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WOS:000787283000002 The dwarf lizard, Parvilacerta parva, is a characteristic member of the steppe biome in Irano-Anatolian biological hotspot. While this lizard has been included in local faunistic surveys and its morphological variation was addressed, no targeted study has been performed on the ecology and distribution of the species. Here we investigate the range dynamics of dwarf lizards during recent glacial and interglacial periods. We looked at the effects of climatic oscillations on species distribution at Present, Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), and Last Interglacial (LIG) periods using ecological niche modeling (ENM), based on our fieldwork and literature data. The model results suggest that the range of dwarf lizards contracted during the LIG and expanded during the LGM, opposite to the pattern observed in many other temperate reptiles. During the LIG, the distribution of the dwarf lizards had been restricted to the mountainous steppe habitats in Northeastern Anatolia, but during the LGM it expanded to the west by including the new steppe habitats in Sultan, Emir, and Murat mountains and adjacent areas. Climatic factors had a strong influence on shaping the spatiotemporal habitat. The Anatolian Biogeographic Region overlaps with Irano–anatolian biodiversity hotspot, reflecting remarkable species richness in this area. However, faunal elements of the hotspots are under threat due to not only global climate change, but also anthropogenic pressures, such as habitat loss and overgrazing. Our results suggest that the dwarf lizards have potential as indicators for tracking the local effects of global climate change as well as human-induced degradation of the steppe habitat.

Despite the abundance and diversity of lizards in the family Scincidae, descriptions of their cranial and postcranial osteologies are almost nonexistent. Here, we provide detailed descriptions of adult skeletal morphologies in three scincid species: Ablepharus kitaibelii, A. chernovi and A. budaki. The skeletal elements of these lizards are described on cleared and double-stained specimens. The general pattern of the cranial and postcranial skeletons in the three scincid species is characterized by the absence of the palatal teeth, presence of thirteen scleral ossicles in each eye, pattern of fore- hindlimb, and shape of the clavicle and interclavicle. Additionally, there are some remarkable variations regarding the number, size and position of the bones. These include the size and shape of the nasal, the degree of fusion or separation of the postfrontal and postorbital and the number of presacral vertebrae and marginal teeth.

The study presents data on the food composition of the Unisexual Lizard, Darevskia unisexualis (Darevsky, 1966), from Hanak, Ardahan, Turkey. A total of 172 preys were determined in the digestive systems of 44 individuals examined in the study. Insecta, Aranea, Malacostraca, and Gastropoda constitute food composition of lizards. Major prey groups in the food composition are included in Hymenoptera (46.5%), Coleoptera (13.4%), Diptera (8.1%), Lepidoptera (7.6%), Orthoptera (7%) and Hemiptera (7%) in number, whereas Hymenoptera (70%), Lepidoptera (25%), Coleoptera (23%), and Diptera (20%) in frequency. Our result confirm that the Unisexual Lizard is an insectivorous and active predator and generally feed with poor flying or non-flying invertebrates.

Dağılış sahasının büyük bir kısmı ülkemiz sınırları içerisinde kalan D. valentini, Lacertidae familyasında yer alan kaya kertenkelesi türlerinden biridir. Günümüzde üç ayrı alttürünün olduğu düşünülen söz konusu türün taksonomisi, şu ana kadar morfolojik değerlendirmeler ile yapılandırılmış olup, moleküler düzeyde bir filogenetik çalışma mevcut değildir. Tez çalışması kapsamında, D. valentini türünün ülkemizdeki dağılış alanlarından temin edilen popülasyon örnekleri hem morfolojik hem de moleküler karşılaştırma yapılmak üzere değerlendirilmiştir. Her bir popülasyona ait yeterli sayıda örnek kullanılarak, mtDNA'da yer alan 12S rRNA, Cyt-b ve COI ile nükleer DNA'da bulunan C-mos ve MC1R gen dizileri elde edilerek, filogenetik analizler oluşturulmuştur. Kullanılan moleküler belirteçler neticesinde, elde edilen soy hatları arasında morfolojik karakterler açısından bir ayrımın olup olmadığı ise, diskriminant analizi ile test edilmiştir. Elde edilen moleküler analizler sonucunda, D. valentini türünün taksonomik olarak yeniden yapılandırılmasını gerektiren, genetiksel yeni soy hatlarının olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Söz konusu soylar için, hem D. valentini içinde yer alan diğer popülasyonlar hem de yakın akraba olduğu kabul edilen diğer Darevskia türleri ile morfolojik olarak kesin ayrımlarının mümkün olmadığı bulunmuştur., D. valentini that a large part of the distribution area is our country is one of the rock lizard species in Lacertidae family. The taxonomy of the species, which is thought to have three subspecies, has been structured by morphological evaluations so far and any phylogenetic study using molecular markers is not conducted. Within the scope of the thesis, the population samples obtained from the distribution areas of D. valentini species in our country were evaluated for both morphological and molecular comparisons. Using sufficient samples of each population were performed the phylogenetic analysis by obtaining 12S rRNA, Cyt-b and COI in the mtDNA and C-mos and MC1R gene sequences in the nuclear DNA. As a result of the molecular markers used, it was tested by Discriminant Analysis whether there is a difference between the obtained lineages in terms of morphological characters. As a result of the molecular analyzes obtained, it was found that there are genetically new lineages that require taxonomically restructuring of D. valentini species. For these clades, it was found that it is not possible to distinguish morphologically with other populations within D. valentini as well as other Darevskia species considered to be closely related with D. valentini.

