Multivariate analysis of geographic variation in Darevskia clarkorum (Darevsky & Vedmederja, 1977), correlation with geographic and climatic parameters, and true status of Darevskia dryada (Darevsky & Tuniyev, 1997)


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Arribas O., Candan K., Kumlutaş Y., Ilgaz Ç.

ZOOTAXA, vol.4990, no.1, pp.1-22, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 4990 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.11646/zootaxa.4990.1.1
  • Journal Name: ZOOTAXA
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.1-22
  • Keywords: Darevskia clarkorum, D. dryada, Caucasian Rock Lizards, distribution, morphometry, meristic scalation characters, Multivariate analyses, CDA, PCA, ANOSIM, MST, UPGMA, osteology, northeastern Anatolia, Adzharia, Turkey, Georgia, SATELLITE DNA, MOLECULAR EVOLUTION, LACERTIDAE, SAURIA, LIZARDS, REGRESSION
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

All the Turkish populations studied, both those previously assigned to D. dryada (Subasi and Yoldere villages, near Hopa) and those attributed to D. clarkorum (the largest sample studied so far, 177 specimens in total), are indistinguishable from each other and therefore must all be ascribed to the natural variability of a monotypic D. clarkorum. The Georgian specimens from the Type Locality of D. dryada (Charnaly river gorge, Chevachauri district) are clearly different, so that taxon cannot be considered a simple synonym for D. clarkorum, but as a valid taxon, although its proper status (more probably as a subspecies of D. clarkorum), is yet to be clarified. It is a highly threatened population, so studies should be done in vivo or with as low intrusiveness as possible.