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The genus Heliobolus comprises four recognized species, all endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Of these, only Heliobolus lugubris occurs in southern Africa, its distribution extending from Angola in the west to Mozambique in the east and reaching as far south as parts of northern South Africa. Like many of the reptile species that occur in southern Africa, Heliobolus lugubris is poorly studied, and preliminary investigation suggested that it may contain cryptic diversity. The present work focusses on the Angolan population of H. lugubris and uses an integrative taxonomic approach based on morphological, coloration and DNA sequence data. The results indicate that some of the current and historical specimens of H. lugubris from Angola do not correspond to the nominotypical form, and that differences between specimens suggest the presence of two additional species, described here as Heliobolus bivari sp. nov. from the southernmost xeric/desertic regions and plateau of Namibe Province, southwestern Angola and H. crawfordi sp. nov. from the Serra da Neve inselberg north through the sub-desert coastal regions of northern Namibe, Benguela, and Kwanza Sul provinces. Nominotypical Heliobolus lugubris is confirmed to occur in Cuando Cubango Province, southeastern Angola.

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The sand lizard (Lacerta agilis), which occupies a large part of temperate Eurasia and includes several morphologically and genetically distinct lineages, is a model species for life-history studies. Yet, for major parts of the species range, basic data on female reproductive traits are lacking. Here we present the first data on female reproductive traits of Lacerta agilis bosnica, a poorly studied lineage inhabiting montane areas of the Balkan Peninsula. Ten females caught in mid-June 2017 on Mt. Maljen (950 m a.s.l.) in western Serbia were monitored and examined in the lab, as well as their eggs and hatchlings. We additionally examined the state and number of oocytes in 31 females from scientific collections. Mean clutch size is quite high (8.0 ± 0.4 eggs) in relation to small mean snout-vent length of gravid females (74 ± 1 mm), mean relative clutch mass is relatively low (0.37 ± 0.02), and egg incubation period (51 ± 1 days at 24-26 °C) is rather long for L. agilis. While mean values of the above traits are within the variation range found across conspecific populations studied thus far, mean values for egg size (mass, 0.42 ± 0.02 g; length, 11.8 ± 0.2 mm; width, 7.7 ± 0.1 mm) and hatchling size (mass, 0.47 ± 0.03 g; SVL, 25.0 ± 0.5 mm; tail length, 30.4 ± 1.6 mm) are clearly smaller than in all previously studied populations of this species.

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Proteins are ubiquitous macromolecules that display a vast repertoire of chemical and enzymatic functions, making them suitable candidates for chemosignals, used in intraspecific communication. Proteins are present in the skin gland secretions of vertebrates but their identity, and especially, their functions, remain largely unknown. Many lizard species possess femoral glands, i.e., epidermal organs primarily involved in the production and secretion of chemosignals, playing a pivotal role in mate choice and intrasexual communication. The lipophilic fraction of femoral glands has been well studied in lizards. In contrast, proteins have been the focus of only a handful of investigations. Here, we identify and describe inter-individual expression patterns and the functionality of proteins present in femoral glands of male sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) by applying mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Our results show that the total number of proteins varied substantially among individuals. None of the identified femoral gland proteins could be directly linked to chemical communication in lizards, although this result hinges on protein annotation in databases in which squamate semiochemicals are poorly represented. In contrast to our expectations, the proteins consistently expressed across individuals were related to the immune system, antioxidant activity and lipid metabolism as their main functions, showing that proteins in reptilian epidermal glands may have other functions besides chemical communication. Interestingly, we found expression of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) among the multiple and diverse biological processes enriched in FGs, tentatively supporting a previous hypothesis that MHC was coopted for semiochemical function in sand lizards, specifically in mate recognition. Our study shows that mass spectrometry-based proteomics are a powerful tool for characterizing and deciphering the role of proteins secreted by skin glands in non-model vertebrates.

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Planning conservation actions requires detailed information on species’ geographic distribution. Species distribution data are most needed in areas hosting unique or endangered biodiversity. Italy is one of the European countries with the highest levels of herpetological diversity and endemism and is home to several threatened species of amphibians and reptiles. Information on the distribution of species’ habitats can help identify sites where the species is most likely to thrive, as viable populations depend on it. Area of Habitat (AOH) maps reveal the distribution of the habitat available to the species within their geographic range. We produced high resolution, freely accessible global area of habitat maps for 60 species of reptiles and amphibians distributed in Italy, which represent 60% of all Italian amphibian and reptile species. We validated a total of 44 AOH maps through a presence-only based evaluation method, with 86% of these maps showing a performance better than expected by chance. AOH maps can be used as a reference for conservation planning, as well as to investigate macroecological patterns of Italian herpetofauna. Furthermore, AOH maps can help monitoring habitat loss, which is known to be a major threat to many reptile and amphibian species in Europe.

