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Understanding how communication systems evolve across heterogeneous environments requires examining multiple signalling modalities. In 2017 and 2018, we examined geographic variation in chemical signals of the insular lizard Gallotia galloti across 16 sites on Tenerife (Canary Islands). We analysed interpopulation variation in the lipophilic fraction of male femoral gland secretions in relation to vegetation cover (NDVI), local sex ratio, ectoparasite load and macroclimatic factors. In 2023, we also analysed visual signals of two lizard phenotypes that occur in contrasting habitats of Tenerife. We modelled the chromatic and achromatic conspicuousness of colour patches under both a conspecific (lacertid) and an avian predator visual system to examine habitat‐dependent divergence in signal detectability. Chemical signal diversity decreased with increasing shrub vegetation cover, while males from sites with male‐biased sex ratios exhibited greater individual chemical richness, consistent with heightened intrasexual competition. Populations in xeric habitats and with higher mite loads showed relatively higher proportions of α‐tocopherol, whereas greener habitats were associated with higher proportions of steroids. In contrast, visual analyses revealed that lizards from densely vegetated habitats exhibited greater chromatic conspicuousness and larger chromatic volumes, particularly under the conspecific visual model. Achromatic contrast showed weaker habitat‐dependent differentiation, consistent with the hypothesis that luminance divergence is constrained by predator‐mediated selection due to the high luminance sensitivity of avian visual systems. Thus, in open habitats, persistent and chemically diverse secretions may enhance communication efficiency under increased exposure, whereas in vegetated environments chromatic visual signals appear to be amplified, potentially driven by sexual selection while constrained by predation risk. These findings suggest that environmental heterogeneity can promote complementary divergence across signalling modalities, highlighting the importance of integrating sensory ecology and social context to understand the evolution of animal communication.

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We hypothesized that, through persistent predatory attacks, lizards should increase progressively the magnitude of their escape response. We simulated in the field a continuous attack by a persistent predator on Acanthodactylus erythrurus lizards and examined the characteristics of successive escape responses, microhabitats used for fleeing, and the refuges used. Lizards responded to the persistent attacks by increasing the distances they fled and the degree of cover in microhabitats into which they escaped. Lizards also changed their escape strategy from the first to the successive attacks. Initially, most individuals did not hide but stopped after running and remained vigilant, whereas almost all individuals hid subsequently. In addition, after successive predatory attacks, lizards used more structurally complex refuges (i.e., larger and with more obstructive cover). These refuges were probably safer although they may lower the lizard’s capacity to observe the predator’s subsequent behavior. These data suggest that lizards interpret persistent predatory attacks as an increase in predation risk and that lizards adjusted the magnitude of their escape and antipredatory responses to predation risk level.

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Cities are expanding globally, exposing animals to novel ecological conditions that can alter the frequency and nature of their social interactions. Urban habitat features, such as built infrastructure and patchy resource distributions, can constrain movement and promote aggregation, potentially increasing encounters among conspecifics and introducing unique social challenges. Understanding how urbanization affects social behaviour is therefore crucial. However, these effects remain poorly understood, and studies on solitary or non-gregarious species are particularly scarce. Here, we investigate how urbanization influences social behaviour in the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis), a territorial species and successful urban dweller. We constructed social networks using proximity-based association data from urban and nonurban lizard populations. Urban lizards had more social connections, stronger associations and were observed in more associations overall. These differences were not explained by variation in population density. We propose that spatial constraints and resource heterogeneity in urban habitats may enhance social tolerance. Our results reveal that urbanization can reshape social behaviour even in less gregarious species and suggest that shifts in social strategies may facilitate persistence in urban landscapes.

