Braun, M. (1877) - Description of Podarcis m. melisellensis. In: “Lacerta lilfordi und Lacerta muralis”. - Arbeiten aus dem Zoologisch-zootomischen Institut in Würzburg, 4 (1): 1-66.  Podnar, M. & Mayer, W. & Tvrftkovic, N. (2004) - Mitochondrial phylogeography of the Dalmatian wall lizard, Podarcis melisellensis (Lacertidae). - Organisms, Diversity & Evolution, 4: 307-317.  × A 903 bp section of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was sequenced from 73 specimens of Podarcis melisellensis collected at 52 localities distributed over the major part of the species´ range. In addition, parts of the 12S (about 470 bp) and 16S rRNA (about 500 bp) genes were analysed for 11 representative samples leading to a congruent phylogeny. Our study includes representatives of all 20 subspecies recognized today. The phylogenetic analysis of the sequence data revealed three main clades: mainland with nearby islands, Vis archipelago, and Lastovo archipelago. The degree of mitochondrial DNA divergence among these clades suggests a separation of the respective population groups during the earliest Pleistocene. The phylogenetic pattern observed within the species is in sharp contrast to the actual taxonomic division into subspecies. A correlation between genetic diversity of P. melisellensis populations and paleogeography of the regions they inhabit is discussed. Huyghe, K. & Vanhooydonck, B. & Herrel, A. & Tadic, Z. & Van Damme, R. (2007) - Morphology, performance, behavior and ecology of threee color morphs in males of the lizard Podarcis melisellensis. - Integrative and Comparative Biology, 47 (2): 211-220. × Males of a Croatian population of the lacertid lizard Podarcis melisellensis exhibit a striking polymorphism,
with coloration of the throat and abdomen ranging from completely white, to yellow or orange. In a first attempt to
explore the potential ecological and evolutionary significance of this polymorphism, we compared the three forms of
males in aspects of their morphology, whole-animal performance, behavior, and ecology. Orange males are, on average,
larger in snout-vent length and have disproportionately larger heads than either white or yellow males. This is reflected in
orange males having higher bite force capacity and theoretically an increased access to harder prey. Residual limb length,
maximal sprint speed and maximal exertion do not differ among color morphs. Body temperatures in the field are similar
in the three morphs, but yellow males are caught at sites with slightly higher air temperatures than are orange and white
males. Behavioral observations show no differences in time budgets or in the timing of activities among morphs.
Microhabitat use is also similar in the three color morphs, but orange males were more often initially seen on rocky
substrates. Our findings suggest that the observed polymorphism likely does not originate from a divergence in niche
or use of resources, but possibly reflects an underlying polymorphism in mating tactics. Podnar, M. & Madaric, B.B. & Mayer, W. (2013) - Non-concordant phylogeographical patterns of three widely codistributed endemic Western Balkan lacertid lizards (Reptilia, Lacertidae) shaped by specific habitat requirements and different responses to Pleistocene climatic oscillations. - Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, Berlin, 52 (2): 119–129. × The Balkan Peninsula is a hot spot for European herpetofaunal biodiversity and endemism. The rock climbing lizards Dalmatolacerta oxycephala and Dinarolacerta mosorensis and the ground-dwelling Dalmatian wall lizard Podarcis melisellensis are endemic to the Western Balkans, and their ranges largely overlap. Here, we present a comparative phylogeographical study of these three species in the area of their codistribution in order to determine the level of concordance in their evolutionary patterns. Phylogenetic analyses were performed based on two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b and 16S rRNA), and a molecular clock approach was used to date the most important events in their evolutionary histories. We also tested for correlations regarding genetic differentiation among populations and their geographical distances. For all three species, a significant correlation between genetic and geographical distances was found. Within D. oxycephala, two deeply separated clades (‘island’ and ‘mainland clade’), with further subdivision of the ‘mainland clade’ into two subclades (‘south-eastern’ and ‘north-western’), were found. High sequence divergences were observed between these groups. From our data, the