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Seventeen (17) and twenty-two (22) species of terrestrial reptiles were recorded from ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid and Harat al Harrah protected areas, respectively. Eight sites in ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid and eleven sites in Harat al Harrah were surveyed for the presence of reptiles. A comparison between the two protected areas’ reptile fauna is provided, with brief descriptions of their habitat preferences. Uromastyx aegyptia, categorised by the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable, occurs in both protected areas. Ptyodactylus puiseuxi is a new species record for the herpetofauna of Saudi Arabia. This study indicates the importance of protected areas within Saudi Arabia for the conservation of reptile biodiversity, the need for extension of the protected area network and additional biodiversity surveys in other regions. Studies on species richness, biology and population size for endangered species should be a priority for future studies.

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In Art. 11 verpflichtet die FFH-Richtlinie die EU-Mitgliedsstaaten zum Aufbau eines systematischen Monitoringsystems der in der Richtlinie genannten Arten, um ihren alle 6 Jahre zu bilanzierenden Erhaltungszustand auf einer soliden Datenbasis zu bewerten. Nachdem in Deutschland die Bewertung zum Erhaltungszustand der Schutzgüter im letzten nationalen Bericht 2007 (für die Berichtsperiode 2001.2006) noch größtenteils auf Expertenvoten der Länder basierten, entwickelten Bund und Länder in einem mehrjährigen Prozess Vorschläge für ein abgestimmtes länderübergreifendes Monitoring, das ab 2008 greifen soll. Am Beispiel der betroffenen Amphibien- und Reptilienarten der FFH-Anhänge werden die EU-Vorgaben und die Eckpunkte des deutschen Konzeptes vorgestellt. In Deutschland werden aufgrund bestimmter statistischer Überlegungen und Randbedingungen Arten mit mehr als 63 Vorkommen in einer biogeografischen Region mit einer randomisierten Stichprobe von 63 Vorkommen untersucht, alle selteneren Arten komplett erfasst (»Totalzensus«). Dabei werden Vorkommen einmal räumlich festgelegt und dann immer wieder bearbeitet (verbundenes Design), solange eine Art dort noch vorkommt. Grundlage der Felderfassungen und Bewertungen an den einzelnen Vorkommen sind artspezifische Bewertungsschemata, die Erfassungsmethoden und Bewertungsschwellen definieren. Für die Anhangsarten der Herpetofauna kommen gängige (semi-) quantitative Methoden (z.B. Rufer- oder Laichballenzählungen, Transektzählungen, Reusenfänge) zum Einsatz, allerdings überwiegend ohne aufwändigere Fang- Wiederfangmethoden. Das bundesweite FFH-Monitoring ist eine Überblicksüberwachung mit Fokus auf die Bundesebene und die Berichtspflicht und für die meisten Schutzgüter nicht hinreichend zur Beantwortung von Fragen des Gebietsmanagements oder der Verträglichkeitsprüfungen. Hierfür sind vertiefende Erhebungen in den Ländern notwendig.

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Agricultural landscapes cover a large portion of the planet and the intensification of farming is a primary cause of biodiversity loss. Changes in agricultural practices have been particularly marked in Western Europe over the last century. Hedgerow landscapes consist of complex mosaics of pastures, ponds, and hedges connected with forest patches that are favourable for biodiversity. Recently, however, these traditional farming landscapes have been profoundly simplified with a massive reduction in hedgerows. Reptiles are currently facing an important global decline, but the impact of the intensification of agricultural practices on their populations remains understudied. We studied the common European adder Vipera berus and the western green lizard Lacerta bilineata in Western France in a hedgerow land scape undergoing agricultural intensification. We first quantified the habitat changes (density of hedgerows and forest edges) from 1950 to 2015. Second, we docu mented changes in the distribution of V. berus and L. bilineata in the area between two surveys conducted 18 years apart (survey 1: 1994–1997 and survey 2: 2012– 2015). The two species were more likely to be found at sites with dense hedge rows and forest edges at the first survey. We detected marked range contractions in the distributions of both species over 18 years (92% and 74%, respectively, for V. berus and L. bilineata). Population monitoring of the adder with capture-mark recapture at two sites revealed marked declines related to the degradation of hedgerows and closure of the forest patches. Our results underline the importance of traditional agricultural landscapes for biodiversity conservation and the value of squamate reptiles as indicator speciesed in such landscapes.