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Genetic variability, one of the main factors that guarantees species persistence, and species’ conservation status are generally evaluated with indices calculated at the present time. Natural history collections might help compare historical and current genetic diversity so to identify major trends. Here we analysed museum specimens of the lizard Zootoca vivipara carniolica, with a specific and stringent protocol for degraded DNA, in order to contrast its past and current genetic variability, using fragments of one mitochondrial DNA gene. Part of the distributional range of Z. v. carniolica (Po Plain, Italy), heavily impacted by human activities, was investigated. We found two previously unknown haplotypes in populations that are extinct today, suggesting the loss of these haplotypes and thus an overall shrinking of genetic variability. We argue that these results, together with the increasing threats posed by climate and land use changes, suggest that specific conservation measures for the persistence of Z. v. carniolica in Northern Italian lowlands have to be considered.

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Reproductive success is determined by the presence and timing of encounter of mates. The latter depends on species-specific reproductive characteristics (e.g., initiation/duration of the mating window), season, and reproductive strategies (e.g., intensity of choosiness) that may potentially mitigate constraints imposed by mating windows. Despite their potentially crucial role for fitness and population dynamics, limited evidence exists about mating window initiation, duration, and reproductive strategies. Here, we experimentally tested the mechanisms of initiation and the duration of the common lizard`s Zootoca vivipara mating window by manipulating the timing of mate encounter and analyzing its effect on (re-)mating probability. We furthermore tested treatment effects on female reproductive strategies by measuring female choosiness. The timing of mate encounter and season did not significantly affect mating probability. However, a longer delay until mate encounter reduced female choosiness. Re-mating probability decreased with re-mating delay and was independent of mating delay. This indicates that mating window initiation depends on mate encounter, that its duration is fixed, and that plastic reproductive strategies exist. These findings contrast with previous beliefs and shows that mating windows per se may not necessarily constrain reproductive success, which is congruent with rapid range expansion and absence of positive density effects on reproductive success (Allee effects). In summary, our results show that predicting the effect of mating windows on reproduction is complex and that experimental evidence is essential for evaluating their effect on reproduction and reproductive strategies, both being important determinants of population dynamics and the colonization of new habitats.

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Climate change is now considered to be the greatest threat to biodiversity and ecological networks, but its impacts on the bacterial communities associated with plants and animals remain largely unknown. Here, we studied the consequences of climate warming on the gut bacterial communities of an ectotherm, the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara), using a semi-natural experimental approach. We found that 2–3 °C warmer climates cause a 34% loss of populations’ microbiota diver¬sity, with possible negative consequences for host survival.

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Island systems provide powerful natural laboratories for studying the processes that maintain species boundaries. The lacertid lizard Gallotia galloti, endemic to the islands of Tenerife and La Palma, comprises four traditionally recognized subspecies distinguished by differences in morphology, coloration, ecology, and geography. We used ultraconserved element (UCE) phylogenomics, coalescent-based species’ delimitation, and network analyses to test species’ limits and to evaluate introgression. Phylogenomic analyses consistently recovered G. g. palmae as an early-diverging lineage, with G. g. galloti sister to a clade comprising G. g. eisentrauti and G. g. Insulanagae. Species’ delimitation strongly supported the distinctiveness of G. g. palmae under all prior settings. In addition, support for separating G. g. eisentrauti and G. g. insulanagae was consistent in most models. Principal coordinates analyses revealed strong genetic clustering concordant with subspecies boundaries, and no evidence of reticulation, despite geographic contact zones between G. g. galloti and G. g. eisentrauti. This indicates long-term isolation consistent with divergence since the Mid-Pleistocene. Based on phenotypic diagnosability and genomic distinctiveness, we elevate G. palmae stat. nov. to species’ status and recommend further integrative study of the remaining lineages. Our findings highlight the roles of isolation, ecological specialization, and selection in maintaining species boundaries in insular vertebrates.

