Italian wall lizard: Difference between revisions

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The '''Italian wall lizard''', '''ruin lizard''', or [[İstanbul]] lizard ('''''Podarcis sicula''''' from the Greek meaning 'agile' and 'feet') is a species of [[lizard]] in the family [[Lacertidae]]. ''P. sicula'' is native to [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Croatia]], [[France]], [[Italy]], [[Serbia]] and [[Montenegro]], [[Slovenia]] and [[Switzerland]], but has also been [[Introduced species|introduced]] to [[Spain]], [[Turkey]], and the [[United States]].<ref name="IUCN"/> ''P. sicula'' is the most abundant lizard species in southern Italy.<ref name="De Falco et al.">{{cite journal |author=De Falco M, Sciarrillo R, Virgilio F, ''et al.'' |title=Annual variations of adrenal gland hormones in the lizard Podarcis sicula |journal=J. Comp. Physiol. A Neuroethol. Sens. Neural. Behav. Physiol. |volume=190 |issue=8 |pages=675–81 |date=August 2004 |pmid=15170520 |doi=10.1007/s00359-004-0528-1 |url=}}</ref>
The '''Italian wall lizard''', '''ruin lizard''', or [[İstanbul]] lizard ('''''Podarcis sicula''''' from the Greek meaning 'agile' and 'feet') is a species of [[lizard]] in the family [[Lacertidae]]. ''P. sicula'' is native to [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Croatia]], [[France]], [[Italy]], [[Serbia]] and [[Montenegro]], [[Slovenia]] and [[Switzerland]], but has also been [[Introduced species|introduced]] to [[Spain]], [[Turkey]], and the [[United States]].<ref name="IUCN"/> ''P. sicula'' is the most abundant lizard species in southern Italy.<ref name="De Falco et al.">{{cite journal |author=De Falco M, Sciarrillo R, Virgilio F, ''et al.'' |title=Annual variations of adrenal gland hormones in the lizard Podarcis sicula |journal=J. Comp. Physiol. A Neuroethol. Sens. Neural. Behav. Physiol. |volume=190 |issue=8 |pages=675–81 |date=August 2004 |pmid=15170520 |doi=10.1007/s00359-004-0528-1 |url=}}</ref>


''P. sicula'' gained attention in 2008 following the publication of a research study<ref name="Herrel et al.">{{cite journal |author=Herrel A, Huyghe K, Vanhooydonck B, ''et al.'' |title=Rapid large-scale evolutionary divergence in morphology and performance associated with exploitation of a different dietary resource |journal=Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. |volume=105 |issue=12 |pages=4792–5 |date=March 2008 |pmid=18344323 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0711998105 |url= |pmc=2290806}}</ref> that detailed distinct morphological and behavioral changes in a ''P. sicula'' population indicative of "rapid [[evolution]]".<ref name="National Geographic">{{cite web |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080421-lizard-evolution.html |title=National Geographic: Lizards Rapidly Evolve After Introduction to Island |work= |accessdate=2008-05-27}}</ref><ref name="UMass">{{cite web |url=http://www.umass.edu/loop/talkingpoints/articles/74409.php |title=UMass Amherst : In the Loop : Talking Points : Lizards undergo rapid evolution after introduction to new home, says researcher |work= |accessdate=2008-05-27}}{{dead link|date=August 2012}}</ref><ref name="SD">{{cite web |url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080417112433.htm |title=Science Daily: Lizards Undergo Rapid Evolution After Introduction To A New Home |work= |accessdate=2008-05-27}}</ref><ref name="PZ">[[PZ Myers]] {{cite web |url=http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/04/still_just_a_lizard.php |title=Pharyngula: Still just a lizard |work= |accessdate=2008-05-27}}</ref><ref name="NW">{{cite web |url=http://newswise.com/articles/view/539909/ |title=Newswise: Lizards Undergo Rapid Evolution After Introduction to New Island |work= |accessdate=2008-08-06}}</ref>
''P. sicula'' gained attention in 2008 following the publication of a research study<ref name="Herrel et al.">{{cite journal |author=Herrel A, Huyghe K, Vanhooydonck B, ''et al.'' |title=Rapid large-scale evolutionary divergence in morphology and performance associated with exploitation of a different dietary resource |journal=Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. |volume=105 |issue=12 |pages=4792–5 |date=March 2008 |pmid=18344323 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0711998105 |url= |pmc=2290806}}</ref> that detailed distinct morphological and behavioral changes in a ''P. sicula'' population indicative of "rapid [[evolution]]".<ref name="National Geographic">{{cite web |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080421-lizard-evolution.html |title=National Geographic: Lizards Rapidly Evolve After Introduction to Island |work= |accessdate=2008-05-27}}</ref><ref name="SD">{{cite web |url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080417112433.htm |title=Science Daily: Lizards Undergo Rapid Evolution After Introduction To A New Home |work= |accessdate=2008-05-27}}</ref><ref name="NW">{{cite web |url=http://newswise.com/articles/view/539909/ |title=Newswise: Lizards Undergo Rapid Evolution After Introduction to New Island |work= |accessdate=2008-08-06}}</ref>


==Habitat==
==Habitat==

Revision as of 22:59, 4 April 2015

Italian wall lizard

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Class:
Reptilia
Order:
Squamata
Family:
Lacertidae
Genus:
Podarcis
Species:
P. sicula
Binomial name
Podarcis sicula
(Rafinesque, 1810)
Synonyms
  • Lacerta sicula Rafinesque, 1810

The Italian wall lizard, ruin lizard, or

İstanbul lizard (Podarcis sicula from the Greek meaning 'agile' and 'feet') is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. P. sicula is native to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Italy, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia and Switzerland, but has also been introduced to Spain, Turkey, and the United States.[1] P. sicula is the most abundant lizard species in southern Italy.[2]

P. sicula gained attention in 2008 following the publication of a research study[3] that detailed distinct morphological and behavioral changes in a P. sicula population indicative of "rapid evolution".[4][5][6]

Habitat

Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas, rocky shores, sandy shores, rural gardens, pastureland, plantations and urban areas.