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Studies which quantify the influence of abiotic factors on physiological variation are paramount to comprehend organismal responses to diverse environments. We studied three physiological aspects of metabolism in two sympatric and ecologically similar European lizard species, Podarcis muralis and Iberolacerta horvathi, across an 830-m elevational gradient. We collected blood samples and tail tips from adult lizards, which were analyzed for parasitemia, hemoglobin concentration, potential metabolic activity and catalase activity. Hemoglobin concentration was higher in males than females and it increased across elevation in one of the studied species – P. muralis. Parasitemia was not an important predictor of the variation in hemoglobin concentration, which suggests that blood parasites do not constraint the aerobic capacity of the lizards. On the other hand, catalase activity reflected increased antioxidant activity in the presence of higher parasitemia, possibly acting as an adaptive mechanism to reduce oxidative stress during immune activation. Potential metabolic activity, as a proxy for maximum respiratory enzymatic capacity, did not differ between species or sexes nor was it affected by elevation or levels of parasitemia. The results provide insight into the relationships between physiological, biotic, and environmental traits in sympatric lizards.

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In the developing brain, the phenomenon of neurogenesis is manifested heterotopically, that is, much the same neurogenetic steps occur at different places with a different timetable. This is due apparently to early molecular regionalization of the neural tube wall in the anteroposterior and dorsoventral dimensions, in a checkerboard pattern of more or less deformed quadrangular histogenetic areas. Their respective fate is apparently specified by a locally specific combination of active/repressed genes known as “molecular profile.” This leads to position-dependent differential control of proliferation, neurogenesis, differentiation, and other aspects, eventually in a heterochronic manner across adjacent areal units with sufficiently different molecular profiles. It is not known how fixed these heterochronic patterns are. We reexamined here comparatively early patterns of forebrain and hindbrain neurogenesis in a lizard (Lacerta gallotia galloti), a bird (the chick), and a mammal (the rat), as demonstrated by activation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This is an early marker of postmitotic neurons, which leaves unlabeled the neuroepithelial ventricular cells, so that we can examine cleared wholemounts of the reacted brains to have a birds-eye view of the emergent neuronal pattern at each stage. There is overall heterochrony between the basal and alar plates of the brain, a known fact, but, remarkably, heterochrony occurs even within the precocious basal plate among its final anteroposterior neuromeric subdivisions and their internal microzonal subdivisions. Some neuromeric units or microzones are precocious, while others follow suit without any specific spatial order or gradient; other similar neuromeric units remain retarded in the midst of quite advanced neighbors, though they do produce similar neurogenetic patterns at later stages. It was found that some details of such neuromeric heterochrony are species-specific, possibly related to differential morphogenetic properties. Given the molecular causal underpinning of the updated prosomeric model used here for interpretation, we comment on the close correlation between some genetic patterns and the observed AChE differentiation patterns.

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The sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) finds its southern range limit in the Alpine region and, according to current knowledge, does not penetrate southwards over the Brenner or Reschen Passes into the area of Vinschgau or the Eisack Valley (Valle Isarco) in South Tyrol, although presumably suitable habitats for this species would be available there (see SCHMIDTLER & SCHMIDTLER 2004, SCHMIDTLER et al. 2006, PIEH et al. 2021). An analysis of the physiogeographical and climatological conditions of the South Tyrolean area, considering the auto-ecological characteristics of the Sand Lizard, shows the obstacles for a permanent colonisation of at least some sub-areas. The application of KÜHNELT’S principle of regional stenoecia (1943), but at the subspecies level in the sense of BÖHME (1978, 1989) is suitable for resolving this ecological-biogeographical issue.

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Report about an intense encounter with the giant emerald lizard Lacerta trilineata major BOULENGER, 1887 on the Croatian islsnd of Krk.

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Brief presentstion of the South African Sandveld Lizard Nucras holubi und its discoverer EMIL HOLUB.

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A short note on an allochthonous population of the Italian Wall lizard Podarcis siculus campestris in Southwest Germany (Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg). The lizards live in the immediate vicinity of a railway track. The populations size is estimated at more than 100 to 200 individuals.

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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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Here we report on an unusual green-coloured hypomelanistic male common lizard found in the Southern Alps of Italy. The individual displayed a lack of ventral spots and an olive-green dorsal background colouration, and lacked most of the typical dorsal patterning found in other individuals. The individual was in good condition relative to other male common lizards. Hypomelanistic individuals have been reported in other lizard species and locations. Due to their rarity, little is known about their relative fitness compared to the typical colour phenotypes.

