High genetic variability of lizards of the sand-dwelling lacertid genus Acanthodactylus

Geographical variability of allozyme variation and genetic divergence between Tunisian lizards of the sand-dwelling lacertid genus Acanthodactylus

“…A high level of polymorphism, which has previously been observed in some populations of Acanthodactylus (Blanc & Cariou, 1980) was confirmed in all the samples studied here that contained more than six individuals. Acanthodactylus inornatus seemed the least variable species whatever parameters we consider; this finding confirms our previous report (Blanc & Cariou, 1980). Accordingly, the mean heterozygosity per population (Iq) ranges from 14 (Acanthodactylus inornatus) to 28 per cent (A. pardalis).…”

“…Our findings confirm the high level of genetic variability in Acanthodactylus species in Tunisia (Blanc & Cariou, 1980). A. pardalis, which occupies all the bioclimates represented in Tunisia, from the Saharan to the sub-humid, is unquestionably the most variable of these, while A. inornatus is clearly the least variable.…”

“…The taxonomic confusion resulting from such difficulties led us to undertake an electrophoretic analysis of allozyme variation at 22 loci in populations of the four presumed species: we found a great genetic variability in Acanthodactylus corresponding to its range of variability as regards the morphological features (Blanc & Cariou, 1980). Furthermore, the specific status of the four groups distinguished by the application of multifactorial analysis to morphological characters is confirmed by biochemical genetic analysis.…”

“…Preparation of tissue extracts, electrophoretic conditions and staining procedures were as described elsewhere (Blanc & Cariou, 1980). The genetic variability of populations was estimated by three parameters: the mean number of alleles per locus (A), obtained by direct count; the mean proportion of polymorphic loci (P) calculated directly from actual data, with any locus that varied within a population being considered polymorphic; and the mean heterozygosity or mean number of heterozygotes per population (H) being the mean of expected heterozygosities per locus (Nei, 1975).…”

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“…Une estimation de la variabilité génétique d'une population d'A. pardalis a relevé un polymorphisme eleve' par rapport aux données connues jusqu'alors chez les Lézards(F. BLANC et M.L. CARIOU, 1980).…”