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sand lizard (lacerta agilis) phenology in a warming world.present-day climate change has altered the phenology (the timing of periodic life cycle events) of many plant and animal populations worldwide. some of these changes have been adaptive, leading to an increase in population fitness, whereas others have been associated with fitness decline. representing short-term responses to an altered weather regime, hitherto observed changes are largely explained by phenotypic plasticity. however, to track climatically induced shifts in optimal phenotype as cl ...201526446705
geographic variation of life-history traits in the sand lizard, lacerta agilis: testing darwin's fecundity-advantage hypothesis.the fecundity-advantage hypothesis (fah) explains larger female size relative to male size as a correlated response to fecundity selection. we explored fah by investigating geographic variation in female reproductive output and its relation to sexual size dimorphism (ssd) in lacerta agilis, an oviparous lizard occupying a major part of temperate eurasia. we analysed how sex-specific body size and ssd are associated with two putative indicators of fecundity selection intensity (clutch size and th ...201525627276
karyotype reorganization in the hokou gecko (gekko hokouensis, gekkonidae): the process of microchromosome disappearance in gekkota.the hokou gecko (gekko hokouensis: gekkonidae, gekkota, squamata) has the chromosome number 2n = 38, with no microchromosomes. for molecular cytogenetic characterization of the gekkotan karyotype, we constructed a cytogenetic map for g. hokouensis, which retains the ancestral karyotype of gekkota, with 86 functional genes, and compared it with cytogenetic maps for four toxicofera species that have many microchromosomes (elaphe quadrivirgata, varanus salvator macromaculatus, leiolepis reevesii ru ...201526241471
complete mitochondrial genome of the desert toad-headed agama, phrynocephalus przewalskii (reptilia, squamata, agamidae), a novel gene organization in vertebrate mtdna.the mitogenome of the desert toad-headed agama, phrynocephalus przewalskii, was amplified using polymerase chain reaction (pcr), long-and-accurate pcr and directly sequenced by primer walking. the complete mitogenome was 16,892 bp in size and contained 13 protein-coding, 23 trna, and 2 rrna genes, and 1 control region. the mitogenome of the p. przewalskii was similar to those of other phrynocephalus sand lizards in gene arrangement and composition, except that trna-phe and trna-pro were exchange ...201524117191
distribution pattern and number of ticks on lizards.the success of ectoparasites depends primarily on the site of attachment and body condition of their hosts. ticks usually tend to aggregate on vertebrate hosts in specific areas, but the distribution pattern may depend on host body size and condition, sex, life stage or skin morphology. here, we studied the distribution of ticks on lizards and tested the following hypothesis: occurrence or high abundance of ticks is confined with body parts with smaller scales and larger interscalar length becau ...201626520053
corticosterone: a costly mediator of signal honesty in sand lizards.the mechanisms underlying honest signal expression remain elusive and may involve the integration of social and physiological costs. corticosterone is a socially modulated metabolic hormone that mediates energy investment and behavior and may therefore function to deter dishonest signal expression. we examined the relationship between corticosterone and green badge coloration in male sand lizards (lacerta agilis), hypothesizing that physiological and behavioral costs resulting from elevated base ...201628725412
microchromosome polymorphism in the sand lizard,lacerta agilislinnaeus, 1758 (reptilia, squamata).most true lizards (lacertidae) share a conservative karyotype, consisting of 18 pairs of macrochromosomes and one microchromosome pair. homeologues of the microchromosome are present in other squamates and even in chickens. no structural autosomal microchromosome polymorphisms have been described previously in lizards. we found homozygous and heterozygous carriers of a microchromosome variant in a siberian population of the sand lizard,lacerta agilislinnaeus, 1758. the variant microchromosome wa ...201627830048
encapsulation of the acanthocephalan sphaerirostris picae in its natural paratenic host, lacerta agilis.this study presents the structure of the capsule around the acanthocephalan sphaerirostris picae (rudolphi, 1819) golvan, 1956, in its natural paratenic host, lacerta agilis linnaeus, 1758. the capsule was composed of 2 layers: a thin, dense inner layer and a loose, thick outer layer. the inner layer was formed by macrophages and multinucleated cells. the outer layer consisted mainly of flattened fibroblasts, which included a small number of macrophages, granulocytes, plasma cells, and pigment c ...201627019054
coupling satellite data with species distribution and connectivity models as a tool for environmental management and planning in matrix-sensitive species.climate change and anthropogenic habitat fragmentation are considered major threats for global biodiversity. as a direct consequence, connectivity is increasingly disrupted in many species, which might have serious consequences that could ultimately lead to the extinction of populations. although a large number of reserves and conservation sites are designated and protected by law, potential habitats acting as inter-population connectivity corridors are, however, mostly ignored in the common pra ...201627094442
