A NEW DISTRIBUTION RECORD OF Darevskia praticola (REPTILIA) IN THE POIANA RUSCĂ MOUNTAINS (ROMANIA): A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE PREVIOUSLY KNOWN POPULATIONS.

In July 2021 we identified a new distribution locality of the lizard species Darevskia praticola in the region of the Poiana Ruscă Mountains in western Romania. The meadow lizard was identified west of Zolt village, on the side of the road to Luncanii de Sus, in a heavily forested area. The new record completes the known distribution range of D. praticola in the northern region of the Poiana Ruscă Mountains. Also, it represents the first connection between the populations from the western areas of the Poiana Ruscă Mountains and the ones from their eastern areas, which previously seemed isolated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]