Subspecies

Podarcis sicula klemmeri - a blue morph found exclusively on the small island of Licosa.

P. sicula contains dozens of subspecies.[7] The current distribution patterns of the subspecies have been interpreted as the consequence of natural events, including regional glacial refuges and postglacial area expansions, and multiple introductions by man.[8]

The

predators, interbreeding with introduced wall lizards, and a disease epidemic
which wiped out the last remnants.

List of subspecies: Podarcis siculus adriaticus, Podarcis siculus aemiliani, Podarcis siculus amparoae, Podarcis siculus astorgae, Podarcis siculus bagnolensis, Podarcis siculus bolei, Podarcis siculus calabresiae, Podarcis siculus campestris, Podarcis siculus caporiaccoi, Podarcis siculus cattaroi, Podarcis siculus cettii, Podarcis siculus ciclopica, Podarcis siculus coeruleus, Podarcis siculus cucchiarai, Podarcis siculus dupinici, Podarcis siculus fiumanoideus, Podarcis siculus flavigulus, Podarcis siculus gallensis, Podarcis siculus hadzii, Podarcis siculus hieroglyphicus, Podarcis siculus insularus, Podarcis siculus klemmeri, Podarcis siculus kolombatovici, Podarcis siculus laganjensis, Podarcis siculus lanzai, Podarcis siculus latastei, Podarcis siculus massinei, Podarcis siculus monaconensis, Podarcis siculus nikolici, Podarcis siculus palmarolae, Podarcis siculus pasquinii, Podarcis siculus paulae, Podarcis siculus pelagosae, Podarcis siculus pirosoensis, Podarcis siculus pohlibensis, Podarcis siculus premudanus, Podarcis siculus premudensis, Podarcis siculus pretneri, Podarcis siculus radovanovici, Podarcis siculus ragusae, Podarcis siculus salfii, Podarcis siculus samogradi, Podarcis siculus sanctinicolai,

†
Podarcis siculus sanctistephani, Podarcis siculus siculus, Podarcis siculus tyrrhenicus, Podarcis siculus vesseljuchi. [9]

Rapid adaptation

Video of hunting Italian wall lizard

In 1971, ten adult specimens of Podarcis sicula (the Italian wall lizard) were transported from the

Podarcis melisellensis population.[11]

In the 1990s, scientists returned to Pod Mrčaru and found that the lizards currently occupying Mrčaru differ greatly from those on Kopište. While mitochondrial DNA analyses have verified that P. sicula currently on Mrčaru are genetically very similar to the Kopište source population,[3] the new Mrčaru population of P. sicula was described as having a larger average size, shorter hind limbs, lower maximal sprint speed and altered response to simulated predatory attacks compared to the original Kopište population.[10] These population changes in morphology and behavior were attributed to "relaxed predation intensity" and greater protection from vegetation on Mrčaru.[10]

In 2008, further analysis revealed that the Mrčaru population of P. sicula have significantly different head morphology (longer, wider, and taller heads) and increased bite force compared to the original Kopište population.

insectivorous, but those on Mrčaru eat substantially more plant matter.[3] The changes in foraging style may have contributed to a greater population density and decreased territorial behavior of the Mrčaru population.[3]

Another difference found between the two populations was the discovery, in the Mrčaru lizards, of

commensal microorganisms to convert cellulose to nutrients digestible by the lizards.[3] Additionally, the researchers discovered that nematodes were common in the guts of Mrčaru lizards, but absent from Kopište P. sicula, which do not have cecal valves[3]. The cecal valves, which occur in less than 1 percent of all known species of scaled reptiles,[3] have been described as an "adaptive novelty, a brand new feature not present in the ancestral population and newly evolved in these lizards".[12]

As an Introduced Species

Populations of P. sicula in North America have been documented from Topeka (Kansas), Long Island (New York) and Greenwich (Connecticut).[13] The species seems to be extending its range from an initial colonization event in western Long Island, presumably by using railroad tracks as dispersal corridors.[14]

Other research

P. sicula has served as an

animal model for many areas of research, including investigations of circadian rhythms.[2][15]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Template:IUCN2012.1
  2. ^
    PMID 15170520. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  3. ^
    PMID 18344323. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  4. ^ "National Geographic: Lizards Rapidly Evolve After Introduction to Island". Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  5. ^ "Science Daily: Lizards Undergo Rapid Evolution After Introduction To A New Home". Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  6. ^ "Newswise: Lizards Undergo Rapid Evolution After Introduction to New Island". Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  7. ^ "TYPICAL LIZARDS (Lacertidae): Podarcis sicula ssp". Retrieved 2008-06-02.
  8. PMID 15660947.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  9. ^ http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Podarcis&species=siculus&search_param=%28%28genus%3D%27Podarcis%27%29%28species%3D%27siculus%27%29%29
  10. ^
    doi:10.1111/j.0030-1299.2007.15989.x.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  11. ^ "Lizards Rapidly Evolve After Introduction to Island". National Geographic.
  12. ^ Myers, PZ (23 April 2008). "Still just a lizard". ScienceBlogs.
  13. ^ http://www.researchgate.net/publication/269631367_Italian_Wall_Lizard_%28Podarcis_sicula%29_The_first_population_found_in_New_England
  14. ^ http://www.hofstra.edu/pdf/ORSP_Russell_BurkeFall05.pdf
  15. PMID 12700027
    .

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Italian_wall_lizard&oldid=654974071"