other.

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The ecological theory of island biogeography suggests that mainland populations should be more genetically divergent from those on large and distant islands rather than from those on small and close islets. Some island populations do not evolve in a linear way, but the process of divergence occurs more rapidly because they undergo a series of phenotypic changes, jointly known as the Island Syndrome. A special case is Reversed Island Syndrome (RIS), in which populations show drastic phenotypic changes both in body shape, skin colouration, age of sexual maturity, aggressiveness, and food intake rates. The populations showing the RIS were observed on islets nearby mainland and recently raised, and for this they are useful models to study the occurrence of rapid evolutionary change. We investigated the timing and mode of evolution of lizard populations adapted through selection on small islets. For our analyses, we used an ad hoc model system of three populations: wildtype lizards from the mainland and insular lizards from a big island (Capri, Italy), both Podarcis siculus siculus not affected by the syndrome, and a lizard population from islet (Scopolo) undergoing the RIS (called P. s. coerulea because of their melanism). The split time of the big (Capri) and small (Scopolo) islands was determined using geological events, like sealevel rises. To infer molecular evolution, we compared five complete mitochondrial genomes for each population to reconstruct the phylogeography and estimate the divergence time between island and mainland lizards. We found a lower mitochondrial mutation rate in Scopolo lizards despite the phenotypic changes achieved in approximately 8,000 years. Furthermore, transcriptome analyses showed significant differential gene expression between islet and mainland lizard populations, suggesting the key role of plasticity in these unpredictable environments.

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The ecological theory of island biogeography suggests that mainland populations should be more genetically divergent from those on large and distant islands rather than from those on small and close islets. Some island populations do not evolve in a linear way, but the process of divergence occurs more rapidly because they undergo a series of phenotypic changes, jointly known as the Island Syndrome. A special case is Reversed Island Syndrome (RIS), in which populations show drastic phenotypic changes both in body shape, skin colouration, age of sexual maturity, aggressiveness, and food intake rates. The populations showing the RIS were observed on islets nearby mainland and recently raised, and for this they are useful models to study the occurrence of rapid evolutionary change. We investigated the timing and mode of evolution of lizard populations adapted through selection on small islets. For our analyses, we used an ad hoc model system of three populations: wildtype lizards from the mainland and insular lizards from a big island (Capri, Italy), both Podarcis siculus siculus not affected by the syndrome, and a lizard population from islet (Scopolo) undergoing the RIS (called P. s. coerulea because of their melanism). The split time of the big (Capri) and small (Scopolo) islands was determined using geological events, like sealevel rises. To infer molecular evolution, we compared five complete mitochondrial genomes for each population to reconstruct the phylogeography and estimate the divergence time between island and mainland lizards. We found a lower mitochondrial mutation rate in Scopolo lizards despite the phenotypic changes achieved in approximately 8,000 years. Furthermore, transcriptome analyses showed significant differential gene expression between islet and mainland lizard populations, suggesting the key role of plasticity in these unpredictable environments.

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Animals living on small islands are more drastically exposed to environmental changes, such as food or water starvation, and rapid temperature shifts. Facing such conditions, and probably thank to adaptive plasticity mechanisms, some animals display a Reversed Island Syndrome (RIS), a suite of traits, including skin pigmentation, voracity, sexual dimorphism, showed differently from mainland relatives. Here, we analyse a so far poorly explored aspect of RIS: the effect of this on the microbiota composition of host Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus), strongly influenced by the animal’s lifestyle, and conditioning the same. We compare mainland and island populations, assessing the difference between their microbial communities and their response under unexpected food, experimentally provided. Our observations showed a significant difference in microbiota communities between island and mainland groups, depended mainly from changes in relative abundance of the shared genera (difference due to decrease/increase). Exposure to experimental diet regimes resulted into significative reshaping of bacterial composition of microbiota and a greater variation in body mass only in the island population. Our results could be an evidence that gut microbial community contributes to adaptive plasticity mechanisms of island lizards under RIS to efficiently respond to unexpected changes.

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The majority of environmental pollutants are potential peroxisomal proliferators which include a heterogeneous group of compounds known to determine massive peroxisomal proliferation and hepatocarcinogenesis in rodents. Peroxisomal proliferation is accompanied by the induction of the peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation pathway mediated by a class of transcription factors named peroxisome proliferators activated receptors (PPARs). This phenomenon demonstrated also in ectotherm animals after exposition to environmental pollutants may be utilized as biomarker in environmental impact studies. In the present work we have tested the sensitivity to methyl thiophanate (TM) of the lizard Podarcis sicula in order to propose a biological model for monitoring the ecotoxicological effects of this pesticide on terrestrial sentinel species. The data obtained demonstrate that exposition to sub-lethal concentrations of TM leads to hepatocellular morphological changes and glycogen depletion, apoptosis, as well as probable peroxisomal proliferation attested by the increase of acyl-CoA oxidase (AOX). This effect seems to be mediated by the concomitant increase of PPARalpha. On the basis of these results we propose that also in Podarcis sicula, as just proposed for aquatic organisms, peroxisomal proliferation and AOX increase may be considered new biomarkers to evaluate pollution by organic compound in terrestrial environments.

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Podarcis melisellensis (Dalmatian wall lizard) and Podarcis siculus (Italian wall lizard) are related lizard species of family Lacertidae. Field and laboratory research have demonstrated that P. melisellensis is being competitively excluded by P. siculus, especially on small islands. Besides differences in size and diet, one of the reasons for the endangerment of P. melisellensis might be a difference in behavior, which is primarily regulated through monoamine neurotransmitter systems. The aim of this thesis was adaptation of the current method for measurement of serotonin concentrations in the rat brain by HPLC for measurements in the lizard brain, and search for the potential difference in serotonin concentrations as a possible neurobiological background of the observed differences in behavior. The method was successfully adapted for measurements in the lizard brain with optimal pH of 2,8, and injection volume of the sample of 30 mL. Linearity and selectivity of the method, as well as daily reproducibility was satisfactory. Serotonin concentrations in the brains of P. melisellensis i P. siculus, did not significantly differ. Gender difference was also not significant. We can therefore assume that previously observed differences in behavior might be induced primarily by differences in catecholamine levels in the brains of the two lizard species.

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Two species of lacertid lizards, Italian Wall Lizards (= “Ruin” Lizards), Podarcis sicula, and Common Wall Lizards, P. muralis, have been successfully introduced into at least 7 urban and suburban locations in North America, all close to the same general latitudes as their native ranges. The Pennsylvania Podarcis population is apparently extinct but the other Podarcis are expanding their new ranges. Extant Podarcis populations have been studied to a limited extent, and their date of origin, number of released individuals, and source population can be reliably estimated. A third species, Western Green Lacertas, Lacerta bilineata, has been introduced to Kansas, USA but is apparently not spreading.
Whereas other lizard species have been successfully introduced in the southern United States, these lacertid populations are the only successful introductions of lizards into temperate North America. It is not coincidental that they are restricted to urban and suburban areas. Few native North American lizards exploit urban habitats above 35o latitude, so lacertids encounter few native competitors. These lacertid species thrive in urban/suburban areas in southern Europe, and are common commensals with humans there because they are diet and habitat generalists that quickly habituate to new environmental conditions, including the presence of humans. They are also apparently well adapted to the specialized guild of potential predators that inhabit urban areas in both their native and new habitats.

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We surveyed all four extant North America populations of introduced Podarcis (Podarcis muralis and Podarcis sicula) for helminths and hematozoans; both parasite groups infect these lizards in their native European habitats. We found only small numbers of helminths and no hematozoans. We conclude that either these two Podarcis species did not bring many parasites with them, appropriate intermediate hosts are lacking, or that these populations have not been in North America long enough for new parasite faunas to become established.

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Italian wall lizards (Podarcis sicula campestris) were introduced to Long Island, New York, in 1967 and have subsequently spread through many urban and suburban communities. Their ability to spread further may be limited by their ability to tol- erate the relatively cold winters of New York. We found that these lizards were able to sur vive cold temperatures by supercooling if they were kept dr y. However, if freezing was initiated as would be expected under shallow hibernation conditions, these lizards froze and died rapidly. We speculate that Podarcis sicula must hibernate below soil freezing depth, estimated at greater than 24 cm deep, to sur vive.

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We studied the food habits of the Italian wall lizard, Podarcis sicula, that was introduced to Long Island, New York in 1966. We recovered 436 prey items from 96 lizards. There was no significant relationship between the percentage of lizards without prey items and date of capture. On average, females had significantly more prey items per lizard, lower overall prey diversity and lower prey evenness, than did males. This suggests important dif- ferences in foraging habits between the sexes. We found remarkably high similarity between prey species diversity for the Long Island and two of four European populations. There was no correlation between prey size and either head width or snout-vent length of the lizards.

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Lizard behaviour can be influenced by ultimate forces such as adaptation and phylogeny, and proximate forces such as temperature and rainfall, Italian wall lizards (Podarcis sicula campestris) were successfully introduced into two locations in the USA, both at latitudes similar to their probable sources in Italy. Behavioral differences between native and introduced populations are likely due to proximate forces. From 1999-2000, we documented the seasonal and diel behaviour of wall lizards in New York. We observed a bimodal activity pattern during the summer and a unimodal activity pattern in spring and fall, which has been reported for native populations in Italy. Unlike Italian populations, New York lizards were completely inactive during winter months, which is probably due to the much lower minimum winter temperatures in New York.

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In seasons 2003 and 2004 we examined 312 individuals of lacertid lizards for ectoparasites in central and southwestern Slovenia. Collected were 538 Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acarina, Ixodidae) (71.7% larvae and 28.3% nimfae) on 103 lizards (33.0%). The region of forelimbs (armpit) was the most preferred attachment site of ticks. Most infested were lizards living near woods, least infested those living in areas with no vegetation coverage. Males were more infested than females, but only in the spring time. Lizards living in the submediterranean area were significantly less infested than lizards in areas with continental climate. We noticed a certain dynamics in the number of larval and nymphal stages throughout the season. The Green Lizard (Lacerta viridis complex) was the most infested lizard species (77.4% infestation), and the Italian Wall Lizard (Podarcis sicula) was the least infested (11.1% infestation). There was only a weak correlation between lizard size and tick number. We also noticed 1101 parasitic mites (subclass Acarina, excluding Ixodida) infesting 25.9% of lizards. Some mites were collected and later identified as Ophionyssus lacertinus and Ericotrombidium sp. (Trombiculidae). The Italian Wall Lizard (Podarcis sicula) was most infested lizard species with parasitic mites (76.7% infestation). The majority of parasitic mites was concentrated in the region of hind legs, under belly scales and on the tail. There was no statistically significant difference in infestation in various habitats or between males and females. Lizards living in the submediterranean area were significantly more infested than lizards in areas with continental climate (exactly the opposite as infestation with ticks). These are the first data on parasitic mites on lacertid lizards in Slovenia.

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We present the results of a two year field survey on the herpetofauna of the Poggi di Prata area in Central Italy. A total of 2,653 records were made on nine Amphibian and sixteen Reptile species. Eleven species had not been recorded before. Bombina pachypus has not been observed since 2004 and represents a conservation concern. Among the main threats to the local herpetofauna, we consider the filling-in of the ponds, the abandonment of the traditional agricultural practices, road kills, killings of snakes by lay people, fish introductions and, possibly, climate change.

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Preliminary description of a new microinsular Italian wall lizard from Dino Island (Thyrrhenian Sea; Calabria): Podarcis sicula amparoae n. subsp.

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Remarks on some reptiles from Apulia (SE Italy), especially on Coluber viridi­flavus, and description of two new microinsular subspecies: Coluber viridiflavus antoniimanueli from S. Andrea Island, near Gallipoli, and Podarcis sicula aemiliani from the Apani Rocks, near Brindisi.

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This paper reports the isolation and characterization of twoHindIII repetitive DNA families from the genome of two lacertid lizards,Podarcis sicula andLacerta saxicola. These satellites did not appear to be related to each other. The consensus sequences of their monomeric units did not show any similarity, though both DNAs were A-T rich. Moreover, each of them was found only in closely related species. The monomeric unit of theHindIII DNA family isolated fromP. sicula (pLHS) showed a close resemblance to pLCS, a centromeric satellite DNA previously isolated from the same species; it was, however, mainly localized at pericentromeric, interstitial and telomeric levels. The results also provide interesting information on the systematics of the lacertids studied.

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The increasing use of pesticides in modern agriculture has raised the need to evaluate their potential threat to animal and human health. In the present study, the genotoxic effects of environmentally relevant exposure to the fungicide thiophanate-methyl (TM) were assessed in the lizard Podarcis sicula (Reptilia, Lacertidae) using micronucleus test, chromosome aberration analysis and single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. The number of micronuclei increased significantly with exposure time in lizard specimens exposed to 1.5% TM for 30–40 days. In situ hybridization with the specific HindIII centromeric satellite was positive in 18.7% of the micronuclei observed, suggesting an aneugenic effect of TM during mitosis. DNA damage, evaluated by the comet assay, documented a significant gain in comet length in relation to exposure time that was paralleled by a reduction in head size. Finally, cytogenetic analysis showed a significant increase in chromosome aberrations in exposed animals compared with controls. Our data suggest that long-term TM exposure induces a genomic damage that is positively correlated to exposure time. If such genotoxic effects arise so clearly in an ectothermal vertebrate, such as P. sicula, prolonged exposure TM must be considered as a cytogenetic hazard.