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Although the majority of adult lizards are able to regenerate lost portions of tails, only rarely have instances of limb or digit regeneration been observed. The present work describes the histological features of the stumps of limbs and digits of Lacerta vivipara and Lacerta dugesii at various times after amputation, and compares these features with those which are seen after amputation or autotomy of the tail. The results show that the early stages of healing of the limbs and digits are similar to the early stages of tail regeneration. The epidermis which migrates over the wound becomes thickened, and cells released from dedifferentiating stump tissues accumulate beneath it. In one case, that of a digit, a papilla was seen extending from the wound epidermis into the blastema. During the later stages of healing differences between the events taking place in the limbs and digits, and the tail, become marked. The blastema fails to increase in size, and it appears that most of its cells are converted into a cartilage cap and sleeve investing the cut end of the bone. An investigation has also been made of the regenerative ability of the limbs of embryonic Lacerta vivipara. Limbs were amputated in ovo at various stages of embryonic life, but no cases of regeneration were observed.

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Dispersing common lizards were trapped in pitfall traps buried along both sides of an enclosure that fenced the study area. Local movements across the fence comprised about half of the captures made. An estimated 25% of the movements were not recorded by the traps. Less than 10% of the emigrants were detected by searching the surroundings of the plot. Use of the method described resulted in a tenfold increase of the accuracy of the emigration estimates compared to estimates obtained by searching the surroundings of the area.

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The identification of the parthenogenetic Uzzell’s lizard, Darevskia uzzelli (Darevsky & Danielyan, 1977), in Armenia represents the first record of this species in the country. Before this discovery, D. uzzelli was considered an endangered species endemic to a small region of northeastern Türkiye. Genetic and morphological analyses have confirmed that the Armenian lizards are indeed D. uzzelli, consistent with specimens from Türkiye. Morphological and genetic data also firmly discriminate D. uzzelli from the closely related parthenogenetic species D. unisexualis. Our results reveal significant morphological variation in this parthenogen among populations. Notably, the sympatric area in Armenia where D. uzzelli has been identified is unique for hosting the richest known assemblage of parthenogenetic lizards. Here, D. uzzelli coexists with three other parthenogenetic species already known to inhabit the region: D. unisexualis, D. armeniaca, and D. dahli. This exceptional population requires continuous study and protection due to its high scientific value.

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A questionnaire was circulated to several European herpetologists and a large amount of original and unpublished information was obtained on details of the habitat of the Sand Lizard (L. agilis). Throughout Europe, L. agilis inhabits a variety of environments including open woodland, scrub, dwarf shrub associations, grasslands and dune habitats. Two common features were open but diverse vegetation structure and open areas of soil for egg incubation. In the North West of its range (England, Sweden and The Netherlands), L. agilis seems to be restricted to areas with a sandy substratum but any loose, welldrained soil is suitable in central Europe. A comparison between Continental and Southern England habitat L. agilis features suggests that this species is more specialized (in terms of habitat ecology) in Enland)

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During August 1976, 30 sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) were removed from a heathland National Nature Reserve. A few days before this most of the Reserve had been destroyed by a fire and about 800 lizards were killed. A specially designed vivarium was later constructed on an unburnt part of the Reserve and lizards were released in the vivarium during 1978. The objective was to return the lizards to the Reserve, using a controlled method, and assist the natural recolonization process. Three years later (in 1981) the vivarium had a small breeding population of sand lizards.

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Chigger mite species Schoengastia propria Audy and Womersley, 1957, described from a snake in India, is redescribed based on new materials collected from an alcohol-fixed museum specimen of a lizard from Iran, as well as from a rat in Thailand.