time of separation of the two main clades of D. oxycephala can be estimated at about 5 mya and at about 0.8 mya for the two subclades of the mainland clade. Within D. mosorensis, coalescence time may be dated at about 1 mya, while D. mosorensis and D. montenegrina separated around 5 mya. The results imply the existence of complex palaeo-biogeographical and geological factors that probably influenced the observed phylogeographical patterns in these lacertid species, and point to the presence of numerous glacial/interglacial refugia. Furthermore, the observed cryptic genetic diversity within the presently monotypic species D. oxycephala prompts for a revision of its taxonomic and conservation status. Psonis, N. & Antoniou, A. & Kukushkin, O. & Jablonski, D. & Petrov, B. & Crnobrnja-Isailovic, J. & Sotiropoulos, K. & Gherghel, I. & Lymberakis, P. & Poulakakis, N. (2017) - Hidden diversity in the Podarcis tauricus (Sauria, Lacertidae) species subgroup in the light of multilocus phylogeny and species delimitation. - Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 106: 6-17. × The monophyletic species subgroup of Podarcis tauricus is distributed in the western and southern parts of the Balkans, and includes four species with unresolved and unstudied inter- and intra-specific phylogenetic relationships. Using sequence data from two mitochondrial and three nuclear genes and applying several phylogenetic methods and species delimitation approaches to an extensive dataset, we have reconstructed the phylogeny of the Podarcis wall lizards in the Balkans, and re-investigated the taxonomic status of the P. tauricus species subgroup. Multilocus analyses revealed that the aforementioned subgroup consists of five major clades, with P. melisellensis as its most basal taxon. Monophyly of P. tauricus sensu stricto is not supported, with one of the subspecies (P. t. ionicus) displaying great genetic diversity (hidden diversity or cryptic species). It comprises five, geographically distinct, subclades with genetic distances on the species level. Species delimitation approaches revealed nine species within the P. tauricus species subgroup (P. melisellensis, P. gaigeae, P. milensis, and six in the P. tauricus complex), underlining the necessity of taxonomic re-evaluation. We thus synonymize some previously recognized subspecies in this subgroup, elevate P. t. tauricus and P. g. gaigeae to the species level and suggest a distinct Albanian-Greek clade, provisionally named as the P. ionicus species complex. The latter clade comprises five unconfirmed candidate species that call for comprehensive studies in the future. Psonis, N. & Antoniou, A. & Karameta, E. & Leaché, A.D. & Kotsakiozi, P. & Darriba, D. & Kozlov, A. & Stamatakis, A. & Poursanidis, D. & Kukushkin, O. & Jablonski, D. & Crnobrnja–Isailović, J. & Gherghel, I. & Lymberakis, P. & Poulakakis, N. (2018) - Resolving complex phylogeographic patterns in the Balkan Peninsula using closely related wall-lizard species as a model system. - Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 125: 100-115. × The Balkan Peninsula constitutes a biodiversity hotspot with high levels of species richness and endemism. The complex geological history of the Balkans in conjunction with the climate evolution are hypothesized as the main drivers generating this biodiversity. We investigated the phylogeography, historical demography, and popula- tion structure of closely related wall-lizard species from the Balkan Peninsula and southeastern Europe to better understand diversification processes of species with limited dispersal ability, from Late Miocene to the Holocene. We used several analytical methods integrating genome-wide SNPs (ddRADseq), microsatellites, mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data, as well as species distribution modelling. Phylogenomic analysis resulted in a completely resolved species level phylogeny, population level analyses confirmed the existence of at least two cryptic evolutionary lineages and extensive within species genetic structuring. Divergence time estimations indicated that the Messinian Salinity Crisis played a key role in shaping patterns of species divergence, whereas in- traspecific genetic structuring was mainly driven by Pliocene tectonic events and Quaternary climatic oscillations. The present work highlights the effectiveness of utilizing multiple methods and data types coupled with extensive geographic sampling to uncover the evolutionary processes that shaped the species over space and time.
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