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Cytological and molecular evidence is provided to characterize the sex chromosomes of several species of Lacertidae. Observations on pachytene and lampbrush stages show that sex chromosomes have different condensation cycles and are only partially paired during meiosis. Bkm probe hybridization to Pst I-treated genomic DNA of Podarcis sicula and Lacerta vivipara shows the same pattern both in males and females. In situ hybridization of the same probe to Lacerta vivipara chromosomes shows no preferential localization of this DNA sequence. The results obtained clearly exclude the possible involvement of Bkm in sex-chromosome differentiation in the species investigated.

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A detailed study on the genome of the lizard P. sicula has been carried out using restriction enzyme analysis followed by identification and cloning of a repetitive DNA fraction. The results show that P. sicula generally possesses a quite homogeneous genome composition, with a single tandemly repetitive sequence family that is easily visualized after digestion of genomic DNA with Taq I. The cloned repeating unit of this satellite (260 bp) has been designed pLCSl. In-situ hybridisation shows that this satellite is localized in the centromeric region. Dot blot experiments show that sequences similar to pLCSl are present in other species of the same family of lizards.

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DMRT genes encode a large family of transcription factors which share an unusual cysteine-rich DNA-binding motif, the DM domain. DM family members have been studied in the context of sexual development; in particular, the DMRT1 gene appeared to be the one most directly involved in sex determination, but its activity is largely unexplored and possible downstream targets of this factor have yet to be identified. DMRT1 of the lacertid lizard Podarcis sicula (PsDMRT1) was isolated as a model to study differential gene expression during the seasonal reproductive cycle of an ectothermal species. The adult testis of P. sicula exhibits full activity in spring, complete regression in summer and a slow autumnal recrudescence without spermiation. We cloned a 591-bp partial ORF of the PsDMRT1 fragment, whose putative amino acid sequence contains the conserved DM domain. Northern blot analysis of mRNA from different tissues of P. sicula individuals captured in spring demonstrated DMRT1 transcripts only in testis. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization experiments showed peak PsDMRT1 expression in spring, lower expression in autumn and no expression during the period of gonad regression. A possible correlation between androgen level variations and PsDMRT1 transcripts is hypothesized and discussed. Finally, data showed that PsDMRT1 is expressed only in spermatogenic cells, before the second meiotic division, suggesting that its role is confined to the proliferation and maintenance of spermatogonia and spermatocytes.

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Podarcis sicula is an opportunistic and eurikous lacertid lizard occurring as autochthon species in peninsular Italy, Sicily and in a number of Tyrrhenian islands and islets (HENLE & KLAVER 1986). It inhabits also the Adriatic coast of Yugosla- via and several Adriatic islands (NEVO et al. 1972). Distributional and genetic data indicate that in some Tyrrhenian islands, e.g. Sardinia, Corsica, Tuscan Archipelago, this lizard has been accidentally introduced by man in proto-historic or historic times, invading the range of other Podarcis species (e.g., P. tiliguerta, P. muralis) (LANZA 1983, 1988, CORTI et al. 1989). In these islands the allochthon P. sicula seems to have competed successfully with the native congeneric species, reducing their range (e.g., P. tiliguerta in Corsica and Sardinia) (LANZA 1983, 1988), or replacing them through competitive exclusion (e.g., P. muralis in the Tuscan Archipelago) (CORTI et al. 1989). In the present paper preliminary data are given on the occurrence of exclusion of P. wagleriana by P. sicula in the Aeolian Islands (Sicily). P. wagleriana is endemic to Sicily, Aegadian, Stagnone (Isola Grande) and Aeolian Islands, and has been traditionally considered closely related to P . sicula.

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An allozyme survey revealed instances of natural hybridization between Podarcis sicula and P. wagleriana from the Aegadian and Aeolian islands (Sicily). Pure specimens of both species together with F1 hybrids were found on Vulcano (Aeolian Islands) and Marettimo (Aegadian Islands). Limited evidence of backcrossing was detected on Marettimo. The two hybrid zones were interpreted as secondary overlap zones, being due to the relatively recent extension of the range of P. sicula into the peripheral range of P. wagleriana. On both islands, hybrids were found only in areas of habitat disturbance. At Lipari (Aeolian Islands) some specimens morphologically recognized as P. sicula had an ldh-1 allele typical of P. wagleriana, although the latter species is not known from the island. This may result from past hybridization and introgression, followed by the extinction of P. wagleriana on the island. Natural hybridization between P. sicula and P. wagleriana was not evidenced on the island of Favignana and in Sicily.

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Allozyme electrophoresis was used to study the genetic variability (proportion of polymorphic loci and heterozygosity) in insular populations (Corsica, Elba, Montecristo, Marettimo, Pantelleria) of the lacertid lizard Podarcis sicula. These populations were presumed to have originated from episodes of accidental anthropogenic introduction. In order to test the hypothesis of a man-aided colonization and to provide comparative data, heterozygosity and polymorphism were also estimated in autochthonous populations ofP. sicula from the Italian peninsula and Sicily. In each case, the presumed introduced population showed levels of genetic variability significantly lower than those detected in the autochthonous ones. Very little genetic differentiation was found among native and presumed colonist populations, Nei`s standard genetic distances ranging from 0.001 to 0.009. These results strongly support the hypothesis thatP. sicula was only recently introduced to the studied islands, and provide additional evidence of reduced genetic variability due to founder effect in insular populations originating from episodes of human transportation.

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The electrophoretic variation at 26 presumptive gene loci was investigated in populations of the closely related species Podarcis sicula, P. wagleriana, P. raffonei, and P. filfolensis. Low values of proportion of polymorphic loci (P) and mean observed heterozygosity (Ho) were found in P. sicula (P= 0.10; Ho= 0.016), P. wagleriana (P= 0.13; Ho= 0.029), and P. raffonei (P= 0.08; Ho= 0.017), while higher levels of genetic variability were observed in P. filfolensis (P= 0.17; Ho= 0.054). In the latter species, a multiple regression analysis was carried out in order to analyse the geographic correlates of P and Ho. The results of this analysis were consistent with the predictions of the time-divergence theory of variation, supporting the conclusion that directional selection is the main force eroding genetic variation on small islands. Intraspecific values of Nei`s (1972) standard genetic distance were relatively low in P. sicula (average D= 0.024), P. wagleriana (average D= 0.004), and P. filfolensis (average D= 0.012), while higher in P. raffonei (D= 0.040). The lizards from Pantellena Island, which were considered by BISCHOFF (1986) to be very similar to P. filfolensis from Malta on the basis of a superficial analysis of the coloration pattern, were shown to actually belong to P. sicula. This confirms that the range of P. filfolensis only includes the Maltese Archipelago, Linosa Island, and the islet of Lampione. Surprisingly, the samples of P. filfolensis from the Pelagie Islands (Linosa and Lampione) were very similar to those from the Maltese Archipelago (average D= 0.016). This could be explained by rafting or anthropogenic introduction of P. filfolensis on Linosa and Lampione. Podarcis wagleriana and P. raffonei were genetically related (average D= 0.152), confirming the results of previous electrophoretic investigations. Podarcis filfolensis, though showing some morphological affinity with P. wagleriana, was genetically highly differentiated from this latter species (average D= 0.526), while being more similar to P. sicula (average D= 0.306). This indicates a close relationship between P. sicula and P. filfolensis, suggesting that P. sicula and P. filfolensis probably diverged from a common ancestor, and that the apparent similarity between P. filfolensis and P. wagleriana could be merely due to morphological convergence.

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An allozyme survey revealed instances of natural hybridi zation between Podarci s sicula and P. tiliguerta from a locality of southern Sardinia. Pure specimens of both species together with some F1 hybri ds were found, but no evi dence of backcrossing was detected. The hybrid specimens appeared morphologically intermediate between the parent species. The absence of backcrossed individuals indicate that free interbreeding between the two species is unlikely. Hybrids were found in areas of habitat disturbance only.

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In the present paper the occurrence of cannibalism, unusual predation on small reptiles [Hemidactylus turcicus (Reptilia, Gekkonidae)], and foraging on small mammal carrion [Suncus etruscus (Mammalia, Soricidae)] by P. siculus is reported.

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The genetic structure and heterogeneity of Podarcis sicula (Reptilia, Lacertidae) was studied in insular (Pontine Archipelago) and mainland (central and southern Italy) populations by means of allozyme electrophoresis at 20 presumptive gene loci. Genetic variability in the species is low and genetic subdivision is high. The highest values of percent polymorphism and heterozygosity were found in the samples from the southernmost part of Italy (Calabria). The insular samples from the Pontine Archipelago were characterized by loss of alleles and erosion of genetic variability. Population heterogeneity analysis carried out by the estimation of Wright`s F-statistics demonstrated substantial genetic differentiation among populations. F-statistics and genetic distance data show that genetic variation is distributed into three population groups. The first group includes the genetically very similar populations from central Italy and the Pontine Archipelago, the second includes the populations from Campania (southern Italy), the third comprises the populations from the southernmost part of the Italian Peninsula (Calabria). Based on the results of the allozyme data, the systematic status of the subspecies of P. sicula occurring in the studied areas is discussed.

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Landmark based geometric morphometrics was applied to the analysis of the cephalic scales of three phylogenetically related lacertid lizards (Podarcis raffonei, P. sicula, P. wagleriana) from some islands of the central Mediterranean area in order to assess the pattern of geographic variation and the phenetic relationships among and within the three species. Twenty nine homologous landmarks were recorded on the half configuration of the cephalic scales. To compare geometric and biometric patterns of variation and to evaluate any static allometry, seven biometric measurements were also recorded on the whole body. The three species significantly differ from each other in both shape and size of the skull. The shape of the Sopraocular and the Parietal scales appears to be highly diagnostic and species-specific. The analysis of intraspecific variation in shape of the cephalic scales indicates that P. sicula is the less variable species within the studied geographic area, whereas Podarcis raffonei is the most variable species both in size and shape. Podarcis raffonei is characterized by a divergent allometric pattern, likely related to the small population size and highly fragmented geographic range of the species.

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Podarcis siculus is a lacertid lizard characterised by considerable variability in coloration pattern. In this species underside is usually whitish or greyish, always without dark spots. However, in some small island populations from Italy individuals can be allochromatic, i.e. completely black (melanic), bluish, or with a blue belly (e.g. the famous “blue lizard” – P. siculus coerulea - from Faraglione di Fuori and Faraglione di Mezzo islets, near Capri Island, Campania, southern Italy). It must be noted that, in some cases at least, melanic individuals can be observed also in continental areas (e.g. Roscigno, Campania, southern Italy). The evolutionary significance of the allochromatic patterns is still unclear, and some hypotheses were done to explain their origin. In this study several small island populations of P. siculus from Campania (southern Italy) were surveyed to point out the occurrence of allochromatic individuals. The islands and islets on which the investigations were carried out are the following: Camerota, Capri, Castello Aragonese, Castelluccia, Faraglione di Fuori, Faraglione di Mezzo, Gallo Lungo, Ischia, Licosa, Monacone, Nisida, Procida, Punta Pennata, Rovigliano, Scoglio di S. Anna, Vetara, Vivara. In addition, several continental areas were also surveyed in order to find out allochromatic individuals. We were able to find individuals with bluish underside on the following islands: Castelluccia, Camerota, Faraglione di Mezzo, Faraglione di Fuori, Licosa, and Monacone Vetara. On the Castello Aragonese Islet no allochromatic individual was found but one with a dark-grey underside. Individuals with bluish underside were also observed in some continental localities of the Salerno province (Capaccio, Marina di Camerota, Paestum, Palinuro, Punta Licosa, Sapri). The allochromatic individuals were often found together with individuals characterized by whitish underside. Based on present data and literature on P. siculus, allochromatic patterns seem to be relatively widespread in Campania, while are not known at all in populations from central and northern Italy. In Campania individuals with bluish or dark underside were observed both on small islands and on some continental areas. However, in continental areas the frequency of allochromatic individuals seems to be lower than on islands. It is noteworthy that the P. siculus populations from Campania, which are characterized by a high degree of phenotypic plasticity also in the pattern of the upper parts, have levels of genetic variability higher than those found in the morphologically low variable populations from central and northern Italy.

