The genomic era contributes to update the taxonomy of many debated terrestrial vertebrates. In an accompanying work, we provided a comprehensive molecular assessment of spadefoot toads (Pelobates) using genomic data. Our results call for taxonomic updates in this group. First, nuclear phylogenomics confirmed the species-level divergence between the Iberian P.cultripes and its Moroccan relative P.varaldii. Second, we inferred that P.fuscus and P.vespertinus, considered subspecies until recently, feature partial reproductive isolation and thus deserve a specific level. Third, we evidenced cryptic speciation and diversification among deeply diverged lineages collectively known as Pelobatessyriacus. Populations from the Near East correspond to the Eastern spadefoot toad P.syriacus sensu stricto, which is represented by two subspecies, one in the Levant (P.s.syriacus) and the other in the rest of the range (P.s.boettgeri). Populations from southeastern Europe correspond to the Balkan spadefoot toad, P.balcanicus. Based on genetic evidence, this species is also polytypic: the nominal P.b.balcanicus inhabits the Balkan Peninsula; a new subspecies P.b.chloeaessp. nov. appears endemic to the Peloponnese. In this paper, we provide an updated overview of the taxonomy and distribution of all extant Pelobates taxa and describe P.b.chloeaessp. nov.

The slow-worm lizards (Anguis) comprise five species occurring throughout most of the Western Palearctic. Although these species are relatively uniform morphologically – with the exception of A. cephallonica, which exhibits a quite unique morphology – they are genetically deeply divergent. Here, we provide detailed distribution maps for each species and discuss their biogeography and conservation based on updated genetic data and a robust distribution database. We pay particular attention to the so called ‘grey zone’, which typically represents secondary contact zones and in some cases confirmed or presumed hybrid zones. Four of the five species live in parapatry, while only two species, A. cephallonica and A. graeca from the southern Balkans occur in partial sympatry. Further research should focus on the eco-evolutionary interactions between species in contact, including their hybridization rates, to reveal deeper details of the slow-worm evolutionary and natural history.

We examined the mitochondrial identity of Aegean Natrix natrix moreotica representing different morphotypes, with a focus on new material from Milos and Skyros. We found no correlation between distinct morphotypes and mitochondrial identity. Our results support that grass snake populations are polyphenetic and that southern subspecies, including island populations, show a higher variability than northern ones.

Tarentola mauritanica, also known as Moorish Gecko, is a trans-Mediterranean gecko with a large distribution, ranging from Israel and North Africa, to southern Europe, as well as on many large Mediterranean islands. In Greece, the Moorish Gecko is distributed across several islands, and the only mainland occurrences reported are from the Peloponnese (in the west and north) and very recently, from Athens. Here we present three new records of the Moorish Gecko from localities in the Aetoloakarnania prefecture (Western Greece), and briefly discuss potential scenarios of introduction and expansion of this species on the Greek mainland.

We describe the unusual case of erythrism in the Eastern Grass Snake, Natrix natrix. This colour morph is very rare and has not been reported in the literature before. Despite having observed thousands of N. natrix in the field, we personally detected this morph in only three individuals originating from Slovakia, Romania, and mainland Greece, while photos of a fourth individual from a Greek island were provided to us. In addition, a recent study with a large data set from citizen scientists was unable to produce a single reddish Eastern Grass Snake. Such colouration is likewise uncommon in the western members of Grass Snakes (N. helvetica, N. astreptophora), with two examples provided herein. Because the potential biological importance of erythristic colouration is unclear, we encourage other field herpetologists and naturalists to publish their observations of reddish Grass Snakes in the printed literature.