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The Sand lizard Lacerta agilis inhabits a huge area across Eurasia with several subspecies. Nine subspecies are generally approved, L. a. agilis, L. a. argus, L. a. bosnica; L. a. chersonensis, L. a. exigua, L. a. grusinica, L. a. iorinensis, L. a. brevicaudata and L. a. boemica, but several more have been described. The emergence of this large number of subspecies is connected with the phylogeographic history of this species, defined by geographic and climatic processes. A study revealing phylogenetic relationships of this species was already conducted with a broad taxon sampling and coverage. However, the latter study was based solely on the cytochrome b gene and, furthermore, the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the subspecies L. a. bosnica was underrepresented. This peninsula is a centre of European herpetofaunal endemism with high levels of phenotypic and genotypic variation. Therefore, the inclusion of the subspecies L. a. bosnica is important to clarify the overall view of the phylogenetic relations within the Lacerta agilis subspecies complex and to investigate the level of population differentiation within this highly diverse area. Thus, the aim of the present study was a more thorough analysis of the Balkan Peninsula with a broader taxon sampling. Furthermore, we extended the available datasets by adding the mitochondrial d-loop region and by further samples of different areas of the distribution range apart from the Balkan Peninsula. Our study reveals that the Balkan Peninsula is apparently inhabited by several differentiated lineages, whereby the Central Greek lineage might deserve subspecies status. Furthermore, the distribution area of the two subspecies L. a. agilis and L. a. argus should be revised, as the results of our study raise doubt about the commonly assumed distribution of both subspecies. As the most important outcome our results support that L. a. boemica deserves species status.

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New data on the distribution of 10 amphibian and 6 reptile species in the Vladimir Region is given. The list of species contains 198 new records including such rare species as Bombina bombina and Coronella austriaca.

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A complete catalogue is provided for the type specimens of lacertid lizards in the herpetological collection of the Zoological Museum, Berlin, as of December, 1993. The collection contains a total of 514 type specimens, representing 63 taxa, of which 42 are currently regarded as valid at the specific or subspecific level. Types representing an additional four taxa appear to have been lost from the collection. The collections are especially rich in African lacertid types and in historically significant specimens collected early in the Nineteenth Century by Pallas, Eversmann, and Hemprich & Ehrenberg. Also present are the type series of many subspecies of Podarcis lilfordi and P. pityusensis described by Eisentraut.

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The final part of a series of papers on the lizards of the Caucasus, that have been published in previous years. The paper reports on the life habits, capture and keeping in terraria of several lizards of Soviet Transcaucasia. In these respects the agamid Phrynocephalus helioscopus persi- cus and three species of the lacertid genus Eremias occuring in that area (i. e. strauchi, velox, pleskei) are discussed. Finally a !ist of all lizard species and subspecies actually known to occur in this region is given.

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Remarks on distribution and mode of life of Lacerta agilis. Short review of its subspecies . Critical remarks on their status.

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The author gives an insight into his decade-long engagement with the sand lizard.

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After being voted «Reptile of the year 2020» the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) was featered extensively in the publications and on the websites of the relevant specialist organizations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg (- not least in this magazine -), and it has repeatedly served as an attractive advertising medium for the protection of our amphibians and reptiles in the daily press. Nevertheless, numerous activities and conferences fell victim to the pandemic last year. And so it seems only logical to give the sand lizard a second chance. For this reason the German Society for Herpetology and Herpetoculture (DGHT), in cooperation with the Austrian Society for Herpetology (ÖGH), the Coordination Center for Amphibian and Reptile Protection in Switzerland (karch), the Natural History Museum Luxembourg (MNHN) and the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union Germany (NABU), annouce the sand lizard «Reptile of the Year 2021».

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Wir haben die bekannten Daten zur Verbreitung der Zauneidechse (Lacerta agilis) an ihrem östlichen Arealrand (Xinjiang, China) zusammengefasst, einschließlich der Informationen, die bei Forschungsexpeditionen in den Jahren 2013-2014 gesammelt wurden. Die Grenze des Lebensraumes der Zauneidechse in China schließt sich eng an die Ausläufer des Altai-, des Saur-Tarbagatai- sowie des Borochoro- und des östlichen Tien-Shan-Gebirges an. Über interzonale Lebensräume dringt die Art bis in das semi-aride Tiefland vor.