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Several investigations and an Atlas project (Progetto Atlante degli Anfibi e Rettili del Molise) were carried out from 2003 to 2007 to assess the occurrence and distribution of Amphibians and Reptiles in the Molise region (Central Italy). Information on the distribution of the species in the study area, habitat types, seasonal activity and other aspects of the species biology were collected and recorded in a database. Data concerning the species occurrence were mapped on a 10x10 km square basis, according to a UTM grid system, such as those utilized in other Italian atlas projects devoted to the analysis of flora and fauna. The study area (Molise) was divided into 71 squared units. About 379 records (1 record = 1 species per 1 locality) were collected to define the present distribution of the 31 species which resulted to occur in the study area to date. All species are native to the area but one, i.e the red-eared turtle (Trachemys scripta), which was introduced in recent years and is native to North America. Amphibians were represented by 13 species: five salamanders (Salamandra salamandra, Salamandrina perspicillata, Lissotriton italicus, L. vulgaris, Triturus carnifex) and eight anurans (Bombina pachypus, Bufo bufo, Pseudepidalea cfr. viridis, Hyla intermedia, Rana dalmatina, R. italica, Pelophylax bergeri, P. kl. bispanicus). Green frogs are represented by a synklepton, i.e. a pair of taxa formed by an hybridogenetic species (Pelophylax kl. bispanicus) and a parental one (P. bergeri). Reptiles consisted of 18 species: four turtles (Eurotestudo bermanni, Emys orbicularis, Trachemys scripta, Caretta caretta), seven lizards (Hemidactylus turcicus, Tarentola mauritanica, Anguis fragilis, Lacerta bilineata, Podarcis muralis, P. sicula, Chalcides chalcides) and seven snakes (Hierophis viridiflavus, Coronella austriaca, Zamenis longissimus, Elaphe quatuorlineata, Natrix natrix, N. tessellata, Vipera aspis). Based both on literature and biogeographic data Coronella girondica, Zamenis lineatus, and Vipera ursinii also probably occur in Molise, but these species were not recorded to date and their occurrence should be confirmed by further investigation.

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nvestigations carried out in the Aeolian Islands (off north-east Sicily) during 1989–99 gathered evidence strongly indicating that the endemic Aeolian wall lizard Podarcis raffonei is close to extinction. Competitive exclusion by the lizard Podarcis sicula, which has been introduced by man, habitat degradation, and possibly reduced genetic variability and inbreeding, were the main causes for the decline of the species. For the Aeolian wall lizard to recover from its threatened status and to prevent further decimation of populations, collection and trade in the species should be prohibited, and an education programme for local people should be promoted. An integrated project involving habitat protection and captive breeding is needed to secure the species in the wild for the future.

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The authors have studied the Amphibians and Reptiles of the Fer-riere Valley (Amalfi, SA), a locality near Amalfi on the Sorrentine Peninsula, where flows the torrent Ceraso. This area is peculiar from a climatic point of view, favou-ring the survival of Woodwardìa radicans (L.) Sm (Filicopsida, Blechnaceae), a relict of the Tertiary period. The following species were found: Salamandra salamandra, Salamandrina ter digitata, Bufo bufo, Rana dal mat ina, Rana graeea, Tarentola mauri-tanica, Lacerto viridis, Podarcis sicula, Coluber virìdiflavus, Elaphe longissima, Elaphe quatuorlineata, Natrix natrix, Vipera aspis. The phytogeografìc and faunistic impor-tance of biotope is emphasized.

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The effects of the fungicide methyl thiophanate (MT) on testis were determined in the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis sicula) using morphological and molecular analyzes. Three experimental trials were performed: an acute test using six doses, a two-week chronic test, and “ecotoxicological” exposure (3 weeks). The minimal lethal dose (LD50) of pure MT, reached by the acute test, was 100 mg/kg body weight. Testicular histopathology of surviving animals showed a reduced lumen and several multinucleated giant cells 24 h after injection followed by large decreases in spermatogonia (72%) and secondary spermatocytes (58%) and a loss of spermatids and sperms 7 days after. In the chronic test, a dose equivalent to 1/100 of LD50 was injected on alternate days. Complete shutting of the lumen and a great decrease in spermatogonia (82%) were observed. In “ecotoxicological” exposure, achieved with a commercial MT compound, testis showed a decrease in primary spermatocytes (20%) and several vacuoles. An increase in germ cell apoptosis was observed in all experimental groups using TUNEL assay. A decrease in expression of androgen and estrogen receptor (AR and ER) mRNAs was seen in all experimental groups. The reduction in AR and ER mRNAs was correlated to exposure time. Indeed, in the “ecotoxicological” treatment (30 days), the decrease reached 82 and 90% for AR and ER mRNAs, respectively. These data strongly indicate that treatment with MT, damaging the seminiferous epithelium and decreasing steroid receptor expression, might render exposed lizards infertile.

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The insecticide imidacloprid was evaluated under laboratory conditions in the adult male Italian wall lizards (Podarcis sicula) to assess its potential toxicity. By an acute oral test, LD50 was 503.76 mg/kg. Changes in spermatogenesis, plasma sex hormone levels and androgen and oestrogen receptor mRNAs were analysed by subchronic test and simulated environmental exposure. 15-days subchronic test, in which lizards were orally dosed on alternate days at 0, 10, 50, 100 mg/kg bw, showed a dose-dependent changes of testicular architecture and an increase of apoptotic processes. In a 30-days simulated environmental exposure spermatogenesis was arrested at secondary spermatocyte level and only few primary spermatocytes were TUNEL-positive. In all experimental groups imidacloprid was able to decrease both the level of sex hormones and the steroid receptor mRNAs. The results demonstrate that imidacloprid affects reproduction function of male lizards therefore precautions must be taken to minimize the harmful effects of this compound

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Recently, increasing importance has been attached to the role of estrogens and their receptors in male reproduction, since they have been found to be abundant in the male reproductive tract. In the lizard, Podarcis sicula, a seasonal breeder, estrogens seem to be involved in the regulation of testicular activity. Particularly, it has been hypothesized that the block of spermatogenesis and the complete regression of the epididymis and other secondary sexual characters (SSCs) in autumn might be due to high estrogen levels. To investigate the role of estrogens in the reproductive process of male lizards, we utilized Fadrozole ((AI) [4-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazole [1,5-a] pyridin-5-yl)-benzonitrile monohydrochloride] (CGS 16949A)), a nonsteroidal inhibitor of aromatase, the enzyme involved in the aromatization of androgens to estrogens, evaluating its effects on plasma sex-hormone release, spermatogenesis and epididymis morphology. For this purpose, adult male lizards, captured during the autumnal recrudescence, were intraperitoneally injected with 0.5 g and 5 g/g/body weight of AI for 15 and 30 days. In the animals treated with the higher AI dose, estrogen levels decreased if compared to the control groups, whereas androgen levels increased. Furthermore, histologic sections of testes and epididymes showed that the 30-day treatment with AI-induced spermatogenesis resumption with release of sperms into the large lumen of the seminiferous tubules, and the epididymes appeared more developed with moderately secreting columnar canal cells. Therefore, it is proposed that failure of spermatogenesis in autumn might be due to high estrogen levels.

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In reptiles, many researches have been conducted to explain testicular function and its control. Using biochemicam and/or immunological studies various neuropeptides, as gonadotrophin-releasing hormones (GnRHs), ß-endorphin (ß-EP) and neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY) have been identified in the gonads of the lizard Podarcis sicula Raf.. The aim of the present study was to explore, by an in vitro system, the influence of these neuropeptides on testicular endocrine activity during different periods of the sexual cycle of the lizard Podarcis sicula. The results have demonstrated that in the lizard testis the various GnRH forms (chicken I, chicken II, and salmon) do not significantly modify then total amount of produced testosterone but influence the intra- and extra-testicular partitioning of the hormone. The ß-EP does not participate in intratesticular paracrine mechanisms involving the regulation of androgen secretion, but could act only at pituitary level to regulate the seasonal reproductive activity. On the contrary, NPY might be able to stimulate locally androgen release from the lizard testis. These data suggest that these substances, by acting as paracrine and/or autocrine factors, might modulate the testicular endocrine function in adult lizard Podarcis sicula.

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Plasma vitellogenin and 17β-estradiol concentration were determined during the annual reproductive cycle of the female lizard Podarcis s. sicula Raf. living around Naples. Plasma vitellogenin was purified from estrogenized males for characterization and to raise specific immune serum. Using ELISA, plasma vitellogenin titers were determined in relation to ovary weight; plasma 17β-estradiol was measured by RIA method. Native vitellogenin was present as two polypeptide bands: α and β. The electrophoretic patterns, studied in normal male and estrogenized male and female, showed vitellogenin to be a protein present in female and in estrogenized male plasma but not in normal males. Lizard monomeric VTG, determined by SDS-PAGE, was about 200 kDa. Correlations between seasonal ovarian weight variations and plasma vitellogenin and 17β-estradiol suggest that ovarian development in Podarcis depends on plasma vitellogenin synthesis, which in turn relies on plasma estradiol levels. The two ovulatory waves observed in this study coincided with the two peak values of plasma vitellogenin and 17β-estradiol.

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In Podarcis sicula specialized follicle cells send reserve materials to the previtellogenic oocyte via intercellular bridges. Immediately before the onset of vitellogenesis this transferring becomes particularly massive so that the cell volume significantly reduces, meanwhile in the nucleus the morphological alterations typical of apoptosis appear. To clarify why these follicle cells are not simply fully resorbed by the oocyte and to determine whether their DNA is discarded or recycled, we carried out a series of morphological and biochemical investigations. The finding that large macromolecular scaffolds are formed and that these are able to retain the DNA until it is extensively cut by two different endonucleases suggests that regression of the follicle cells is programmed and that the fate of their DNA is strictly controlled. Following its genetical neutralization via fragmentation, the DNA is apparently recycled by being transferred into the oocyte via the intercellular bridges, that, in fact, remain open until the very late stages of cell regression. The small DNA fragments reaching the oocyte cytoplasm would not interfere with meiosis completion but could significantly contribute to the stock of reserve materials to the advantage of the growing oocyte and/or developing embryo.

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Lizard thermoregulation is costly and is largely behavioural. Podarcis raffonei, endemic of few islets of the Aeolian archipelago (southern Italy), is one of the most threatened lizards in Europe, its survival being under threat also due to the presence of the congeneric P. siculus, a successful invader characterised by behavioural plasticity and effectiveness and precision at regulating body temperature (Tb). We tested whether thermoregulation behaviour diverges between the two species by analysing (i) the heating rates under a standard thermal condition, and (ii) the temperature at which lizards ended basking (Tfinal) along a thermal gradient. Overall, we found behavioural differences between the two lizards (i.e. P. siculus exhibited lower Tfinal), although both species had comparable heating rates and thermoregulated in the same thermal conditions. The invasive P. siculus had lower Tfinal and, since heating rates were similar between species, it expended less time basking than native P. raffonei. We speculate that the observed thermal ecology differences could provide a selective advantage to P. siculus in the harsh island environment.

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A new species of an oxyurid nematode is described from the large intestine of the lacertid lizard Podarcis sicula (Rafinesque. 1810) (Reptilia: Lacertidae) from Italy. Spauligodon aloisei n. sp. differs from other species of the genus by a combination of morphological and metrical characters, including a spined tail in males and females, absence of a spicule in males, arrangement of the last pair of the male caudal papillae, vulva location, and egg morphology. The species most similar to S. aloisei n. sp. is Spauligodon caspius Annayev, 1987, described from Tenuidactylus (=Gymnodactylus) caspius in Turkmenistan. Tail length and location of the excretory pore and vulvar opening separate S. caspius from S. aloisei n. sp. This article increases the number of species of this genus from reptiles in the Paleartic Realm to 19.

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We discuss three aspects of the thermal biology of lacertid lizards. First, we provide an overview of the available data on field body temperatures (Tb), the thermal sensitivity of various performance functions and selected body temperatures in different species of lacertid lizards. We also briefly summarise information on the mechanisms of thermoregulation. Second, we discuss recent developments to estimate the »precision« of thermoregulation, and the contribution of distinct behavioural mechanisms. Finally, we revise available evidence for the existence of evolutionary adjustments of thermal characteristics in lacertid lizards. Existing studies have mainly dealt with within- and among-species differences in thermoregulatory behaviour (selected temperatures) and thermal physiology of adults (optimal temperatures, heating rates). Available data provide only limited evidence for clear-cut evolutionary shifts in thermal physiology characteristics along climatic gradients.

