The distribution and biogeography of slow worms (Anguis, Squamata) across the Western Palearctic, with an emphasis on secondary contact zones

0547437 - ÚBO 2022 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Jablonski, D. - Sillero, N. - Oskyrko, O. - Bellati, A. - Čeirāns, A. - Cheylan, M. - Cogalniceanu, D. - Crnobrnja-Isailović, J. - Crochet, P-A. - Crottini, A. - Doronin, I. - Džukić, G. - Geniez, P. - Ilgaz, Ç. - Iosif, R. - Jandzik, D. - Jelić, D. - Litvinchuk, S. - Ljubisavljević, K. - Lymberakis, P. - Mikulíček, P. - Mizsei, E. - Moravec, J. - Najbar, B. - Pabijan, M. - Pupins, M. - Sourrouille, P. - Strachinis, I. - Szabolcs, A. - Thanou, E. - Tzoras, E. - Vergilov, V. - Vörös, J. - Gvoždík, Václav
The distribution and biogeography of slow worms (Anguis, Squamata) across the Western Palearctic, with an emphasis on secondary contact zones.
Amphibia-Reptilia. Roč. 42, č. 4 (2021), s. 519-530. ISSN 0173-5373. E-ISSN 1568-5381
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA18-24544S
Institutional support: RVO:68081766
Keywords : Distribution Atlas * Hybrid zone * Lizards * Phylogeography * Reptiles * Taxonomy * UTM grid
OECD category: Zoology
Impact factor: 2.319, year: 2021
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://brill.com/view/journals/amre/aop/article-10.1163-15685381-bja10069/article-10.1163-15685381-bja10069.xml

The slow-worm lizards (Anguis) comprise five species occurring throughout most of the Western Palearctic. Although these species are relatively uniform morphologically with the exception of A. cephallonica, which exhibits a quite unique morphology they are genetically deeply divergent. Here, we provide detailed distribution maps for each species and discuss their biogeography and conservation based on updated genetic data and a robust distribution database. We pay particular attention to the so called 'grey zone', which typically represents secondary contact zones and in some cases confirmed or presumed hybrid zones. Four of the five species live in parapatry, while only two species, A. cephallonica and A. graeca from the southern Balkans occur in partial sympatry. Further research should focus on the eco-evolutionary interactions between species in contact, including their hybridization rates, to reveal deeper details of the slow-worm evolutionary and natural history.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0323672