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of the real lizards, family Lacertidae
Teira perspicillata perspicillata (DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1839)
Aellen, V. (1952) -
Berg, M.P. van den & Zawadzki, M. & Kroniger, M. (2013) -
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.
Bischoff, W. (1996) -
New informations concerning systematical questions within the family Lacertidae, which were published during the last year, are presented.
Bons, J. (1968) -
Bons, J. (1972) -
Cette note est destinée à faire le point sur le peuplement herpétologique du Maroc. Elle comprend: — Une liste des formes effectivement présentes au Maroc, avec les affinités biogéographiques des espèces, et éventuellement les travaux récents où ces formes sont étudiées. — Des commentaires sur les espèces africaines douteuses en Europe et européennes douteuses en Afrique. — Une liste des espèces à rechercher au Maroc. — Une discussion sommaire sur la systématique de certaines espèces marocaines.
Bruekers, J. (1997) -
Data on the distribution of Teira perspicillata on Menorca, on its habitat and syntopic occurrence with Podarcis siculus cetti and Tarentola mauritanica are reported.
Carretero, M.A. & Vasconcelos, R. & Fonseca, M. & Kaliontzopoulou, A. & Brito, J.C. & Harris, D.J. & Perera, A. (2006) -
It has been suggested that dorsal colour patterns and defence strategies could have coevolved in reptiles, the striped species being more prone to flee compared with the spotted species that rely more on crypsis. Because of the confounding effects of phylogeny and habitat, we compared closely related forms that share the same habitats and predation pressures but display different patterns. The spotted (chabanaudi) and the striped (pellegrini) forms of the Lacerta perspicillata (= Teira perspicillata) Duméril and Bibron, 1839 complex are reproductively isolated in a locality where they live in syntopy. The responses of lizards to a direct attack by a predator, simulated by the approach of a researcher, were investigated. Both forms displayed divergent antipredatory behaviours (escaping and recovering) to optimize survival. Chabanaudi lizards showed longer approach distances and took more time to abandon shelter than pellegrini lizards when the effects of temperature and of distance fled were removed. Reappearance was related with previous flight in chabanaudi but with thermal quality of the refuge in pellegrini. Although both used similar refuges, chabanaudi selected bigger rocks that were less accessible to terrestrial predators but were more prone to bird attacks, whereas pellegrini selected fragmented rocks that faced more terrestrial predation. Our results support the hypothesis of coevolution between pattern and antipredatory behaviour.
Crochet, P.-A. & Leblois, R. & Renoult, J.P. (2015) -
Duméril, A.M.C. & Bibron, G. (1839) -
Harris, D.J. & Perera, A. & Barata, M. & Tarroso, P. & Salvi, D. (2010) -
Additional data on the distribution of terrestrial herpetofauna from Morocco are pre- sented, based on fieldwork carried out in March and May 2008. Thirty-eight species were recorded from 78 localities. Some of these represent considerable range extensions for the species, indicating that more prospection is needed to complement the existing knowledge of herpetofauna from this country.
Harris, D.J. & Carretero, M.A. & Perera, A. & Pérez-Mellado, V. & Ferrand, N. (2003) -
Lacerta (Teira) perspicillata (Duméril and Bibron, 1839) is a small montane rockdwelling lizard, occurring in the western Maghreb (Morocco and Northwest Algeria) and in Menorca, where it has probably been introduced anthropogenically (Mayol, 1997). Intraspeci. c morphological variation is considerable. Some authors accept the existence of three subspecies, L. p. perspicillata, L. p. pellegrini and L. p. chabanaudi (Bons, 1968) but others consider them only morphotypes (Mayol, 1997). Although its phylogenetic relationships have been highly debated, mitochondrial sequence data suggest it is sister taxon to the Madeiran lizard Lacerta (Teira) dugesii (Harris et al., 1998; Oliverio et al., 2000). To investigate genetic diversity within L. perspicillata we sequenced part of the 12S rRNA gene from individuals from several populations including all three forms, and compared this to subspeci. c status.