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The Cadastre of the Genetical Fund is the of cial directory on biodiversity – the annotated check-list of living creatures registered on the territory of the country, re ecting the current state of the biotic inventory. The present volume IV is devoted to the chordates and contains general distributional data about representatives of ve classes of vertebrate animals: ray- nned shes (Actinopterygii), amphibians (Amphibia), reptiles (Reptilia), birds (Aves), and mammals (Mammalia). This volume completes the national faunal inventory (the check-list of all invertebrate animals is presented in volumes II and III). In total, there are listed 602 species (with all local subspecies) represents 325 genera belongs to 119 families. There are also included 14 species doubtfully recorded in Kyrgyzstan, and 36 species names are expunged from faunal list. Each taxon name is supplied with the main synonymy, most accepted Russian, Kyrgyz, and English names. Data on current distribution within Kyrgyzstan and endemicity level are provided for each species (subspecies), as well as main references. The guide book also contains 74 color photographs in the annex. It is destined for experts in ecology, zoologists, specialists and employers of the institutions for the management of the natural resources, nature conservation and biological education.

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The paper provides data on the location of the type specimens of Lacerta agilis var. orientalis Kessler, 1878: 7 syntypes were identified in the collection of the Laboratory of Herpetology of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ZISP). The belonging to the type series is clearly indicated by the dates of their collection, localities and collectors. It is shown that according to the “International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature” (4th edition) this published valid name should be considered for L. a. brevicaudata Peters, 1958 and L. a. grusinica Peters, 1960 as the senior subjective synonym, and for L. a. exigua Eichwald, 1831 as the junior subjective synonym. To preserve the stability of the nomenclature, we designate specimen ZISP No. 22902 from Pyatigorsk as the lectotype of Lacerta agilis var. orientalis. From this point on, this trinomen should be regarded as a junior subjective synonym for L. a. exigua, which complies with recommendation ICZN Art. 74A “Agreement with previous restriction. In designating a lectotype, in order to preserve stability of nomenclature an author should act consistently with, and in any event should give great weight to, previously accepted taxonomic restrictions of the application of the name”. A description of the external morphology of the lectotype and its photograph are given.

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DNA barcoding remains a recognized and widely used method for taxon identification in biodiversity inventory and monitoring. In this publication, we present information about the results of using this method in the study of green lizards of the genus Lacerta. A total of 67 sequences of the COI gene fragment of three species (L. agilis, L. media, L. strigata) were analyzed. For the first time, all subspecies of L. agilis known in the Caucasus were studied using DNA barcoding, and a phylogeographic hypothesis for L. strigata in the Caucasian part of the range was proposed. Genetic identification has been successful at the species level. In the composition of L. agilis within the Caucasus, we can diagnose only the subspecies L. a. boemica and L. a. exigua, while L. a. brevicaudata, L. a. grusinica and L. a. mzymtensis are identical from L. a. exigua, while L. a. ioriensis from L. a. boemica.

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A part of the COI mitochondrial barcoding gene was sequenced from seven species of diff erent taxonomical groups: Ambystoma mexicanum (Amphibia, Ambystomatidae), Darevskia lindholmi, Lacerta agilis exigua (Reptilia, Lacertidae), Erinaceus roumanicus (Mammalia, Erinaceidae), Macrobiotus sp. 1 and 2 (Eutardigrada, Macrobiotidae) and Cameraria ohridella (Insecta, Gracillariidae). Th e sequences were compared with available sequences from databases and positioned on phylogenetic trees when the taxa had not yet been sequenced. Th e presence of Mexican axolotls in herpetoculture in Ukraine was confi rmed. Th e partial COI genes of the Crimean rock lizard and an eastern sub-species of the sand lizard were sequenced. We demonstrated the presence of two tardigrade mitochondrial lineages of the Macrobiotus hufelandi group in the same sample from the Zeya Natural Reserve in the Far East: one was nearly identical to the Italian M. macrocalix, and the other one is similar to M. persimilis and M. vladimiri. We also confi rmed the presence of the invasive haplotype “A” of the horse chestnut leaf miner in Ukraine, in line with the hypothesized route of invasion from Central Europe.

