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Anguis veronensis

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Anguis veronensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Anguidae
Genus: Anguis
Species:
A. veronensis
Binomial name
Anguis veronensis
Range of A. veronensis
Synonyms[1]
  • Anguis bicolor Risso, 1826
  • Anguis cinereus Risso, 1826
  • Anguis cinerea Gvoždik et al, 2012

Anguis veronensis, commonly known as the Italian slow worm, is a European lizard species in the family Anguidae. The slow worm is distributed throughout Italy and in southeastern part of France.[1]

A. veronensis got its first scientific description in 1818, when it was described by Italian naturalist Ciro Polinni, and named after the Italian city Verona, where specimens were found.[2][3] The synonymous species name Anguis cinerea (cinereus) is derived from the Latin word cinereus meaning ash-grey, even though typical gray colour is a common feature of the whole genus Anguis, especially the similar common slow worm, Anguis fragilis.[1]

Taxonomy and description

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In the past, slow worms from the Italian Peninsula were not distinguished from other European slow worms; they were usually perceived as conspecifics of Anguis fragilis.[4] A relatively long independent evolutionary history and distinct identity of both morphological and genetic features[4] led to the species resurrection in 2013 under the synonymous scientific name Anguis cinerea.[1][4] Following the rules of International Code of Zoological Nomenclature about priority naming the slow worm was renamed to the oldest available name for the same taxon, Anguis veronensis.[1]

Distinguishing the Italian slow worm from other genetically deeply divergent species of genus Anguis can be done by performing genetic analysis, since species are closely morphologically similar and thus poorly separable.[1][4][5] Analyses of the morphological comparison showed that A. veronensis differs from A. fragilis in relative tail length (A. veronensis has longer tail in both sexes), subcaudal scales (A. veronensis has more subcaudal scales in both sexes) and head morphology (A. veronensis has relatively more robust head). Differences in log-linear analysis of both lizard's colouration were negligible, the same goes for insufficient variation in the external ear opening presence.[4]

Distribution and ecology

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For now, this anguid species has been observed only in Italy and some parts of France. Some experts hypothesize the slow worm's remotest area of distribution also includes southern parts of Switzerland.[4][6] The species' main territories are located on the Italian Peninsula, with animals populating the whole peninsula but its southeastern parts. The Italian slow worm is more common in northern Italy, while populations in southern parts of the country are smaller.[4]

In north and northeastern Italy, as well as in Slovenia (only hybrids found[7]), the Italian slow worm sometimes comes in contact with the common slow worm, resulting in occasional hybridization.[4][8] Anguis veronensis inhabits exclusively the far southeastern mainland France, region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.[4] The species' presence has also been confirmed on the Mediterranean island Ile Sainte-Marguerite, with animals being genetically related to mainland slow worms of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.[8]

The northern populations' common habitats include various forest-steppe, steppe and ruderal areas, with some animals inhabiting urban surfaces. Slow worms of central and southern regions of Italy usually inhabit less diverse collection of habitats; borders of oak and beech forests are the most common, followed by sand dunes of Mediterranean characteristic maquis shrubland. Animals are known to live in altitudes ranging from sea level to more than 2.000 above in the Alps.[4]

Majority of individuals can be described as primarily diurnal (active at daytime) and occasionally crepuscular (active at twilight), while Mediterranean slow worms are mostly crepuscular and sometimes nocturnal (active at nighttime).[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Anguis veronensis". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  2. ^ "Anguis veronensis Pollini, 1818". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  3. ^ Pollini C., 1818 : Lettera del sig. dott. Ciro Pollini al Direttore della Biblioteca Italiana intorno ad alcune malattie degli ulivi e ad alcuni serpenti del Veronese, per servire di appendice alla sua Memoria su lo stesso argomento inserita nel T. VIII, p. 63 di questa Biblioteca, ed a quella del sig. Bernardino Angelini intorno al Marasso da noi pure inserita nel T. VII, pag. 451. Biblioteca Italiana ossia Giornale di letteratura scienze ed arti, vol.9, p.236–240.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Gvoždík, Václav; Benkovský, Norbert; Crottini, Angelica; Bellati, Adriana; Moravec, Jiří; Romano, Antonio; Sacchi, Roberto; Jandzik, David (2013-12-01). "An ancient lineage of slow worms, genus Anguis (Squamata: Anguidae), survived in the Italian Peninsula". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 69 (3): 1077–1092. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2013.05.004. ISSN 1055-7903. PMID 23702464.
  5. ^ Jablonski, Daniel; Sillero, Neftalí; Oskyrko, Oleksandra; Bellati, Adriana; Čeirāns, Andris; Cheylan, Marc; Cogălniceanu, Dan; Crnobrnja-Isailović, Jelka; Crochet, Pierre-André; Crottini, Angelica; Doronin, Igor (2021-10-12). "The distribution and biogeography of slow worms (Anguis, Squamata) across the Western Palearctic, with an emphasis on secondary contact zones". Amphibia-Reptilia. 42 (4): 519–530. doi:10.1163/15685381-bja10069. ISSN 1568-5381. S2CID 244610775.
  6. ^ Speybroeck, Jeroen; Beukema, Wouter; Bok, Bobby; Voort, Jan Van Der (2016-07-28). Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Britain and Europe. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4729-2562-6.
  7. ^ Vogrin, Milan (2018). Dvoživke in plazilci Slovenije in okoliških regij : [opazovanje in prepoznavanje vrst] (in Slovenian) (1. ed.). Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga. pp. 104–105. ISBN 978-961-01-4523-3. OCLC 1028609279.
  8. ^ a b Renet, Julien; Lucente, Daniela; Delaugerre, Michel; Gerriet, Olivier; Deso, Grégory; Abbattista, Chiara; Cimmaruta, Roberta (2018-12-31). "Discovery of an Italian slow worm (Anguis veronensis Pollini, 1818) population on a Western Mediterranean Island confirmed by genetic analysis". Acta Herpetologica. 13 (2): 165–169. doi:10.13128/Acta_Herpetol-23290. ISSN 1827-9643. S2CID 91830313.