Mertens, R. & Müller, L. (1940) -
Oefinger, B. & Oefinger, P. (2013) -
Perera, A. (2009) -
Perera, A. & Pérez-Mellado, V. & Carretero, M.A. & Harris, D.J. (2006) -
We examined the diet of Lacerta perspicillata in populations from different localities, thus providing the first quantiative data on the diet of this species. Five continental populations in Morocco located at different altitudes and an introduced insular population were analysed during April. Our results confirm that L. perspicillata is an insectivorous species and those found at medium altitudes with comparable ecological conditions in Morocco have a similar diet. In Taza, however, both sympatric L. perspicillata forms have different diets. The most varied diets were observed at high altitude and in insular populations. Local diet variability is probably more related to different ecological conditions and, consequently, changing trophic availability than to lizard body size or other morphological or behavioural constraints. Further studies, including studies on trophic availability and seasonal variation, could confirm our preliminary results on local differences in the dietary habits of this species and the potential role of insularity.
Perera, A. & Vasconcelos, R. & Harris, D.J. & Brown, R.P. & Carretero, M.A. & Pérez-Mellado, V. (2007) -
Lacerta perspicillata is a north-west African lacertid lizard that shows considerable intraspecific variation, with three subspecies described on the basis of colour pattern and body size. Recent observations of a population containing two morphological forms and more than one deep genetic lineage, as well as an apparent lack of concordance between forms and genetic lineages, suggest that the complexity is greater than previously thought. To analyse and quantify this variation, we studied the variability within this species at two levels: (1) external morphology (multivariate analysis of scalation, body dimensions, and colour pattern) and (2) mtDNA (sequencing and singlestrand confirmation polymorphism analysis). Fifty-two individuals were studied at Taza, northern Morocco. Two morphological groupings (ostensibly representing two previously described subspecies) and two deep mtDNA lineages were detected at this site, with complete correspondence between the two. This, together with an apparent lack of hybrids, would normally support respective full species recognition. However, analysis of 98 individuals from other populations demonstrated that the situation is highly complex with the same genetic lineages having reversed morphotypes in other areas, making such a designation difficult. Across the other studied populations, we found no support for any of the currently recognized subspecies. The lack of congruence between mtDNA lineages and morphometric patterns (in some cases) and the morphological similarity among lizards from different lineages suggest ecophenotypic convergence or multiple introgressive hybridization. The study highlights the tremendous complexity that may exist within a taxon and the inadequacy of older alpha-taxonomy based designations in describing it.
Speybroeck, J. (2005) -
Speybroeck, J. (2010) -
Vitt L.J. & Cooper Jr., W.E. & Perera, A. & Pérez-Mellado, V. (2002) -
Escape behavior of the Mediterranean lizard Lacerta perspicillata was studied experimentally in a limestone quarry at Lithica on the island of Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain. These lizards are exposed to avian predators while active on vertical rock faces. Simulated kestrel attacks using a cardboard model elicited escape responses from nearly all lizards approached. Methods of escape included entering a crevice, retreating over or around an edge, running behind a shrub growing against the rock surface, running behind a shrub and dropping to the ground (`bush to ground`), and retreating under or behind a rock isolated from a rock face. Most lizards fled directly to the closest available refuge or to alternative refuges only slightly farther away. Nevertheless, lizards that initially perched near crevices more frequently fled to other types of refuge than lizards that were initially near other refuges. The latter usually fled to the closest refuge. Lizards predominantly fled parallel to the ground or directly toward it (down) into a refuge regardless of the direction of attack (above, below, straight on). Direction of attack affected the type of refuge used. Lizards approached from above were more likely to flee to bush-ground or crevices than those approached from below or the same height. Straight-line retreat directly to a refuge appears to be the most viable escape strategy for these lizards when faced with attacks by avian predators, but the direction of attack may influence decisions based on risk.
Wilson, M. (2010) -