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In this article, a list of lizards of fauna of Kazakhstan, compiled according to the latest taxonomic revisions with the aim of unifying the taxonomy is presented, and a short outline of the history of views on the composition of fauna of Kazakhstan lizards are presented. The tasks of this work are explained by a significant increase in the number of special publications and frequent changes in views on the phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of species.

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Four types of nuclear DNA markers identified by the taxonprint, RAPD, and IMP (Inter-MIR-PCR) methods, and the nucleotide sequences of satellite DNA monomers have been used to analyze the molecular genetic similarity between some populations, subspecies, and species of lizards combined into the group Lacerta s. str., as well as representatives of some other genera. The notions on the systematics and phylogeny of this group based on morphological and zoogeographic criteria have been compared to the conclusions based on molecular genetic data. The genus and species subdivisions of populations based on nuclear molecular markers and morpho- logical characters generally agree with each other, the degree of genetic differences being correlated with the tax- onomy suggested by zoomorphologists. The degree of differences between the subspecies of one of the species studied, Lacerta agilis, varies depending on the molecular markers used: according to the results of RAPD anal- ysis, all subspecies substantially differ from one another, the variation within populations being small; with respect to other markers, the differences are smaller and not equivalent. The existence of the so-called eastern and western clades of this species earlier assumed by other researchers on the basis of mtDNA and morphological data has been confirmed. There are no distinct gradations exceeding individual variation in 14 populations of L. agilis exigua (the eastern clade) with respect to IMP markers, although these populations inhabit a vast area from the Ural Mountains to the Kabardino-Balkar Republic (the Caucasus). These data suggest that the subspecies has been rap- idly spreading northwards since the Pleistocene glaciation (about 15,000 years ago).

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Several recent papers have reviewed the life and work of French herpetologist Louis Amédée Lantz. They have detailed the composition of his collections deposited in several museums. However, since then, several other important specimens from his collections deposited at the Natural History Museum (NHM, UK) have come to light and we here present all of them in detail. We discovered paralectotypes of Lacerta saxicola obscura Lantz & Cyrén (BMNH 1918.11.21.5–7), syntypes of Lacerta boemica Sukhov (BMNH 1960.1.4.26–30, BMNH 1965.337–342) and Lacerta viridis media Lantz & Cyrén (BMNH 1960.1.4.25, 1966.512). We also identified numerous specimens from the French Mediterranean islands in Lantz’s collection deposited at the NHM, some of which represent the first reported specimens of their species from certain islands. We here provide data on all these specimens. We also place the Mediterranean island specimens from the Lantz collection in their historical context and emphasize the historical and taxonomic value of these collections.

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According to our results based on the nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of Lacerta agilis sand lizards from Crimean mountain region turned to be genetically different from known subspecies. The Crimean sand lizards form a separate group, closely related to Lacerta agilis exigua subspecies. A comparative morphological analysis of the Crimean Lacerta agilis was conducted and revealed some differences of analyzed lizards with respect to other subspecies of the sand lizards. Both molecular and morphological data led to the conclusion about the distinct taxonomical status of the Crimean Lacerta agilis. Redescription of Lacerta agilis tauridica is given and neotype is designated.

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This work presents data on reproductive features of Ukrainian fauna Lacertidae lizards in laboratory conditions and comparative data on lizards clutches in wild nature. Terms of egg incubation of these lizards in the laboratory in a stable, relatively low temperatures can significantly exceed those in nature, which allows to obtain embryonic material with a smooth, long process of development. The most prolific representatives of different major types - green lizard (Lacerta viridis) and nimble (Lacerta agilis). Females sand lizard can be aggressive towards other females clutches, which is manifested in the destruction of nests.

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634 specimens of Lacerta agilis from 43 localities of Kazakhstan were studied. Eight localities were chosen within the territory of Semipalatinsk Nuclear Experimental Range (SNER). The scale characters of the head and preanal region have been exam- ined. The study has confirmed the following trends: i) Polymeric variations are more often than olygomeric ones, except supraciliars; ii) The pholidosis variations corre- spond to those of Lacerta agilis boemica or other lacertids. The specimens collected from SNER had no significant differences in the variation frequency in comparison with those from other parts of the habitat.