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Between 1972 and 2002 the author visited regularly the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano, ascertaining the presence of 23 autochthonous (eight amphibians, two turtles, six lizards and seven snakes) and of one allochthonous (Testudo graeca) amphibian and reptile species. Their ecology and behaviour is the subject of the present contribution. Feeding. Studies on feeding have shown the trophic roles played by the different snake species to be complementary. In Castelporziano several snake species often assemble in one same site suitable for laying eggs, shedding skin, hibernating and estivating; this facilitates the egg/young eating habits of Hierophis viridifl avus, mostly at the expenses of Elaphe quatuorlineata. With the exception of Zamenis longissimus all the main snake species of the estate have been found in these sites, included Vipera aspis. Current examples of these sites are Ponte delle Rogare on the Coastal Road and the Depuratore (water purifi cation plant). Reproduction. The presence of very young Hierophis viridifl avus, Coronella austriaca and Vipera aspis in July is reported, in the fi rst case owing to precocious ovulations induced by endocrine modifi cations, released, in their turn, by autumnal matings. One such mating has been observed by the author in the locality Riserva Chiesola. Elaphe quatuorlineata showed a monogamic tendency; it seems that particular hormone conditions induce the females of these species to keep in proximity of their eggs up to september-october when they shed their skin, wich is generally sinchronous with the hatchings. This would seem to guarantee a protection against oophagic predators. Predators. A severe selective pressure on turtle eggs (both aquatic and terrestrial) by a specifi c predator (probably Martes martes) is reported. A bird of prey (probably Buteo buteo) seems to be responsible of the serious damages noticed on the head of a number of Elaphe quatuorlineata specimens. Morphology. The presence of black or very dark specimens of Zamenis longissimus is reported; lack of the superfi cial yellow pigment allows the appearance of the underlying melanophores. Such phenotypes have been found mostly in the wet area south east of Torpaterno. Their offspring are chromatically similar to the parents. The longest snake found was an Elaphe quatuorlineata _ exceeding 206 cm. Population status. Since the middle of the 80’s various types of human induced habitat changes in the estate heavily reduced the amphibian and the reptile populations. Coronella girondica and Natrix tessellata are probably extinct, Testudo hermanni, Chalcides chalcides, Coronella austriaca and Zamenis longissimus show clear signs of decline.

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We tested the ability in the ruin lizard (Podarcis siculus) to discriminate between odour of a predator (the whip snake Hierophis viridiflavus) and those from harmless sources. We analysed two lizard populations: one (PP) predated by snakes and another (PNP) where no snakes occur. We tested the rate of tongue flick directed to cotton-tips impregnated with odours, and the rate of tongue flick, the time spent in immobility, escaping and exploring the terrarium containing a diffuse odour. We used the smell of the snake as dangerous stimulus, water as blank control, and cologne as complex control. Both populations did not discriminate snake cue from complex odour in both the experiments. PP individuals were more active and prone to analysing and exploring the stimuli and the environment than PNP lizards. In PP, the higher interest towards cologne and snake scents could be triggered just by their complexity that requires more tongue flicks to be ‘analysed’, with no apparent adaptive anti-predatory value. Overall, we observed a total responsiveness and activity pattern higher in the PP respect to PNP.

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In this investigation, lizard species of Turkish Thrace are investigated indetail for the first time. Morphological characretirstics, range, distribution and subspecific states of the species are given. Furthermore, some observations concerning their biological and ecological characteristics are also given. In this study a total of 678 specimens and 10 species belonging to 3 families of Lacertilia have been investigated from Turkish Trace.

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The karyotypes of 4 european species of Lacertidae were determined in hepatic tissue cultures. The chromosomal formula typical of the Lacertidae (2n = 36M + 2 m) was found in L. muralis, L. sicula campestris and L. viridis; no morphologically differentiated sex chromosomes were identified in these 3 species. A population of L. vivipara caught in the Massif Central (France) shows the following diploid number: 2 n ~ ? = 3 2 A + Z a Z~ W, 2 n d = 3 2 A + Z ~ Z~ Z2Z2. The existence of the submetacentric W in the female karyotype can be explained by centric fusion between two non homologous telocentric chromosomes. It is possible that only some populations show this rearrangement. The finding of two types of heterogamety, XY and ZW, in the same Order contributes to our knowledge of the evolution of sex chromosomes among Vertebrates.

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The orbital glands of the lizard Podarcis s. sicula are represented by the anterior and posterior lacrimal glands and the Harderian gland. The anlage of the Harderian gland appears on about the 22nd day of development in the form of a short tubule projecting from the conjunctival epithelium. This event is coincident with the appearance of the nictitating membrane. At this stage the mesenchymal cells surrounding the glandular blastema proliferate at a high rate and form a definite sac, later occupied by both the Harderian gland and the anterior lacrimal glands. At the 26th day of development, the glandular blastema forms acini at its distal end. The prospective glandular cells are not yet differentiated histologically. At the 36th day of development, differentiated serous glandular cells become visible. At the 41st day of development, the acini fill up the preformed mesenchymal sac. Only at this stage does the most medial part of the gland differentiate into mucous-secreting anterior lacrimal gland. At the same time, a small primordium of the posterior lacrimal gland can be seen in the posterior commissure of the eye. The appearance of junctional complexes between epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells in the early developmental stages supports the role of the mesenchyme in the differentiation of the glandular cells. Since the glandular anlage differentiates laterally into Harderian gland and medially into anterior lacrimal gland, spatial and temporal differences seem to exist in the ekinductive process. Furthermore, a concentration gradient of the inductive substance(s) may be envisaged, since an intermediate zone is present between the Harderian gland and the anterior lacrimal gland, consisting of mixed glandular cells containing both mucous and serous secretory granules.

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There are always more evidences indicating that 17β-estradiol (E2) is necessary for normal male fertility. We have used a nonmammalian vertebrate model (the lizard Podarcis s. sicula) to investigate the regulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) activity in the testis during the annual sexual cycle and to study whether E2 exerts a role in the spermatogenesis through ERK1/2 activity. Immunocytochemistry analysis shows that ERK1/2 proteins are present in the nucleus of the spermatogonia (SPG), and in primary (I) spermatocytes (SPC). The annual E2 profile shows a progressive increase during the active spermatogenesis (from April to June) and a peak in the month of August (spermatogonial mitosis). In parallel, ERK1/2 (molecular weight 44 and 42 kDa, respectively) are highly phosphorylated during the period of active spermatogenesis and in post-refractory period (August) compared with the winter stasis (from November to March). Present results demonstrate that E2 treatment induces spermatogonial proliferation, possibly via the activation of ERK1/2, and this effect is counteracted by the antiestrogen ICI 182-780.

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The distribution of immunoreactive GnRH-like substances in various tissues of the lizard {Podarcis s. sicula) in relation to different phases of the sexual cycle are described. GnRH-like substances in the hypothalamic extracts decrease during the reproductive period. In the extrahypothalamic tissue, the levels of immunoreactive GnRH-like substances are highest in early spring and summer, and decrease in autumn, winter and late spring. In the other tissues (gonads, liver and small intestine), a more constant immunoreactivity has been observed. All tissue extracts stimulate the release of luteininzing hormone (LH) from chicken anterior pituitary cells. In testis this phenomenon is more evident in early spring and sum- mer; in the other tissues, two peaks of activity can be detected, in spring and in autumn. These findings suggest that GnRH-like substances could be involved in the regulation of various aspects of reproductive processes in the lacertid Podarcis s. sicula Raf.

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The effects of the proopiomelanocortin- derived opioid peptide, beta-endorphin (p-EP), and of the opioid antagonist, naloxone (NAL), on both basal and pituitary-stimulated androgen secretion from superfused quiescent and active testes were assessed in the adult lizard, Podarcis sicula. In the absence of the homologous pituitary, in vitro treatment with p-EP and/or NAL did not affect basal secretion of androgens from quiescent and active testes. Conversely, in the presence of the homologous pituitary, treatment with p-EP brought about a decrease in androgen secretion in active testes, but no effect on quiescent ones. Naloxone counteracted the inhibitory effect of p-EP in active testes, and enhanced maximal pituitary-stimulated secretion of androgens in quiescent but not in active testes. The effects produces by p-endorphin and naloxone were reversible. These results suggest that, in this lizard, opioids might be involved in the control of androgen release. The lack of effect of p-EP and naloxone when added directly to the testes seems to suggest that the opioid agonist and antagonist act on androgen release by modulating pituitary gonadotrophin output.

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The effects of various gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) forms (mammalian GnRH (mGnRH), chicken I GnRH (cGnRH-I), chicken II GnRH (cGnRH-II) and salmon GnRH (sGnRH)) on the genital apparatus and plasma testosterone level in the male lizard, Podarcis s. sicula, have been investigated. In short duration experiments (20 min to 76 h) GnRH forms did not affect testicular and epididymal morphology. A single dose (0.05 mug) of mGnRH, cGnRH-II and sGnRH, however, induced a rise in plasma testosterone after 20 to 40 min. Variable results were obtained in the animals given GnRH variants every 12 h for 3 days since mGnRH and cGnRH-I caused a decrease of circulating hormone; cGnRH-II and sGnRH a slight increase. Daily peptide administration, for 15 to 30 days, caused severe inhibition of both testicular and epididymal activity and a significant drop of circulating testosterone. In Podarcis s. sicula, species specificity of pituitary sensitivity to GnRH variants appeared to be low. On the other hand, this gland seemed to show some desensitization after chronic peptide administration.

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Phenetic relationships in insular populations of Lacerta sicula and L. melisellensis correspond to geologic ages of the islands in two regions of the Adriatic Sea. Populations of L. melisellensis on older islands are more similar to populations of L. sicula than are L. melisellensis from younger islands, and examination of characters reflecting trophic structures of these lizards suggests that convergent evolution has progressed further in the populations on older islands. A rough correspondence between phenetic similarities of populations and island sizes was investigated by means of multiple regression analyses in which geographic features of islands were used as independent variables and means of selected morphologic characters were dependent variables. Island area, length and distance to the mainland were the most important variables `explaining` interpopulation variations in measures of trophic structures, dorsal scale counts, and numbers of femoral pores in L. melisellensis. Lizards from small isolated islands generally have larger bodies, relatively wider snouts and heads, relatively longer heads, more dorsal scales, and more femoral pores than L. melisellensis from larger islands near the mainland. Larger lizards with relatively larger head dimensions on small islands are believed to be the results of adaptations to situations of reduced interspecific interactions and restricted distributions of food resources. Dorsal scale count variations may be related to climatic heterogeneity, but the evidence is inconclusive. Likewise, variations in the number of femoral pores may be related to variations in a balance between conflicting selective pressures for avoiding predation and facilitating intraspecific communication, but basic information on the functional significance of these characters is lacking. Measures of relative variation for ten meristic characters in L. melisellensis showed no significant pattern of variation, but levels of intrapopulation variation in ratios of head measurements to snoutvent lengths were generally lower in populations on small islands and higher in large island populations. Island area, length, the distance to potential sources of colonists and elevation were shown to be important variables in `explaining` geographic variations in levels of intrapopulation variability of trophic characters. Low levels of relative variation for trophic characters in populations from small isolated islands are generally associated with relatively high levels of sexual dimorphism in head width, suggesting that strong directional selection resulting from intraspecific competition for food has depleted genetic variation affecting these characters. Evidence from gene frequency data and body size distributions on small islands shows that genetic drift and founder effects complicate selectionist interpretations of these trends. The similarity of the trends identified in insular populations of Lacerta to trends identified in other insular populations of lizards suggests a generalized response of lizards to isolation.

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Thirty-one island populations of Podarcis sicula and P. melisellensis from Yugoslavia were examined to determine phenetic similarities based on means of 15 characters. Both cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling (MDS) revealed the following patterns of variation: 1) the two species formed distinct groups; 2) within each species, OTUs from northern and southern islands grouped separately; 3) within P. melisellensis, OTUs from small islands tended to resemble other small island OTUs from geographically close islands. These patterns appear to contradict similarities implied by previous subspecific designations based largely on color and pattern differences. Genetic drift, gene flow, and selection are evaluated as explanations for observed phenetic patterns. Drift appears to be highly unlikely as a major force determining regional, large island, and small island similarities among OTUs. Channel depths and estimates of the rate of net increase in sea level suggest that the northern islands are younger than the southern islands, supporting the idea that gene flow has been restricted among the southern islands and between the two regions for a longer time than among the northern islands. Combined with differences in selection regimes, the recency of gene flow appears to have been important in determining north-south phenetic similarities. Populations on small islands are exposed to qualitatively different selection regimes than those on large islands. The closer similarity of northern, small island OTUs to large island OTUs suggests that the northern OTUs have not responded to small island selection regimes to the same extent that southern island OTUs have.

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The seasonal variations of chiasma frequency and distribution have been studied in the lizard: Podareis sicula. In this species, as in Phyllodactylus (King & Hayman, Chromosoma 69: 131–154, 1978), chiasma frequencies vary following a definite annual cycle, and clearly different trends are shown by interstitial and terminal chiasmata. A comparison between these seasonal chiasma frequency variations and those of environmental temperature shows the existence of a clear correlation between these two parameters. However, this correlation is different in the two types of chiasmata, and may be different within the same type of chiasma depending on the period of the year. A more significant correlation is observed between chiasma cycles and annual variations of the haematic levels of sexual steroid hormones. In particular we observe a highly significant correlation between interstitial chiasma frequencies and testosterone concentration. A less precise correlation between terminal chiasma frequencies and estradiol concentration is also observed. In Podarcis, as in Phyllodactylus, the sperm that will be used for fertilization derive from the spermatocytes showing the highest rate of interstitial chiasmata. This supports the hypothesis that the cyclic variations in interstitial chiasma frequencies represent a mechanism to ensure an adequate level of variability in a given population. The above mentioned correlation between chiasma frequencies and steroia hormone concentrations suggests that the seasonal chiasma cycles are controlled by the same environmental and hormonal factors regulating the spermatogenetic cycle.

