More evidence of cryptic diversity in Anatololacerta species complex Arnold, Arribas and Carranza, 2007 (Squamata: Lacertidae) and re-evaluation of its current taxonomy

<p>Genetic diversity is not always congruent with phenotypic heterogeneity, resulting in cryptic species complexes which cause a great struggle for scientists trying to define ‘species’ and describe relationships among taxa. <i>Anatololacerta</i> is a lizard genus distributed in southern and western Anatolia and some neighboring Aegean islands. Three morphospecies were recognized in <i>Anatololacerta</i> but a recent molecular study revealed the presence of cryptic diversity within the genus which led to the raise of a subspecies to species level. Currently the genus includes the species <i>A. anatolica</i>, <i>A. danfordi</i>, <i>A. budaki</i> and <i>A. pelasgiana</i>. Using a comprehensive sampling concerning both the number of specimens (218 specimens) and the genetic markers (3 nuclear and 3 mitochondrial), we performed phylogenetic analyses including tree reconstruction, species delimitation and divergence times estimation. The results revealed the occurrence of one more cryptic lineage which should be regarded as a separate species for which the name <i>A. ibrahimi </i><b><i>stat. nov.</i></b><i> </i>has priority. The existence of five well differentiated species with parapatric distributions in <i>Anatololacerta</i> is strongly supported. There is also evidence of recent and rapid radiation of the genus which probably causes phylogenetic relationships between these species to remain largely unresolved. At last, we proceeded to some nomenclatorial changes: The current name <i>A. budaki </i>was synonymized with <i>A. pelasgiana</i> because specimens of the type-locality of <i>A. budaki</i> are assigned genetically to <i>A. pelasgiana</i>. The genetic lineage including specimens currently assigned to <i>A. budaki</i> was named <i>A. finikensis</i> <b><i>stat. nov.</i></b>, raising the subspecies <i>A. b. finikensis</i> to species level.</p>