Genetic evidence for species status of some Caucasian rock lizards in the Darevskia saxicola group

Diversity at 35 allozyme loci was examined in nine populations of the tars currently included in Darevskia saxicola. The data support the recognition of the subspecies Darevskia s. saxicola and D. s. lindholmi as species. The remaining subspecies D. s. brauneri, D. s. darevski and D. s. szezerbaki a re conspecific although they can no longer be referred to Darevskia saxicol a, but must be referred to Darevskia brauneri, whose name has priority. Con siderable population substructural was observed among the subspecies of Dar evskia brauneri.