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One of the aspects of studies of micropopulations of (Eremias arguta deserti Gmelin, 1789) and (Phrynocephalus guttatus guttatus Gmelin, 1789) in the conditions of the southeastern part of the Lower Volga region was the observation of inter-seasonal fluctuations in body weight of individuals. Males of Eremias arguta deserti are consistently heavier in the spring than females. In the autumn periods, the results turned out to be contradictory and do not make it possible to conclude which individuals of which sex have the greatest mass. Statistical processing of materials using the Kruskal — Walli’s criterion (H) did not reveal significant differences in Eremias arguta deserti when comparing the mass of all females and males both for all periods and separately in spring and autumn periods. Phrynocephalus g. guttatus also showed no statistical significance when comparing all males and females for the entire period. However, the results obtained when comparing between females and males during the 2018 season, as well as when comparing females of different years, were statistically significant. In addition, the body weight of fingerlings of both groups, between the autumn seasons of 2017 and 2018, revealed statistical significance. Individuals of both Phrynocephalus g. guttatus and Eremias arguta deserti steadily gain body weight, despite the slowdown or complete stop of the growth of individuals in the former and autotomy in the latter. Regeneration of the tail or its absence obviously affects the growth of the trunk of Eremias arguta deserti.

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Von April bis August 1996 konnten am Grazer Petersbach (Steiermark, Österreich) und in dessen näherer Umgebung zwölf Amphibien- und vier Reptilientaxa nachgewiesen werden. Vor allem die Anzahl der Amphibientaxa in diesem nicht besonders ausgedehnten Beobachtungsgebiet, das noch dazu in einer Großstadt liegt, ist beachtlich, wenn man bedenkt, daß in ganz Österreich nur 21 Taxa (18 Arten +2 Unterarten einer Art + 1 Hybridform) dieser Wirbeltiergruppe vorkommen. Alle Amphibienund Reptilienarten sind in den Roten Listen gefährdeter Tiere Österreichs aus dem Jahre 1994 enthalten und bedürfen dringend wirksamer Schutz- und Förderungsmaßnahmen. Noch bestehen, wie in diesem Bericht aufgezeigt wird, Möglichkeiten, diese Arten im Untersuchungsgebiet sinnvoll zu unterstützen.

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The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the Kyrghyz racerunner (Eremias nikoskii Bedriaga, 1905) from Kyrgyzstan was determined for the first time by next-generation sequencing. The mitogenome was 20,840 bp in length and comprised the standard set of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and a control region. The 13 concatenated PCGs were used to implement Bayesian phylogenetic analyses together with some congeners and three representative lacertids retrieved from GenBank. The monophyly of both Eremias and its viviparous group was recovered in the Bayesian phylogenetic tree, while the subgenus Pareremias was paraphyletic with respect to E. nikoskii. The mitogenome of E. nikoskii will faciliate the research on species delimitation, molecular evolution, and phylogenetic inference in the racerunner lizards.

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Chemical pollution and global warming are two major threats to organisms, which can interact to affect the normal activities of living beings. In this study, to explore the effects of abamectin and high temperature on adaptability of lizard, male adult Eremias argus (a native Chinese lizard) were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of abamectin (0.02 mg·L−1 and 2 mg·L−1) and different temperature (26 °C and 32 °C) for 30 days. The fitness-related behaviors (locomotion, predation, and thermoregulation) of lizards were evaluated. Physiological effects were addressed using biochemical biomarkers related to oxidative stress, detoxification, and neurotransmitter content. The results showed that abamectin could affect the neurotransmitter systems, cause oxidative stress, and alters lizard locomotion and predation-related behaviors of lizards, but lizards up-regulating detoxification metabolic enzymes, exhibiting higher body temperature preference to alleviate the toxicity of abamectin, and compensate the increased energy demand for detoxification and repair damage by increasing food intake. After exposure to high temperature, lizards showed adaptation to high temperature (higher body temperature preference), the thermal compensation mechanisms may involve elevated Hsp70 levels and increased food intake. At the combined effects of abamectin and high temperature, more obvious behavioral disorders and more severe oxidative stress were observed, although lizards avoided the negative effects of overheating and pollutants by seeking thermal shelter and reducing energy expenditure, this may subsequently reduce foraging opportunities and the ability to obtain energy needed for vital physiological functions (i.e., growth, maintenance, and reproduction). From a long-term perspective, these short-term adaptive strategies will be detrimental to individual long-term survival and population sustainability, and may transformed into maladaptation.

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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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Gut microbiota are essential to maintain host health and fitness largely through its influence with behavior, development and reproduction of host, particular among the amniotic ectothermic reptiles. Global warming effects on the composition of the host’s gut microbiota in some taxa are generally known. Previous studies on reptiles in both natural habitats and lab-reared individuals have demonstrated that temperature changes can alter the composition and function of the host’s gut microbiota. However, these effects on wild-caught reptiles are not well-understood. This study investigated changes in the composition of gut microbiota of wild-caught lizards (Eremias argus), which were experimentally exposed to two different temperatures. The results showed that the increase in temperature altered the gut microbiota; both the groups showed an altered and destabilized composition of gut microbiota in response to their adaptive states. The warming did not significantly alter the relative abundances of the main gut microbial communities in both the lizard genders, but increased those of predicted pathogenic bacterial genera, including Acinetobacter, Anaerotruncus, and Dehalobacterium. These results provided insights into the ecological adaptations of Eremias argus, but the body health and fitness of wild populations, concerning temperature changes, warrant further investigations.