mammalian x homolog acts as sex chromosome in lacertid lizards.among amniotes, squamate reptiles are especially variable in their mechanisms of sex determination; however, based largely on cytogenetic data, some lineages possess highly evolutionary stable sex chromosomes. the still very limited knowledge of the genetic content of squamate sex chromosomes precludes a reliable reconstruction of the evolutionary history of sex determination in this group and consequently in all amniotes. female heterogamety with a degenerated w chromosome typifies the lizards ...201626980341
ultrastructural features of the differentiating thyroid primordium in the sand lizard (lacerta agilis l.) from the differentiation of the cellular cords to the formation of the follicular lumen.the differentiation of the thyroid primordium of lacertilian species is poorly understood. the present study reports on the ultrastructural analysis of the developing thyroid primordium in the sand lizard (lacerta agilis) during the early stages of differentiation. the early thyroid primordium of sand lizard embryos was composed of cellular cords that contained single cells with a giant lipid droplet, which were eliminated by specific autophagy (lipophagy). the follicular lumens at the periphery ...201626966051
when a general morphology allows many habitat uses.during the last decades the study of functional morphology received more attention incorporating more detailed data corresponding to the internal anatomy that together contribute for a better understanding of the functional basis in locomotion. here we focus on 2 lizard families, tropiduridae and liolaemidae, and use information related to muscle-tendinous and external morphology traits of hind legs. we investigate whether the value of the traits analyzed tend to exhibit a reduced phenotypic var ...201626853228
the complete mitochondrial genome of phrynocephalus helioscopus (reptilia, squamata, agamidae).the toad-headed lizards of genus phrynocephalus are one of the most prevalent animals in the central asian desert. a few studies have investigated molecular phylogenesis of phrynocephalus, yet yield inconsistent results. moreover, these studies were only based on a few specific dna fragments of mitochondrial genome. to facilitate the clarification of molecular phylogenesis of phrynocephalus, we conducted this study to sequence the entire mitochondrial genome of the phrynocephalus helioscopus col ...201625319288
the complete mitochondrial genome of grumgzimailo's toad-headed agama, phrynocephalus grumgrizimailoi (reptilia, squamata, agamidae).polymerase chain reaction (pcr), long-and-accurate pcr and directly sequencing by primer walking was used to sequenced he complete mitochondrial genome sequence of grumgzimailo's toad- headed agama, phrynocephalus grumgrizimailoi. the genbank accession was km093859. there was 16,301 bp in length of the entire mitochondrial genome of p. grumgrizimailoi and the content of a, t, c, and g were 36.4%, 26.5%, 25.0% and 12.1%, respectively, that was similar to most vertebrate. the complete mitochondria ...201625208174
the complete mitochondrial genome of the color changeable toad-headed agama, phrynocephalus versicolor (reptilia, squamata, agamidae).the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of color changeable toad-headed agama, phrynocephalus versicolor, was determined using polymerase chain reaction (pcr), long-and-accurate pcr and directly sequencing by primer walking. the entire mitochondrial genome of p. versicolor was 16,429 bp in length, the accession was kj749841 and the content of a, t, c, and g were 36.1%, 26.5%, 24.9% and 12.5%, respectively, which was similar to most vertebrate. the complete mitochondrial genome of p. versicolo ...201624989048
selection and constraints on offspring size-number trade-offs in sand lizards (lacerta agilis).the trade-off between offspring size and number is a central component of life-history theory, postulating that larger investment into offspring size inevitably decreases offspring number. this trade-off is generally discussed in terms of genetic, physiological or morphological constraints; however, as among-individual differences can mask individual trade-offs, the underlying mechanisms may be difficult to reveal. in this study, we use multivariate analyses to investigate whether there is a tra ...201626851437
stable isotope analysis of diet confirms niche separation of two sympatric species of namib desert lizard.we used stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen to study the trophic niche of two species of insectivorous lizards, the husab sand lizard pedioplanis husabensis and bradfield's namib day gecko living sympatrically in the namib desert. we measured the δ(13) c and δ(15) n ratios in lizard blood tissues with different turnover times (whole blood, red blood cells and plasma) to investigate lizard diet in different seasons. we also measured the δ(13) c and δ(15) n ratios in available arthropod prey an ...201626817923
[research on glycoregulation in lacerta agilis chersonensis]. 20165511407
rhythmic contractile activity of amnion during the embryogenesis of the sand lizard (lacerta agilis). 201712854398
two new species of oswaldocruzia (nematoda, molineidae) parasitising lizards in ukraine.two new species, oswaldocruzia lisnykiensis sp. n. and oswaldocruzia lacertica sp. n., are described from anguis fragilis l. (reptilia: anquidae) and lacerta agilis l. (reptilia: lacertidae) respectively. both species belong to the palaearctic group of species which have spicules divided in three main branches (blade, fork and shoe) with fork division above its distal third. the new species differs from all previously known palaearctic species by several morphological characters: type of caudal ...201728609874
