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In this study, we investigate the phylogeographic patterns of Dolichophis species in the Aegean region, aiming to elucidate their genetic diversity and putative historical colonisation routes through mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data. Our findings revealed distinct phylogeographic patterns: D. caspius exhibited a higher level of haplotypes within two shallow mitochondrial lineages, contrasting with D. jugularis, which displayed lower genetic variability in the area. Additionally, we identified evidence showing possible human-mediated historical translocation of D. caspius populations to Karpathos from the Balkans mainland. The mitochondrial variability in D. jugularis remained relatively uniform across southwestern Anatolia and Dodecanese, except for Rhodes Island. The evidence from mitochondrial and nuclear data confirming the previously described morphological differentiation of the Rhodes snakes, and thus the name D. j. zinneri Cattaneo, 2012, described on the island, could be applied to this isolated population. This result addresses the first genetic view on the long-standing taxonomic uncertainties regarding the subspecies status of Rhodes D. jugularis. Our results also raise questions regarding possible historical hybridisations between D. caspius and D. jugularis in the Dodecanese islands, prompting the need for further investigation using extensive field studies and genomic approaches. Ultimately, the Aegean islands, particularly Kos and Rhodes, seem to be important sites for the evolution of these colubrid snakes and their historical dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species of newts of the genus Triturus are known to occur in Türkiye: Triturus ivanbureschi Wielstra & Arntzen, 2013 and T. anatolicus Wielstra & Arntzen, 2016. Here, we used the mitochondrial ND4 gene as a genetic marker to determine the taxonomic position of a new population found in Posof, Ardahan, northeastern Anatolia. It was shown the population belongs to T. karelinii (Strauch, 1870), which is thus the third species of Triturus present in Türkiye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-eight individuals of Anatololacerta anatolica (Werner, 1902) (17 males, 20 females, and 1 juvenile) were collected by hand from western Provinces of Türkiye and the following helminth species were found: 1 species of Digenea Plagiorchis elegans (Rudolphi, 1802) Braun, 1902, 1 species of Cestoda Mesocestoides sp. (tetrathyridia), and 4 species of Nematoda Skrjabinodon medinae, Skrjabinelazia hoffmanniLi, 1934, Skrjabinelazia taurica, and Spauligodon aloisei. Anatololacerta anatolica represents a new host record for P. elegans, S. taurica and S. aloisei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Anatololacerta is distributed in the eastern Mediterranean region including Asia Minor and some east Aegean islands. Recent phylogenetic studies suggested that this genus displayed cryptic diversity and was divided into five species: A. anatolica, A. pelasgiana, A. ibrahimi, A. finikensis and A. danfordi. The ecological niche differentiations of these species have not been studied so far. Our aims for this study were to predict the potential suitable habitats for the species nested in genus Anatololacerta, and to examine the niche overlaps and differentiations via identity and background tests. The occurrence data were obtained from literature and our own field surveys. Occurrence records were rarefied and assessed in a 30 arc-second resolution layer, compatible with several bioclimatic and topographic variables. Species distribution analyses were performed using maximum entropy approach and pairwise niche comparisons were evaluated by identity and background tests. Our results demonstrated that the species delimitation among this genus was not only affected by geographic isolation but also that precipitation and temperature influenced the habitat suitability for these species. Predicted suitability usually well matched the actual species distributions. Moreover, the niche overlap (identity test) analyses verified that allopatric Anatololacerta species show clear ecological differentiations. However, a niche overlap between parapatric species A. pelasgiana and A. finikensis, was confirmed by identity and background tests. It has been suggested that these parapatric species could be more affected by microclimatological parameters than the others. The results of our study are in agreement with the latest phylogenetic study within this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We genotyped multiple populations of all seven parthenogenetic species of rock lizards, genus Darevskia , as well as their putative sexual parental populations, using double digest RAD-sequencing genomic markers. Taking advantage of the conserved homology of the ZW/ZZ sex chromosomes among lacertid lizards, we aligned our short sequence reads to a reference Z chromosome assembly of the common wall lizard Podarcis muralis. This provided unique insight into the origin of all-female hybrid populations, which inherited their single Z chromosome exclusively from a paternal ancestor. The mapped Z-linked loci were used to construct a robust time-calibrated phylogeny. In each parent–offspring species pair, the geographically nearest population of the paternal species was identified as the most likely ancestor of the respective parthenogen, mirroring the trend observed previously on the maternal side in mitochondrial DNA. The estimated splits between the sampled paternal sexual ancestors and their daughter species occurred much earlier than suggested previously and during two narrow time periods: (1) the parthenogenetic Darevskia armeniaca , D. dahli , D. uzzelli and D. rostombekowi dated back to ~0.5 or ~0.9 Mya, depending on the calibration point used, while (2) D. bendimahiensis , D. sapphirina and D. unisexualis appear to have diverged ~1 or ~2 Mya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Situated at the junction of three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean is an ideal region to study the effects of palaeogeography, ecology and long human presence on animal evolution. Laudakia stellio (Squamata: Agamidae) is found across this region and offers an