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This article includes a brief outline of herpetological studies in Crimea over the past 50 years, checklists of taxa of amphibians and reptiles, and a general description of the herpetofauna of Crimea. Some formal issues for the protection of amphibians and reptiles are also considered.

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The contact zones of the distribution ranges of closely related reptile taxa are the source of valuable data on the microevolutionary processes in populations, the history of regional faunas origin, and the environmental prefer- ences of the studied forms. Our study is focused on the genetic structure of the populations of sand lizard, Lacerta agilis Linnaeus, 1758, at the Crimean peninsula. This lacertid species inhabits the mountain (afforested) and plain (steppe) parts of the Crimea, being abundant or common in many areas. Lacerta agilis is represented in the Crimea by two subspecies: the widely distributed Eastern (L. a. exigua Eichwald, 1831) inhabiting a large part of Northern Eurasia, and the endemic (L. a. tauridica Suchow, 1927) residing in the Crimean mountains. Mitochondrial hap- logroup affiliation corresponding to one of the subspecies (L. a. tauridica, L. a. exigua or L. a. chersonensis) was established for 225 L. agilis individuals from 81 localities in the Crimea and adjacent mainland territories. The nu- cleotide sequences of the complete cytochrome b gene of mitochondrial DNA (1143 bp) were studied in 75 L. agilis individuals from 68 localities. The genetic distance between both subspecies inhabiting the Crimea revealed by used molecular marker comprised 2.8%, which indicates their early divergence approximately at the transition of Early to Middle Pleistocene (ca. 1 Mya). L. a. tauridica is characterized by a comparatively deep genetic structure. Haplotypes occupying isolated positions on the phylogenetic tree of this subspecies were found in the south-west- ern part of the Crimean Mountains, what might be explained by the localization of L. agilis microrefugia in areas least affected by the Late Pleistocene cooling. Genetic structure of L. a. exigua is more homogeneous. Another important result of our study was an identification of zones of haplogroups «exigua» and «tauridica» coexistence localized along the northern and eastern margins of the Crimean Mountains. The portion of the «exigua» hap- logroup in local populations decreases southward and westward. The observed pattern of the spatial distribution of haplogroups seems to be a result of the hybridization zone formation between the sand lizard subspecies during the Holocene expansion of L. a. exigua. Ecological niches modeling for L. agilis subspecies and analysis of morpho- logical variability of the lizards support the hypothesis of L. a. exigua and L. a. tauridica hybridization in the area of contact of their ranges in the eastern part of the Crimean Mountains.

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Data on the distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the Russian Far East in the reserves and national parks of federal importance are presented, as well as the information on the representation of these groups of animals in regional Red Data Books and the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation is provided.

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The paper describes the history of biogeographic views on the herpetofauna of both Dagestan and the Caucasus as a whole. The species are grouped into eight zoogeographic groups on the basis of our de- tailed chorological analysis. Mesophilous and xerophilous refuges of the Dagestan herpetofauna are de- scribed. Our herpeto-geographical subdivision of the territory is given. The territory of Dagestan is lo- cated in the Palaearctic subkingdom of Holarctic kingdom and divided between two areas, namely, the Turanian and Mediterranean ones. The boundary between the regions is the junction of the northern foot- hills and plains of the Eastern Caucasus. A possible reconstruction of the regional herpetofauna genesis is considered.

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Pattern and sequence of ossification throughout the skeleton of Lacerta agilis exigua Eichwald are described in detail and compared with those of Lacerta vivipara Jacquin. Comparison of timing of ossification allows the identification of skeletal compartments which may shift the timing of onset of ossification relative to each other while preserving the sequence of ossification within each compartment. Pattern (shape and location of appearance) and sequence of ossification may be developmentally correlated with underlying structures such as brain growth and differentiation of the jaw adductor muscle system. The delayed ossification of the dermal skull roof in lepidosaurs is identified as a paedomorphic trait of that group which may have allowed the evolution of mesokinesis in non-fossorial lizards.