parasites of domestic and wild animals in south africa. li. ticks infesting leopard tortoises <i>stigmochelys pardalis</i>, hingeback tortoises <i>kinixys zombensis</i> and angulate tortoises <i>chersina angulata</i>.the objective of the study was to record the tick species collected from three species of tortoise, each in a different province of south africa. ticks were collected from leopard tortoises, stigmochyles pardalis, in the southern region of the kruger national park, mpumalanga province; from hingeback tortoises, kinixys zombensis, in the enseleni nature reserve, kwazulu-natal province and from angulate tortoises, chersina angulata, in the west coast national park, western cape province. of the 63 ...201728281776
seasonal shifts along the oviparity-viviparity continuum in a cold-climate lizard population.squamate embryos require weeks of high temperature to complete development, with the result that cool climatic areas are dominated by viviparous taxa (in which gravid females can sun-bask to keep embryos warm) rather than oviparous taxa (which rely on warm soil to incubate their eggs). how, then, can some oviparous taxa reproduce successfully in cool climates - especially late in summer, when soil temperatures are falling? near the northern limit of their distribution (in sweden), sand lizards ( ...201829080390
effects of male telomeres on probability of paternity in sand lizards.standardized swim-up trials are used in in vitro fertilization clinics to select particularly motile spermatozoa in order to increase the probability of a successful fertilization. such trials demonstrate that sperm with longer telomeres have higher motility and lower levels of dna damage. regardless of whether sperm motility, and successful swim-up to fertilization sites, is a direct or correlational effect of telomere length or dna damage, covariation between telomere length and sperm performa ...201830135115
in vitro virulence characteristics of rare serovars of salmonella enterica isolated from sand lizards (lacerta agilis l.).the aim of this study was to estimate virulence potential of salmonella enterica strains colonizing the gut of free-living sand lizards (lacerta agilis l.). the strains belonged to three salmonella serovars: abony, schleissheim, and telhashomer. adhesion and invasion abilities of the strains were determined in quantitative assays using the gentamicin protection method. induction of apoptosis was assessed using hela cell monolayers. pcr assays were used for detection of 26 virulence genes localis ...201829779148
extreme plasticity in reproductive biology of an oviparous lizard.most oviparous squamate reptiles lay their eggs when embryos have completed less than one-third of development, with the remaining two-thirds spent in an external nest. even when females facultatively retain eggs in dry or cold conditions, such retention generally causes only a minor (<10%) decrease in subsequent incubation periods. in contrast, we found that female sand lizards (lacerta agilis) from an experimentally founded field population (established ca. 20 years ago on the southwest coast ...201830038742
tracing the developmental origin of a lizard skull: chondrocranial architecture, heterochrony, and variation in lacertids.the sand lizard, lacerta agilis, is a classical model species in herpetology. its adult skull anatomy and its embryonic development are well known. the description of its fully formed primordial skull by ernst gaupp, in 1900, was a key publication in vertebrate morphology and influenced many comparative embryologists. based on recent methodological considerations, we restudied the early cranial development of this species starting as early as the formation of mesenchymal condensations up to the ...201829882601
phylogenetic structure of holbrookia lacerata (cope 1880) (squamata: phrynosomatidae): one species or two?species delimitation attempts to match species-level taxonomy with actual evolutionary lineages. such taxonomic conclusions are typically, but not always, based on patterns of congruence across multiple data sources and methods of analyses. here, we use this pluralistic approach to species delimitation to help resolve uncertainty in species boundaries of phrynosomatid sand lizards of the genus holbrookia. specifically, the spot-tailed earless lizard (h. lacerata) was historically divided into a ...201931716318
light and scanning electron microscopy of the tongue of the sand lizard (lacerta agilis).despite the fact that numerous reptile species are widely studied by the researchers, information describing the detailed structure of particular organs in many reptiles is missing.201930009360
are lizards sensitive to anomalous seasonal temperatures? long-term thermobiological variability in a subtropical species.alterations in thermal niches have been widely associated with the anthropocene erosion of reptiles' diversity. they entail potential physiological constraints for organisms' performance, which can lead to activity restrictions and impact fitness and demography. reptiles are ectotherms which rely on seasonal periodicity to maximize the performance of biological functions. despite it, the ecological implications of shifts in local temperatures are barely explored at the seasonal scale. this study ...201931856183
the first known fossil uma: ecological evolution and the origins of north american fringe-toed lizards.fossil evidence suggests that extant north american lizard genera (north of mexico) evolved during the miocene. although fossils of the clade phrynosomatidae (spiny lizards and sand lizards) have been reported, there have been no previously described fossils of the fringe-toed sand lizards (uma). in the extant biota, uma inhabit arid deserts, and members of the western clade of uma are restricted to sand dunes or other habitats containing fine-grained sand.201931492110