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Experiments involving injection of 3H-5-hydroxytryptophan (3H-5-HTP) and 3H-5-hydroxytryptamine (3H-5-HT), followed by qualitative and quantitative radioautographic studies of the region of the pineal organ in Lacerta vivipara (J.) show: 1) Inhibition of 5-HT synthesis at the decarboxylation step with Ro 4-4602 or pretreatment with reserpine reduce significantly the labelling of the sensory epithelium of the pineal organ, and change the cell labelling pattern. In contrast with the animals treated only with 3H-5-HTP, those treated with either of these drugs and 3H-5-HTP show nonspecific radioautographic reactions. 2) The cellular distribution of monoamine oxidase activity (MAO), in the pineal organ was histochemically studied in normal and in nialamide or iproniazide treated animals. Lizards treated with an IMAO (inhibitor of MAO) and 3H-5-HTP show highly significant increases in radioactivity in the regions of the secretory granules (500–3400 Å in diameter) of the secretory rudimentary photoreceptor cells (SRP). 3) From the study of normal and MAO inhibited animals after an injection of 3H-5-HT, it is concluded that this indolamine may not be easily utilized in Lacerta as a precursor of melatonin and other possible active indoles. As a result of this study and other cytophysiological and biochemical investigations on the pineal of lacertilians, a partially hypothetical diagrammatic representation of the SRP cells is presented, showing the possible sites of the metabolism of indolamines in the pineal of Lacerta.

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Lizards use chemical cues to locate and identify prey and plant food, assess the nutritional quality of food, and detect plant toxins. Among insectivorous lizards, all actively foraging species studied respond strongly to prey chemicals sampled lingually, but ambush foragers do not. Much recent research has been devoted to assessing differential responses to food and nonfood chemicals (i.e., food-chemical discrimination) by omnivorous and herbivorous species and determining whether correlated evolution has occurred between plant diet and plant-chemical discrimination. We conducted experimental studies of food-chemical discrimination by two species of teiid lizards, the omnivorous Cnemidophorus murinus and the actively foraging insectivorous Ameiva ameiva. The omnivore distinguished both prey and plant chemicals from control substances. The insectivore exhibited prey-chemical, but not plant-chemical, discrimination, as indicated by tongue-flicking and biting. A comparative analysis using concentrated-changes tests showed that correlated evolution has occurred between plant consumption and plant-chemical discrimination in a major lizard taxon, Lacertiformes. These results extend and strengthen previous findings of similar correlated evolution to a new group and add to a growing database indicating that omnivorous lizards use chemical cues to assess both prey and plant foods.

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One of Darwin`s most widely known conjectures is that prey are tame on remote islands, where mammalian predators are absent. Many species appear to permit close approach on such islands, but no comparative studies have demonstrated reduced wariness quantified as flight initiation distance (FID; i.e. predator–prey distance when the prey begins to flee) in comparison with mainland relatives. We used the phylogenetic comparative method to assess influence of distance from the mainland and island area on FID of 66 lizard species. Because body size and predator approach speed affect predation risk, we included these as independent variables. Multiple regression showed that FID decreases as distance from mainland increases and is shorter in island than mainland populations. Although FID increased as area increased in some models, collinearity made it difficult to separate effects of area from distance and island occupancy. FID increases as SVL increases and approach speed increases; these effects are statistically independent of effects of distance to mainland and island occupancy. Ordinary least-squares models fit the data better than phylogenetic regressions, indicating little or no phylogenetic signal in residual FID after accounting for the independent variables. Our results demonstrate that island tameness is a real phenomenon in lizards.

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In snakes, many of which have fairly specialized diets, there is a correspondence between diet and chemosensory responsiveness to food cues not yet demonstrated in lizards, most of which are generalist insectivores. If such a correspondence exists for plants consumed by omnivorous species, we can make two predictions. Actively foraging insectivorous lizards such as most lacertids should exhibit prey chemical discrimination, but be unresponsive to chemicals from palatable plants. Omnivorous species derived from insectivores should discriminate both prey and plant chemicals from control substances. We show in experiments testing lingual and biting responses to food cues and control stimuli that the lacertid insectivores Podarcis hispanica and Lacerta perspicillata exhibit prey, but not plant, chemical discrimination and the omnivore P.sicula discriminates both prey and plant chemicals from control substances. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that correlated evolution has occurred between plant consumption and plant chemical discrimination in lacertids, but data are needed for several more lineages of independently derived omnivores and for additional insectivores to test the hypothesis statistically.

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The author spent two nights trying to take a photo of Lacerta siCilia campestris emerging from the egg. The first night he sat up till six o`clock in the morning, only to see a young emerge with lightning speed and photogra- phing it was impossible. The second night he opened an already broken shell a little bit further, whereupon the young slowly crept out of the egg. The photos speak for them- selves. One of them is to be seen on the front- page of this issue. The last photo shows the egg-tooth of the young.

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The checklist and a provisional atlas of the amphibian and reptile species occurring in the Lepini Mountains (Latium, central Italy) are reported. Eleven species of amphibians and seventeen species of reptiles have been found in the study area. These species represent 85% of the entire central Italian herpetofauna. One species (Testudo hermanm) seems to be recently extinct probably due to over-collecting and habitat perturbance, and at present occurs in semi natural conditions only (specimens introduced by man). The dominant species are Salamandrina terdigitata, Triturus carnifex, Triturus vulgaris, Bufo bufo, Rana italica, Rana sinklepton esculenta, Lacerta viridis, Podarcis muralis, Podarcis sicula, Chalcides chalcides, Hierophis viridillavus, and Natrix natrix. From the biogeographical point of view, the most interesting species are Salamandrina terdigitata, Bombina variegata, Rana italica, Podarcis sicula, Chalcides chalcides, Elaphe quatuorlineata, and Coronella girondica.

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In addition to light microscopic studies on the hypophysis of the lizard, Lacerta s. siculaRaf., during different periods of the year, the authors of this paper explain the ultrastructure of the adenohypophysial cells of normal sexually active male lizards and of castrated lizards. On the basis of the location and the structural variations after castration several hypophysial cell types can be distinguished: Type 1 (STH) with spheroid granules (about 310 mμ diameter); type 2 with polymorphous glycoprotein granules; type 3 with small round granules (150–270 mμ diameter) and globules of about 700–800 mμ diameter (both gonadotropes). A fourth cell type with small uniform granules (diameter about 100–200 mμ has also been observed; its function is uncertain. A condensation of secretory granules in the Golgi complex and phenomena of cellular degeneration and cytolysis followed by a release of granules into the cellular interstices have been observed. In castrated animals degranulation and signs of an increased activity in the cell types 2 and 3 have been shown. In these animals the cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum become greatly distended.

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In order to study the ultrastructure of the Leydig cells in the lizard Lacerta s. siculaRaf., the AA. examined two groups of animals, namely: January specimens in hibernation and May specimens in the mating period. In the animals of the first group, the Leydig cells were scarce, small and possessed a poorly developed E.R. and small mitochondria usually presenting laminar cristae. In the specimens of the second group the interstitial cells were large and possessed a very well developed smooth E.R. arranged in a system of anastomosing tubules and vesicles; the mitochondria were numerous and large, with prevailingly tubular cristae and often with a discontinuous wall. Lipid droplets and lysosomes were also present. The observation on the ultrastructure of the Leydig cells in May specimens of Lacerta s. siculaRaf`. seems to confirm the opinion that these elements participate in the metabolism of the sexual steroids; in fact they possess ultrastructural features that are typical of steroidogenetic cells.

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The data available on the herpetofauna of the Archipelago della Maddalena are mainly based on investigations carried out during the 1980’s by the Sezione di Zoologia “La Specola” of the Museo di Storia Naturale dell’Università di Firenze. Such records have not been specifically updated successively. Here field data on the composition and distribution of the herpetofauna of the Archipelago are presented, with particular attention to the micro-insular areas for which no bibliographic data were available. Between 2011 and 2012 a total of 51 islands and islets have been visited: new records have been gained for 15 islands and islets already studied in past while on 4 the herpetofauna has been recorded for the first time. The lack of herpetofauna on 9 islets and rocks seemingly never previously studied has been reported too.

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Although distribution databases are a dynamic tool, continuously updated, it is important to take “snapshots” of the species distribution over time to promptly identify potential conservation issues. With this work, we provide an update of the distribution of amphibians and reptiles in Sardinia and satellite islands. Data derive from both direct field observations (carried out since 2005 until July 2022) and literature, accounting for over 7000 records: 1416 records of 11 species of amphibians and 5600 records of 18 species of reptiles. Distribution maps (on 10 × 10 km UTM grid) of 29 species are provided in supplementary materials as well as the updated list of the amphibians and reptiles occurring in the circum-Sardinian islands. Most of the meshes were characterized by the presence of 1-3 amphibian species (73%) and 6-8 or 9-11 reptile species (32% with 6-8 species, 30% with 9-11 species). Species abundance was favoured by environmental heterogeneity, and mostly varied in relation to elevation range and edge density.

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The theory of island biogeography proposes that the number of species found in an island is determined by immigration and extinction, which depends on the distance to a source of colonists. Species richness does not depend exclusively on area, but also on climate and isolation variables, such as distance to the continent, island age, degree of isolation (distance to nearest island and mainland), the initial biotic composition, ocean currents, human activity, etc. We analysed species- area relationships and structural connectivity of amphibians and reptiles in a group of 51 small islands (Archipelago La Maddalena, Italy) very close to the large island of Sardinia. We tested the relationship of species richness with several environmental factors (area, unique habitats number, topographical variables, distances of each island to Sardinia, to the nearest island, and to the nearest big island) through Generalized Additive Models and connectivity analysis. Each method was performed considering all species, excluding species in ‘transit’ (those disappearing first after habitat change, e.g. Podarcis siculus), including only autochthonous species, including species present on islands smaller than 10000 m2 (A) or between 10001-100000 m2 (B) or larger than 100001 m2 (C). We also excluded, in turn, amphibians, Scincidae, Geckonidae, the four Lacertidae, Colubridae, and one species in turn, in order to understand the importance of variables and connectivity of any taxonomic group. Seventeen species are present in the islands of La Maddalena Archipelago, 3 amphibians and 14 reptiles. Nine islands have no species, 17 host one or two species, and 23 host more than three species (maximum 17). Variables with higher correlations were number of unique habitats, and maximum and SD of altitude. Except for species present in islands of type ABC, all models selected the same variables: SD ruggedness, area, number of unique habitats, and mean and maximum altitude. When excluding Sardinia, highest connectivity corresponded to La Maddalena, followed by Caprera and Spargi.

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The data presented here come from surveys carried out thanks to a PIM (Initiative PIM – Initiative pour les Petites Îles de Méditerranée) mission on the satellite islands, islets and rocks of Elba and Pianosa islands, aimed at improving knowledge of the terrestrial natural heritage of the Tuscan Archipelago. A list of islands, islets and rocks with resident reptiles is provided.

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Although it was obvious to us that it would be useful to include a list of the herpetofauna found on the Italian islands, it immediately became clear that this would be no easy task: the information in the literature is often incomplete, inaccurate and difficult to check, and precise data are available only for the circum-Sardinian islands (POGGESI et al., 1996), the circum-Sicilian islands (L ANZA, 1973; CORTI et al., 1998) and the Tuscan Archipelago (HOTZ, 1973; COR- TI et al., 1991; VANNI & NISTRI, 1999, 2000). In order to form as complete a picture as possible, we also consulted numerous works on single islands or groups of islands, e.g. the Handbuch der Rep- tilien und Amphibien Europas. Finally, we had access to a large vol- ume of as yet unpublished data from the Progetto Atlante, including reports for the Ligurian and Apulian islands, gathered by the region- al chapters of the Societas Herpetologica Italica. For the sake of brevity, lacustrian and riverine populations and those of delta bars, beaches and island lakes have been omitted. Apart from the fact that few data are available, these populations are not actually separate from those of adjoining coasts. We do make an important exception to this rule in mentioning the taxon Lacerta muralis borromeica Mertens, 1932, described for the Isola Madre on Lago Maggiore and later declared invalid by the author. The subspecies status of many island populations of lacertids of the Podarcis genus remains open to debate, and is discussed in more detail in the chapter “Checklist of the Italian herpetofauna with tax- onomic remarks”. These populations can present far greater variabil- ity in patterning than continental populations [e.g. Podarcis sicula caporiaccoi (Taddei, 1949) see HOTZ (1973)] or unusual colouring (e.g. melanotic) which, although they make island and archipelago populations easier to identify, are considered by modern taxono- mists to be of doubtful systematic validity. It was decided to include the description of a species or sub- species for an island as a note, with the type locality in square brack- ets, and with the name supplied by the author without commenting on its validity.