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Gold-toned bipyramidal neurons of the dorsomedial cortex of Lacerta have been studied using light and electron microscopy. The spines have been classified as stubby, mushroom-shaped or thin. Thin and mushroomshaped spines are only found on proximal and intermediate dendritic segments, whereas stubby spines are found on distal dendritic segments. A Timm`s method modification for electron microscopy (sulphide-osmium procedure) has been used. Timm-positive axonal endings usually synapse on thin and mushroomshaped spines, whereas Timm-negative axonal endings usually synapse on stubby spines. Timm-positive afferents and their post-synaptic spines on bipyramidal neurons of Lacerta`s dorsomedial cortex are compared with the corresponding elements on pyramidal neurons of the CA3 region of the hippocampus of mammals, on the basis of several histochemical and morphological studies. The possibility that these two neuronal types may be homologous is discussed.

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The Afrotropical element in the Arabian herpetofauna is concentrated in the southwestern mountainous region, whereas everywhere else in the peninsula the reptile fauna is Saharo-Sindian. There is a high degree of correspondence between the reptile faunas of the Yemens and Somalia. A remarkable faunistic resemblance also exists between the relict faunas of SW Arabia and Morocco. Three evolutionary levels can be distinguished among Ethiopian taxa in Arabia and are interpreted as evidence of different times of faunal contact: 1. Old relicts (genus level) of a Palaeogene (pre continental drift) Arabian/North African fauna (Pristurus, Trogonophidae); 2. Endemic species closely related to East African species (most probably Miocene); 3. Species distributed on both sides of the Bäb al-Mandab (Pleistocene). Contrary to the Saharo-Sindian faunal elements, there is good evidence that groups 2 and 3 used a landbridge across the Bäb al-Mandab for faunal exchange: the Miocene closure of the southern outlet of the Red Sea and a Pleistocene land connection due to eustatic sea level change.

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The presented paper reports on the first record of Eremias kakari Masroor, Khisroon, Khan, Jablonski, 2020 for Afghanistan based on morphological data obtained from one specimen stored for 49 years in the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany. Up to now, the species was known only from the type locality in Pakistani Balochistan.

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Hibernation is a short-term survival strategy for ectotherms to cope with cold weather and food shortages. The energy sources stored before hibernation are used not only in the winter, but also in preparation for reproduction. Reproductive physiology and behavior are primarily regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis. In this study, we examined endocrine hormone changes in the HPG axis of female lizards (Eremias argus) after chlorantraniliprole insecticide (CAP) exposure during hibernation. The levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and progesterone were significantly decreased and the level of testosterone (T) was significantly increased after 135d experiment. This study verified the possible endocrine disrupting effects of CAP. More energy material consumption was observed in CAP treated group. Female E. argus preferred to invest energy to present survival when exposed to CAP, rather than to reserve material for following reproductive activity.

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The observations on amphibians and reptiles of Lake Endine (Val Cavallina - Bergamo) are reported. Between 1992 and 1996, 7 species of reptiles and 7 of amphibians were observed, among which the presence of Rana latastei is particularly.

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Based on newly provided morphological and previously published genetic data, we describe two new distinctive sympatric lacertid lizards of the genus Eremias (subgenus Aspidorhinus) from the arid mountains of northwestern Balochistan Province, Pakistan. The new species, Eremias killasaifullahi sp. nov. and Eremias rafiqi sp. nov. are distinguished from all other species of the subgenus Aspidorhinus (E. afghanistanica, E. fahimii, E. isfahanica, E. kopetdaghica, E. lalezharica, E. montana, E. nikolskii, E. papenfussi, E. persica, E. regeli, E. roborowskii, E. strauchi, E. suphani, and E. velox) by unique morphological characters and genetic differentiation. In the molecular phylogeny of Aspidorhinus, both new taxa are well-supported lineages differentiated from other species of this subgenus by uncorrected p distances from 8.5% to 21.6%, respectively. Both new species belong to E. persica complex where E. rafiqi sp. nov. is partly similar in dorsal color pattern to E. persica but can be distinguished from this species by unique meristic and morphometric characters. Eremias rafiqi sp. nov. is found in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and eastern Iran. Eremias killasaifullahi sp. nov. can be differentiated from E. persica by its distant distribution, dorsal color and pattern, smaller size, and less number of gulars and ventral scales. Eremias killasaifullahi sp. nov. is only known from the type locality and represents the local microendemism, along with other endemic species of reptiles reported from this part of Pakistan. We, however, expect that E. killasaifullahi sp. nov. could have a broader range in northwestern Pakistan and southeastern Afghanistan, which should be an object of following investigations. Our data show that remote areas between Hindu Kush Mountains and Indus River need attention as they most probably represent possible sources of genetic and species diversity in the region.