primary myogenesis in the sand lizard (lacerta agilis) limb bud.our studies conducted on reptilian limb muscle development revealed, for the first time, early forelimb muscle differentiation at the morphological and molecular level. sand lizard skeletal muscle differentiation in the early forelimb bud was investigated by light, confocal, and transmission electron microscopy as well as western blot. the early forelimb bud, filled with mesenchymal cells, is surrounded by monolayer epithelium cells. the immunocytochemical analysis revealed the presence of pax3- ...201931214772
coalescent-based species delimitation in the sand lizards of the liolaemus wiegmannii complex (squamata: liolaemidae).coalescent-based algorithms coupled with the access to genome-wide data have become powerful tools for assessing questions on recent or rapid diversification, as well as delineating species boundaries in the absence of reciprocal monophyly. in southern south america, the diversification of liolaemus lizards during the pleistocene is well documented and has been attributed to the climatic changes that characterized this recent period of time. past climatic changes had harsh effects at extreme lat ...201931128241
how accurately do behavioural observations predict reproductive success in free-ranging lizards?behavioural ecologists often use data on patterns of male-female association to infer reproductive success of free-ranging animals. for example, a male seen with several females during the mating season is predicted to father more offspring than a male not seen with any females. we explored the putative correlation between this behaviour and actual paternity (as revealed by microsatellite data) from a long-term study on sand lizards ( lacerta agilis), including behavioural observations of 574 ad ...201930958138
understanding the evolution of reptile chromosomes through applications of combined cytogenetics and genomics approaches.studies of reptile (nonavian reptiles) chromosomes began well over a century ago (1897) with the initial report on the description of sand lizard (lacerta agilis) chromosomes. since then, chromosome analysis in reptiles has contributed significantly to understanding chromosome evolution in vertebrates. reptile karyotypes are also unique, as being the only vertebrate group where the majority of the species possess variable numbers of macro- and microchromosomes, which was first reported for iguan ...201930645998
extracting physiological information in experimental biology via eulerian video magnification.videographic material of animals can contain inapparent signals, such as color changes or motion that hold information about physiological functions, such as heart and respiration rate, pulse wave velocity, and vocalization. eulerian video magnification allows the enhancement of such signals to enable their detection. the purpose of this study is to demonstrate how signals relevant to experimental physiology can be extracted from non-contact videographic material of animals.201931831016
sand lizards lacerta agilis with higher digit ratios are more likely to autotomy.digit ratio is a morphological feature regarded as a biomarker of the balance of sex hormones during early development. the exposure of embryos to a set of sex hormones and the mutual relations between those hormones cause the emergence of individual morphological and/or behavioural characteristics as well as differences between sexes. we have thus hypothesised that differences in one of these morphological traits-digit ratio-may be a proxy representing a tendency towards tail autotomy. the aim ...202032659045
telomere length mirrors age structure along a 2200-m altitudinal gradient in a mediterranean lizard.the timing of organisms' senescence is developmentally programmed but also shaped by the interaction between environmental inputs and life-history traits. in ectotherms, ageing dynamics are still poorly understood even though their body temperature, metabolism, or growth trajectory are very sensitive to environmental changes. here, we investigated the role of life-history traits such as age, sex, body size, body condition, and tail autotomy (i.e self-amputation) in shaping telomere length in six ...202032522626
chromosome painting does not support a sex chromosome turnover in lacerta agilis linnaeus, 1758.reptiles show a remarkable diversity of sex determination mechanisms and sex chromosome systems, derived from different autosomal pairs. the origin of the zw sex chromosomes of lacerta agilis, a widespread eurasian lizard species, is a matter of discussion: is it a small macrochromosome from the 11-18 group common to all lacertids, or does this species have a unique zw pair derived from the large chromosome 5? using independent molecular cytogenetic methods, we investigated the karyotype of l. a ...202032092753
contrasting seasonal patterns of telomere dynamics in response to environmental conditions in the ectothermic sand lizard, lacerta agilis.telomeres, the protective, terminal parts of the chromosomes erode during cell division and as a result of oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species (ros). ectotherms rely on the ambient temperature for maintaining temperature-dependent metabolic rate, regulated through behavioural thermoregulation. their temperature-dependant metabolism, hence also the ros production, is indirectly regulated through thermoregulation. consequently, a potential causal chain affecting telomere length and attriti ...202031932620
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