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Sex-biased predation is thought to have important implications for sexual selection, sex allocation, and population dynamics (Magnhagen, 1991; Le-Galliard et al., 2005 for an example in lizards). Most studies found that males are subjected to higher predation pressure than females during the reproductive season (Korpimäki, 1985; Lodé et al., 2004; Christe et al., 2006; Costantini et al., 2007). In that period, males are very mobile, emit acoustic signals and exhibit brilliant colourations, which are needed to attract females but may make them more visible to predators. With regard to lizards, a recent study provided the first evidence that males of a lizard species may be preyed on more than females (Costantini et al., 2007). In the present study, we investigated whether there is sex-biased predation on two small lacertid species, the common wall lizard Podarcis muralis (Laurenti, 1768) and the Italian wall lizard Podarcis sicula (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810), by Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) during the reproductive season. We also examined whether (1) the rate of predation differed between species and (2) the rate of predation differed across years or among hunting habitats for each species.

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n the last two decades, there has been a great deal of interest in the morphology and anatomy of the lizard skull in an ecological and evolutionary perspective. However, the relationship between variations in many key anatomical features remains largely unknown. Using microtomography and geometric morphometrics, we examined the relationship between bones and scales associated with the parietal foramen in the three lizards species most common in the Italian peninsula: Podarcis muralis, P. sicula, and Lacerta bilineata. The imprints of the scales are clearly recognizable on the outer bone surface, and this may suggest a structural interaction between these elements. The temporal osteoderms are visible in the larger males and in the larger females of L. bilineata, but they are absent in the smaller specimens of L. bilineata and in all Podarcis specimens. Two parallel rows of pterygoid teeth are present in all the specimens of L. bilineata and are absent in the smaller male of L. bilineata and in both Podarcis species. Cheek osteoderms occurred only in the largest specimens of our sample (i.e., large L. bilineata), being possibly related to hyperostotic processes and densitometric thresholds more than to phylogeny. Minor differences may be also associated with the form of the parietal foramen. In absolute terms the parietal foramen tends to be largest in L. bilineata but in relation to skull length the foramen tends to be larger in P. muralis. In this latter species the foramen is also more elongated. In all three species the fronto-parietal suture occupies a similar location relatively to the scale spatial organization. A shared allometric pattern shows that the main vault enlargement can be localised at the areas anterior to the fronto-parietal suture, providing further information on the possible morphogenetic dynamics associated with the interaction between scales and bones around this structure.

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The basin of Lake Skadar with its drainage area represents one of the Balkan Peninsula’s hotspots regarding amphibian and reptile fauna. The value of the batracho- and herpetofauna of the Lake Skadar region is reflected in a rich and diverse composition of species. This is undoubtedly the result of the basin’s specific geographic position and complex geological history. Recent studies revealed that Lake Skadar’s watershed is inhabited by 15 amphibian and 36 reptile species. Among these, one amphibian (Pelophylax shqipericus – EN) and two reptile species (Dinarolacerta mosorensis and Vipera ursinii, both VU) are considered to be globally threatened according to IUCN criteria. An additional three reptile species (Emys orbicularis, Testudo hermanni, and Elaphe quatuorlineata) could become threatened in the future. As an attractive tourist area, a significant part of the Lake Skadar region could be impacted by fast and intense anthropogenic changes. Therefore, preserving the network of suitable habitats, maintaining continuous monitoring, and investing in additional research are essential for maintaining this rich local amphibian and reptile diversity.

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In this work, a check-list of the species of Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals observed in the district “mentanese-cornicolano archipelago” of the Roman Campagna, north-east from Rome city area (Latium, Central Italy), a relict of mesoxerophilous woods with cultivated land, urban and suburban areas penetrated by infrastructures, is presented. We obtained data for 158 species among which 10 Amphibians, 16 Reptiles, 99 Birds and 33 Mammals, a quite exhaustive check-list; however, potentially gaps -species living in the territory but yet unknown, e.g. bats among Mammals- are discussed too. A special emphasis has been given to the numerous species of relevant interest from the ecological and conservational viewpoints. In the bibliography 40 papers are quoted which represent a quite exhaustive list devoted to the terrestrial vertebrates of the area.

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We report the results of 78 field surveys, from October 2016 to May 2018, on the herpetofauna of the PRAN (Regional Archaeological Natural Park) Inviolata (Guidonia Montecelio, Roma). The protected area herpetological checklist shows 18 species, six amphibians and 12 reptiles (one of which is an invasive alien). The article briefly describes phenology and distribution of each species together with some ecoethological notes.

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After a brief introduction to the main geologica!, climatologica! and botanical features of the area- a territory of Latium region, Central Italy- the work synthetized data about its vertebrate fauna with exclusive regard to Amphibians, Reptiles an d Mammals. In this list 46 species and subspecies are considered ofwhich 8 are Amphibians, 11 Reptiles and 27 Mammals. Ecologica! analysis has focused the attenction on the absence or scarcity of many thermophilous species, a fact which finds explanation, according to the Authors, in the `continental` position ofthe district. Among the species, many are rare or localized and some considerations are carried out in order to their management and protection.

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We discuss the herpetofauna of some small natural reserves in the Roman Campagna, also known as the “Mentanese Archipelago” district, northeast of Rome’s suburban areas. These reserves were established mainly in 1997, and are part of a mosaic landscape composed of fragmentary woodlands, urban developments, and agricultural areas with scattered streams, water points and buildings. A field study with the main aim of recording the herpetological diversity of three protected areas was carried out over the course of twenty-five years. Species richness is as follows: 1) Nature Reserve Nomentum with 12 reptiles and 6 amphibians. 2) Nature Reserve Macchia di Gattaceca and Macchia del Barco including “Pozzo del Merro” (one of the deepest sinkholes of the world). This second reserve is split into three distinct fragments: the xeric area of Macchia di Gattaceca with 11 reptiles and 2 amphibians; the wet area of Macchia del Barco with 10 reptiles and 6 amphibians; and the pin-point sinkhole area of “Pozzo del Merro” with 7 reptiles and 5 amphibians. 3) Natural and Archaeological Park of Inviolata with 13 reptiles and 7 amphibians. Using QGis software, we were able to assign to each parcel (wood, agricultural land, still water, running water, buildings) its percentage value of extent. The results of the QGis application enabled us to infer a positive effect, in terms of conservation of the populations of native herpetofauna species, of expanding non-intensive agricultural land. In addition, the presence of water bodies such as pools, ponds and flooded sinkholes in agricultural patches plays an outstandingly important role for the maintenance of herpetological diversity in a fragmented landscape.

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The Aeolian Wall Lizard (Podarcis raffoneae) is an endemic species of the Aeolian Archipelago of Italy (Mediterranean Sea). Its distribution is limited to three islets and two relict populations on a relatively large island: Vulcano (a population on the summit of Gran Cratere volcano and another on Capo Grosso promontory). The critically endangered Aeolian Wall Lizard is threatened by the introduction of the Italian Wall Lizard (Podarcis siculus), which successfully competes and hybridizes with the endemic lizard. The invasive lizard is widespread on Vulcano, although the literature does not provide the exact distribution. Our first aim was updating the distribution of the Italian Wall Lizard on Vulcano, with special attention to the last enclaves of the Aeolian Wall Lizard. Our second purpose was investigating the factors determining this distribution range. In the spring of 2016, we surveyed the Italian Wall Lizard distribution on Vulcano, considering 10 human-related and 10 natural areas, including Gran Cratere volcano and Capo Grosso promontory. We recorded the presence of the invasive Italian Wall Lizard in each survey area. As a consequence, the Aeolian Wall Lizard populations of Vulcano face an imminent extinction risk. The main factors increasing the presence probability of this invasive lizard on Vulcano were the nearness to the harbor (the introduction gateway) and the urbanization degree (the invasion pathway). Therefore, we suggest the implementation of a control plan simultaneously acting on the areas of sympatry (mostly Capo Grosso promontory), the introduction gateway (Vulcano harbor), and the source populations (urban areas).

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The distribution, argyrophilia, and the possible amine/peptide co-localizations in endocrine cells immunoreactive (IR) to antisera against chromogranin A (CgA) and chromogranin B (CgB) in the alimentary tract of the lizard Podarcis sicula have been investigated using novel monoclonal antibodies. Many CgA-IR and CgB-IR cells were found in the tract, except in the distal small intestine. Almost all chromogranin-IR cells (Cgs-IR) were also argyrophilic with parallel intensity. Some CgA-IR and CgB-IR cells did not display co-localized amines or peptides. CgA or CgB or both were found co-localized, with some local differences, in almost all serotonin-IR, histamine-IR, substance P-IR and gastric peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY)-IR cells. Moreover, both Cgs were co-localized only in some somatostatin-IR cells, whereas neurotensin-IR, gastrin/cholecystokinin-IR, pancreatic polypeptide-IR and intestinal PYY-IR cells did not show any co-localization with Cgs. The presence of Cgs in the endocrine cells was heterogeneous with regard to the complex interrelationship with their amine/peptide content. Consequently, Cgs cannot be considered as universal “markers” of all endocrine cell types.

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The secretory activity of the subcommissural organ (SCO) is affected by adrenalectomy, adrenalectomy + castration, and by an increase in ambient temperature in adrenalectomized and adrenalectomized + castrated animals. Adrenalectomy inhibits the activity of the SCO. After adrenalectomy + castration the decrease in the secretory activity of the SCO is more rapid. In contrast, an increase in the ambient temperature in adrenalectomized animals induces a recrudescence of the activity of the SCO. The increase in temperature in castrated + adrenalectomized lizards does not affect the inhibition produced by this type of surgical treatment. The histological changes are discussed on the basis of results obtained in the present study and in previous experiments.

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Tonic immobility, or the ability to play dead, is widespread among vertebrates. It is a last line of defence against a threat, and usually follows physical restraint. Here, I report two lizards exhibiting tonic immobility in the presence of humans, but remarkably, without any handling or physical contact. These two lizards belonged to an invasive population of the Italian Wall Lizard (Podarcis siculus), and both events took place in different years and situations, suggesting this behaviour may be more common than previously thought. There are rare documented cases of animals exhibiting this behaviour without handling; however, to my knowledge, this is the first description of a lizard displaying tonic immobility to humans, in the absence of handling. This is also the first incident of tonic immobility in the Italian Wall Lizard. I discuss these anecdotal events in the light of this invasive population inhabiting a highly urbanized location.

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Species that are able to solve novel problems through social learning from either a conspecific or a heterospecific may gain a significant advantage in new environments. We tested the ability of a highly successful invasive species, the Italian wall lizard Podarcis sicula, to solve a novel foraging task when social information was available from both a conspecific and an unfamiliar heterospecific (Podarcis bocagei). We found that Italian wall lizards that had access to social information made fewer errors, regardless of whether the demonstrator was a conspecific or a heterospecific, compared to Italian wall lizards that individually learnt the same task. We suggest that social learning could be a previously underappreciated, advantageous mechanism facilitating invasions.

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Biological invasions are a contemporary global threat because invasive species can have substantial negative economic and ecological impacts. Invasive species can outcompete native species through two main mechanisms: interference competition (direct, negative interactions like aggression) and/or exploitative competition (indirect, negative interactions resulting from species using the same, limited resources like food). The invasive Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus) was introduced into Lisbon, Portugal, 20 years ago, and is believed to be locally displacing the native green Iberian wall lizard (Podarcis virescens). We experimentally tested for competition between these two lizard species by establishing heterospecific (one pair of each species) and conspecific (two pairs of the same species; control) treatments in enclosures containing a high- and a low-quality refuge. Lizards were fed from food dishes every other day. We tested if species showed interference (aggressive behaviour, stealing food and shelter exclusion) or exploitative competition (tolerance between species but differences in food consumption efficiency). We found evidence for exploitative competition: the invasive species arrived first at food stations, consumed more food and gained more weight than the native species. We suggest that exploitative competition may, in part, explain the observed displacement of P. virescens from contact areas with the invasive P. siculus. Deciphering the competitive mechanisms between invasive and native species is vital for understanding the invasion process.

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To reduce the impact of biological invasions, we need to understand the behavioural mechanisms that enable some species to be successful invaders. Testing differences in behaviour between sympatric congeneric species with different invasive potential is an opportunity to study specific behavioural traits associated with invasion success. Using the invasive Italian wall lizard, Podarcis sicula, and a noninvasive congeneric, the green Iberian wall lizard, Podarcis virescens, which live in sympatry in a location that is novel for P. sicula, we tested their exploratory behaviour, neophobia and boldness: all traits that should promote invasion success. The invasive P. sicula was more exploratory, bold and neophilic than the sympatric native P. virescens. Native lizards had highly repeatable behaviour, whereas in P. sicula boldness was the only behavioural trait that was repeatable. The behavioural traits of the native species, but not the invasive species, were correlated. A lack of correlation between behavioural traits, as well as a lack of repeatability in two of the three behavioural traits, suggests higher levels of behavioural plasticity in P. sicula, which may also explain the success of this lizard during invasions. Our experiment highlights the potential importance of behavioural traits in invasions and provides insight into why P. sicula is such a successful invader.

