Original scientific paper
New data on the distribution, morphology and habitat choice of the Lacerta laevis-kulzeri complex
Wolfgang Bischoff
; Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, D–53113 Bonn, Germany
Josef Friedrich Schmidtler
; Oberföhringer Straße 35, D–81925 Munich, Germany
Abstract
Presently, within the lizard populations included in the Lacerta laevis-kulzeri complex, two main groups appear to be well distinguished in terms of morphology, distribution and ecology: Lacerta laevis Gray, 1838 (sensu lato) which is generally distributed in the Mediterranean region to the west of the Rift valley between Central Israel/Palestine and southern Turkey. The species prefers humid habitats in oak forests, gardens and valleys. Despite considerable morphological variation, only one subspecies (troodica from Cyprus) has been acknowledged to date. During our research in the northern mountains to the east of the rift valley (Syria/Turkey), a quite distinct rock lizard was detected living in hills with sparse vegetation; our classification of it under L. laevis s.l. is highly provisional. The second group comprises the often misunderstood rock-lizard Lacerta kulzeri Müller & Wettstein, 1932, described from Bcharré/Lebanon. It is mainly distributed in the continental mountains and hill lands to the east of the Rift valley, from the Anti-Lebanon to Petra/Jordan in the south. Morphologically different and isolated populations occur here and at the eastern side of the Lebanon Mts. and the volcanic Djebel Druz/South Syria. Near Bloudan/Anti-Lebanon and at Djebel Barouk/Lebanon Mts. both groups were found sympatrically.
Keywords
Sauria; Lacertidae; Lacerta laevis-kulzeri complex; distribution; morphology; ecology; Near East
Hrčak ID:
54810
URI
Publication date:
30.9.1999.
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