engleski

Phenetic relationship between Podarcis muralis muralis (Laurenti, 1768) and P. muralis maculiventris (Werner, 1891) (Lacertidae, Reptilia) in a transition zone.

In this paper we present an analysis of phenetic relationship between the two subspecies of Common Wall Lizard Podarcis muralis (Laurenti, 1768) in the supposedly transition zone in the town of Rijeka and its vicinity (Croatia, Northern Adriatic Coast). A total of 96 adult specimens was investigated, using univariate methods (ANOVA and Mann- Whitney U-test) and multivariate cluster- analysis, based on 43 external morphological characters. A considerable amount of phenotypic dissimilarity was found between specimens from the town of Rijeka and specimens from the nearby area of Grobnik. Grobnik population can be described as nominotypic, continentally adapted Podarcis muralis muralis, while Rijeka samples showed much closer phenetic similarity to Podarcis muralis maculiventris populations from the narrow coastal zone of the Istrian Peninsula. Although recognized as P. muralis maculiventris in a sense of conventional subspecies concept, substantial evidence support the hypothesis on the hybrid character of Rijeka population. Rijeka population shows, for example, greater morphological variability and appearance of muralis-specific color and pattern character states. Cluster analysis showed, therefore, incomplete morphological separation between Rijeka and Grobnik specimens. Besides, these two populations differ substantially in their habitat and climatic preferences. Population differentiation may be likely caused by corresponding change in environmental conditions, which are particularly evident in this region along the transect from the Adriatic Coast to the coastal mountains. New evidence for the presence of P. muralis maculiventris on the eastern coast of the Istrian Peninsula is also discussed. This evidence seems to further support the hypothesis that P. m. maculiventris appears on climatic favorable habitats in the narrow coastal zone of the Istrian Peninsula, while P. m. muralis inhabits cooler habitats, mostly further away from the coast.

Podarcis muralis; lacertid lizards; intraspecific variability; phenetic relationships; transition zone; Croatia; univariate morphometrics; multivariate morphometrics

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