New records of Darevskia armeniaca (Méhely, 1909) and Darevskia valentini (Boettger, 1892) (Squamata, Sauria, Lacertidae) from Armenia and updated geographic distribution maps

Abstract

During field survey in 2018, we recorded in Armenia the occurrences of the parthenogenetic lizard Darevskia armeniaca and its “paternal” bisexual species D. valentini. Based on our new data and records taken from publications and museums, we update the distribution maps of these species. The new records expand the geographical boundaries of sympatric habitats of these species and provide additional data for understanding the mechanisms of reticulate evolution and hybrid speciation.

Keywords

• Bisexual species
• Reptilia
• reticulate evolution