New records on the distribution of the Spanish sand racer species (Squamata, <em>Psammodromus</em>) in Spain, Iberian Peninsula

Authors

  • Carolina Molina Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37–49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Grup de Recerca de l'Escola de la Natura de Parets del Vallès/Ajuntament de Parets del Vallès, C/ galende num 12, 08150 Parets del Vallès, Spain
  • Karin Tamar Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, Barcelona, Spain
  • Juan Pablo González de la Vega Cl. Cruz, 8,3ºA. 21006 Huelva, Spain
  • Bernat Burriel-Carranza Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37–49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
  • Daniel Fernández-Guiberteau Grup de Recerca de l'Escola de la Natura de Parets del Vallès/Ajuntament de Parets del Vallès, C/ galende num 12, 08150 Parets del Vallès, Spain
  • Salvador Carranza Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37–49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11160/bah.180

Keywords:

Biogeography, Cytochrome b, Gallotiinae, Range expansion, Southern Spain

Abstract

The genus Psammodromus (Lacertidae) comprises six species. Three of the species are morphologically similar, phylogenetically closely related, and are distributed in the Iberian Peninsula (besides P. algirus): P. occidentalis (Western Iberia), P. hispanicus (Central Spain), and P. edwarsianus (Eastern Spain). Previous studies have shown these three species to have allopatric distributions in Iberia, though there are still many areas such as Andalucía where it is unclear which species of Psammodromus occurs. In this study we present nine new records of Psammodromus from key places in southern Spain. Since the three Iberian species are difficult to differentiate by morphology, specimens were genetically identified using mitochondrial DNA data and compared to all six species of the genus. Here we present an updated distribution map of Psammodromus specimens identified with molecular methods, increasing the ranges of all three species. We also propose wider regions of potential sympatry between P. occidentalis and P. hispanicus, and P. edwarsianus and P. hispanicus than previously recorded.

Published

2020-03-04

Issue

Section

Research Papers