Mitochondrial phylogeny of the Darevskia saxicola complex: two highly deviant evolutionary lineages from the easternmost part of the range

摘要: The rock lizards of the Darevskia saxicola complex are found exclusively in west Greater Caucasus and southern Crimea. earliest split within this group occurred between D. from northern brauneri slopes Caucasus, followed by Crimean lindholmi, expansion to westernmost Caucasus. We collected nominal two easternmost populations species range: valleys Tekhuri Enguri rivers Georgia. Analysis mitochondrial DNA showed that both deeply differentiated each other previously characterised brauneri. Lizards keep a basal position clade (excluding praticola), closer matrilineally Caucasian than either have broader heads more small scales inner outer rows supraoculars group. suggest taxonomy requires revision, considering multiple divergent lineages introgressive gene flow continental resembles “ring species” arrangement as described for taxa mountain regions.