Genetic and morphological relationships of the Berlenga wall lizard (Podarcis bocagei berlengensis: Lacertidae)

Abstract

Six biometric characters and 15 electrophoretic loci of three known subspecies of Podarcis bocagei were studied. Contrary to biometric indications, Podarcis bocagei berlengensis showed a closer genetic relationship with Podarcis bocagei carbonelli than with the nominal subspecies. The biometric results were confounded by the relative large size of P. b. berlengensis. Post‐glacial colonization from two different areas might explain the greater genetic differentiation between the P. b. bocagei and P. b. carbonelli populations (Nei's D ‐ 0.158 ‐ near the species threshold). It might also explain the known colonization of these two lizards through the islands off the west coast of the Iberian penninsula and their present distributions to the north of (Galicia; Northern Portugal) and to the south of the valley of river Douro (central Portugal, western and Sistema Central), respectively.

Multivariate and geometric morphometrics in the analysis of sexual dimorphism variation in Podarcis lizards

“…Podarcis bocagei and P. carbonelli are two closely related species that were thought to be conspecific until recently, P. carbonelli being considered a subspecies of P. bocagei (Pérez-Mellado, 1981a,b, 1997a. However, morphological and molecular studies corroborate the specific status of P. carbonelli (Sá -Sousa et al, 2000;Sá-Sousa, 2001a;Sá -Sousa and Harris, 2002) and confirm that the two species are separated by a considerable genetic distance and are not sister taxa Sá -Sousa, 2001, 2002;Pinho et al, 2004Pinho et al, , 2006. The two species are found in sympatry in a restricted contact zone in the south of the estuary of the river Douro in Portugal, where they maintain their genetic (Pinho et al, 2006) and morphological (Kaliontzopoulou, 2004) identities.…”

“…This contact zone is of special interest, because it is the only known area of strict syntopy between the two species (Carretero et al, 2002). Podarcis bocagei and P. carbonelli are very similar both morphologically (Harris and Sá -Sousa, 2001;Sá-Sousa et al, 2000;Sá -Sousa and Harris, 2002;Kaliontzopoulou, 2004;Kaliontzopoulou et al, 2005) and ecologically, both having ground-dwelling habits-a characteristic that differentiates them from the rest of the Iberian Podarcis which are mainly saxicolous (Pérez-Mellado, 1997b;Sá -Sousa, 2001a,b;Carre-tero et al, 2002). Therefore, the coexistence of both could stimulate differential evolutionary processes and result in the variation of SD patterns (Slatkin, 1980).…”

Head shape allometry and proximate causes of head sexual dimorphism in Podarcis lizards: joining linear and geometric morphometrics

“…Although they belong to the same species group, they are not sister taxa and are separated by a considerable genetic distance (Harris & Sá‐Sousa, 2001, 2002; Pinho, Ferrand & Harris, 2004, 2006). They are approximately similar morphologically (Sá‐Sousa et al ., 2000; Harris & Sá‐Sousa, 2001; Sá‐Sousa & Harris, 2002; Kaliontzopoulou, 2004; Kaliontzopoulou, Carretero & Llorente, 2005, 2007) and ecologically, both exhibiting ground‐dwelling habits (Pérez‐Mellado, 1981, 1997a; Sá‐Sousa, 2001a, b; Carretero et al ., 2002). Both species show a marked sexual dimorphism, with males usually being larger than females and with a more robust habitus.…”

“…Podarcis bocagei and P. carbonelli are members of the lizard family Lacertidae and are both endemic to the western Iberian Peninsula. They were considered conspecific until recently, but morphological and genetic evidence corroborate the specific status of P. carbonelli (Sá‐Sousa et al ., 2000; Sá‐Sousa, 2001a; Sá‐Sousa & Harris, 2002). Although they belong to the same species group, they are not sister taxa and are separated by a considerable genetic distance (Harris & Sá‐Sousa, 2001, 2002; Pinho, Ferrand & Harris, 2004, 2006).…”

Chemical stimuli mediate species recognition in Podarcis wall lizards

“…P. carbonelli was described as a subspecies of P. bocagei following the revalidation of the latter as a species (Pérez-Mellado, 1981a, b). However, morphological and genetic studies not only support the specific status of P. carbonelli (Sá-Sousa et al, 2000;Sá-Sousa, 2001a;Sá-Sousa and Harris, 2002), but also suggest that P. carbonelli and P. bocagei are not even sister taxa Sá-Sousa, 2001, 2002). The two species are similar in their ecology, occupy the same habitats, reproduce at the same time of the year, and may even occur in sympatry (Sá-Sousa, 2001b;Carretero et al, 2002).…”