Split of the Peloponnese wall lizard (Podarcis peloponnesiacus) into two distinct species | Taxonomy / Publications

Lizards of the genus Podarcis have been a subject of several phylogenetic studies and thus taxonomic revisions during the last two decades. Despite the fact that most of these species have been extensively studied, the intraspecific relations of the Peloponnese wall lizard - a species endemic to the Peloponnese peninsula - have, up to now, remained poorly known. 

A recent study published in the Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, identified two revealed clades of P. peloponnesiacus as distinct species based on genetic, morphological and ecological data. The differentiation of the two clades appears to have taken place in the Pleistocene and is probably correlated with the paleogeography of the Peloponnese, with the previously treated as subspecies Podarcis thais being restricted to the eastern-most parts of the peninsula. The two clades also show distinct phenotypical traits, however this is not considered fully diagnostic due to the fact that they exhibit extensive overlap.

Reference

Kiourtsoglou, A., Kaliontzopoulou, A., Poursanidis, D., Jablonski, D., Lymberakis, P., Poulakakis, N. (2021). Evidence of cryptic diversity in Podarcis peloponnesiacus and re-evaluation of its current taxonomy; insights from genetic, morphological, and ecological data. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. Full-text pdf here.

Left: female of the newly split Podarcis thais