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Die starke Gefährdung der Zauneidechse in Schleswig-Holstein ist insbesondere auf den Verlust und die starke Degradierung ihrer Lebensräume zurückzuführen. Eine Wiederherstellung und Aufwertung geeigneter Habitate ist möglich und wird unter anderem durch die Stiftung Naturschutz Schleswig-Holstein und das Unabhängige Kuratorium Landschaft e.V. umgesetzt. Aufgrund der starken Verinselung der verbliebenen Zauneidechsenpopulationen muss die Art bei der (Wieder-) Besiedlung solcher Flächen unterstützt werden. Dies wird in Schleswig-Holstein mithilfe von Nachzucht- und Wiederansiedlungsprojekten durchgeführt. Dabei werden adulte Spendertiere temporär in Freilandterrarien gehalten und deren Nachzuchten auf Ansiedlungsflächen ausgesetzt. Die Projekte werden vorwiegend durch öffentliche Gelder und EU-Fördermittel so auch ein LIFE-Projekt finanziert und bedürfen einer sorgfältigen Vorplanung und der Einhaltung rechtlicher Vorgaben. Die Gesellschaft für Freilandökologie und Naturschutzplanung mbH (GFN) hat dazu ein Vorgehen entwickelt, das sich grundsätzlich seit sechs |ahren bewährt. Dass diese Projekte Erfolg haben können, zeigen Monitoring-Ergebnisse aus inzwischen acht Projektgebieten, in denen Zauneidechsen angesiedelt wurden.

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Im Rahmen einer Studie der Forschungsstelle Rekultivierung der RWE Power AG über die Bedeutung abgestufter Waldränder für die Fauna im Rekultivierungsgebiet Sophienhöhe bei Jülich, Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW) wurde 2019 insbesondere die Zauneidechse untersucht. Sie war bisher in der Jülicher Börde nicht nachgewiesen, ist aber wohl am Rande der aktiven Tagebaufläche in das Rekultivierungsgebiet eingewandert und hat sich vor allem über das Wegenetz, soweit breit abgestufte Waldränder angelegt sind, in sonnige und windgeschützte Lagen der Rekultivierung ausgebreitet. Die Wege mit breitflächig gestuften Waldsäumen haben eine wichtige Korridorfunktion. Infolge geländeform- und aufwuchsbedingter Verschattungen der Wege sollten Trittsteinbiotope möglichst eng beieinander liegen. In schattigeren und/oder stärker windexponierten Lagen sowie in der Höhe wird auf der Sophienhöhe die Zaun- durch die Waldeidechse ersetzt. Es werden Maßnahmen zur Erhöhung der Populationsdichte erörtert.

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Trackingmethoden liefern wertvolle Daten zum Raumnutzungsverhalten von Tieren. Hierzu müssen die Sender allerdings so angebracht werden, dass die Tiere nicht in ihrem natürlichen Verhalten beeinträchtigt werden. Für Freilanduntersuchungen an der Zauneidechse suchten wir nach einer geeigneten Anbringungsmethode von traditionellen und neuartigen Sendern. In zwei unterschiedlichen Terrarienversuchen haben wir dazu die Anbringung von zwei verschiedenen Sendertypen mit insgesamt fünf verschiedenen Methoden getestet. Im ersten Versuch wurden vier verschiedene Anbringungsmethoden für moderne Sensorknoten auf dem Rücken von Zauneidechsen getestet. Durch diese Art von Besenderung wurden die Tiere stark beeinträchtigt, insbesondere blieben sie an Vegetation und anderen Habitatstrukturen hängen. Unter natürlichen Bedingungen hätte dies vermutlich den Tod der jeweiligen Echse zur Folge gehabt. Dagegen wurden im zweiten Versuch bei der Anbringung eines kleineren, klassischen VHF-Senders seitlich am Schwanzansatzder Zauneidechsen keine Beeinträchtigungen der Tiere feitgestellt. Bei einem Einsatz im Freiland sollten für Zauneidechsen daher nur kleinere Sender verwendet werden, die möglichst wenig über die natürliche Körperform der Echsen hinausragen. Unsere Methodentests zeigen deutlich, dass bei der Besenderung uon Wildtieren nicht nur das Gewicht der Sender eine wichtige Rolle spielt, sondern auch die Veränderung des Körperprofils. Dies sollte in Voruntersuchungen getestet werden bevor die Sender im Freiland Anwendung finden.