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The world has been changing at an unprecedented rate due to the `progress` of human society. Globalization has changed our way of living, and it translates into severe negative effects on our ecosystems. Additionally, globalization also demands more connections and transport, creating frequent and dynamic networks worldwide, of both people and cargo. This can lead to the movement of thousands of species outside their native range, and biological invasions are now a contemporary global problem. While most invasions end in failure, some manage to successfully take hold and adapt to new locations. What determines a species` invasive success is of great interest and importance for conservation efforts. Behaviour is believed to play a key role in the success of invasive species, although the mechanisms are still unclear, especially for unintentional invasions. Members of the lizard genus Podarcis show high variability in their invasive potential and are thus a well-suited model for studying the role of behaviour during biological invasions. The Italian wall lizard, Podarcis sicula, is a globally invasive species that hitchhikes on transportation of people or cargo, and does well in novel environments. In addition to behaviour, there is mounting evidence that cognition may also be a determining factor for invasion success. The aim of my thesis is to understand the role of behaviour and cognition in determining what makes P. sicula such a good invader. I used animals from an introduced population in Lisbon (Portugal) to examine behavioural traits that might be linked to a species` invasive success. My original contribution to knowledge is uncovering the potential role of behavioural flexibility, social learning ability, behavioural traits, and competition in the invasion process. Although I focused on the invasive lizard P. sicula, my study highlights the potential role of behaviour and cognition in invasions more broadly. My thesis has thus 4 chapters written as stand-alone publications that deal with different behavioural components. I predicted that P. sicula would have greater levels of behavioural flexibility than congeneric non-invasive species - P. bocagei and P. carbonelli. The ability to reverse a previously learnt discrimination can be indicative of behavioural flexibility. I used a discrimination task and a reversal and quantified the number of errors and overall learning ability of all three species (chapter I). The invasive species had relatively less difficulty than the non-invasive species to reverse the task. Also, I found different cognitive ability between the invasive species and the two non-invasive species (P. bocagei and P. carbonelli had a more similar learning pattern between them). Chapter II dealt with the ability of P. sicula to obtain relevant social information to solve a task, from other P. sicula, or from a different species they had never encountered in nature (P. bocagei). The role of heterospecific learning in biological invasions has never been studied before.

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`Death-shaking` as a behaviour-pattern is mostly known from the Carnivora /Seitz, 1950;Eibl-Eibesfeldt. 1950; Tembroek, 1958; Heimburger, 1961; Leyhausen, 1965/and carnivorous marsupials /Ewer, 1968/. It is also known from reptiles /Honegger and Heusser, 1969; Hemmer and Sohipp, 1970; Luttenberger, 1977/ but it is only mentioned very superficially and in some cases even incorrectly. Weber /1957/ and Honegger and Heusser /1969/ suppose a fixed connection between seizing the prey and shaking; Do- broruka and Horaekova /1973/ describe vertical shaking in the genus Lacerta. Only Luttenberger /1977/ analysed `death-shaking`, in Dracaena guianensis, bya slow-motion film. No author defines the different elements of the motion; nothing is known about re- leasing factors or effects /`functions`/ of `death-shaking`, and nowhere is `death-sha- king` exactly defined. This paper now will discuss these aspects

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Während eines Aufenthaltes in einem ehemaligen Gutshof aus dem 18. Jahrhundert, ca. 20 km nordwestlich von Siena, Ende August 2019 konnte ich die dort siedelnden Podarcis muralis nigriventris und P. siculus campestris beobachten. Podarcis muralis war ubiquitär mit einer Präferenz der Höhe (Mauern aller Art, Eichenstämme, Hecken) zu beobachten, während sich P. siculus bodennah (Rasenflächen, Parkplätze, Böschungen) auf Stein- und Holzstrukturen aufhielt und allenfalls kniehohe Mauern besetzte. Bevorzugt setzte P. siculus Kot auf isolierten Steinstrukturen ab. In Analogie zu den experimentellen Untersuchungen an P. melliselensis von BAECKENS et al. (2019) könnte dieses Verhalten der innerartlichen Kommunikation dienen.

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Comparative analyses were carried out about the variability of the pileal shields of different species belonging to the family Lacertidae. The results of the comparisons have been evaluated in respect to the phylogenetical relationships existing between the different genera and species of the family.

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Some details on the diet and commensal behaviour of Sicilian Lizards in Tuscany, Italy.

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α-Smooth muscle (αSM) actin of endothermic vertebrates is selectively recognized by the monoclonal antibody anti-αSM-1. Immunoreactivity to this antibody has been shown to be localized in the NH2-terminal sequence Ac-EEED (Chaponnier et al. 1994). Among terrestrial ectothermic vertebrates, two amphibian (Triturus vulgaris, Rana esculenta) and three reptilian species (Pseudemys scripta elegans, Natrix natrix, Podarcis sicula) were screened to investigate if their vascular and visceral smooth muscles were stained by anti-αSM-1. In all the specimens tested, Western-blot analysis of tissue extracts immunodecorated with anti-αSM-1 revealed a single polypeptide chain having the same electrophoretic mobility as bovine αSM actin. The binding to amphibian and reptilian tissue extracts was inhibited by the synthetic peptide Ac-EEED, but not Ac-DEED, as occurs in mammals. αSM actin expression was found in vascular and visceral smooth muscle cells of the species tested. The media of small and large blood vessels was labelled by anti-αSM-1. In the stomach and intestine the outer longitudinal and inner circular layers of the muscularis and of the muscularis mucosae were stained. In addition, myofibroblasts of the subepithelial layer were labelled. A more restricted expression of this isoactin was detected in turtle (P. scripta elegans) visceral smooth muscle cells, which may be related to the involvement of the digestive system in respiratory activity. These data suggest that in vertebrate evolution αSM actin arose earlier than previously proposed.

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During a vacation in May 2005 the island Dugi Otok was visited. Only two species of lacertid lizards (Podarcis melisellenis and P. sicula) seem to occur on this Dalmatian island while on most of the other islands, at least the more northem located Kvarner Islands, at least either three or four species occur.

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Background: New epidemiological data on bacterial and parasitic infections in 24 Italian wall lizards, namely Podarcis sicula (mainland population) and P. sicula klemmerii (insular population) in southern Italy were provided. To achieve this goal, samples were collected from individuals belonging to the two populations and analysed by microbiological and parasitological methods. Results: A wide range of bacteria (e.g. Pantoea spp., Citrobacter spp., Morganella spp., Pseudomonas, Enterobacter spp., Staphylococcus spp. And Escherichia coli) and parasites (e.g. Ophionyssus natricis, coccidia, Dicrocoelidae) were detected in both P. sicula and P. sicula klemmerii individuals. Insular population presented similar bacterial and parasitic diversity to its mainland counterpart. Ampicillin was the antimicrobial with the highest resistance rate. Conclusion: This study highlighted various bacteria and parasites, some of them potentially zoonotic. Further studies are needed to better understand the epidemiology and transmission routes of these pathogens along with their impact on the welfare and behaviour of Italian wall lizards.

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Photic responses were recorded, by means of metal electrodes, from the parietal organ of the lizard, Lacerta sicula campestris, after removal of the interparietal scale. Graded (slow) responses and changes of impulse activity of one or several nerve cells were seen in response to illumination. The action of light was either excitatory or inhibitory, inhibition being associated with a positive graded potential at the recording electrode. The graded response changed polarity with the wavelength of the test stimulus in the blue-green region of the spectrum (blue-green biphasic response exhibiting luminosity maxima at 450 and 520 nm). Further, there is a triphasic chromativity type of response which, additionally to the inhibitory effect of blue light, manifests itself by the excitatory effect of violet and red light upon subsequent illumination to blue light. Similar to the a- and b-waves of the frog`s electroretinogram the positive graded response of the parietal eye decreases during dark adaptation while the negative response increases. Positive and negative components of the graded response differ in the rate of change during dark adaptation and in the luminanceduration relationship. The absolute threshold of the parietal organ amounts to 0,5 asb (excitatory threshold of the discharge response for dark adapted state). Allowing for the light absorption by the overlaying tissue the absolute threshold of the parietal organ in situ is 2,5 asb.

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Podarcis sicula of Italian origin has expanded its range along the Adriatic coast of Croatia, apparently replacing the autochthonous species P. melisellensis by competitive exclusion. We used an experimental approach on newborn lizards to test the hypothesis that direct behavioural interference occurs between P. sicula and P. melisellensis, whereby the former obtains an advantage over the latter. Brief encounters betweenP. sicula and P. melisellensis were more aggressive and more likely to result in clear dominant–subordinate relationships than were brief encounters between pairs of conspecific P. melisellensis. When they cohabited for 3 weeks, individuals in heterospecific pairs were less likely to occupy a thermal microhabitat simultaneously than individuals from homospecific pairs. Contrasts of individuals in heterospecific pairs showed that behavioural interference was asymmetric in favour of P. sicula. During brief encounters P. sicula were more aggressive and dominant than P. melisellensis opponents. When the two species cohabited for longer periodsP. sicula used better, and P. melisellensis poorer, thermal microhabitats than when reared in isolation. In addition, P. sicula grew faster, and P. melisellensis slower, than in isolation. These within-species shifts in microhabitat use and growth were not evident for homospecific pairs living together. Thus, our observations indicate that asymmetric aggressive interactions between hatchlings of our study species reduce an important fitness component (i.e. growth rate) of P. melisellensis. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that direct behavioural interference by P. sicula is the mechanistic basis of the competitive exclusion ofP. melisellensis .

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Researchers often presume that dominant individuals, during an initial series of social interactions, ultimately gain possession of the territory, but detailed studies of the process of social relation establishment in animals are rare. We used an experimental approach on pairs of conspecific newborns of two lizard species (Podarcis sicula and P. melisellensis) to examine whether the outcomes of first encounters are consistent with the formation of social relations during the ensuing three weeks. A major objective was to determine whether social relations expressed during prolonged cohabitation induced divergence of individual growth rates within a dyad. Moreover, we explored to what extent individual differences in growth rate and behavior during social cohabitation paralleled differences expressed when the animals were housed in isolation. Differential expression of behavior within dyads was examined by calculating the difference between values for the two individual lizards. During brief first encounters, access to a localized basking site was determined by agonistic interactions between lizards. Cohabitation of two lizards during prolonged encounters resulted in differences in their thermal microhabitat usage, which in turn induced divergence of their growth rates. The direction and magnitude of the differences in thermal microhabitat use and the divergence in growth rates during prolonged encounters mirrored differences in the interactions exhibited during the first encounter. Moreover, differences between two lizards in initial social interactions, and in thermal microhabitat use and growth rate during prolonged encounters, paralleled differences in thermal microhabitat use exhibited when lizards were housed alone. Thus, it may be possible to predict the outcome of social interactions within dyads based on the differential expression of traits between two lizards housed in isolation.

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We examined how reproductive state affectedshifts in behavior of adult female Podarcis siculatowardchemical cues from a natural snake predator (Coronellaaustriaca). The oviparous P. siculalizards do not experi-ence a major physical burden during reproduction, butgravid females substantially increase duration of bask-ing. Therefore, gravid lizards are likely to experience agreater risk of mortality because they are exposed to pre-dators for longer periods. Both gravid and non-gravid fe-males shifted patterns of locomotion when confrontedwith snake chemical cues, but the change was notablylarger when females were non-gravid. When non-gravid,lizards responded to predator scent by increasing thenumber of stand-ups and starts, while such a responsewas not observed when females were gravid. By con-trast, gravid lizards clearly reduced the time spent bask-ing in the presence of predator scent, whereas no changein basking behavior was observed when females werenon-gravid. Thus, females exhibit differential behavioralresponses to predator scents that is dependent on repro-ductive state.

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The life-history traits of Podarcis siculus were studied by skeletochronology in a population inhabiting an altitude of 28 m a.s.l. in Filyos, Turkey. The mean age was 6.8 years while the minimum and maximum age ranged from 4-12 years in males and 4-10 years in females, respectively. The mean age of the specimens was not significantly different between sexes. The age at sexual maturity was 2-3 years for both sexes. There was a significant positive correlation between snout-vent length (SVL) and age in males, while there was no correlation in females. A strong male-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD) was observed in the population. For both sexes, the estimated asymptotic SVL was slightly lower than the maximum SVL. The recorded growth coefficient (k) was slightly lower in males than in females (k ± CI, males: 0.76 ± 0.22; females: 0.94 ± 0.22). There was no growth rate difference between both sexes (P = 0.594).

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Background. The western Mediterranean archipelagos have a rich endemic fauna, which includes five species of reptiles. Most of these archipelagos were colonized since early historic times by anthropochoric fauna, such as ship rats (Rattus rattus). Here, I evaluated the influence of ship rats on the occurrence of island reptiles, including non-endemic species. Methodology. I analysed a presence-absence database encompassing 159 islands (Balearic Islands, Provence Islands, Corso-Sardinian Islands, Tuscan Archipelago, and Galite) using Bayesian-regularized logistic regression. Results. The analysis indicated that ship rats do not influence the occurrence of endemic island reptiles, even on small islands. Moreover, Rattus rattus co-occurred positively with two species of non-endemic reptiles, including a nocturnal gecko, a guild considered particularly vulnerable to predation by rats. Overall, the analyses showed a very different pattern than that documented in other regions of the globe, possibly attributable to a long history of coexistence.

