First record of a melanistic Dalmatian	Algyroides
(Algyroides nigropunctatus) in Slovenia
PRVA	NAJDBA	MELANISTIČNE
ČRNOPIKČASTE KUŠČARICE (ALGYROIDES NIGROPUNCTATUS) V SLOVENIJI
Tomaž JAGAR, Societas herpetologica slovenica -društvo za preučevanje dvoživk in plazilcev, Večna pot 111, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Tomšičeva 1a, SI-3310 Žalec, Slovenia; e-mail: tomaz_jagar@hotmail.com Erika OSTANEK, Societas herpetologica slovenica -društvo za preučevanje dvoživk in plazilcev, Večna pot 111, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Mali Otok 7, SI-6230 Postojna, Slovenia e-mail: erikaostanek@gmail.com
Dalmatian Algyroides (Algyroides nigropunctatus Dumeril & Bibron, 1839) is a small lacertid lizard with snout-vent length between 45-70 mm (Arnold et al. 2007). Its distribution is restricted to Southern Europe (Gasc et al. 1996). The commonest colouration of Dalmatian Algyroides is the adult individuals' uniform dark brown or greyish dorsal side with occasionally present small dark markings on the head and back. The body's ventral side is usually yellowish or orange, throat is coloured blue. Juvenile and sub adult specimens have whitish underside, which can occasionally be slightly blue or green (Corti & Lo Cascio 2002, Arnold & Ovenden 2002).
An unusually coloured specimen of Dalmatian Algyroides (Algyroides nigropunctatus) (Figs. 1-2) was observed on March 10th 2011 at the stone cliffs near Dragonja village in the coastal part of Slovenia. In this dry, shrubby habitat we also found several normally coloured specimens of the same species and several other sympatric lizard species, like the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis), Italian wall lizard (Podarcis sicu/us) and green lizard (Lacerta viridis/bilineata).
The specimen observed had been determined to be a sub adult due to its size. It had a completely black dorsal side without any pattern (Fig. 1). The underside was also dark coloured; throat colour was dark blue with slightly orange sides (Fig. 2). Ventral side of body and tail was greyish blue and slightly yellowish on the sides of the body. This kind of colouration is characteristic for a melanistic mutation with very high levels of melanin (dark skin pigment), which is very rare among lizards, since dark animals are more prone to predation due to the lack of camouflage. This is the first record of a melanistic Dalmatian Algyroides in Slovenia.
Literature
Arnold E.N., Ovenden D.W. (2002): A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. 2nd edition. Harper Collins Publishers, London, 288 pp.
Arnold E.N., Arribas O., Carranza S. (2007): Systematics of the Palaearctic and Oriental lizard tribe Lacertini (Squamata: Lacertidae: Lacertinae), with descriptions of eight new genera. Zootaxa 1430: 1-86.
Corti C., Lo Cascio P. (2002): The Lizards of Italy and Adjacent Areas. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main, 165 pp.
Gasc J.P., Cabela A., Crnobrnja-Isailovic J., Dolmen D., Grossenbacher K., Haffner P., Lescure J., Martens H., Martinez Rica J.P., Maurin H., Oliveira M.E., Sofianidou T.S., Veith M., Zuiderwijk A. (Eds.) (1997): Atlas of amphibians and reptiles in Europe. Collection Patrimoines Naturels 29, Societas Europaea Herpetologica, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle & Service du Petrimone Naturel, Paris, 496 pp.
Figure 1. Photograph of the dorsal side of a melanistic individual of Dalmatian Algyroides (Algyroides nigropunctatus),
found near Dragonja, SW Slovenia (photo Erika Ostanek) Slika 1. Fotografija hrbtne strani melanističnega osebka črnopikčaste kuščarice (Algyroides nigropunctatui), najdenega v bližini Dragonje, JZ Slovenija (foto Erika Ostanek)
Figure 2. Photograph of the ventral side of amelanistic individual of Dalmatian Algyroides (Algyroides nigropunctatus),
found near Dragonja, SW Slovenia (photo Erika Ostanek) Slika 2. Fotografija trebušne strani melanističnega osebka črnopikčaste kuščarice (Algyroides nigropunctatus), najdenega v bližini Dragonje, JZ Slovenija (foto Erika Ostanek)