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Die Zauneidechse ist in Berlin weit verbreitet. Daher ist sie sehr oft von Eingriffen in Natur und Landschaft betroffen. In Berlin sind das vor allem Bebauungsplanung und Ausbau bzw. Erhaltungsmaßnahmen der Infrastruktur (Bahntrassen, Trinkwasserbrunnen und -leitungen in Wäldern, Straßenausbau), jedoch können es auch Artenschutzmaßnahmen für andere streng geschützte Arten sein. Um die Verbote des § 44 BNatSchG, insbesondere das Tötungsverbot, nicht eintreten zu lassen, werden, wenn andere Maßnahmen, wie Vergrämung oder die Ausweisung von Tabuzonen nicht möglich oder erfolgversprechend sind, die Eidechsen aus dem Eingriffsbereich umgesiedelt. Vorgestellt werden Daten, die bei Fangaktionen mit Hilfe von Fangzäunen gewonnen wurden. Unter anderem werden mit dieser Methode gewonnene Erkenntnisse zu Bestandsgrößen und -dichten sowie Aktivität und Phänologie von Zauneidechsenpopulationen in Berlin und Umgebung präsentiert. An einem Beispiel wird die Raumnutzung und Habitatwahl von Zauneidechsen in einer vielftiltig strukturierten Bahnbrache analysiert und werden Diskrepanzen in der Einschätzung der Habitatpräferenzen zwischen den mit Hilfe von Fangzäunen gewonnen Erkenntnissen und den Ergebnissen von Beobachtungen aufgezeigt. Weitere Beispiele zeigen Auswirkungen von Versiegelungen und intensiver Beweidung auf. Verschiedene bei Zauneidechsenumsiedlungen eingesetzte Fangmethoden werden hinsichtlich ihrer Effizienz bewertet. Insbesondere werden aktive Methoden, bei denen möglichst roo o/o der auf einer Fläche lebenden Zauneidechsen gesichtet werden müssen, und passive Methoden, bei denen stationäre Fanganlagen installiert werden, die über die gesamte Aktivitätsperiode der Zauneidechsen fängig gehalten werden, verglichen. Als effizienteste Methode zum Fang von Zauneidechsen hat sich der Einsatzvon Fangzäunen erwiesen. Insbesondere ist diese Methode unabhängig von Witterungseinflüssen oder der Erfahrung von Fängern. Sie erlaubt zusätzlich die Aufnahme unterschiedlicher populationsökologischer Daten.

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Nachdem praktisch aus allen Bundesländern Verbreitungsatlanten der Amphibien und Reptilien vorliegen und von der DGHT zu online verfügbaren Karten für Deutschland zusammengeführt wurden, zeigt sich zunehmend Bedarf für eine kontinuierliche weitere Datenerhebung. Einige Arten verlieren immer noch Teile ihres Areals (z.B. Gelbbauchunke), andere expandieren (z.B. Mauereidechse) und im Hinblick auf den Klimawandel ließen die letzten trokkenen Sommer befürchten, dass auch häufige Arten wie der Grasfrosch womöglich noch weiter zurückgehen. Nicht zuletzt zur Erstellung fundierter Roter Listen werden daher auch Daten benötigt, aus denen sich quantitative Trends herleiten lassen. Zur Erhebung solcher Daten stehen inzwischen mehrere frei zugängliche online-Erfassungssysteme zur Verfügung. In Nordrhein-Westfalen wurde daher seit 2017 mit inzwischen großem Erfolg das aus den Niederlanden stammende Angebot von observation.org adaptiert, das weltweit nutzbar ist und regional angepasst werden kann. Die hier gesammelten Daten werden durch Validatoren geprüft und stehen der Wissenschaft und dem Naturschutz zur Auswertung zur Verfügung. Die Anwendung wird näher beschrieben. Eine Nutzung des Systems kann für ganz Deutschland empfohlen werden.