excellent opportunity for such studies. The high morphological variation across their range suggests that these lizards might represent a species complex. This is the first study exploring their evolutionary history, using molecular markers and individuals from all described subspecies. We employed the latest phylogenetic and species-delimitation methods to identify all distinct evolutionary lineages, their genetic variation and divergence times. The phenotypical diversity of L. stellio matches its genetic differentiation: almost all subspecies correspond to well-supported retrieved subclades and additional distinct lineages representing intermediate morphs have been retrieved. ' Laudakia stellio ' represents three distinct evolutionary entities that diverged during the Plio-Pleistocene transition, which we propose as distinct species. One includes Greek and Turkish populations, as well as cryptic Anatolian lineages. The second comprises all other Near East populations and the third is endemic to Cyprus. Our results indicate a role of humans in shaping present distribution patterns, and highlight the importance of the Aegean, Anatolia and the Levant as glacial refugia and diversity hotspots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smooth snake Coronella austriaca (Laurenti, 1768) is distributed across the western Palearctic throughout north‐central, southern Europe and western Asia. So far, only few phylogenetic studies, based on mitochondrial DNA, have been carried out on this species focusing mainly on the Iberian Peninsula and northern Europe, leaving unstudied some of important areas of its distribution. This study aims to cover this gap and to explore the phylogenetic relationships between the populations of in the Eastern Mediterranean and to detect possible historical refugia. With this objective, total genomic DNA was extracted from samples originated from the Balkans, Anatolia and a large part of Europe. Two mitochondrial (cyt b, 16S) and six nuclear (BDNF, NKTR, RAG1, RAG2, MC1R and PRLR) markers were combined for phylogenetic and chronophylogenetic analyses. The different analyses confirmed previous phylogeographic hypothesis showing the presence of several well‐supported clades distributed in Anatolia, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, the Balkans and the Iberian Peninsula and cryptic diversity within Anatolia and the Balkans. Moreover, dating analysis confirmed the diversification of the species during the Pleistocene, as well as the role of the Southern Balkans and Anatolia region as refugia during this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Age structure, body size and growth rate of Darevskia valentini inhabiting from different three localities were studied by skeletochronology. Age was determined by counting the lines of arrested growth (LAGs) in phalangeal cross-sections. A total of 73 museum specimens (24 specimens from Kayseri, 20 specimens from Van and 29 specimens from Sivas) were used for this study. The mean age of males in three populations was older than those of females. The mean age of males was found to be 4.33 ± 0.28 years in Van population, 5 ± 0.28 years in Kayseri population and 5.18 ± 0.35 years for Sivas population. The maximum lifespan in Sivas population was 7 years for both sexes whereas it was 6 years in Kayseri population and 5 years in Van population. In the three populations, ages at sexual maturity of females and males were 3 and 2 years, respectively. The sexual size dimorphism was femalebiased in the three populations. The mean snout-vent length (SVL) for males was calculated as 64.30 ± 1.15 mm in Van population, 68.48 ± 1.43 mm in Sivas population and 66.96 ± 1.19 mm in Kayseri populations. The mean SVL for females was determined as 60.36 ± 1.04 mm in Van population, 64.50 ± 1.73 mm in Sivas population and 68.24 ± 0.85 mm in Kayseri population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxonomy of the lacertid genus Darevskia has been complex since the first morphology-based studies. Darevskia valentini, mostly distributed in Turkey, currently includes three subspecies, but its interspecific and intraspecific taxonomic status has so far been shaped only by morphological evaluations, without molecular phylogenetic assessments. In this study, samples from the entire distribution of this species and its closest relatives were evaluated with molecular phylogenetic analyses of a multi-marker dataset, comprised of maternally-inherited mitochondrial and biparentally-inherited nuclear markers. We discovered two previously unrecognized genetically highly divergent lineages. The distinction of these two lineages is supported by gene trees, haplotype networks, divergence time estimation and species-delimitation analyses. We discuss possible taxonomic resolutions given that the phylogenies do not seem to agree with currently accepted taxonomy. Our results advance the knowledge of the ancestry of parthenogenesis as a result of past hybridization events between parental species pairs, because the paternal origin of some parthenogenetic species lies within the new lineages discovered here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Agamid lizard Trapelus ruderatus has a large distribution in western Asia. There is as yet neither a comprehensive molecular phylogeny nor morphological variation studies on populations of this species. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the morphology and genetic attributes of this species from populations in Iran, Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. For the morphological examination, 18 characters (nine metric, eight meristic, and one ratio characters) were examined on all specimens. The populations were divided into four Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs; three in Iran and one in Turkey). The Iraqi population was distinguished as Trapelus persicus by morphological characters. Morphological analyses confirmed that all OTUs could be considered as distinct and that the Turkey population is clearly separated from the Iranian populations. In the genetic component of the project, two mitochondrial (Cytb and ND2) gene fragments were used to reveal phylogenetic relationships among the populations. Molecular phylogenetic reconstruction showed five distinct clades (three in Iran, one in southeastern Turkey, and one in central‐southern Turkey–western Syria). Iraqi populations clustered with T. persicus, with high genetic distances from all other populations, as seen using morphological data. Based on the molecular genetic analyses, southeastern Turkey and central‐southern Turkey‐Syrian populations are clearly distinct (8.4% mean distance) and far from the type population in Iran. This suggests that they should be considered as different taxa. Iranian populations were differentiated into three major groups, the type population in Fars Province and two others in northwest and western Iran. The morphological and molecular genetic results gave a similar output with three Iranian populations having minor divergence, but being clearly separated from the population in Turkey. We suggest each of these groups should be considered as full species. According to divergence time estimation, T. ruderatus firstly diverged at 26.5 mya and subsequently diversified due to the uplifting of the Zagros Mountains and Anatolian Diagonal 15 mya. Subsequent aridification in the Central Iranian Plateau could also have contributed to the divergence of the Fars lineage 9.6 mya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eumeces is a little‐known group of skinks with few phylogenies published. Within its distribution range, five subspecies were identified for Schneider's Skink (Eumeces schneiderii) based on color pattern, pholidosis, intra‐ and inter‐subspecific relationships, but the validity of these taxa has yet to be assessed using molecular markers. Here, a robust phylogeny of the E. schneiderii group is presented based on three molecular markers (Cytb, 16S rRNA, and c‐mos) from 80 samples collected across Anatolia and the Iranian Plateau. Both Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference approaches were used to infer phylogenetic relationships within this group. The results revealed monophyly of E. schneiderii subspecies and Eumeces persicus. These clades also differ in habitat preferences, with the small‐bodied, striped forms generally inhabiting lower elevations and drier environments than the larger, uniform morph E. schneiderii subspecies. Molecular‐clock dating based on Cytb implies that most speciation events took place during the Upper Miocene to Lower Pliocene. A strongly supported basal dichotomy of Eumeces schneiderii zarudnyi + E. persicus in the southern and eastern slopes of the Zagros Mountains, with the E. schneiderii subspecies in the western Zagros, was identified in all individual and concatenated trees. Eumeces schneiderii zarudnyi should be elevated to species level and, therefore, we propose the name Eumeces zarudnyi for this taxon, increasing the number of species in the genus to seven described species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age structure and body size of Heremites vittatus from three different altitudes (group I: 0-499 m, group II: 500-999 m, and group III: above 1000 m) were investigated using skeletochronology. The mean snout-vent length (SVL) of females in all groups was larger than males. The average SVL was 74.8 mm in females and 66.8 mm in males. Age ranged from three to seven years in females and two to seven years in males. No significant differences were found in mean age between sexes (MannWhitney U-test, p=0.324). Among three groups, there was no significant difference between the populations as regards both age and SVL. However, SVL only in groups I and II were statistically significant between sexes. Moreover, there was no significant correlation between age and SVL. The Von Bertalanffy’s model indicated that females had a larger asymptotic body size than males and that there was a significant difference between the sexes in terms of growth rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic diversity is not always congruent with phenotypic heterogeneity, resulting in cryptic species complexes which cause a great struggle for scientists trying to define 'species' and describe relationships among taxa. Anatololacerta is a lizard genus distributed in southern and western Anatolia and some neighboring Aegean islands. Three morphospecies were recognized in Anatololacerta but a recent molecular study revealed the presence of cryptic diversity within the genus which led to the raise of a subspecies to species level. Currently the genus includes the species A. anatolica , A. danfordi , A. budaki and A. pelasgiana. Using a comprehensive sampling concerning both the number of specimens (218 specimens) and the genetic markers (3 nuclear and 3 mitochondrial), we performed phylogenetic analyses including tree reconstruction, species delimitation and divergence times estimation. The results revealed the occurrence of one more cryptic lineage which should be regarded as a separate species for which the name A. ibrahimi stat. nov. has priority. The existence of five well differentiated species with parapatric distributions in Anatololacerta is strongly supported. There is also evidence of recent and rapid radiation of the genus which probably causes phylogenetic relationships between these species to remain largely unresolved. At last, we proceeded to some nomenclatorial changes: The current name A. budaki was synonymized with A. pelasgiana because specimens of the type-locality of A. budaki are assigned genetically to A. pelasgiana. The genetic lineage including specimens currently assigned to A. budaki was named A. finikensis stat. nov. , raising the subspecies A. b. finikensis to species level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Darevskia parvula is a rock lizard that is endemic for Anatolia. The known distribution range of the species is limited on eastern and northeastern Anatolia. Although many morphological studies have been carried out on the species, there are also molecular studies to construct its taxonomy in recent years. Four adult lizard specimens were collected from eastern Anatolia in 2016 during a herpetological field survey. We present a summary of a morphological features, and report new locality which is the westernmost record (Çayırlı Village, Erzincan) for D. parvula sensu lato in Turkey. Our finding largely extends the known distribution of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]