In this study, comparison of a life history traits (e.g. body size, age at maturity, longevity) of two populations of Phoenicolacerta laevis from different altitudes is being carried out (Anamur, 22 m a.s.l.; Andırın, 1.083 m a.s.l.) for the first time. We applied phalangeal skeletochronology to obtain the age of juveniles and adults. Age was determined by counting the lines of arrested growth (LAGs) in cross-sections. Males in both populations were the larger of the two sexes and a male biased sexual dimorphism was determined for both populations. Body size (SVL) was similar in both sexes and populations. Age of maturity was calculated to be 3 years of age for males and females in both populations. The average age of males and females was calculated as 6.62 ± 0.37 (Mean±SE) and 6.11 ± 0.26 years in Anamur, and 6.15 ± 0.51 and 5.26 ± 0.24 years in Andırın. There was statistically significant variation between sexes, but no significant difference in populations was found in relation to age. For both populations, a significant positive correlation was found between age and SVL in males and females.

Population of Iranolacerta brandtii lizard including 56 (21 female, 34 male,1 juvenile) samples were examined for helminths. 17 of them were found to harbour one or more helminth parasites, while 39 didn't harbor any. Two helminth species were determined. These belong to Phylum: Nematoda, Spauligodon aloisei Casanova, Milazzo, Ribas & Cagnin, 2003 and Skrjabinodon medinae. Garcia-Calvente, 1948. This study represents new host and locality records in both host lizard and the helminth species. Sp. aloisei is recorded for the first time; Sk. medinae is the third report from Turkey nevertheless Sk. medinae is a new host record for I. brandtii.

WOS: 000406986400001, Information on age structure and growth of Iranolacerta brandtii (DE FILIPPI, 1863), is presented for a high altitude (2,363 m a.s.l.) population from Karadulda Village, District of Calchran, Province of Van, east Anatolia (Turkey). Twenty-three specimens (19 males and four females) were studied using skeletochronological methods. The age ranged from three to six years in males, and from four to five in females, this difference being not statistically significant in the sample studied. Age at sexual maturity was two to three years for both male and female individuals. The mean SVL was significantly (p = 0.029) greater in females (64.27 +/- 1.42 mm) than males (58.41 +/- 1.17 mm).

WOS: 000377538000300, PubMed: 25489775, The genus Anatololacerta (Lacertidae) occurs mainly in Anatolia (western and southern Turkey) and on the Aegean islands Samos, Ikaria, and Rhodos. Although its taxonomy has long been debated and is currently nascent, three morphological species have been attributed to this genus: Anatololacerta anatolica, Anatololacerta oertzeni, and Anatololacerta danfordi. Here, we investigated the evolutionary history of A. oertzeni and Anatololacerta danfordi based on both mitochondrial and nuclear markers (16S rRNA and cmos). In total, 34 Anatololacerta specimens were analyzed using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. Our results supported the presence of four well-supported lineages: two belongs to A. oertzeni and two to A. danfordi. The temporal diversification of these lineages probably started with the divergence of the first A. oertzeni lineage from western Antalya at 7.9 Mya. The other two major splits may have occurred in early Pliocene (4.4 Mya: the divergence of the second A. oertzeni from A. danfordi) and in late Pliocene (2.7 Mya: the divergence of the two lineages of A. danfordi). The phylogeographical scenario suggests that the major diversification events (from late Miocene to late Pliocene) could be related with climatic oscillations (such as the late Miocene aridification and the Messinian Salinity Crisis) and tectonic movements (such as the uplift of the central Taurus mountain)., TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) [112T269], This study was a part of the project supported by TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) with Project number 112T269.