Keratin Intermediate Filament Chains in the European Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis) and a Potential Keratin Filament Crosslinker

The phylogenetic relationships and possible origin of a putative non-native population of Podarcis muralis in Ukraine were assessed based on sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Ukrainian lizards belong to two distinct mitochondrial lineages (haplogroups), both occurring within the Central Balkan clade, which includes most of central and south-eastern European populations. From overall three detected Ukrainian haplotypes, one haplotype share same genetic signal with the hyplotype from the locality Bjala (Bulgaria), the other two are unique for Ukrainian population. Two of haplotypes correspond with haplogroup covering large geographic region of Bulgaria, Serbia, and Romania. These results reinforce previous findings that the species has the ability to establish new populations out of its native range. While most introductions to Germany and Britain have been deliberate, it appears likely that human transport of goods via the Danube river of goods is responsible for the range expansion into Ukraine.

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Predation on Common Wall Lizards: Survival Probabilities of Melanic Individuals

Russian Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.30906/1026-2296-2021-28-6-369-374 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (6) ◽

pp. 369-374

Author(s):

Jenő J. Purger ◽

Renáta Bocz

Keyword(s):

Survival Rates ◽

The Body ◽

Body Parts ◽

Selective Predation ◽

Podarcis Muralis ◽

Habitat Features ◽

Survival Probabilities ◽

Common Wall ◽

Plasticine Models ◽

The City

For estimation of predation plasticine models of prey animals are often used, because the soft material preserves imprints left by predators. We assumed that melanic common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis) disappear by selective predation faster than cryptic individuals and habitat features have important role in this process. We studied the survival probabilities of cryptic and melanic colored plasticine common wall lizard models in habitats with different background coloration on selected places near the city of Pécs (south Hungary), where melanic common wall lizards had been observed earlier. Contrary to our expectations the daily survival rates of melanic plasticine common wall lizards were somewhat higher in all three locations (sandstone quarry, stone wall, coal pit) than those of the cryptic ones, but these differences were not significant. Predators were mostly mammals, which left more marks on plasticine models than birds, but we could not show a preference of the body parts of prey. We concluded that rare occurrence of melanic common wall lizards in habitats near the city of Pécs is not due to predation pressure.

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Lateralization in the escape behaviour of the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Behavioural Brain Research ◽

10.1016/j.bbr.2009.09.002 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 207 (1) ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Beatrice Bonati ◽

Davide Csermely ◽

Pilar López ◽

José Martín

Keyword(s):

Escape Behaviour ◽

Podarcis Muralis ◽

Common Wall ◽

The Common

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Statistical methodology for the evaluation of leukocyte data in wild reptile populations: A case study with the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0237992 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (8) ◽

pp. e0237992

Author(s):

Roberto Sacchi ◽

Marco Mangiacotti ◽

Stefano Scali ◽

Alan J. Coladonato ◽

Silvia Pitoni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Statistical Methodology ◽

Podarcis Muralis ◽

Common Wall ◽

The Common

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Morph-specific immunity in male Podarcis muralis

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/156853807781374700 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 408-412 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Stefano Scali ◽

Diego Rubolini ◽

Mauro Fasola ◽

Edoardo Razzetti ◽

Roberto Sacchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Colour Polymorphism ◽

Immune Responsiveness ◽

Podarcis Muralis ◽

Environmental Pressures ◽

White Males ◽

Complex Interactions ◽

Common Wall ◽

Cell Mediated Immune Response ◽

Colour Morphs

AbstractPermanent colour polymorphism in lizards is maintained by complex interactions between environmental pressures and physiological traits (such as immune responsiveness) that differ among morphs. In this study we investigated whether T-cell mediated immune response vary among male colour morphs in the trimorphic (white, yellow and red) common wall lizard, Podarcis muralis. We found that yellow males showed a lower immune response compared to both red and white males, whose responses were similar. Thus, immune responsiveness is morph-specific in male common wall lizards, suggesting that this physiological trait could play an important role in maintaining colour polymorphism in this species. Moreover, immune responsiveness significantly increased with increasing male size, irrespective of colour morph, indicating that it could be regarded as a condition-dependent trait.

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Colour variation in the polymorphic common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis): An analysis using the RGB colour system

Zoologischer Anzeiger ◽

10.1016/j.jcz.2013.03.001 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 252 (4) ◽

pp. 431-439 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Roberto Sacchi ◽

Daniele Pellitteri-Rosa ◽

Adriana Bellati ◽

Aurora Di Paoli ◽

Michele Ghitti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Podarcis Muralis ◽

Colour Variation ◽

Common Wall ◽

Colour System

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Genetic and phenotypic component in head shape of common wall lizard Podarcis muralis

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/15685381-00003058 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 301-310 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Roberto Sacchi ◽

Marco Mangiacotti ◽

Stefano Scali ◽

Michele Ghitti ◽

Beatrice Bindolini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural Selection ◽

Morphological Differentiation ◽

Phenotypic Change ◽

Adaptive Responses ◽

Head Shape ◽

Heritable Variation ◽

Podarcis Muralis ◽

Environmental Pressures ◽

Common Wall ◽

Wide Range

Head shape in lizards correlates with a wide range of environmental pressures, supporting the hypothesis that patterns of phenotypic change represent adaptive responses to selective processes. However, natural selection promotes evolutionary adaptation only if the trait under selection has enough heritable variation. In this study we used geometric morphometrics and quantitative genetics to assess the heritability patterns of the head shape and size of common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis). Genetic and phenotypic components were estimated using animal models, which showed that more than half of the variation in head morphology is inheritable. Furthermore, at least five independent patterns of genetically determined phenotypic change were detected. These outcomes confirm that morphological differentiation in common wall lizards may reliably be regarded as the result of adaptive processes driven by natural selection.

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Do demographic aspects of neighbouring lizard populations differ? A case study with the common wall lizard, Podarcis muralis

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/156853808785111959 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 443-448 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Giulia Gracceva ◽

Marco Bologna ◽

Luca Luiselli ◽

Pierluigi Bombi

Keyword(s):

Central Italy ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Archaeological Site ◽

Podarcis Muralis ◽

Morphological Aspects ◽

Common Wall ◽

Adult Sex Ratio ◽

Size Population ◽

The Common ◽

Tail Condition

Abstract Demographic and morphological aspects of two nearby subpopulations of the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) were studied, by a capture-mark-recapture procedure, at an archaeological site in the surroundings of Rome, central Italy. In both sites, the births peak was observed in September. Adult sex-ratio was skewed towards males in one subpopulation, but was close to equality in the other. Morphological characteristics were consistent in the two sites, with males always exhibiting larger snout-vent-length and head size. Population size and density, computed by a Jolly-Seber index applied by using POPAN model revealed differences between subpopulations, with lizard density being much higher in the site with higher habitat heterogeneity and shelter availability. Tail condition was similar between sites. The general implications of these data are discussed.

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