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Despite numerous works devoted to hybrid origin of parthenogenesis in reptiles, the causes of hybridization between different species, resulting in the origin of parthenogenetic forms, remain uncertain. Recent studies demonstrate that sexual species considered parental to parthenogenetic rock lizards (Darevskia spp.) avoid interspecific mating in the secondary overlap areas. A specific combination of environmental factors during last glaciation period was critical for ectotherms, which led to a change in their distribution and sex ratio. Biased population structure (e.g., male bias) and limited available distributional range favored the deviation of reproductive behavior when species switched to interspecific mates. To date, at least 7 diploid parthenogenetic species of rock lizards (Darevskia, Lacertidae) originated through interspecific hybridization in the past. The cytogenetic specifics of meiosis, in particular the weak checkpoints of prophase I, may have allowed the formation of hybrid karyotypes in rock lizards. Hybridization and polyploidization are 2 important evolutionary forces in the genus Darevskia. At present, throughout backcrossing between parthenogenetic and parental species, the triploid and tetraploid hybrid individuals appear annually, but no triploid species found among Darevskia spp. on current stage of evolution. The speciation by hybridi- zation with the long-term stage of diploid parthenogenetic species, non-distorted meiosis, together with the high ecological plasticity of Caucasian rock lizards provide us with a new model for considering the pathways and persistence of the evolution of parthenogenesis in vertebrates.

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The Meadow lizard (Darevskia praticola s.l.) is one of the more poorly-studied lizard species in Europe, and no detailed data on its diet is available. We investigated a total of 180 faecal samples of D. praticola s.l. from two locations in Bulgaria, and conducted a comparison between sex and age groups (adult males, adult females, and immatures). In addition, the correlations between the consumed prey and the available resources were also analysed. Food selectivity was analysed by comparing the faecal samples with pit-fall trap samples on the basis of abundance of prey items from particular operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Results indicate that the diet of the Meadow lizard contains mainly arthropods (insects and spiders) and the most abundant prey items belong to Araneae, Auchenorrhyncha, and Coleoptera. According to the used electivity indices none of the OTUs are highly preferred by D. praticola s.l., but Formicidae are the most avoided OTU for all sex/age groups. Differences in food preferences can be found between adults and immatures, while differences among males and females seem to be insignificant. The lack of clear differentiation between males and females could be a result of their similar size and locomotor ability. In conclusion, our results reveal that Darevskia praticola s.l. is a generalist and it shows no food specialization due to its narrow spatial niche.

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We report the first record of Sikkim grass lizard, Takydromus sikkimensis Günther, 1888 in Nepal based on morphological characters such as the presence of four pairs of femoral pores, 12 rows of ventral scales, tail more than 3.6 times longer than snout-vent length. Our record of T. sikkimensis at Miklajung, Morang district represents the western-most observation of the species, ca. 94 km west of its type locality, Sikkim, India and is the first in Nepal for this species, genus, and family. This record is from Chure/Siwalik hill range which lies outside of Nepal’s protected area network. This species is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and warrants detailed inventory and immediate conservation interventions.

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Arabia, including the arid lowland regions of Jordan, Syria, Iraq and southwest Iran, has approximately 128 species of terrestrial reptiles and about 7 of amphibians. Endemicity is high, 55% of species being largely or entirely confined to the area. Abrupt faunal discontinuities are present between Arabia and neighbouring regions, namely the Horn of Africa, the Sahara desert and the relatively mesic areas to the north. However, there must have been substantial interchange with these areas in the past. Within Arabia, the main Zoogeographie division is between the arid regions occupying most of the peninsula and much smaller, often more mesic areas of endemicity in the south. The former are mainly occupied by Saharo-Sindian taxa and have rather more affinities with the Sahara than to arid regions east of Arabia. Southern areas of endemicity include: 1. The southwestern coast, with affinities to the Horn of Africa and the inland deserts of Arabia. 2. The southwest and southern highlands which share a number of forms with northeast African relationships but differ significantly, the former having more, often endemic species with African affinities and a number with relatives in the Mediterranean and other northern mesic regions. The drier southern mountains have their own endemics, some of which have representatives in the öiddat al-HaräsIs area to the east. 3. The north Oman mountains also possess distinctive species and populations, some of which are related to forms in the less arid parts of the Iranian area. Finally there are a number of mesic forms distributed around the periphery of Arabia, and populations at oasis sites in the arid region which are probably relicts of forms more widespread in Quaternary pluvial phases.