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Die Vorgaben des Bundesnaturschutzgesetzes erfordern den Schutz der Zauneidechse (Lacerta agilis LINNAEUS, L758) bei Instandhaltungs- und Baumaßnahmen der DB Netz AG. Die Tiere und deren Lebensstätten dürfen nicht willkürlich getötet, zerstört oder gestört werden. Um einen Schutz der Tiere gewährleisten und entsprechende Maßnahmen ergreifen zu können, bedarf es einer Erfassung im Untersuchungsgebiet. Die herkömmliche Erfassungsmethode ist „visuelles Auffinden“: Ein Mensch begeht das Gelände und hält Ausschau nach den Individuen bzw. deren Spuren, Bauten etc. Der Mensch ist beim Ausschließen oder Erfassen der Art oft zu ungenau und zu ergebnisoffen. Wo der Mensch aufgrund der überwiegend visuellen Erfassung limitiert ist, soll der speziell ausgebildete Artenspürhund aufgrund seiner olfaktorischen Fähigkeiten den Menschen unterstützen. Bisher werden Kartierergebnisse verschiedener Vorhabenträger in keiner zentralen Datenbank gespeichert, die für alle zugänglich ist. Dadurch gehen sie langfristig verloren und können nicht für zukünftige oder parallel laufende Projekte verwendet werden. Ziel des nachfolgend vorgestellten Projekts ist der Aufbau einer Artenspürhundestaffel und einer Datenbank für Kartierdaten. Seit April 2021 absolvieren bei der DB Netz AG neun Hunde eine Ausbildung zum Artenspürhund. Ziel ist es, die Artenspürhunde gemeinsam mit ihren Hundeführern nach erfolgreichem Absolvieren des Lehrgangs für die Suche nach Zauneidechsen bei der DB einzusetzen. Zusätzlich zu den Artenspürhunden wird für einen verbesserten Umgang und Auswertung der Artenschutzthematik bei der DB Netz AG eine Datenbank etabliert, die einen umfassenderen Überblick über alle erfassten Kartierdaten geben soll.

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During a stay at the Monte Conero Nature Park in October 2022, I observed the wall lizards present in a park like garden and analyzed the use of various habitat structures as habitat, especially with regard to the absence of stone structures. In addition to mediterranean shrubs, the property had a variety of different trees, especially olive trees of various ages, pines and cedars. The wall lizards were predominantly found on old, hollow olive trees. They did not colonize pines, cedars or young olive trees. I was also able to find wall lizards on an unplastered house wall as well as on old wood and concrete remains, but only in small numbers. The wall lizards in the area belong to the Podarcis muralis maculiventris-east / P. m. nigriventris-lineage. They are characterized, among other things, by the fact that both males and females have individuals with green as well as brown dorsal coloration.

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The Eastern Three-lined Lizard (Lacerta media) and the Caspian Green Lizard (Lacerta strigata) are presented, and the author`s current husbandry experiences are reported. The various husbandry requirements are discussed, and reproductive successes are described. Furthermore, the establishment of captive breeding management for both species is suggested to ensure their continued existence in the hobby. This first part reports on the husbandry of Lacerta media.

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In the third and final report of a herpetological excursion through the three Maghreb states in spring 1988, the observations on the lacertids in Morocco are presented. In addition, some comments are made on the Atlas day geckos of the genus Quedenfeldtia, which are endemic to Morocco.

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Three observations of emerald lizards at a site in the Soda Valley (Slovenia) are described. The diseased animals were found within a radius of only a few meters in 2007 and 2024.

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The article reports on observations of Psammodromus occidentalis in the plain of La Serena / Extremadura, Spain. It describes the use of sheep droppings by these lizards.

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Preliminary estimates of biomass for A. pardalis based on a remova census are given at 2154 grams per hectare. Maximum population density i estimated at 148 males and 231 females per hectare. Males are significantl heavier than females and maximum voluntary temperature was recorded at 38.0°C. Thermal environment and activity patterns are given in Figure 1.

