The common chameleonChamaeleo chamaeleonin southern Italy: evidence for allochthony of populations in Apulia and Calabria (Reptilia: Squamata: Chamaeleonidae)

Abstract

The common chameleon Chamaeleo chamaeleon is present in many Mediterranean countries. Its occurrence in Italy is historically reported for Sicily, where it appears to be no longer present. While many contemporary findings across the Italian Penisula refer to single observations, likely due to introduced or released animals, the species turned out to be established in two southern regions (Apulia and Calabria) with acclimatised populations. To investigate their provenance, we analysed tissue samples of individuals from these localities. A fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene was amplified and compared with sequences available in Genbank. Our results showed that individuals from Calabria share haplotypes with those from Tunisia (N. Africa), while those from Apulia are coincident to samples from Israel. This suggests that individuals were most likely introduced in Italy.

Introduction of Amphibians and Reptiles in the Caucasus and Crimea: An Overview and Some Actual Data

“…Так как для этого вида хамелеонов из-вестны случаи интродукции на юге Европы (на Иберийском полуострове и в Калабрии на юге Италии он считается натурализовавшимся ад-вентом, ввезенным в древности из стран Магри-ба, в то время как в Апулии интродуцирован лишь в ранних 1980-х гг. с территории Леванта Andreone et al, 2016)), то чаще всего перечисленные на-ходки рассматривают как случайный завоз. Но некоторые исследователи склоняются к тому, что хамелеон на Кавказе является реликтовым видом; также нельзя исключать, что в середине 1930-х гг.…”

Multiple origins of the common chameleon in southern Italy

“…Downloaded on 29 April 2018). Traditional taxonomy identified four subspecies of the common chameleon Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Yaacov et al 2012;Andreone et al 2016;Tilbury 2018), which live in allopatry in its natural range. As to Europe, populations in the Iberian Peninsula seem to have been introduced from Maghreb, with multiple introduction events (Paulo et al 2002).…”

“…Common chameleons currently present in Cyprus and in Greek islands (e.g. Samos, Chios and Crete) share mitochondrial haplotypes with the Turkish population (Macey et al 2008;Andreone et al 2016). At least two subspecies of the common chameleon have been introduced to Malta (Dimaki et al 2008;Andreone et al 2016), one from Maghreb and the other from the Near East.…”

“…Samos, Chios and Crete) share mitochondrial haplotypes with the Turkish population (Macey et al 2008;Andreone et al 2016). At least two subspecies of the common chameleon have been introduced to Malta (Dimaki et al 2008;Andreone et al 2016), one from Maghreb and the other from the Near East. As for southern Italy, chameleons in Calabria (province of Reggio Calabria) were possibly introduced from Tunisia (Andreone et al 2016).…”

“…At least two subspecies of the common chameleon have been introduced to Malta (Dimaki et al 2008;Andreone et al 2016), one from Maghreb and the other from the Near East. As for southern Italy, chameleons in Calabria (province of Reggio Calabria) were possibly introduced from Tunisia (Andreone et al 2016). Conversely, Andreone et al (2016) showed that the population of the common chameleon in Salento (Apulia) may originate from the Middle East, sharing mitochondrial sequences with Eastern Mediterranean countries (northern Israel).…”