Phylogenetic relationships of Iranian Acanthodactylus species were investigated using 1407 bp of mitochondrial DNA including 606 bp of cytochrome b and 801 bp of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4). Analyses done with maximum parsimony, maximum-likelihood, and Bayesian inference included 67 specimens from 27 geographically distinct localities in Iran. Our molecular results proposed three clear and geographically isolated clades by their phylogenetic positions and genetic differences. These three major clades are: (1) A. micropholis+ A. grandis+ A. khamirensis; (2) A. blanfordi+ A. schmidti+ Acanthodactylus sp1; (3) A. nilsoni+ A. boskianus + Acanthodactylus sp2. The phylogenetic analyses of the genus did not group A. grandis with the remaining species of the A. boskianus group and clustered it along with A. khamirensis within the A. micropholis group. In addition, phylogenetic results revealed a monophyletic status for A. schmidti and A. micropholis groups. Molecular clock approach indicated that the most recent divergence event splits A. micropholis from A. khamirensis about 2 MYA and results of dispersal-vicariance analyses showed that this diversification occurred by dispersal event rather than vicariance. Results of Reconstruct Ancestral State in Phylogenies (RASP) showed that Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) of A. micropholis, A. blanfordi and A. sp1 originated in eastern Iran. The first diversification of the genus in Iran most likely occurred between 8.5-9 MYA corresponding with the hypothesis that the genus has entered Iran long after the complete uplifting of the Zagros Mts. (10-12 MYA) which limited its dispersal only to the Persian Gulf shores and western slopes of the Zagros Mts.

We describe a new species of skink in the genus Eumeces Wiegmann 1834 from Iran. Eumeces persicus sp. nov. is a medium-sized skink, distinguished by two clear, wide, and brown lateral lines extending from the ear opening to the hindlimbs, with scattered light orange spots, and two median rows of dorsal scales broadly enlarged in eight longitudinal rows. The new species ranges from southern Tehran to Kerman Province along the eastern slopes of the Zagros Mountains towards the Iranian plateau. We provide morphological comparisons of the new species with other Eumeces species from the region and molecular analyses of two mitochondrial markers (16S and Cytb). We also present taxonomic and phylogenetic accounts, with an updated identification key for the genus Eumeces in Iran and surrounding regions.

We review the status of an Iranian gecko population previously referred to Tropiocolotes cf. steudneri and describe it as a new species, Tropiocolotes hormozganensis sp. nov. We discuss the taxonomic history of this population and compare its characters with those of the other species in the genus. The new species is distinguished from other species of Tropiocolotes by possessing weakly keeled dorsal scales and smooth ventral scales, having imbricate scales on dorsal and ventral tail, possessing clearly tricarinatesubdigital scales, 48-55 dorsal scales, two pairs of postmental shields, of which the second pair is about half of the size of the first, 100-107 scales longitudinally along underside of body, 15-19 scales across head and 16-19 subdigital lamellae.

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