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Color production in lizards has traditionally been explained by interactions among dermal chromatophores, yet the full diversity of coloration mechanisms remains incompletely understood. Additionally, while most studies focus on visible colors, UV reflectance plays a crucial role in lizard signaling and its mechanistic basis remains poorly characterized. Here, we investigate the UV-blue patches of Podarcis lizards. Using spectrophotometry, histology, electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and optical modeling, we show that UV-blue coloration arises from interactions between carotenoid-containing epidermal xanthophore-like cells—an uncommon feature in vertebrate skin—and two morphologically distinct classes of iridophores. Superficial iridophores shape short-wavelength UV-blue reflectance, whereas deeper iridophores contribute to a secondary yellow-green peak. Although this mechanism is generalizable to other skin organizations, the UV-blue patches of Podarcis lizards exhibit a skin architecture not previously documented in vertebrates.

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Gallotia, es un género endémico de lacértidos de Canarias representado por 7 especies actuales (Arnold, 1973; 2007; Arnold et al., 2007) y de 10 a 13 subespecies de lagartos (Bischoff, 1985; López-Jurado, 1991). Los lagartos gigantes de las islas occidentales, pertenecientes al clado `simonyi`, se creían extintos hasta la década de 1970 cuando se redescubre una población de Gallotia simonyi (Steindachner 1889) en los riscos de Tibataje en El Hierro (Böhme & Bings, 1975), iniciándose desde entonces un redescubrimiento de especies del grupo `simonyi` en las islas occidentales. En 1996 se encontró una población de G. intermedia en el Macizo de Teno, al noroeste de Tenerife, estimada en unos 280 - 461 individuos (Rando & Valido, 2000) y, en abril de 2003, se describió una segunda población en los acantilados de la Montaña de Guaza (Rando et al., 2004), con una población estimada de entre 884 a 1100 individuos (Ginovés et al., 2005).

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A striking case of cutaneous papillomatosis is reported in Lacerta lepida. The tumours, showing a similar basic histological pattern, involved eyelids on both sides, the whole margin of cloaca, femoral pores and part of one hind foot. They are, probably, a fungal disease.

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The lacertid lizard Gallotia galloti inhabits drastically different environments on the island of Tenerife, from sea level to > 3500 m, encompassing mesic as well as extremely arid sites. To obtain a first exploratory overview of the thermophysiology of lizards in this range of environments, we experimentally inferred preferred temperature (Tpref) and instant evaporative water loss (IWL) in 63 individuals from five bioclimatically distinct sites. We found statistically significant but weak differences between individual median Tpref values across sites, without an obvious relationship to bioclimate. Considering only adult male lizards, the highest Tpref values were found at one mesic and one very arid site. IWL differences were also significantly different across sites, and this variable was positively correlated with rainfall if analysed at the level of individual lizards, a hypothesis that requires testing against more extensive data sets. It appears that G. galloti occupies an extensive range of bioclimates without heavily adjusting its thermal physiology to local conditions.

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We describe the finding of a melanistic large psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus) within the boundaries of Arbúcies, la Selva (Catalonia).

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We describe a new species of the genus Mesalina from Rajasthan, India. The new species is genetically distinct and belongs to the M. watsonana species complex, and differs from all other congeners in a combination of morphological characters, such as 10 upper labials; eight lower labials; two large transparent shields of lower eyelid accompanied with three smaller shields; scales on tibia keeled; ventral plates in eight straight longitudinal series and 30 transverse rows; 34 dorsal granular scales across middle of back; nine collars; five submaxillaries; 24 gulars; four supraoculars; six or seven supraciliaries; one very large preanal shield surrounded above and at the sides by two rows of smaller scales; 14 femoral pores on each side of the thigh, narrowly separated by two scales; 21 lamellae under fourth toe.