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Steroid-protein interactions were studied in the lizard, Lacerta vivipara J. The detection of specific steroid-binding plasma proteins was determined by equilibrium dialysis, Sephadex filtration, sucrose gradient centrifugation, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two high-affinity binding systems are described: a transcortin-type protein and an SBP-type protein. A high concentration of progesterone-binding sites was found (N = 1.1 ): 1O-5 M), whereas binding activity for corticosterone was weak. The estradiol-17@-binding affinity to the lizard SBP (I& = 2 x lo9 M-l) is similar to that found in man and amphibians. Testosterone binds to both the above specific binding systems.

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The analysis of polymorphism of microsatellite loci of Darevskia raddei “Yerevan” population allowed us to establish that the population of D. raddei “Yerevan” belongs to the subspecies Darevskia raddei nairensis.

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Artificial burrows are widely used for the survey or conservation of reptile populations. Nevertheless, few ecological restoration programs include such management practices into the global project. Two sites in restoration, located into the Crau plain, were implemented with artificial burrows aiming recolonization of the ocellated Lizard. A first feedback of this experience is given regarding the distribution and design of burrows. As several authors showed, such restoration actions are favorable for lizards as they rapidly used artificial burrows. Distance to closest population and burrows distribution seems to be important. Temperatures collected in artificial burrows and original ones are not different. Advices are proposed in order to improve survey and quality of artificial burrows in restoration ecology experiments.

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Rock lizards of the genus Darevskia are interesting research models due to their asexual reproduction. Ectoparasitic mites and ticks of these lizards are poorly known, despite some of these chelicerates being vector pathogens of humans and wildlife. Here we document and curate previously known data on ectoparasitic Acari of rock lizards and, based on our extensive survey, provide an annotated list of these ectoparasitic arthropods (six tick species, one macronyssid species, and seven chigger species). We also provide new host records (Ixodes ricinus on Darevskia caucasica, D. dryada, D. mixta, and D. szczerbaki; Haemaphysalis sulcata on D. rudis; Odontacarus saxicolis on D. brauneri); and new geographical records (O. saxicolis in Russia and Georgia).

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Reptile sheltering behaviour, despite profound life history ramifications, remains poorly investigated. Whether or not individuals share a suitable shelter or, conversely, exclude conspecifics may depend on associated costs (resource partitioning, sexual harassment, disease or parasite contamination) and benefits (predation risk dilution, thermal resilience, information sharing). We performed two experiments on field caught wall lizards (Podarcis muralis), a highly territorial species, to investigate the relative roles of sex and body size in night sheltering. In the first experiment, random pairs of lizards were offered two identical shelters. Lizards either shared a shelter, or sheltered separately. In the second experiment, different random pairs of lizards were offered only one shelter so as to elicit a share or compete response. Body size and sex both appeared as significant drivers for sheltering patterns. Unexpectedly, wall lizards often chose to share shelters. When only one shelter (too small to accommodate two adult lizards) was available, many lizards rejected the sheltering option in preference for aggregation. Such aggregative behaviour was not sex dependant, and may reflect thermoregulatory or anti-predatory benefits. Our results nevertheless suggest that cooperative behaviour may exist in wall lizards

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Embryogenesis is the first step in the ontogenetic life journey of any individual, and is thus a starting point for natural selection to cause evolutionary change. There are slight variations in the timing of embryonic development, known as heterochrony, which may eventually lead to major differences in adult anatomy. To test this hypothesis, the embryonic development of three closely related lizard species, Darevskia armeniaca, Lacerta agilis, and L. viridis, which are adapted to different habitats, was compared by analyzing discrete timing characters. Both intra- and interspecific variation was detected. The latter may be interpreted as embryonic pre-adaptions to later adult lifestyles, demonstrating that developmental penetrance manifests within a few million years. Traits with large intraspecific temporal variation, such as limb-related features, were susceptible to natural selection. In particular, the mountain-dwelling, climbing species D. armeniaca showed embryonic preadaptions by an early developing limb anlagen. This observation demonstrated interspecific variation, which was elusive in a previous comparative study based on purely metric data of developing limb lengths, and highlighted the importance of multiple data sources to draw robust conclusions about evolutionary change. Timing differences indicated unexplored ecological adaptations of the poorly understood lifestyle of these lizards. Thus, embryonic research provides a platform to explore superficially hidden evolutionary adaptations of all organisms on Earth.