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The nutrition of Lacerta agilis was studied by means of stomach content analysis per- formed in the vicinity of Saratov from April till September, 1981 – 1984 and 2002 – 2003. Insects are the main food (a 100% occurrence during the whole active-life pe- riod). Of them, representatives of Coleoptera predominated (25.4 – 40.5% by number, 43.5 – 70.9% by weight). Representatives of Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Ho- moptera, Hemiptera и Orthoptera are subdominants in the reptile diet in a number of months. Well-flying and quickly-running animals predominate over sedentary ones in the nutrition range. There were rather many invertebrates with cryptic color, venomous, stinging and strongly-smelling ones among the nutrition objects. Moreover, vegetable remains (seeds, leaves, flower fragments etc.) and various small stones (possibly acting as gastrolytes) were met in many stomachs.

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The appearance of sexual dimorphism in Lacerta agilis exigua populations in the forest-steppe and steppe native zones (south of the West Siberia) is analyzed. Sexual differences in coloration, pattern, moiphometric and meristic characters were revealed in both populations. The sexual dimorphism in the L. agilis populations is shown to be more expressed in less favorable conditions of the steppe zone.

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Elements of the herpetofauna are in the author`s opinion of great importance for the zoogeographical division of the Palaearctic region. It is suggested that this region be divided into the following four subregions: 1/ arctic, 2/ boreal Euro-Siberian, 3/ bo- real Himalayan-Manchurian and 4/ Mediterranean-Central-Asiatic.

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Intraspecific variation of sand lizard in the Western Caucasus is discussed with description of a new high-mountain subspecies Lacerta agilis mzymtensis ssp. nov. from upper basing of Mzymta River (vicinity of Sochi, Russia).

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The distribution, biotopical and vertical allocation, and abundance of the amphibians and reptiles of Katun nature reserve and its adjacent territories (the Central Altai) are discussed. Two species of amphibians (Bufo bufo and Rana arvalis) and three ones of reptiles (Lacerta agilis, Zootoca vivipara, and Vipera berus) are shown to inhabit Katun nature reserve and its adjacent territories, the distribution of these species being ex- tremely irregular. The highest specific diversity and abundance of amphibians are typi- cal for the forest-steppe zone. Single findings of R. arvalis were recorded in the sub- Alpine zone while no amphibians are present in the Alpine zone. Reptiles occur in the reserve everywhere and occupy all the four mountain belts, but prefer sub-Alpine zone sparse growths of trees with meadow motley grass. The abundance of reptiles decreases in the Alpine and forest-steppe zones because of heat deficiency and humidity decrease, respectively.

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Analysis of the sand lizards alteration within the same habitat so as its morphological at- tributes follows the field survey data, collected in 1993-1999. The study of the materials, con- cerning the matter, collected by Saratov university zoological museum has also contributed to the analysis. It has been found that the skin color and the body outline of the sand lizards are changeable. For sand lizards’ populations both west and east of the Volga sand lizards with brown (34.0 and 44.5% correspondingly) or green (20.9 and 40.5%) occur. The most rare skin color for sand lizards to the east of the Volga opposite Saratov is olive-green (6.5%) and gray (10.0%) in the west of it. No considerable variations are noted in the data on pholidosis of sand lizards in the northern part of the Lower Volga area in comparison with likewise data for the south-west of Russia came from literature. However, the number of Sq., P.f. and Na. decreases to the north, east and west, while in the southern territories it reaches higher numbers. Besides, the number of Ventr., G. and Lor. is somewhat higher for lizards within the northern, southern and eastern zones, occupied by the subspecies. As discussed below the lizards occupy various lands within the study territory. However, the species prefers the stations with intricate microrelief. The study territory is populated by various biotopes with apparent ecotonic features. These bio- topes have been transformed under the human impacts. The sand lizard in the northern part of the Lower Volga area appears in spring, in the first ten days of April. The wintering period starts in the second half of September, though in warm years lizards may occur till the second half of October. In spring the sand lizard demonstrates single-peak and in summer double-peak activity. As a result of measuring body temperature of 49 lizards that of 18.2-40.1°C appears to match active status of the reptiles. However, the best temperature range for lizards to keep high activity rate is 26-34.0°C. As 175 lizards’ gastrointestinal tracts have been investigated (the lizards were caught in the suburbs of Saratov) the insects appear to be the main food of the reptiles. During the reptiles activity period the insects have been found in 100 per cent of the stomachs examined. The other classes are relatively poor presented in the food pattern of the lizards.