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Mediterranean islands have complex reptile assemblages, but little is known about the factors that determine their organization. In this study, the structure of as-semblages of Squamata was evaluated based on their species richness and two measures of phylogenetic diversity (variability and clustering). I evaluated the com-position of the assemblages comparing distinct biogeographic subregions within the Mediterranean: Adriatic, Aegean, Balearic, Corsica–Sardinia, Crete, Gulf of Gabés, Ionian Sea, Ligurian Sea, Malta, Sicily, and Tyrrhenian Sea. The effect of island en-vironments and geographical isolation on the diversity metrics was assessed using generalized linear models. The analyses indicated that species richness was mostly influenced by island area and geographical isolation. Assemblages on smaller islands were poorer in species and phylogenetically dispersed, possibly as an effect of inter-specific competition. The species composition of the assemblages was determined by similar environmental drivers within the biogeographic subregions, including is-land area, island elevation, geographical isolation, and aridity. In several subregions, significant patterns of phylogenetic attraction were found in species co-occurrences, caused by the limits imposed by the island size on large predatory species

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Background Lizards of the genus Podarcis are widespread in the Mediterranean region, including islands and island archipelagos. These small-bodied lizards have a predominantly protective green-brown colouration. However, some populations display unusual patterns, in which the colouration is predominantly blue or uniformly black. This study explores the factors that influence this chromatic variation, whether environmental (climate and island conditions) or evolutionary (phylogenetic trait conservatism). The colouration of 1400 individuals (27 species) was analysed in the CIELAB colour space. Results Pagel’s λ indicated that colouration is weakly conserved within phylogenetic lineages. Although the island surface plays a key role in the chromatic variability of these lacertids, geographic isolation and climate hold less influence. The colouration of some small island populations tends to be uniform and dark, possibly due to intense intraspecific competition and lower predatory pressure. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of island populations in understanding the processes that favour the emergence of extreme phenotypes in small ectothermic vertebrates.

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During a herperological journey to Sardinia in may 2001 19 of the 25 species of reptiles and amphibians were spotted. Especially Podarcis tiliguerta, chalices ocellatus and Coluber viridiflavus were abundant throughour the entire island. Tarentola mauritanica, Hyla sarda and Podarcis sicula cettii were locally abundant. Few animals of the other species were seen. Only Hydromantes flavus, Hydromantes genei, Lacerta bedriagae, Coluber hippocrepis, Elaphe longissima and Natrix natrix cetti were not seen.

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Although the structural and pharmacological properties of endothelin (ET) receptors have been studied, little is known concerning their physiological significance, even if each subtype is supposed to have a distinct physiological action. Thus, to further elucidate the physiological function of this receptor, we examined the presence and distribution of the endothelin-B receptor (ETB) subtype in tissues of the lizard Podarcis sicula, using immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Immunoblotting indicated that, although the ETB receptor appears to be ubiquitous, it is present at different levels in the tissues examined. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry showed that this receptor is very abundant in endothelial cells of all tissues, suggesting that there is an ETB-mediated autocrine system of endothelin, which plays an important role in the regulation of endothelial cell function. On the other hand, the presence of ETB immunoreactivity also in endocrine systems such as adrenal and thyroid glands suggests an involvement also in the paracrine system of these organs.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution and function of VIP in the adrenal gland of the lizard, Podarcis sicula. We have shown by immunohistochemistry that VIP fibers were localized exclusively around clusters of chromaffin cells in the dorsal ribbon of the lizard adrenal gland. Moreover, a strong positivity for this peptide was observed within ganglial cells and within most chromaffin cells of the gland. To investigate the effects of VIP on the adrenal gland, we have treated lizards with several doses of this peptide and we have shown that injections of exogenous VIP increased plasma levels of catecholamines and corticosteroids, but not of ACTH. This probably suggests a direct effect of VIP on the control of adrenal hormone secretion without the involvement of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis. Our results also establish that the increased levels of the hormones were modulated in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Therefore, our morphological studies showed a clear increased function of steroidogenic cells. In the medullary region, VIP administration induced not only a functional enhancement of adrenaline release from adrenergic cells, but also a shift of noradrenaline cells to adrenaline ones.

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Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a large group of substances able to modulate endocrine-signaling pathways, altering the normal function of the endocrine system. Although the fungicide methyl thiophanate (MT) is not considering a specific reproductive and developmental toxicant, it can induce histopathological damages in rat thyroid and adrenal glands that have a pivotal role in both processes. We investigated the MT effects on adrenal glands of Podarcis sicula lizard, the endemic species of Southern Italy living in open country and in cultivated fields. Reptiles are good bioindicators because they are easily harvested; they have a wide distribution and large populations. Moreover, they have good sensitivity to contaminants, and bioaccumulate and biomagnify pollutants to levels equal to or greater than those of birds and mammals. We used 1.5% MT/water to pollute terraria, food, and water twice a week for 15 and 30 days, and we evaluated adrenal toxicity through biochemical (adrenal and pituitary hormone plasma levels) and histological parameters (adrenal gland histopathology). We demonstrated a time-dependent increase of corticosterone plasma levels and a decrease of ACTH plasma levels, a hypertrophy of the steroidogenic tissue, and an enlargement of blood capillaries. Moreover, we observed a time-dependent increase of adrenaline plasma levels and adrenaline-producing cells, and an opposite trend of noradrenaline plasma concentrations. We also observed lymphocyte and macrophage infiltrations, signs of cell degeneration. Our findings on the bioindicator P. sicula provide an interesting basis to further elucidate the systemic mechanisms of EDCs.

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Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that can act as endocrine disruptor. Cadmium has the property to accumulate in several organs after entering the body and it principally accumulates in the adrenal glands. Although the uptake mechanisms for the cellular accumulation of Cd are unknown, the most common hypothesis states that Cd uptake involves competition with essential elements such as Ca or Zn for specific transport systems. Cd induces several effects such as cell death, carcinogenesis and disruption of neurotransmitter and hormone action. Particularly, cadmium is able to alter adrenocortical function inducing an impaired capacity to secrete cortisol by steroidogenic cells of the adrenocortical tissues and stimulating catecholamine secretion. In the present paper, we investigated the effects of cadmium exposure on the adrenal gland morphology of the lizard Podarcis sicula. For this purpose, we performed two different treatments in order to investigate cadmium effects after both acute and chronic treatments. We have demonstrated that cadmium has toxic effects on the lizard Podarcis sicula. Specifically, cadmium induces, in a time-dependent manner, steroidogenic cord hyperplasia, disorganization of steroidogenic parenchyma until necrotic degeneration that in turn evokes macrophage infiltration.

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Despite the importance of reptiles in agroecosystems, little is known about the efects of agricultural intensifcation and pesticide use on these animals. We compared antioxidant and haematological biomarkers in the wild Italian wall lizards Podarcis siculus from three olive groves representing a gradient of management intensity. Lizards from the conventional grove showed induced antioxidant defences relative to those from the organic feld. However, this induction did not avoid the occurrence of oxidative stress in males from intensively managed olive groves, who showed TBARS levels 58%–133% higher than males from the other sites. Haematological responses also suggested increased stress in females from the intensively managed olive groves, with a heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio 5.3 to 14.8-fold higher than in the other sites. The observed stress responses of lizards along the studied gradient of agricultural management suggest their potential usefulness as non destructive biomarkers to environmental stressors associated with agricultural intensifcation.

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Lizard species inhabiting agroecosystems may experience stress associated with agricultural management, like habitat destruction and pesticides, which may affect animals’ health. Blood cells variability can be interpreted as an early response to stress. Accordingly, this work intended to assess the influence of differently managed fields in the blood cell counts of two lizard species: Podarcis muralis and Podarcis siculus. For this, organisms were captured from three olive orchards with different intensification degrees (organic farming, lightly managed and intensively managed), and from a conventional vineyard, all located in the same agricultural area at Montepaldi, Florence, central Italy. Individuals’ blood, collected from the caudal vein, was used to prepare smears. White blood cells (WBC) were counted by determining the abundance of each class: agranulocytes (lymphocytes, monocytes) and granulocytes (heterophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, basophils). A less- than-significant tendency in WBC reduction from reference (organic olive orchards) to intensively managed fields was observed, especially for lymphocytes. Sex-dependent differences were found; in both species, males showed larger heterophil values and neutrophil percentages than females. But, when comparing the two species, independently of the sampling site, they did not show significant differences, except for absolute basophil counts and basophil percentages, which resulted higher in P. siculus than in P. muralis. Haemo-parasitic load was higher in P. muralis than in P. siculus, and it also differed among sites, being highest in individuals from the organic farming site. Parasite load was related to the number of granulocytes, as expected, considering that these cells acts against that kind of infections. Despite this, major differences in WBC counts in individuals of the genus Podarcis, were driven by variation of agranulocytes rather than granulocyte cells. Further research is necessary to increase sample size in order to confirm the observed trend in total WBC reduction in individuals living in agriculture-managed fields.

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An analysis of the preoptic area of the lizard, Lacerta sicula R., with the use of the Golgi method revealed that: 1)in principle, the dendritic pattern of its neurons is relatively simple; 2) the supraoptic nucleus contains large- to medium-sized bipolar or multipolar neurons together with small, usually multipolar nerve cells; 3) the preoptic periventricular gray and the paraventricular nucleus exhibit a varied neuronal typology, including large multipolar or bipolar elements, abundant CSF-contacting neurons, and some tufted elements; and 4) the lateral regions display some conspicuous multipolar neurons.

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Somatostatin-like (SRIF) immunoreactivity was shown in the preoptic area and posterior hypothalamus of lizard (Lacerta sicula R.), using both indirect immunofluorescence and PAP-technique. Immunoreactive neurons are seen in the preoptic paraventricular nucleus, in the caudal hypothalamus, and close to the hypophysial recess where they form a massive group of cerebrospinal-fluid-contacting elements. SRIF-immunoreactive fibers are seen also in the outer zone of the median eminence. Employing double-staining methods (double peroxidase-antiperoxidase sequence, according to Vandesande and Dierickx ((1976) Cell Tissue Res. 175, 289-296) and PAP-immunofluorescence) the immunoreactivity for SRIF was separated from that for neurophysins.

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The present paper shows the results deriving from an eleven-year research (1990-2000) on the Salento herpetofauna (S.E. Italy). The methodology used in compiling the atlas, based on computerized archives (Excel 2000‚) stored in data bank is explained. The cartographic reference for topographic data is IGMI 1:500.000 map; the UTM (10x10 km square grid system) used in drawing out the maps of herpetological data is based on this reference. Six amphibian and nineteen reptile species have been counted in the census, twenty of these are autochtonous, two were newly introduced and acclimatised, three are marine turtles. Of the autochtonous species, 20,0% are Euroasiatic, 30,0% are Mediterranean, 40% are European and 10,0% are endemic.

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The herpetofauna of the Tuscan Islands (Central Italy) is well known and represents an ideal subject to understand the role of current and historical factors responsible for biogeographical patterns in a complex archipelago. Multidimensional Scaling, cluster analyses, species-area relationships, Mantel tests and co-occurrence statistics were used to investigate the influence of current geography and Pleistocene connections with the mainland on the structure of insular communities. Although reptile colonization likely occurred via land bridges for islands that were connected to the mainland in the Pleistocene, a long time relaxation (species extinction by island habitat loss after disconnection and new colonization by over sea dispersal or human-assisted introductions) equilibrated the faunas according to island area. Biogeographical similarities among islands increased for islands located farther from Corsica and Tuscany, thus suggesting that, for remote islands, interisland faunal exchanges occurred more frequently than mainland-island colonization. Also, a possible influence of Pleistocene geography emerged more clearly when populations suspected to be introduced by man were removed. Co-occurrence analyses indicated a nonrandom distribution influenced by island area and distance, suggesting that the time elapsed since post-Pleistocene disconnection may have reshaped biogeographical similarities by an increase in competition resulting from reduction in island areas and introduction of certain species. From a conservation viewpoint, the land-bridge distribution of organisms with poor mobility should be carefully considered in conservation biogeography, because depletion of island populations cannot be balanced by new immigrations from the mainland, whereas introduction of nonnative species may have a negative impact on the original fauna.

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New data on the distribution of amphibians and reptiles of conservation interest in southern Tuscany. The amphibian and reptile fauna native to southern Tuscany inclu des 31 species (13 amphibians and 18 reptiles), most of which are protected under the Habitats Directive (EEC Directive 43/1992, ratified by Italy with DPR 357/1997) and by the recent Tuscan Regional Law on biodiversity (LR 56/2000). Seventeen species are of particular significance and their conservation warrants or may require designation of Special Conservation Zones or Sites of Regional Importance. In this note, new data is provided on the distribution of eleven of these species (Salamandra salamandra, Salamandrina terdigitata, Triturus alpestris, Triturus carmfex, Bombina vanegata, Bufo viridis, Rana italica, Coronella austriaca, Coronella girondica, Elaphe quatuonlineata and Natrix tessellata) which considerably increases the number of 10 x 10 km squares of the UTM grid in which these species are present in southern Tuscany.