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Camouflage is a fitness-relevant trait that supports survival and fosters evolutionary adaptation by which animals match their body pattern to a background setting. Lichens are among the most common of these backgrounds that several animal species use for camouflage. Lichens are omnipresent and grow in wide arrays of colorations and compositions. Their composition and phenotypic diversity might facilitate cryptic coloration and habitat matching by various animal species. Here, we describe the role of lichens in providing camouflage to various animal species in central Asian and Caucasus mountain ecoregions, which are categorized as global biodiversity hotspots. Despite multiple ecological studies, no information is available on the role of this regions‘ lichen diversity in providing animal camouflage. Casual field observations of lichen camouflage are reported for four (one mammal and three reptile) species: the Persian Leopard’s Panthera pardus saxicolor body coat seems to closely match the colors and patterns of saxicolous lichens (Acarospora sp. and Circinaria sp.) in their habitat. A similar background matching pattern was observed in both morphs of the Caucasian Rock Agama Paralaudakia caucasia upon crustose lichens: Caloplaca spp., Circinaria spp., and the Radde’s Rock Lizard Darevskia raddei to the crustose lichens Acarospora sp. and Caloplaca sp. Likewise, the Horny-scaled Agama’s Trapelus ruderatus grey matches with the color of multiple lichens (Lecanora spp., Circinaria spp., Protoparmeliopsis spp., Rinodina spp., and Anaptychia spp.). Our observations preliminarily suggest that lichens play an important role for species of different trophic levels, ensuring adaptation and survival through camouflage. We call for more field- based empirical and experimental studies in various terrestrial ecosystems in other parts of the world to test the role of lichens in local adaption and evolutionary plasticity of regional species.

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Background. Over 700 species of ticks are characterised by moderate to high host specificity, and a handful by very high host specificity, parasitizing upon a single host species. The rest are not host specific. One of them is the castor bean tick, which parasitizes all available terrestrial vertebrates including humans. Poland lacks tick species that are reptile-specific, since, as reported by K. Siuda (1993), these ectoparasites generally prefer endotherms, namely birds and mammals. However, the literature reports that the prevalence of castor bean tick infestation of local sand lizard populations is as high as 13.2 % – 40.4 %. Observations of different authors also indicate that outside the period of regular tick appearance on lizards, individual lizards can have very high tick loads, varying between several to over 100. Materials and Methods. The research was conducted in three separate study areas in western Poland: Żary, Zielona Góra and Nowa Sól. 606 specimens of sand lizards were captured, analysed and photographed. 222 (36.6 %) of them were infested with ticks. With each capture ticks were checked and removed. The lizards were caught by hand. Inter-group two-way and three-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated with the use of IBM SPSS Statistics 23 software. Threshold of statistical significance was set to α = 0.05. Results. In total 1339 ticks were obtained from lizards, all of which were castor bean ticks (Ixodes ricinus). 914 (68.2 %) were larvae, 424 (31.7 %) were nymphs and 1 (0.1 %) was an adult female. The highest number of ticks (778) was collected from lizards at Żary site. The most infested male from Żary was parasitized upon by 55 ticks, from Zielona Góra – by 46 and from Nowa Sól – by 15. In regard to females these numbers were 36, 34 and 15, respectively. The average infestation (defined as number of ticks) was higher for lizards from Żary than for those from Zielona Góra (p < 0.001) and Nowa Sól (p < 0.001), which also differed from each other in a statistically sig nificant way (p = 0.001). Main effect of sex/age group turned out to be statistically significant, F(2.796) = 67.75; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.15. Hence post-hoc analysis was carried out and showed that males carried higher number of ticks than females and juveniles (p < 0.001). Females, on the other hand, carried more ticks than juveniles (p < 0.001). Conclusion. The research confirmed a significant role of sand lizards in propagation of Ixodes ricinus. It was shown that lizards were affected mainly by early developmental stages of ticks. The prevalence of tick infestation was 36.6 % – 58.1 % for Żary, 28.1 % for Zielona Góra and 13.8 % for Nowa Sól. The average tick load on sand lizards was 2.5 individuals. The highest number of them was collected from 58.5 % of males, 36.4 % of females and 5.1 % of juveniles. High tick infestation of males can be explained by their higher mobility, especially during mating season.

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Cytosine arabinofuranoside, a potent inhibitor of D N A synthesis, administered into the egg of Lacerta viridis at different stages of its development induced various limb reductions, particularly digital reductions. At stages of 9 to 11 days of incubation, this agent inhibits the formation or arrests the growth of certain digital rays in the autopod of the limb. Similarities between the pattern of experimentally induced and that of the naturally realized digital reductions in serpentiform reptiles are brought to light, as well as the similarities between the early stages of the ontogenesis of the limb ithe two cases. This comparative study leads to the suggestion that after the retrogression of the apical ridge, a transitory arrest of the D N A synthesis in the mesoblastic cells of the limb bud, at definite stages of the embryonic development might play a role in the terminal stages of the evolutionary regression of the limb, in serpentiform reptiles.